Interactive gaming apparel for interactive gaming

• US 9,517,406 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shum, Albert, Foxen, Thomas, Meschter, James
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US13/428,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/36, 463/37, 463/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• 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 13/428 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 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor causes at least:

detecting the presence of a first tracking mark displayed by an article of wear, wherein the first tracking mark comprises a retroreflective material having a first pattern and a first shape;

based upon detecting the presence of the first tracking mark, recognizing at least one of the first pattern or the first shape of the retroreflective material; and

based upon recognizing at least one of the first pattern or the first shape of the retroreflective material, providing an interactive computer game with one or more special features or functions that result in changing an interactive response requirement of the game.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions, that when executed by the processor perform at least:

recognizing at least one of a second pattern or a second shape of retroreflective material on a second tracking mark; and

determining movement of the second tracking mark by recognizing a change in position of the recognized at least one of the second pattern or second shape of the second tracking mark along an axis.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 2, wherein upon recognition of the change in position of the second tracking mark, an interactive game is configured to respond to the motion of the tracking mark.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of a first tracking mark detects a tracking mark that is woven or knitted into the article of wear.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of a first tracking mark detects a tracking mark that is permanently attached to the article of wear.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of a first tracking mark detects a tracking mark that is applied to the manufactured article of wear by a technique from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, dye sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of a first tracking mark detects a tracking mark that is displayed by an article of wear from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

8. A system, comprising:

an article of wear, comprising;

a plurality of tracking marks comprising a first tracking mark including a retroreflective material having a first pattern and a first shape and a second tracking mark including a retroreflective material having a second pattern and a second shape; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor causes at least;

detecting the presence of the first tracking mark displayed by the article of wear when worn by a user, and as a result, recognizing at least one of the first pattern or the first shape of the retroreflective material;

based upon recognizing at least one of the first pattern or the first shape of the retroreflective material of the first tracking mark, providing an interactive game with one or more special features or functions that result in changing an interactive response requirement of the game; and

based upon recognizing at least one of the pattern or shape of the retroreflective material of the second tracking mark, providing the interactive game with one or more special features or functions that result in changing an interactive response requirement of the game.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the first tracking mark is woven or knitted into the article of wear.

10. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the first tracking mark is permanently attached to the article of wear.

11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein the first tracking mark is applied to the article of wear by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

silk screening, pad printing, heat transfer, dye sublimation, dying, stitching, adhering with an adhesive, impregnation, etching, etching, stapling and riveting.

12. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the article of wear is selected from the group consisting of:

footwear, a shirt, pants, a jacket, shorts, socks, a hat, and a band.

13. The system recited in claim 8, wherein

the article of wear is a shirt;

and

the plurality of tracking marks includes

a first tracking mark located proximal to a first cuff of the shirt, and

a second tracking mark located proximal to a second cuff of the shirt.

14. The system recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one tracking mark includes a third tracking mark located in a chest region of the shirt.

15. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are the same with respect to the detection.

16. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the first shape and the second shape are the same with respect to the detection.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor causes at least:

detecting the presence of a first tracking mark displayed by an article of wear, wherein the tracking mark comprises a retroreflective material having a physical design;

based upon the presence of the tracking mark, recognizing the first tracking mark+s retroreflective material'"'"'s physical design; and

based upon recognizing the physical design, providing an interactive game with one or more special features or functions that result in changing an interactive response requirement of the game.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 17, wherein recognizing the retroreflective material'"'"'s physical design recognizes a color of the tracking mark.