Allowing media and gaming environments to effectively interact and/or affect each other

• US 9,839,851 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ng, Stanley C., Lampell, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/669,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463 30- 32, 463 42
• 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 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• 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: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A gaming environment can be affected based on one or more aspects of a media environment. By way of example, gaming content and/or the gaming experience provided and/or suggested to an individual can be tailored based on his/her musical profile effectively obtained from the media environment associated with the individual. Similarly, a media environment can be affected by a gaming environment. By way of example, musical content provided and/or suggested to an individual can be based on his/her gaming profile. In addition, an open media-gaming environment can be provided where various media and gaming components can be integrated together. By way of example, an individual can identify one or more of his favorite songs to be presented for a game. The game can be packaged and/or sold without the song(s) but configured to receive and effectively provide them for game play.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for an electronic device configured to execute an electronic gaming application, comprising:

executing, by one or more processors of the electronic device, the electronic gaming application stored in a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein first gaming content of the electronic gaming application is presented via an output device of the electronic device during the execution, and wherein the output device comprises one or more of an audio output device and a display device;

extracting, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, first metadata describing one or more characteristics of the first gaming content;

determining, during the execution and based on the first metadata, second metadata associated with a digital media asset comprising digital content, the second metadata describing one or more characteristics of the digital content, wherein the digital media asset is associated with a digital media asset presentation application that is executable by the one or more processors of the electronic device and unrelated to the electronic gaming application, wherein the digital media asset is unrelated to the electronic gaming application and the first gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the first metadata with the second metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the first metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata;

receiving, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the digital media asset in response to the determination;

generating, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, second gaming content comprising the digital media asset and the first gaming content; and

causing, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the second gaming content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first metadata comprises one or more of:

a speed associated with the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game character represented by the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game scene represented by the first gaming content,

a difficulty level associated with the first gaming content,

a game category associated with the first gaming content, and

a setting associated with the first gaming content.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second metadata comprises one or more of:

a graphical object associated with the digital content,

a number of beats per minute associated with the digital content,

a title associated with the digital content,

a genre associated with the digital content,

a number of presentation times of the digital content,

a volume associated with the digital content,

a bass associated with the digital content,

a treble associated with the digital content,

a playlist associated with the digital content, and

a location associated with presentation of the digital content.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first metadata is extracted from a profile associated with a user or an owner of the electronic gaming application.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second metadata is extracted from one or more of:

a profile associated with an owner of the digital media asset,

a profile associated with a user of the digital media asset presentation application, and

an online marketplace comprising a plurality of digital media assets including the digital media asset.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the first metadata to a server via a communications network, wherein at least some of the determination is performed by one or more processors of the server and wherein the one or more processors of the electronic device receive the digital media asset from the server via the communications network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, during the execution and based on the second metadata, third metadata describing one or more other characteristics of the first gaming content, wherein third gaming content corresponds to the third metadata, wherein each of the first and second gaming content differs from the third gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the second metadata with the third metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the third metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata; and

receiving, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the third gaming content in response to the determination of the third metadata;

generating, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, fourth gaming content comprising the second and third gaming content; and

causing, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the fourth gaming content.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, the instructions comprising instructions for an electronic device configured to execute an electronic gaming application, which when executed by one or more processors of the electronic device cause the one or more processors of the electronic device to:

execute, by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the electronic gaming application stored in a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein first gaming content of the electronic gaming application is presented via an output device of the electronic device during the execution, and wherein the output device comprises one or more of an audio output device and a display device;

extract, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, first metadata describing one or more characteristics of the first gaming content;

determine, during the execution and based on the first metadata, second metadata associated with a digital media asset comprising digital content, the second metadata describing one or more characteristics of the digital content, wherein the digital media asset is associated with a digital media asset presentation application that is executable by the one or more processors of the electronic device and unrelated to the electronic gaming application, wherein the digital media asset is unrelated to the electronic gaming application and the first gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the first metadata with the second metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the first metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata;

