Reaction program system using a trigger mechanism for cueing user interaction during use of a reaction program

• US 8,858,312 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Step Evolution, LLC
• Original Assignee: Step Evolution, LLC
• Inventors: Ward, Kyle A., Foy, Christopher Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/248,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/30, 463/33, 463/36, 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A reaction program system including a reaction program implemented on a reaction system platform, the reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device.

Claims

1. A reaction program system including a reaction program implemented on a reaction system platform, said reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device, said system comprising:

(a) a timing cue icon displayed on said display device to cue at least one user interaction via said user interface device during use of said reaction program;

(b) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction, timing being visually indicated by a symbol showing passage of time;

(c) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to an X/Y position of said user interaction, said X/Y position being visually indicated by the position of said timing cue icon on said display device; and

(d) at least one said timing cue icon being a hold-timing cue icon;

(e) wherein said timing cue icon cues said at least one user interaction when said symbol shows passage of time, and wherein said hold-timing cue icon cues a hold user interaction.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one feature selected from the group of features consisting of:

(a) a position cue icon displayed on said display device to provide prior notice of a position of said timing cue icon;

(b) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to duration of said user interaction, said duration being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon;

(c) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to pressure of said user interaction, said pressure being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon;

(d) a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism displayed on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device, said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism to provide feedback of a proximity of said at least one user interaction relative to said timing cue icon; and

(e) a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism displayed on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device, said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism is a feedback cursor indicator mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said symbol showing passage of time is a time hand, said timing for said hold user interaction being visually indicated by movement of said time hand to a home position.

4. The system of claim 1, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said symbol showing passage of time by movement in a first direction, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to ceasing actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said symbol showing passage of time by movement in a second direction.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said symbol showing passage of time is a time hand, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said time hand showing passage of time by movement in a first direction, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to ceasing actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said time hand showing passage of time by movement in a second direction.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said timing cue icon is actuatable while it is moving.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of timing cue icons being stacked such that one timing cue icon is a top timing cue icon and at least one timing cue icon is positioned behind said top timing cue icon, each timing cue icon of said plurality of timing cue icons having a symbol showing passage of time, all of the symbols showing passage of time being visible when said timing cue icons are stacked, wherein the visible symbols showing passage of time cue a plurality of user interactions between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icons.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) said symbol showing passage of time being a time hand;

(b) a plurality of timing cue icons being stacked such that one timing cue icon is a top timing cue icon and at least one timing cue icon is positioned behind said top timing cue icon; and

(c) each timing cue icon of said plurality of timing cue icons having a time hand, all of the time hands being visible when said timing cue icons are stacked;

(d) wherein the visible time hands cue a plurality of user interactions between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icons.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism displayed on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device, wherein said timing cue icon cues said at least one user interaction between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icon when said symbol shows passage of time.

10. A reaction program system including a reaction program implemented on a reaction system platform, said reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device, said system comprising:

(a) a trigger mechanism displayed on said display device to cue at least one user interaction via said user interface device during use of said reaction program;

(b) said trigger mechanism comprising a position cue icon and a timing cue icon;

(i) said position cue icon displayed on said display device to provide prior notice of a position of said timing cue icon; and

(ii) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction, timing being visually indicated by movement of a time hand to a home position; and

(c) wherein said trigger mechanism cues said at least one user interaction when said time hand reaches said home position, and said trigger mechanism is displayed on said display device to cue at least one user interaction while said trigger mechanism is moving from an original position.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one feature selected from the group of features consisting of:

(a) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to duration of said user interaction, said duration being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon, said characteristic selected from the group comprised of;

(i) color;

(ii) shape; and

(iii) size;

(b) said timing cue icon displayed on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to pressure of said user interaction, said pressure being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon, said characteristic selected from the group comprised of;

(i) color;

(ii) shape; and

(iii) size;

(c) said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism to provide feedback of a proximity of said at least one user interaction relative to said trigger mechanism; and

(d) said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism being a feedback cursor indicator mechanism.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said trigger mechanism includes at least one hold-timing cue icon that cues a hold user interaction.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said trigger mechanism includes a hold-timing cue icon that cues a hold user interaction, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said time hand showing passage of time by movement in a first direction, said hold-timing cue icon to provide instructions pertaining to ceasing actuation timing of said hold user interaction by visually indicating timing by said time hand showing passage of time by movement in a second direction.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

(a) a plurality of trigger mechanisms, each said trigger mechanism comprising a position cue icon and a timing cue icon;

(b) the timing cue icons being stacked such that one timing cue icon is a top timing cue icon and at least one timing cue icon is positioned behind said top timing cue icon; and

(c) the position cue icons being staggered such that they are not overlapping in the entirety;

(d) wherein the time hand of said top timing cue icon cues the first of a plurality of user interactions between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said top timing cue icon.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism displayed on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device, wherein said trigger mechanism cues said at least one user interaction between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icon when said time hand reaching said home position.

