System and method for presenting a virtual counterpart of an action figure based on action figure state information

• US 9,833,695 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jumo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jumo, Inc.
• Inventors: Yano, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US14/622,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 446175, 446484, 463 1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/003 specially adapted for a particular function not connected with dolls as electric lighting devices A63H3/006

Abstract

In certain implementations, a presentation of a virtual counterpart of an action figure may be provided based on action figure state information obtained via wireless communication with the action figure. As an example, an action figure may be detected within a short wireless communication range of a computer system. A wireless connection between the computer system and the action figure may be established based on the detection. Action figure state information identifying a position of a moveable part of the action figure relative to another part of the action figure may be received at the computer system from the action figure via the wireless connection. The relative position may be related to a pose exhibited by the action figure. A virtual counterpart of the action figure may be presented based on the relative position such that the virtual counterpart exhibits the same pose as the action figure.

Claims

1. A method of providing a presentation of a virtual counterpart of an action figure based on action figure state information obtained via wireless communication with the action figure, the method being implemented on a computer system that includes one or more physical processors executing computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

detecting, by the computer system, an action figure within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establishing, by the computer system, based on the detection, a wireless connection between the computer system and the action figure;

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying;

(i) a position of a moveable part of the action figure relative to another part of the action figure, wherein the relative position of the moveable part is related to a pose exhibited by the action figure; and

(ii) an environment-related state of the action figure related to a real-world environment of the action figure based on ambient temperature sensor data acquired by an action figure sensor;

presenting, by the computer system, a virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment exhibits scenery having one or more aspects corresponding to, and based on, the ambient temperature sensor data; and

presenting, by the computer system, based on the relative position of the moveable part and the environment-related state, a virtual counterpart of the action figure in the virtual environment, the virtual counterpart having at least one physical or behavioral attribute corresponding to the environment-related state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, action figure state information identifying an orientation of the moveable part of the action figure relative to the other part of the action figure, wherein the relative orientation of the moveable part is related to the pose exhibited by the action figure, and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position and the relative orientation, the virtual counterpart of the action figure in the virtual environment having the same pose as the action figure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying a state of the action figure related to a physical impact on the action figure based on impact sensor data; and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the impact-related state, the virtual counterpart of the action figure in the virtual environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying a state of the action figure related to an accessory of the action figure,

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position and the accessory-related state, the virtual counterpart of the action figure with a virtual counterpart of the accessory in the virtual environment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises a virtual character entity that represents the action figure in the virtual environment, the virtual counterpart of the accessory comprises a virtual accessory of the virtual character entity, and the accessory-related state of the action figure comprises the action figure being in proximity to the accessory of the action figure, the method further comprising:

updating, by the computer system, based on the action figure being in proximity of the accessory of the action figure, profile information associated with the virtual character entity to indicate that the virtual character entity has the virtual accessory,

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the updated profile information, the virtual character entity with the virtual accessory in the virtual environment.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the accessory-related state comprises one or more of a position of the accessory relative to the action figure or an orientation of the accessory relative to the action figure, and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure with the virtual counterpart of the accessory comprises presenting, based on the relative position of the moveable part and one or more of the relative position of accessory or the relative orientation of the accessory, the virtual counterpart of the action figure with the virtual counterpart of the accessory in the virtual environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure with the virtual counterpart of the accessory comprises presenting one or more of:

(i) the virtual counterpart of the action figure such that the virtual counterpart of the action figure exhibits one or more characteristics selected based on one or more of the relative position of accessory or the relative orientation of the accessory;

or

(ii) the virtual counterpart of the accessory such that the virtual counterpart of the accessory exhibits one or more characteristics selected based on one or more of the relative position of accessory or the relative orientation of the accessory.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying a position of the action figure relative to one or more other action figures; and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position of the moveable part and the relative position of the action figure, the virtual counterpart of the action figure with one or more virtual counterparts of the one or more other action figures in the virtual environment.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying an orientation of the action figure relative to one or more other action figures; and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position of the moveable part and the relative orientation of the action figure, the virtual counterpart of the action figure with one or more virtual counterparts of the one or more other action figures in the virtual environment.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying a state of another action figure,

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position of the moveable part and the state of the other action figure, the virtual counterpart of the action figure with a virtual counterpart of the other action figure in the virtual environment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a server and a router.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a user device, the method further comprising:

providing, by the user device, the action figure state information to a host of the virtual environment;

receiving, at the user device, the presentation of the virtual counterpart of the action figure and the virtual environment,

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises providing the presentation of the virtual counterpart of the action figure and the virtual environment via an output device electronically coupled to the user device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure behavior information identifying a behavior of the action figure; and

presenting, by the computer system, based on the behavior of the action figure, the virtual counterpart exhibiting one or more actions in the virtual environment that correspond to the behavior of the action figure.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises a virtual character entity that represents the action figure in the virtual environment.

15. A system for providing a presentation of a virtual counterpart of an action figure based on action figure state information obtained via wireless communication with the action figure, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed to execute computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

detect an action figure within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establish, based on the detection, a wireless connection between the computer system and the action figure;

receive, from the action figure via the established wireless connection, action figure state information identifying;

(i) a position of a moveable part of the action figure relative to another part of the action figure, wherein the relative position of the moveable part is related to a pose exhibited by the action figure; and

(ii) an environment-related state of the action figure related to a real-world environment of the action figure based on ambient temperature sensor data acquired by an action figure sensor;

present a virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment exhibits scenery having one or more aspects corresponding to, and based on, the ambient temperature sensor data; and

present, based on the relative position of the moveable part and the environment-related state, a virtual counterpart of the action figure in the virtual environment, the virtual counterpart having at least one physical or behavioral attribute corresponding to the environment-related state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one more physical processors are further caused to:

receive action figure state information identifying an orientation of the moveable part of the action figure relative to the other part of the action figure, wherein the relative orientation of the moveable part is related to the pose exhibited by the action figure, and

wherein presenting the virtual counterpart of the action figure comprises presenting, based on the relative position and the relative orientation, the virtual counterpart of the action figure in the virtual environment having the same pose as the action figure.