Sensor-based gaming system for an avatar to represent a player in a virtual environment

• US 9,457,229 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applejack 199, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Applejack 199, L.P.
• Inventors: Liang, Jun, Maltsev, Nicolai, Koo, Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US14/243,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 : Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

A method of providing a sensor-based gaming system for an avatar to represent a player in a virtual environment includes wirelessly receiving a set of measurements describing attributes of the player. The method includes generating a player profile associated with the player and including an avatar depicting a virtual embodiment of the player in a virtual world. The method includes receiving sensor data from sensors. The sensor data describes a change in a real world position of the player. The method includes determining an estimate of a player movement. The method includes determining a difference between a screen position of the avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the player in the real world. The method includes generating avatar image data representative of movement of the avatar corresponding to movement of the player.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving non-sensor based player input from a first player, the player input including a set of first measurements associated with the first player, the set of first measurements describing one or more biological measurements corresponding to the first player;

generating, based on the first measurement, a first player profile associated with the first player and including a first avatar depicting a virtual embodiment of the first player in a virtual world;

wirelessly receiving first sensor data from a plurality of first sensors associated with the first player, the first sensor data describing a change in a real world position of the first player in a real world;

determining a first estimate of a first player movement based on the set of first measurements and the first sensor data so that the first estimate of the first player movement is determined based on a combination of (1) the one or more biological measurements and (2) the first sensor data describing the change in the real world position of the first player in the real world;

determining, based on the first estimate, a first difference between a first screen position of the first avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the first player in the real world;

generating first avatar image data representative of movement of the first avatar corresponding to movement of the first player, the first avatar image data generated based on the first difference between the first screen position of the first avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the first player in the real world;

generating a first random number based on the first sensor data that is used as a first seed for a random number generator in a first game;

causing a competition to be displayed on a display device, an outcome of the competition dependent at least in part on the first random number, wherein the competition is configured so that the first player competes with a mirror image of a plurality of movements of the first player so that the first player is playing against themselves; and

accepting a bid from a second player gambling on the outcome of the competition, wherein the first movement of the first player is not the same as a second movement of the first player in a second game so that;

(1) the first sensor data from the first movement and the second movement are different (2) the first seed for the first game is different than a second seed for the second game, the second seed used by the random number generator to generate a second random number; and

(3) the first random number and the second random number outputted by the random number generator for the first game and the second game are truly random because the first movement and the second movement are different, thereby providing a valid game of chance for the first game and the second game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first player is a movable object and the set of first measurements describes one or more parameters associated with the movable object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first player profile associated with the first player includes two or more first avatars associated with the first player and depicting the virtual embodiment of the first player in the virtual world.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data is processed to reduce errors and increase stability by a filter module that applies the following equation to the first sensor data:

{circumflex over (M)}_i+1−

{circumflex over (M)}_i=0.5dt({circumflex over (M)}_i+1{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i+1+{circumflex over (M)}_i{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data is processed to reduce errors and increase stability by a filter module that applies the following equation to the first sensor data:

{circumflex over (M)}_i+1={circumflex over (M)}_i(1+0.5dt{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i)(1−

0.5dt{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i+1)<sup>−

1</sup>.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first estimate corresponds to the mirror image of the plurality of movement of the first player.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving a set of second measurements associated with the second player, the set of second measurements describing one or more attributes of the second player;

generating, based on the set of second measurements, a second player profile associated with the second player and including a second avatar depicting a virtual embodiment of the second player in the virtual world;

wirelessly receiving second sensor data from a plurality of second sensors associated with the second player, the second sensor data describing a change in a real world position of the second player in the real world;

determining a second estimate of a second player movement based on the set of second measurements and the second sensor data;

determining a second difference between a second screen position of the second avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the second player in the real world;

generating second avatar image data representative of movement of the second avatar corresponding to movement of the second player, the second avatar image data generated based on the second difference between the second screen position of the second avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the second player in the real world; and

synchronizing first image data and the second avatar image data to provide a frame-by-frame representation of the first avatar that corresponds to the first player, the second avatar that corresponds to the second player, and a third avatar that corresponds to the mirror image of the plurality of movements of the first player.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a modification has been acquired for the first player; and

modifying the representation of the first avatar in accordance with the modification acquired by the first player.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving image data include a three dimensional image of the first player as the first player exists in the real world;

modifying the representation of the first avatar to include at least a portion of the three dimensional image of the first player as a portion of the first avatar.

