Ambient light control and calibration via a console

• US 9,833,707 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Watson, Brian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US13/663,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31, 463 37, 463 39, 463 43, 315294, 315297, 315307, 315312
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene

Abstract

Ambient light control and calibration systems and methods are provided herein. According to some embodiments, exemplary systems may include a console that includes a processor that executes logic to control a plurality of nodes to reproduce a virtual lighting scheme of a virtual environment in a physical user environment. Additionally, the system may include a plurality of nodes that each includes a light emitting device, a receiver that communicatively couples the node to the console, and a processor that executes logic to control the light emitting device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a topology of nodes which are distributed throughout a physical user environment by analyzing calibration feedback received from the nodes, the calibration feedback defining a relative position of a node within the physical user environment, the calibration feedback generated by causing the nodes to output calibration signals to other nodes;

causing the nodes to emit light;

obtaining images of the physical user environment;

generating a three dimensional topology of the physical user environment from the images of the physical user environment and the calibration feedback; and

controlling the nodes to reproduce a virtual lighting scheme of a virtual environment in the physical user environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing shadows of objects included in the images to create motion vectors; and

updating the three dimensional topology using the motion vectors.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the virtual lighting scheme from a system library, the virtual lighting scheme including virtual lighting conditions of a videogame.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the virtual lighting scheme from a control stream received along with a video stream, the virtual lighting scheme including virtual lighting conditions of a movie.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing the calibration feedback comprises:

receiving a light calibration signal from a second node within the physical user environment;

receiving an audio calibration signal from the second node within the physical user environment; and

calculating a relative distance between the node and the second node from the light and audio calibration signals.

6. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

generate a topology of nodes which are distributed throughout a physical user environment by analyzing calibration feedback received from the nodes, the calibration feedback defining a relative position of a node within the physical user environment, the calibration feedback generated by causing the nodes to output calibration signals to other nodes;

cause the nodes to emit light;

obtain images of the physical user environment;

generate a three dimensional topology of the physical user environment from the images of the physical user environment and the calibration feedback; and

control the nodes to reproduce a virtual lighting scheme of a virtual environment in the physical user environment.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further:

analyzes shadows of objects included in the images to create motion vectors; and

updates the three dimensional topology using the motion vectors.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further receives the virtual lighting scheme from a system library, the virtual lighting scheme including virtual lighting conditions of a videogame.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further receives the virtual lighting scheme from a control stream received along with a video stream, the virtual lighting scheme including virtual lighting conditions of a movie.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the analyzing the calibration feedback comprises:

receiving a light calibration signal from a second node within the physical user environment;

receiving an audio calibration signal from the second node within the physical user environment; and

calculating a relative distance between the node and the second node from the light and audio calibration signals.