Information processing system, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing apparatus, input device, and information processing method

• US 9,555,330 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Takeda, Genyo, Wakitani, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suteerawongsa, Jarurat
• Application Number:
  US13/357,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

An example of a configuration of an information processing system of the exemplary embodiment includes a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put and an information processing apparatus for processing data obtained from the first input device. The first input device includes a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is put; and a distance data output unit. The distance data output unit outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first platform. The information processing apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and a processing unit. The data acquisition unit acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit. The processing unit performs a predetermined process, based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition unit.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be positioned and an information processing apparatus for processing data obtained from the first input device, wherein

the first input device comprises:

a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is positioned;

a surface, having an area on which a user positions his/her foot sole, is set on a platform surface of the first platform; and

at least one distance data output device, disposed below the surface adjacent to the area on which the user positions his/her foot sole, the at least one distance data output device configured to output distance data allowing for acquisition of a distance between the surface and a height of an appendage of the user from the surface of the first platform during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first platform, and

the information processing apparatus comprises;

a data acquisition device configured to acquire the distance data outputted by the distance data output device; and

a processing device configured to calculate at least an amount of exercise of the user based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition device and perform a predetermined process based on the calculated amount of exercise.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

a pair of surfaces, on which the user positions his/her feet soles, respectively, is provided on the platform surface of the first platform, and

the at least one distance data output device is disposed below at least one of the pair of surfaces, and outputs distance data allowing for acquisition of the distance between the surface and the height of the user'"'"'s appendage from the surface of the first platform.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein

the distance data output device is disposed below each of the pair of surfaces.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein two of the distance data output devices are disposed below the surface at a predetermined distance therebetween in a direction along with the surface.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first platform comprises a plurality of projections projected from the surface.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of projections are configured in an up/down movable manner so as to be in a state in which either the plurality of projections project from the surface or the plurality of projections retract from the surface.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the processing device comprises a parameter calculation device for calculating a parameter corresponding to an energy consumed by the user, based on a distance in accordance with the distance data, and

the processing device performs a predetermined process, based on the parameter calculated by the parameter calculation device.

8. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter so that the longer the distance in accordance with the distance data is, the larger the energy becomes.

9. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the distance data output device repeatedly outputs the distance data determined in accordance with the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the surface of the first platform,

the data acquisition device repeatedly acquires the distance data repeatedly outputted by the distance data output device, and

the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter each time the data acquisition device repeatedly acquires the distance data.

10. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on a maximum value of the distance during a period in which the distance in accordance with the distance data is indicating a predetermined value or above.

11. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on an integration value of the distance in accordance with the distance data.

12. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on a maximal value of the distance in accordance with the distance data.

13. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

a plurality of the distance data output devices are disposed below the surface, and each outputs distance data allowing for acquisition of the distance between the surface and the height of the user'"'"'s appendage from the surface of the first platform, and

the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on a distance in accordance with the distance data outputted by each of the plurality of distance data output devices, and, by summing the parameters, calculates a parameter corresponding to an accumulated energy consumed by the user.

14. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the processing device comprises a count calculation device configured to calculate the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down on the surface, based on the data outputted by the first input device, and

the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down, calculated by the count calculation device, and the distance in accordance with the distance data.

15. The information processing system according to claim 14, wherein the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter so that the greater the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down, calculated by the count calculation device, is, the larger the energy becomes.

16. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the first input device further comprises at least one load data output device configured to output load data determined in accordance with a load applied to the first platform,

the data acquisition device acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output device and the load data outputted by the load data output device, and

the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on the distance in accordance with the distance data and a load in accordance with the load data.

17. The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein

the information processing apparatus further comprises a weight acquisition device configured to acquire weight of weights borne by the user on the first input device, in accordance with user input, and

the parameter calculation device calculates the parameter, based on the distance in accordance with the distance data and the weight acquired by the weight acquisition device.

18. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the distance data output device comprises:

a radiation device configured to radiate a predetermined wave in the direction away from the surface of the first platform;

a reception device configured to receive a reflected wave which is the predetermined wave reflected from the object; and

a detection device configured to detect the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the surface of the first platform, using information regarding the reflected wave received by the reception device.

19. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein the detection device detects the distance, based on a position at which the reflected wave is received.

20. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein the detection device detects the distance, based on time at which the reflected wave has been received.

21. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data output device wirelessly transmits the distance data to the information processing apparatus directly or via other apparatus.

22. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the information processing system further comprises:

a second input device to which operation input by the user is allowed; and

a cable connecting between the first input device and the second input device,

the distance data output device outputs the distance data to the second input device via the cable, and

the second input device comprises a transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit, to the information processing apparatus, data representing the operation input to the second input device, together with the distance data outputted by the distance data output device.

23. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input device further comprises at least one load data output device configured to output load data determined in accordance with a load applied to the first platform,

the data acquisition device acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output device and the load data outputted by the load data output device, and

the processing device performs the predetermined process, based on the distance data and the load data acquired by the data acquisition device.

24. The information processing system according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of the load data output devices are disposed below the first platform at different positions, and each outputs the load data determined in accordance with the load applied to the first platform.

25. The information processing system according to claim 23, wherein

the first input device comprises:

a first housing having a second platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is positioned;

a second housing, having the first platform, detachably mounted on a platform surface of the second platform so as to have the first platform face up,

the first housing is provided with at least the load data output device,

the second housing is provided with at least the distance data output device, and

the load data output device outputs, via the second housing, the load data determined in accordance with the load applied to the first platform.

26. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a display control device for displaying, on a display device, a result of the predetermined process performed by the processing device.

27. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the processing device comprises:

a determination device configured to determine whether a distance in accordance with the distance data acquired by the data acquisition device reaches a predetermined value; and

an informing device configured to inform the user of a message determined in accordance with a determination result by the determination device.

28. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data output device detects the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the surface of the first platform, and outputs the distance data representing the distance.

29. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distance data output device is incorporated on the first platform on which at least the portion of the user'"'"'s body is positioned.

30. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data is related to a running and/or walking motion of the user moving in free space.

31. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first input device further configured to provide stepping data associated with a number of steps the user steps on the first input device.

32. The information processing system according to claim 31, wherein at least a travel distance of the user is calculated based on at least the height data and the stepping data.

33. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data output device is configured to output the distance data determined in accordance with the height of the user'"'"'s appendage from the platform surface as the user stands on the platform surface of the first platform.

34. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data allows for acquisition of a change in height of the user'"'"'s appendage from the surface of the first platform during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first platform.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising an information processing program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus:

for which data outputted by a first input device, on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be positioned, is available; and

for processing data obtained from the first input device, wherein the first input device including a surface, having an area on which a user positions his/her foot sole, the surface being set on a platform surface of the first platform, and

the information processing program causing the computer to;

acquire, from at least one distance data output device disposed below the surface of the first input device adjacent to the area on which the user positions his/her foot sole, distance data allowing for acquisition of a distance between the surface and a height of an appendage of the user from the surface of the first input device during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first input device;

calculate at least an amount of exercise of the user based on the acquired distance data; and

perform a predetermined process based on the calculated amount of exercise.

36. An information processing apparatus:

for which data outputted by a first input device, on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be positioned, is available, and for processing data obtained from the first input device, the first input device including a surface, having an area on which a user positions his/her foot sole, the surface being set on a platform surface of the first platform, and the information processing apparatus comprising;

a data acquisition device configured to acquire, from at least one distance data output device disposed below the surface of the first input device adjacent to the area on which the user positions his/her foot sole, distance data allowing for acquisition of a distance between the surface and a height of an appendage of the user from the surface of the first input device during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first input device; and

a processing device configured to calculate at least an amount of exercise of the user based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition device and perform a predetermined process based on the calculated amount of exercise.

37. An input device, comprising:

a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is positioned;

a surface, having an area on which a user positions his/her foot sole, is set on a platform surface of the first platform; and

a distance data output device, disposed below the surface adjacent to the area on which the user positions his/her foot sole, the at least one distance data output device configured to output, to another device, distance data allowing for acquisition of a distance between the surface and a height of an appendage of the user from the surface of the first platform during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first platform, the distance data used to calculate at least an amount of exercise of the user.

38. An information processing method for processing data obtained from a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be positioned, the first input device including a surface, having an area on which a user positions his/her foot sole, the surface being set on a platform surface of the first platform, and the information processing method comprising:

acquiring, from at least one distance data output device disposed below the surface of the first input device adjacent to the area on which the user positions his/her foot sole, distance data allowing for acquisition of a distance between the surface and a height of an appendage of the user from the surface of the first input device during an action of the user raising his/her appendage from the first input device;

calculating at least an amount of exercise of the user based on the acquired distance data; and

performing a predetermined process based on the calculated amount of exercise.