16. A method for implementing a reaction program system on a reaction system platform, said reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a timing cue icon on said display device, said timing cue icon providing instructions for both user interaction pertaining to timing and user interaction pertaining to position;

(b) providing instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction by displaying said timing cue icon on said display device and indicating timing using a symbol associated with said timing cue icon showing passage of time;

(c) providing instructions pertaining to position of said user interaction by displaying said timing cue icon on said display device and visually indicating position by the position of said timing cue icon on said display device;

(d) cueing said user interaction when said symbol shows passage of time; and

(e) said step of displaying a timing cue icon further including the step of displaying a hold-timing cue icon that cues a hold user interaction.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising at least one step selected from the group of steps consisting of:

(a) displaying a position cue icon on said display device to provide prior notice of a position of said timing cue icon;

(b) displaying a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device; and

said step of cueing said user interaction when said symbol shows passage of time further comprising the step of cueing said user interaction between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icon when said symbol shows passage of time;

(c) displaying a user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism on said display device, said cursor indicator mechanism controlled via said user interface device, said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism to provide feedback of a proximity of said user interaction relative to said timing cue icon; and

said step of cueing said user interaction when said symbol shows passage of time further comprising the step of cueing said user interaction between said user-controlled cursor indicator mechanism and said timing cue icon when said symbol shows passage of time;

(d) displaying a feedback cursor indicator mechanism on said display device based on said user interaction;

(e) indicating timing using a symbol associated with said timing cue icon showing passage of time further comprising rotating at least a portion of said timing cue icon toward a home position to indicate a virtual countdown;

(f) indicating timing using a symbol associated with said timing cue icon showing passage of time further comprising visually indicating passage of time using a time hand symbol, said timing being visually indicated by movement of said time hand symbol to a home position;

(g) displaying said timing cue icon on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to duration of said user interaction, said duration being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon, said characteristic selected from the group comprised of;

(i) color;

(ii) shape; and

(iii) size; and

(h) displaying said timing cue icon on said display device to provide instructions pertaining to pressure of said user interaction, said pressure being visually indicated by a characteristic of said timing cue icon, said characteristic selected from the group comprised of;

(i) color;

(ii) shape; and

(iii) size.

18. The method of claim 16, said step of displaying a timing cue icon further including the step of providing instructions pertaining to actuation timing of said hold user interaction by displaying said hold-timing cue icon and visually indicating timing by said symbol showing passage of time in a first direction, and providing instructions pertaining to ceasing actuation timing of said hold user interaction by displaying said hold-timing cue icon and visually indicating timing by said symbol showing passage of time in a second direction.

19. The method of claim 16, said step of displaying a timing cue icon further including the step of providing instructions pertaining to actuation timing of said hold user interaction by displaying said hold-timing cue icon and visually indicating timing by a time hand symbol showing passage of time in a first direction, and providing instructions pertaining to ceasing actuation timing of said hold user interaction by displaying said hold-timing cue icon and visually indicating timing by said time hand symbol showing passage of time in a second direction.

20. A method for implementing a reaction program system on a reaction system platform, said reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a timing cue icon on said display device, said timing cue icon providing instructions for both user interaction pertaining to timing and user interaction pertaining to position;

(b) providing instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction by displaying said timing cue icon on said display device and indicating timing using a symbol associated with said timing cue icon showing passage of time;

(c) providing instructions pertaining to position of said user interaction by displaying said timing cue icon on said display device and visually indicating position by the position of said timing cue icon on said display device;

(d) cueing said user interaction when said symbol shows passage of time when said symbol shows passage of time and while said timing cue icon is moving.

21. A method for implementing a reaction program system on a reaction system platform, said reaction system platform including a computer, a display device, and a user interface device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a plurality of timing cue icons stacked such that one timing cue icon is a top timing cue icon and at least one timing cue icon is positioned behind said top timing cue icon, each timing cue icon of said plurality of timing cue icons providing instructions for both user interaction pertaining to timing and user interaction pertaining to position;

(b) providing instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction by displaying said plurality of timing cue icons on said display device and each timing cue icon of said plurality of timing cue icons having a symbol showing passage of time, all of the symbols showing passage of time being visible when said timing cue icons are stacked;

(c) providing instructions pertaining to position of said user interaction by displaying said timing cue icon on said display device and visually indicating position by the position of said timing cue icon on said display device; and

(d) cueing a plurality of user interactions using said visible symbols.

22. The method of claim 21,

(a) said step of providing instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction further comprising providing instructions pertaining to timing of said user interaction by displaying each said timing cue icon on said display device and indicating timing using a time hand as said symbol showing passage of time;

and

(b) said step of cueing a plurality of user interactions using said visible symbols further comprising cueing a plurality of user interactions using said time hands.