Game device with wireless position measurement and methods for use therewith

• US 8,628,417 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza), Rofougaran, Maryam, Seshadri, Nambirajan, Ibrahim, Brima B., Walley, John, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/137,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/39, 463/36, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A game device includes a first transceiver that receives gaming position data from at least one gaming object. A wireless measurement module generates device position data corresponding to the game device. A processor executes a game application that generates display signals for display on a display device, wherein the game application is based on the gaming position data and the device position data.

Claims

1. A game device comprising:

a first transceiver that receives gaming position data from at least one gaming object that is remote from the game device, wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one position of the at least one gaming object while the at least one gaming object is in motion; and

a wireless measurement module that operates independently from the at least one gaming object to generate device position data that includes a position of the game device, wherein the game device is stationary;

a processor, coupled to the first transceiver and the wireless measurement module, for executing a game application that provides an interactive electronic game with a user of the at least one game object by responding to simulated actions of the user and that generates display signals for display on a display device as part of the interactive electronic game, wherein the game application is based on the gaming position data and the device position data.

2. The game device of claim 1 wherein the game application determines an initial relative position between the at least one gaming object and the game device based on the gaming position data and the device position data.

3. The game device of claim 2 wherein the first transceiver that receives motion data from the at least one gaming object in response to the simulated actions of the user and the game application updates a position of the at least one gaming object based on the initial relative position and the motion data.

4. The game device of claim 1 wherein the gaming position data is generated by calculating at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to a stationary object in a same room as the at least one gaming object.

5. The game device of claim 4 wherein the device position data indicates at least one distance from the game device to the stationary object.

6. The game device of claim 5 wherein the game application calibrates the gaming position data based on the device position data.

7. The game device of claim 1 wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to a wall.

8. The game device of claim 1 wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to the game device.

9. The game device of claim 1 wherein the first transceiver generates a request for gaming position data and wherein the at least one gaming object generates the gaming position data in response to the request.

10. The game device of claim 1 wherein the wireless measurement module includes one of:

an ultrasonic range finder, a laser range finder, and a millimeter wave range finder.

11. A method comprising:

receiving gaming position data from at least one gaming object, wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one position of the at least one gaming object while the at least one gaming object is in motion; and

generating device position data independently from the at least one gaming object that includes a position of a game device that is remote from the at least one gaming object, wherein the game device is stationary;

executing a game application that provides an interactive electronic game with a user of the at least one game object by responding to simulated actions of the user and that generates display signals for display on a display device as part of the interactive electronic game, wherein the game application is based on the gaming position data and the device position data.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the game application determines an initial relative position between the at least one gaming object and the game device based on the gaming position data and the device position data.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving motion data from the at least one gaming object in response to the simulated actions of the user;

wherein the game application updates a position of the at least one gaming object based on the initial relative position and the motion data.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the gaming position data is generated by calculating at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to a stationary object in a same room as the at least one gaming object.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the device position data indicates at least one distance from the game device to the stationary object.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the game application calibrates the gaming position data based on the device position data.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to a wall.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the gaming position data indicates at least one distance from the at least one gaming object to the game device.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a request for gaming position data; and

sending the request to the at least one gaming object;

wherein the at least one gaming object generates the gaming position data in response to the request.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the device position data includes one of:

ultrasonic range finding, laser range finding, and millimeter wave range finding.