Multiple user viewing modes of an environment

• US 9,033,797 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wargaming.Net Limited
• Original Assignee: Wargaming.Net LLP
• Inventors: Karpiuk, Andrew, Borodovsky, Vitaliy
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/206,611
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 33
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing multiple viewing modes of a simulated environment are described herein. The different viewing modes may include a magnified view of the environment, an unmagnified view, and/or a magnified view combined with an unmagnified view. The different viewing modes may include a model of a user controlled object which mimics the movement of the user controlled object to provide the user with information regarding the positioning or orientation of the user controlled object with respect to the user'"'"'s current view. In the different viewing modes, a potential damage indicator may be provided on a targeted object to indicate potential damage to the targeted object based on a current weapon selection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a plurality of vehicles selectable by a user to be used in a simulated environment;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of vehicles;

in a first viewing mode, displaying the simulated environment including the selected vehicle, the selected vehicle including two independently controlled portions having orientations relative to each other;

entering a second viewing mode of the simulated environment in response to receiving a user input to change viewing modes; and

in the second viewing mode, displaying a model of the selected vehicle and a second view of the simulated environment, wherein the model corresponds to two or more of the plurality of vehicles selectable by the user and the model has an orientation consistent with the orientation of the selected vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the model of the vehicle corresponds to a type of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first viewing mode displays an unmagnified view of the simulated environment, and wherein the second viewing mode displays a magnified view of the simulated environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input causing a change in orientation of portions of the selected vehicle;

maintaining a matching orientation of the model with the selected vehicle by changing the orientation of the portions of the model to be consistent with the selected vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected vehicle is a tank vehicle comprising a turret and a hull and the model comprises a turret and a hull, wherein the input causes the turret of the tank vehicle to pivot a first number of degrees in a first direction, and wherein maintaining the matching orientation of the model with the selected vehicle comprises pivoting the turret of the model the first number of degrees in the first direction.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected vehicle is a tank vehicle comprising a turret and a hull and the model comprises a turret and a hull, wherein the input causes the hull of the tank vehicle to pivot a first number of degrees in a first direction, and wherein maintaining the matching orientation of the model with the selected vehicle comprises pivoting the hull of the model the first number of degrees in the first direction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a movement command moving the selected vehicle;

in response to receiving the movement command, displaying a directional indicator corresponding to the movement command for the model of the selected vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the directional indicator comprises at least one set of arrows aligned along a central axis and a curvature of the central axis depends on the movement command.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the movement command is a forward movement command causing the selected vehicle to travel in a forward direction in the simulated environment, and wherein the directional indicator comprises one set of arrows aligned along a linear central axis extending from a front of the selected vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the selected vehicle is traveling forward while turning in a first direction, the directional indicator comprises one set of arrows aligned along a central axis extending from the front of the selected vehicle curved in the first direction.

11. One or more tangible non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a data processing device, cause a system to perform:

providing a plurality of vehicles selectable by a user to be used in a simulated environment;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of vehicles;

in a first viewing mode, display the simulated environment including the selected vehicle, the selected vehicle including two independently controlled portions having orientations relative to each other;

entering a second viewing mode of the simulated environment in response to receiving a user input to change viewing modes; and

in the second viewing mode, displaying a model of the selected vehicle and a second view of the simulated environment, wherein the model corresponds to two or more of the plurality of vehicles selectable by the user and the model having an orientation consistent with the orientation of the selected vehicle.

12. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the model of the vehicle corresponds to a type of the vehicle.

13. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the orientation of the model matches the orientation of the selected vehicle.

14. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the first viewing mode displays an unmagnified view of the simulated environment, and wherein the second viewing mode displays a magnified view of the simulated environment.

15. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the computer readable instructions, that when executed by the data processing device, cause the system to perform:

receiving an input causing a change in orientation of portions of the selected vehicle in a first manner;

maintaining a matching orientation of the model with the selected vehicle by changing the orientation of the portions of the model to be consistent with the selected vehicle in the first manner.

16. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the computer readable instructions that, when executed by the data processing device, cause the system to perform:

receiving a movement command moving the selected vehicle;

in response to receiving the movement command, displaying a directional indicator corresponding to the movement command for the model of the selected vehicle.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the directional indicator comprises at least one set of arrows aligned along a central axis and a curvature of the central axis depends on the movement command.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

provide a plurality of vehicles selectable by a user to be used in a simulated environment;

receive a selection of one of the plurality of vehicles;

in a first viewing mode, display the simulated environment including the selected vehicle, the selected vehicle including two independently controlled portions having orientations relative to each other;

enter a second viewing mode of the simulated environment in response to receiving a user input to change viewing modes; and

in the second viewing mode, display a model of the selected vehicle and a second view of the simulated environment, wherein the model corresponds to two or more of the plurality of vehicles selectable by the user and the model having an orientation consistent with the orientation of the selected vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive an input causing a change in orientation of portions of the selected vehicle;

maintain a matching orientation of the model with the selected vehicle by changing the orientation of the portions of the model to be consistent with the selected vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a movement command moving the selected vehicle;

in response to receiving the movement command, display a directional indicator corresponding to the movement command for the model of the selected vehicle.