10. A system comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to;

wirelessly receive non-sensor based player input from a first player, the player input including a set of first measurements associated with the first player, the set of first measurements describing one or more biological measurements corresponding to the first player;

generate, based on the first measurement, a first player profile associated with the first player and including a first avatar depicting a virtual embodiment of the first player in a virtual world;

wirelessly receive first sensor data from a plurality of first sensors associated with the first player, the first sensor data describing a change in a real world position of the first player in a real world;

determine a first estimate of a first player movement based on the set of first measurements and the first sensor data so that the first estimate of the first player movement is determined based on a combination of (1) the one or more biological measurements and (2) the first sensor data describing the change in the real world position of the first player in the real world;

determine, based on the first estimate, a first difference between a first screen position of the first avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the first player in the real world;

generate first avatar image data representative of movement of the first avatar corresponding to movement of the first player, the first avatar image data generated based on the first difference between the first screen position of the first avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the first player in the real world;

generate a first random number based on the first sensor data that is used as a first seed for a random number generator in a first game;

cause a competition to be displayed on a display device, an outcome of the competition dependent at least in part on the first random number, wherein the competition is configured so that the first player competes with a mirror image of a plurality of movements of the first player so that the first player is playing against themselves; and

accept a bid from a second player gambling on the outcome of the competition, wherein the first movement of the first player is not the same as a second movement of the first player in a second game so that;

(1) the first sensor data from the first movement and the second movement are different (2) the first seed for the first game is different than a second seed for the second game, the second seed used by the random number generator to generate a second random number; and

(3) the first random number and the second random number outputted by the random number generator for the first game and the second game are truly random because the first movement and the second movement are different, thereby providing a valid game of chance for the first game and the second game.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first player profile associated with the first player includes two or more first avatars associated with the first player and depicting the virtual embodiment of the first player in the virtual world.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor data is processed to reduce errors and increase stability by a filter module of the system that applies the following equation to the first sensor data:

{circumflex over (M)}_i+1−

{circumflex over (M)}_i=0.5dt({circumflex over (M)}_i+1{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i+1+{circumflex over (M)}_i{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i).

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor data is processed to reduce errors and increase stability by a filter module of the system that applies the following equation to the first sensor data:

{circumflex over (M)}_i+1={circumflex over (M)}_i(1+0.5dt{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i)(1−

0.5dt{circumflex over (Ω

)}_i+1)<sup>−

1</sup>.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first estimate corresponds to the mirror image of the plurality of movement of the first player.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

wirelessly receive a set of second measurements associated with a second player, the set of second measurements describing one or more attributes of the second player;

generate, based on the set of second measurements, a second player profile associated with the second player and including a second avatar depicting a virtual embodiment of the second player in the virtual world;

wirelessly receive second sensor data from a plurality of second sensors associated with the second player, the second sensor data describing a change in a real word position of the second player in the real world;

determine a second estimate of a second player movement based on the set of second measurements and the second sensor data;

determine a second difference between a second screen position of the second avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the second player in the real world;

generate second avatar image data representative of movement of the second avatar corresponding to movement of the second player, the second avatar image data generated based on the second difference between the second screen position of the second avatar in the virtual world and the real world position of the second player in the real world; and

synchronize first image data and the second avatar image data to provide a frame-by-frame representation of the first avatar that corresponds to the first player and the second avatar that corresponds to the second player, and a third avatar that corresponds to the mirror image of the plurality of movements of the first player.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

receive a signal indicating an addition has been purchased for the first player; and

modify the representation of the first avatar in accordance with the addition purchased by the first player.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

receive image data include a three dimensional image of the first player as the first player exists in the real world;

modify the representation of the first avatar to include at least a portion of the three dimensional image of the first player as a portion of the first avatar.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising an arc equation module stored on the memory, the arc equation module comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

determine, based on the first measurement and the first sensor data, an arc for the first avatar corresponding to the movement of the first player in the real world;

determine, based on the arc, an arc radius and one or more center points;

identify, based on the arc radius and the one or more center points, one or more real world positions describing one or more of a location and orientation of the first player in the real world; and

generate first avatar image data representative of movement of the first avatar corresponding to movement of the first player in the real world, the first avatar image data generated based on the first difference between the first screen position of the first avatar in the virtual world and the one or more real world positions of the first player in the real world.