Device, method, and computer program product for customizing game functionality using images

• US 9,566,522 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Waris, Heikki, Havukainen, Kai, Hamalainen, Matti S., Holm, Jukka A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US11/140,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,281 Days
• Field of Search: 463/32, 345/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image

Abstract

A gaming device, method, and computer program product customize an electronic game using features of an image file, such as may be created by a digital camera or similar device. A gaming device comprises a processor capable of receiving an image file, extracting at least one feature from the received image file, and modifying the electronic game based on the extracted feature. The processor may modify the electronic game by adding a game object corresponding to the extracted feature. Alternatively, the processor may modify the electronic game by modifying a game object based on the extracted feature. The image file may be created by the gaming device or may be received from an external device. The extracted feature may be selected from the group comprising shape, size, location, orientation, color, and contrast. The processor may be further capable of preprocessing the image file.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to-perform at least the following;

facilitate receipt of a plurality of image files;

extract at least one feature from each of the received image files to obtain a plurality of extracted features, wherein each of the plurality of extracted features are identified, located, and extracted, by the processor, based on at least one cross-referenced feature;

determine at least one object that corresponds to the at least one cross-referenced feature, wherein the at least one object is associated with an electronic game and is determined from an object database that maps the at least one object to the at least one cross-referenced feature;

map at least one of the plurality of extracted features to the at least one object; and

modify the game play based on the mapped extracted feature, wherein the game play is associated with one or more functionalities of the game, and

wherein the game play is modified by adding the at least one mapped object to the game and the at least one object did not previously exist in the game.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to select, randomly between the at least one extracted feature and another extracted feature that corresponds to the at least one cross-referenced feature of the at least one object.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to modify the electronic game by modifying a game object based on at least one of the extracted features.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an image capture device configured to create at least one of the image files.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to facilitate receipt of at least one of the image files from an external device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to preprocess at least one of the image files, wherein preprocess the at least one image file comprises at least one of changing from color to black and white, adjusting contrast, adjusting brightness, filtering, scaling, rotating, creating a mirror image, and creating a negative image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to facilitate storage of a modification of the electronic game.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to facilitate transfer of a modification of the electronic game to another gaming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to facilitate usage of an error correction function to extract at least one feature in response to being unable to locate a desired feature within at least one of the image files.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to facilitate selection of one feature to extract when at least one of the image files comprises two or more extractable features.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to facilitate usage of input from a user to select the one feature to extract.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to modify the corresponding object in response to selecting a respective one of the extracted features.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is caused to:

facilitate usage of a different image file, among the image files, to customize one or more levels of play of the game.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the same extracted feature is used for multiple objects of the plurality of objects.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object database includes parameters of the plurality of extracted features, and maps the plurality of extracted features to the at least one object based on the parameters.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

facilitate receipt of a plurality of image files;

extract at least one feature from each of the received image files to obtain a plurality of extracted features, wherein each of the plurality of extracted features are identified, located, and extracted, by the processor, based on at least one cross-referenced feature;

determine at least one object that corresponds to the at least one cross-referenced feature, wherein the at least one object is associated with an electronic game and is determined from an object database that maps the at least one object to the at least one cross-referenced feature;

map at least one of the plurality of extracted features to the at least one object; and

modify the game play based on the mapped extracted feature, wherein the game play is associated with one or more functionalities of the game, and

wherein the game play is modified by adding the at least one mapped object to the game and the at least one object did not previously exist in the game.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to-further perform:

select, randomly between the at least one extracted feature and another extracted feature that corresponds to the at least one cross-referenced feature of the at least one object.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

modify the electronic game by modifying a game object based on at least one of the extracted features.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate election of at least one of the extracted features from the group comprising shape, size, location, angle, viewing angle, orientation, color, brightness, and contrast.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to-further perform:

preprocess at least one of the image filed by performing at least one of changing from color to black and white, adjusting contrast, adjusting brightness, filtering, scaling, rotating, creating a mirror image, and creating a negative image.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further wherein the apparatus is caused to-further perform:

facilitate storage of a modification of the electronic game.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate transfer of a modification of the electronic game to another gaming device.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate usage of an error correction function to extract at least one feature when a desired feature cannot be located within at least one of the image files.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate selection of one feature to extract when at least one of the image files comprises two or more extractable features.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate usage of input from a user to select the one feature to extract.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

modify the corresponding object in response to selecting a respective one of the extracted features.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

facilitate usage of a different image file, among the image files, to customized one or more levels of play of the game.

28. A method comprising:

facilitating receipt of a plurality of image files;

extracting at least one feature from each of the received image files to obtain a plurality of extracted features, wherein each of the plurality of extracted features are identified, located, and extracted, by the processor, based on at least one cross-referenced feature;

determining at least one object that corresponds to the at least one cross-referenced feature, wherein the at least one object is associated with an electronic game and is determined from an object database that maps the at least one object to the at least one cross-referenced features;

mapping at least one of the plurality of extracted features to the at least one object; and

modifying, via the processor, the game play based on the extracted feature, wherein the game play is associated with one or more functionalities of the game, and

wherein the game play is modified by adding the at least one mapped object to the game and the at least one object did not previously exist in the game.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising modifying the corresponding object in response to selecting a respective one of the extracted features.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising facilitating usage of an error correction function to extract at least one features when a desired feature cannot be located within at least one of the image files.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting one feature to extract when at least one of the image filed comprises two or more extractable features.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising facilitating usage of a different image file, among the image files, to customize one or more levels of play of the game.