Making physical objects appear to be moving from the physical world into the virtual world

• US 9,690,373 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Haseltine, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Shauna-Kay
• Application Number:
  US14/678,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 815 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• 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: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Embodiments provide a system that includes a first interactive device and control logic configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving historical data describing historical interactions between a user and one or more interactive devices. Additionally, the operation includes configuring the first interactive device with one or more interactive events. Each interactive event includes a respective (i) stimulus event and (ii) an action to perform responsive to an occurrence of the stimulus event, and at least one of the one or more interactive events is based on the received historical data. Responsive to detecting an occurrence of a first one of the one or more stimulus events, the operation includes causing the first interactive device to perform the corresponding action. The operation also includes updating the first interactive device with a second one or more interactive events.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring a position of a physical object to detect when the physical object reaches a predefined location on a rotatable mechanism within a physical enclosure within the physical environment, wherein the physical object is moving in a first direction and at a first speed within the physical environment, and wherein the rotatable mechanism, when actuated, rotates along a first axis;

upon detecting the physical object has reached the predefined location;

causing a virtual depiction of the physical object to appear within a virtual world, such that the virtual depiction of the physical object is moving in the first direction and at the first speed within the virtual world; and

activating the rotatable mechanism to rotate, along the first axis, moving the physical object from a first orientation to a second orientation; and

upon detecting the virtual depiction of the physical object has reached a predefined location within the virtual world while travelling in a second direction and at a second speed, causing the physical object to move within the physical environment, starting from the second orientation, in the second direction and at the second speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing a virtual depiction of the physical object to appear within a virtual world further comprises:

rendering a series of frames including the virtual depiction of the physical object moving in the first direction and at the first speed within the virtual world; and

projecting the rendered series of frames onto a surface for display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical object comprises a toy vehicle, wherein the toy vehicle is configured to move along a physical race track, and wherein the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate the toy vehicle from a first part of the physical race track to a second part of the physical race track.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the depiction of the physical object comprises a virtual vehicle, and wherein the virtual vehicle is configured to move along a virtual race track.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring a position of a physical object to detect when the physical object reaches a predefined location within a physical environment further comprising:

receiving a notification indicating that the physical object has passed a first sensor device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling movement of the physical object based on one or more inputs to a controller device;

upon detecting the physical object has reached the predefined location, controlling movement of the virtual depiction of the physical object within the virtual world, based on inputs to the controller device.

7. A method, comprising:

monitoring a position of a virtual object to detect when the virtual object reaches a predefined location within a virtual world, wherein the virtual object is moving in a first direction and at a first speed within the virtual world

transmitting one or more instructions to actuate a rotatable mechanism to rotate, along the first axis, thereby rotating a physical object substantially atop the rotatable mechanism from a first orientation to a second orientation; and

upon detecting the virtual object has reached the predefined location, causing the physical object to begin moving in the first direction and at the first speed within a physical environment.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

upon detecting the physical object has reached a predefined location within the physical environment while travelling in a second direction and at a second speed, causing the virtual object to move within the virtual world in the second direction and at the second speed.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical object comprises a toy vehicle, wherein the toy vehicle is configured to move along a physical race track, and wherein the rotatable mechanism is configured to rotate the toy vehicle from a first part of the physical race track to a second part of the physical race track.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the depiction of the physical object comprises a virtual vehicle, and wherein the virtual vehicle is configured to move along a virtual race track.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

controlling movement of the physical object based on one or more inputs to a controller device;

upon detecting the physical object has reached the predefined location, controlling movement of the virtual depiction of the physical object within the virtual world, based on inputs to the controller device.