Image integration, mapping and linking system and methodology

• US 8,821,276 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bassilic Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Sitrick, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US13/303,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463 26- 29, 463 30- 31, 463 40- 42, 463/43, 463 11- 13, 463 17- 19
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/16 for preventing non-intended contact between spray heads or nozzles and foreign bodies, e.g. nozzle guards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

An adapter interface apparatus has a user input device and an associated video display. The user selects a distinguishable visual image representation for association into an audiovisual presentation, such as where that user is identified. For example, color, size graphics or shape can be used to distinguish users. In one embodiment a digitized image of each user'"'"'s face is used as the distinguishable representation. Alternatively, the user can create an original image or select one of a predetermined set of visual images as the user'"'"'s identification for use in the audiovisual presentation. In one embodiment, the adapter interface is coupled to an audiovisual presentation system and a storage card containing User Images. The adapter interface system integrates a selected User Image from the Storage Card into the audiovisual presentation.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system with a processor and memory for integrating an image into a computer generated video display presentation, the method comprising:

providing, by the processor, digitized image data associated with a portion of the video display presentation, the generated portion of the video display presentation comprising a representation within the video display presentation;

receiving, by the processor, a selection of an image for integration, the selection from the digitized image data; and

generating by the processor an integrated video presentation, wherein the integrated video presentation is generated by;

intercepting and analyzing the video display presentation to recognize that the representation is within the video display presentation;

in response to recognizing that the representation is within the video display presentation, generating a substitute representation, wherein the selected image is utilized in conjunction with the digitized image data to create the substitute representation; and

displaying the substitute representation in place of the representation within the video display presentation, wherein at least in part of the selected image is integrated within the video display presentation.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the digitized image data is provided via downloading for local storage in a writable memory of the computer used in the video display presentation.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the selected image is a representation for a user;

and

wherein the representation for the user is one of;

an audio sound, a voice sound, a visual video display, a digitized picture of the user, an avatar for the user, a recognizable object, a user-created sound, a user-created visual image, a third-party famous person voice, and a third-party famous person visual appearance.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the representation within the video display presentation is one of:

an audio sound, a part of a visual video display presentation, and an audiovisual video display presentation.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the selected image is associated with an avatar for a user.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the video display presentation is representative of a networked community of users in a shared world environment.

7. The method as in claim 1, the method further comprising:

utilizing a software function for providing the selected image for use in the integrated video presentation.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the digitized image data is representative of a plurality of respective selectable images;

the method further comprising;

receiving by the processor a selection of one of the plurality of selectable images as the selected image.

9. A presentation system, the system comprising:

means for image creation of a player representative character image having a first representation;

means for linking the player representative character image to a software function; and

a subsystem providing for generation of the presentation responsive to integration of the player representative character image into an audiovisual presentation responsive to selection of the software function, wherein the subsystem generates the presentation at least in part by;

intercepting a signal and recognizing that the signal includes a second representation within the audiovisual presentation, and

in response to the recognizing, substituting the player representative character image for the second representation within the audiovisual presentation.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the means for image creation is one of:

original creation, a coupled communication of a player-representative character image, digitized input of at least one of existing audio and existing video, video camera capture, still camera capture, digitized visual image data of at least one third party person, digitized audio data of at least one third party person, audio capture via microphone, digitization input via scanning, and computer-generated image creation.

11. An image integration system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem;

software for generating a display presentation responsive to at least one game software function;

a source of image content stored as at least one image data packet; and

providing a link between a respective image data packet and a respective game software function;

wherein the software operating on the computing subsystem generates the display presentation at least in part responsive to the link for mapping the respective image data packet to the respective game software function; and

wherein the software operating on the computing subsystem generates the display presentation at least in part by;

intercepting a signal generated by the computing subsystem under direction from the software,

recognizing that the signal includes a representation for the respective game software function, and

substituting the respective image data packet for the representation within the display presentation.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the software function is associated with generating the display representation for at least one of:

a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character, still image visuals;

a created spacecraft;

a car; and

a recognizable one of;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

a recognizable icon;

sub-image-identifier segments;

at least one third-party-supplied visual image;

at least one third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art;

a still picture, a recognizable visual image of a third person, a recognizable sound image of a third person, a texture map, a representation of a user image, a geometric model, a geometric mesh, a motion video clip, a keyframe, morphing coordinate points, geometric constraint information, or colorimetric information; and

substitute game character images.

