Adaptive rendered environments using user context

• US 9,566,509 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Paquet, Philippe, Makofsky, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, M Good
• Application Number:
  US13/797,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20140267221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 345/633
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• 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 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for adaptive rendered environments using user context. The method comprises determining user context data corresponding to a user of a virtual environment, altering a feature of the virtual environment using the user context data to obtain an altered feature, and rendering the altered feature of the virtual environment for display. The feature may include a non-player character in the virtual environment, such as eyesight focus of the non-player character or a physical action of the non-player character. The user context data may correspond to real world position data of a user and may be determined using a camera, for example through image recognition, or using a user device. Additionally, the virtual environment may include a cinematic, interactive game, or user generated content.

Claims

1. A method for use by a system including a processor and capable of connecting to a display, the method comprising:

determining, using the processor, a viewing perspective of a user and user context data including an ambient light level, the user context data corresponding to a real-world position of the user of a virtual environment relative to the display, wherein the viewing perspective of the user switches between a first person view and a third person view;

altering, using the processor when the viewing perspective of the user is the first person view, a first feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user and the user context data including the ambient light level to obtain a first altered feature;

altering, using the processor when the viewing perspective of the user is the third person view, a second feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user but not using the user context data to obtain a second altered feature; and

rendering, using the processor, one of the first altered feature and the second altered feature of the virtual environment on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the first feature and the second feature includes a non-player character in the virtual environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one of the first feature and the second feature includes one of an eyesight focus of the non-player character in the virtual environment and a physical action of the non-player character in the virtual environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a media device, wherein the media device includes the processor, and wherein the display is separate from the media device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the user context data uses a camera.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining the user context data using a camera further includes using image recognition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the user context data uses a user device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual environment includes one of a cinematic sequence, interactive game, and user generated content.

9. A system for use with a display, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine a viewing perspective of a user and user context data including an ambient light level, the user context data corresponding to a real-world position of the user of a virtual environment relative to the display, wherein the viewing perspective of the user switches between a first person view and a third person view;

alter, when the viewing perspective of the user is the first person view, a first feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user and the user context data including the ambient light level to obtain a first altered feature;

alter, when the viewing perspective of the user is the third person view, a second feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user but not using the user context data to obtain a second altered feature; and

render one of the first altered feature and the second altered feature of the virtual environment on the display.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one of the first feature and the second feature includes a non-player character in the virtual environment.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one of the first feature and the second feature includes one of an eyesight focus of the non-player character in the virtual environment and a physical action of the non-player character in the virtual environment.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a media device including the processor;

wherein the display is separate from the media device.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a camera;

wherein the processor determines the user context data using the camera.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor determines the user context data using a camera further includes using image recognition.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a user device;

wherein the processor determines the user context data using the user device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the virtual environment includes one of a cinematic, interactive game, and user generated content.

17. A system for use with a display, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a user device for communication with the processor;

the processor configured to;

determine a viewing perspective of a user and user context data including an ambient light level, the user context data corresponding to a real-world position of the user of a virtual environment relative to the display, wherein the viewing perspective of the user switches between a first person view and a third person view;

alter, when the viewing perspective of the user is the first person view, a first feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user and the user context data including the ambient light level to obtain a first altered feature;

alter, when the viewing perspective of the user is the third person view, a second feature of the virtual environment using the viewing perspective of the user but not using the user context data to obtain a second altered feature; and

render one of the first altered feature and the second altered feature of the virtual environment on the display.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user device includes one of a remote controller, a video game controller, and a cellular phone.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the user device includes an infrared proximity sensor.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the one of the first feature and the second feature includes a non-player character in the virtual environment.