System and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds

• US 8,939,840 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Heatherly, Christopher W., Shin, Christopher K., Berling, Natasha, Saygan, Robert, Mazzocco, Leonard J., Hefter, Tara Cortner
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, BACH V
• Application Number:
  US12/462,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 163/42, 163/48, 446/268, 446295-296
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/52 Dolls' houses, furniture or other equipment simulating liquid flow A63H33/3022; Dolls' clothing or footwear

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor. The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.

Claims

1. An object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object comprising:

a plurality of sensors including a position sensor and a light sensor;

at least one feedback system;

a memory storing a history of events and an initial state of the object; and

a processor configured to;

establish a first connection between the object and the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object and the physical environment;

initiate an interaction with an interactive element of the physical environment, wherein the interaction adds a new event to the history of events and updates the initial state;

generate a response using the at least one feedback system based on the updating of the initial state;

detect an amount of light in the physical environment using the light sensor;

determine a position of the object in the physical environment using the position sensor; and

send the interaction with the interactive element, the position of the object and the amount of light in the physical environment to the virtual world using the first connection, wherein the virtual world runs on a computing device physically separate from and physically unattached to the object.

2. The object of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to send the position to cause a position of the virtual object in the virtual world to correspond to the position of the object in the physical environment.

3. The object of claim 1,

wherein each of the history of events is associated with a timestamp using a timer and an input from the plurality of sensors.

4. The object of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to update a state of the virtual object using the first connection and the history of events.

5. The object of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to update the state of the virtual object using the first connection by also using the timer.

6. The object of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

terminate the first connection;

detect a first input from the plurality of sensors;

update the history of events using the first input;

establish a second connection between the object and the virtual world; and

update the state of the virtual object using the second connection and the history of events.

7. The object of claim 1, wherein the first connection is established by communicating with the physical environment, wherein the physical environment communicates with the virtual world.

8. The object of claim 1, wherein the first connection is established by using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection to a computer, wherein the computer communicates with the virtual world.

9. The object of claim 1, wherein the first connection is, established by using a wireless connection to a network in communication with the virtual world.

10. The object of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a figural toy.

11. A method for use by an object in a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including:

a plurality of sensors including a position sensor and a light sensor, at least one feedback system, a memory storing a history of events and an initial state of the object, and a processor, the method comprising;

establishing, using the processor, a first connection between the object and the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object and the physical environment;

initiating, using the processor, an interaction with an interactive element of the physical environment, wherein the interaction adds a new event to the history of events and updates the initial state;

generating, using the processor, a response using the at least one feedback system based on the updating of the initial state;

detecting, using the processor, an amount of light in the physical environment using the light sensor;

determining, using the processor, a position of the object in the physical environment using the position sensor; and

sending, using the processor, the interaction with the interactive element, the position of the object and the amount of light in the physical environment to the virtual world using the first connection, wherein the virtual world runs on a computing device physically separate from and physically unattached to the object.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending, using the processor, the position to cause a position of the virtual object in the virtual world to correspond to the position of the object in the physical environment.

13. The method of claim 11, each of the history of events is associated with a timestamp using a timer and an input from the plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

updating, using the processor, a state of the virtual object using the first connection and the history of events.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

updating, using the processor, the state of the virtual object using the first connection by also using the timer.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

terminating, using the processor, the first connection;

detecting, using the processor, a first input from the plurality of sensors;

updating, using the processor, the history of events using the first input;

establishing, using the processor, a second connection between the object and the virtual world; and

updating, using the processor, the state of the virtual object using the second connection and the history of events.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first connection is established by communicating with the physical environment, wherein the physical environment communicates with the virtual world.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first connection is established by using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection to a computer, wherein the computer communicates with the virtual world.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first connection is established by using a wireless connection to a network in communication with the virtual world.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the object comprises a figural toy.