13. A presentation system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, storage for an application software program, and a writable memory providing for local selective storage for image data;

wherein the application software program provides both an executable program and predefined audiovisual data;

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem generates an audiovisual presentation responsive to the predefined audiovisual data and the writable memory by mapping and integrating at least part of the image data stored in the writable memory with the predefined audiovisual data, to provide an integrated audiovisual presentation; and

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem generates the audiovisual presentation at least in part by;

intercepting a signal indicating a representation of part of the predefined audiovisual data,

recognizing the representation of the part of the predefined audiovisual data, and

substituting at least part of the image data stored in the writable memory for the recognized representation within the predefined audiovisual data.

14. The system as in claim 13, the system further comprising at least one of:

a video game system;

a computer video amusement system;

a personal computer;

a personal video device;

a video game development system; and

a movie development system.

15. A system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem;

a storage apparatus for storing substitute image content;

storage for storing predefined image content for use in generating an audiovisual video display; and

image integration software for linking the substitute image content for association with at least some of the predefined image content for integration into the video display;

wherein the computing subsystem generates a display presentation of the video display, comprised of at least some of the predefined image content, and responsive to the image integration software, comprised of at least part of the substitute image content; and

wherein the computing subsystem generates the display presentation at least in part by;

intercepting a signal generated by the computing subsystem, the signal indicating at least part of the predefined image content,

recognizing that the signal includes a representation for the predefined image content, and

substituting at least part of the substitute image content for at least part of the recognized predefined image content.

16. The system as in claim 15, the system further comprising:

a communications interface for downloading at least part of the substitute image content, for storage in the storage apparatus.

17. The system as in claim 15, wherein the predefined image content is associated with generating a display representation for at least one of:

a facial view of a person;

a facial view of a character;

still image visuals;

a created vehicle;

a spacecraft;

a car;

a hero;

a villain;

a monster;

a weapon;

a pre-selected character function;

recognizable icons;

subimage-identifier segments;

a third-party-supplied visual image;

a third-party-supplied audio image;

clip-art;

a still picture;

a recognizable visual image of a third person;

a recognizable sound of a third person;

a texture map;

a representation of a user image;

a geometric model;

a geometric mesh;

a motion video clip;

a keyframe;

morphing coordinate points;

geometric constraint information;

colorimetric information; and

substitute game character images.

18. A system for generating a display, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, a storage memory, and a writable memory;

wherein the storage memory provides for storing an application software program;

wherein the writable memory provides for local storage of image data;

wherein the application software program provides both an executable program and predefined audiovisual data for use in generation of the display;

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem generates the display as an audiovisual presentation, responsive to the predefined audiovisual data and the image data in the writable memory; and

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem generates the audiovisual presentation at least in part by;

intercepting a signal indicating a representation within the predefined audiovisual data,

recognizing that the signal includes a particular representation for the predefined audiovisual data, and

substituting at least part of the image data in the writable memory for the particular representation within the predefined audiovisual data.

19. The system as in claim 18, wherein at least part of the image data is provided via downloading for local storage in the writable memory.

20. The system as in claim 18, wherein the image data is comprised of a plurality of image data packets;

wherein each of the image data packets is for a separate recognizable at least one of an audio image, a visual image and an audiovisual portion of the display;

the system further comprising;

an input apparatus for receiving a selection of a selected one of the image data packets;

wherein the application software program operating on the computing subsystem provides for generating the audiovisual presentation responsive to image integration of the selected one of the image data packets with at least some of the predefined audiovisual data.

21. The system as in claim 18, comprising:

at least one of a video game system, a computer video amusement system, a video game development system, a movie development system, a movie presentation system, a personal computing system and a portable video-game system.