Systems and methods for manipulation of objects

• US 9,138,641 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetris Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tetris Holding, LLC
• Inventors: Rogers, Henk B., Eden, Jared Wiant, Boon, Mark, Cook, Nicholas Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US13/437,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20120322556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24 Classification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for manipulating an object include a display for displaying an object where the object has a geometric shape and is arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape. The display also displays at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object. The system includes a user interface for receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape. A processor, in communication with the display and user interface, determines one or more possible orientations of the object including the second orientation and arranges the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating a first object in relation to one or more other objects comprising:

a computer;

a computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the computer, the computer readable medium storing program codes causing the computer to execute a game by performing functions comprising;

displaying the one or more other objects on a display such that each of the one or more other objects has a geometric shape, is arranged in an orientation of the geometric shape, and is non-overlapping with respect to any other objects;

displaying the first object in a first position on the display, the first object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

determining one or more best destination position and orientation candidates of the object based on at least one of a selected portion of the display, the geometric shape of the object, the geometric shape of one or more subsequently available objects, one or more possible destination position and orientation candidates, the height to width ratio of an object or the other objects, the number and position of any empty cells next to the other objects, any gaps next to the other objects, and any empty cells or gaps subsequent to positioning and orienting the object;

wherein the one or more best candidates include a first set of best destination position and orientation candidates and a second set of best destination position and orientation candidates;

displaying the one or more candidates in a format other than a format for the first object and the one or more other objects, wherein the format includes at least one of a color, shading, transparency, texture, and patterning;

displaying the second set of best destination position and orientation candidates instead of the first set of best destination position and orientation candidates in response to a second input of the user;

receiving a user input from a user to select a destination position and orientation of the first object, wherein the destination position is next to at least one of the one or more other objects, the first object being non-overlapping with respect to any one of the other objects, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of the display associated with the destination position and selecting a portion of one of the best destination position and orientation candidates; and

positioning and orienting the object at the destination position and orientation in response to the user input;

wherein determining includes determining an order or rank of the one or more best candidates such that the first set of candidates includes candidates having a higher order or rank than candidates of the second set.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer performs functions comprising displaying one or more destination position and orientation candidates, and wherein the user input includes selecting a destination position and orientation candidate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer performs functions comprising adjusting the portion of the display corresponding to the one or more destination position and orientation candidates.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein adjusting includes highlighting one or more cells of the display, the one or more cells including a shape of a mino of at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user input includes clicking and holding a pointing device button.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer performs functions comprising determining a best destination position and orientation of the object based on at least one of a selected portion of the display, the geometric shape of the object, the geometric shape of one or more subsequently available objects, one or more possible destination position and orientation candidates, the height to width ratio of an object or the other objects, the number and position of any empty cells next to the other objects, any gaps next to the other objects, any empty cells or gaps subsequent to positioning and orienting the object.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of the display.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the selected portion of the display includes one or more cells, each cell including the shape of a mino of at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the destination position and orientation corresponds to the determined best destination position and orientation.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second input of the user includes selecting a button on the display.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more best destination position and orientation candidates do not overlap and are not next to each other.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer performs functions comprising setting a time limit for manipulating the first object from when the first object is first displayed.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer performs functions comprising moving the first object from a first position toward a second position on the display at a rate of movement.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the time limit is based on the rate of movement of the first object and the second position on the display.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is two-dimensional.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape includes at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is three-dimensional.

18. A portable electronic device for manipulating a first object in relation to one or more other objects comprising:

a display arranged to i) display the one or more other objects such that each of the one or more other objects has a geometric shape and is arranged in an orientation of the geometric shape, each of the one or more other objects being non-overlapping with respect to any other objects, ii) display the first object in a first position on the display, the first object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape, iii) display one or more candidates in a format other than a format for the first object and the one or more other objects, wherein the format includes at least one of a color, shading, transparency, texture, and patterning, and iv) display a second set of best destination position and orientation candidates instead of a first set of best destination position and orientation candidates in response to a second input of the user;

a user interface arranged to receive a user input from a user to select a destination position and orientation of the first object, wherein the destination position is next to at least one of the one or more other objects, the first object being non-overlapping with respect to any one of the other objects, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of the display associated with the destination position and selecting a portion of one of the best destination position and orientation candidates; and

a processor in communication with the display and user interface arranged to execute a game by i) positioning and orienting the object at the destination position and orientation in response to the user input and ii) determining the one or more best destination position and orientation candidates of the object based on at least one of a selected portion of the display, the geometric shape of the object, the geometric shape of one or more subsequently available objects, one or more possible destination position and orientation candidates, the height to width ratio of an object or the other objects, the number and position of any empty cells next to the other objects, any gaps next to the other objects, and any empty cells or gaps subsequent to positioning and orienting the object;

wherein the one or more best candidates include the first set of best destination position and orientation candidates and the second set of best destination position and orientation candidates; and

wherein determining includes determining an order or rank of the one or more best candidates such that the first set of candidates includes candidates having a higher order or rank than candidates of the second set.