receive, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the digital media asset in response to the determination;

generate, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, second gaming content comprising the digital media asset and the first gaming content; and

cause, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the second gaming content.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first metadata comprises one or more of:

a speed associated with the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game character represented by the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game scene represented by the first gaming content,

a difficulty level associated with the first gaming content,

a game category associated with the first gaming content, and

a setting associated with the first gaming content.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second metadata comprises one or more of:

a graphical object associated with the digital content,

a number of beats per minute associated with the digital content,

a title associated with the digital content,

a genre associated with the digital content,

a number of presentation times of the digital content,

a volume associated with the digital content,

a bass associated with the digital content,

a treble associated with the digital content,

a playlist associated with the digital content, and

a location associated with presentation of the digital content.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first metadata is extracted from a profile associated with a user or an owner of the gaming application.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second metadata is extracted from one or more of:

a profile associated with an owner of the digital media asset,

a profile associated with a user of the digital media asset presentation application, and

an online marketplace comprising a plurality of digital media assets including the digital media asset.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further comprise additional instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device cause the one or more processors of the electronic device to:

transmit, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the first metadata to a server via a communications network, wherein at least some of the determination is performed by one or more processors of the server and wherein the one or more processors of the electronic device receive the digital media asset from the server via the communications network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions further comprise additional instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device cause the one or more processors of the electronic device to:

determine, during the execution and based on the second metadata, third metadata describing one or more other characteristics of the first gaming content, wherein third gaming content corresponds to the third metadata, wherein each of the first and second gaming content differs from the third gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the second metadata with the third metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the third metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata; and

receive, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the third gaming content in response to the determination of the third metadata;

generate, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, fourth gaming content comprising the second and third gaming content; and

cause, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the fourth gaming content.

15. A system, comprising:

an electronic device configured to execute an electronic gaming application and a server communicatively coupled to the electronic device via a communications network,

the electronic device configured to;

execute, by one or more processors of the electronic device, the electronic gaming application stored in a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein first gaming content of the electronic gaming application is presented via an output device of the electronic device during the execution, and wherein the output device comprises one or more of an audio output device and a display device;

extract, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, first metadata describing one or more characteristics of the first gaming content; and

transmit the first metadata to the server;

the server configured to;

receive the first metadata from the electronic device;

determine, during the execution and based on the first metadata, second metadata associated with a digital media asset comprising digital content, the second metadata describing one or more characteristics of the digital content, wherein the digital media asset is associated with a digital media asset presentation application that is executable by the one or more processors of the electronic device and unrelated to the electronic gaming application, wherein the digital media asset is unrelated to the electronic gaming application and the first gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the first metadata with the second metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the first metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata; and

transmit the digital media asset to the electronic device; and

the electronic device further configured to;

receive, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the digital media asset from the server;

generate, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, second gaming content comprising the digital media asset and the first gaming content; and

cause, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the second gaming content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first metadata comprises one or more of:

a speed associated with the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game character represented by the first gaming content,

an attribute associated with a game scene represented by the first gaming content,

a difficulty level associated with the first gaming content,

a game category associated with the first gaming content, and

a setting associated with the first gaming content.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second metadata comprises one or more of:

a graphical object associated with the digital content,

a number of beats per minute associated with the digital content,

a title associated with the digital content,

a genre associated with the digital content,

a number of presentation times of the digital content,

a volume associated with the digital content,

a bass associated with the digital content,

a treble associated with the digital content,

a playlist associated with the digital content, and

a location associated with presentation of the digital content.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first metadata is extracted from a profile associated with a user or an owner of the electronic gaming application.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second metadata is extracted from one or more of:

a profile associated with an owner of the digital media asset,

a profile associated with a user of the digital media asset presentation application, and

an online marketplace comprising a plurality of digital media assets including the digital media asset.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is further configured to:

determine, during the execution and based on the second metadata, third metadata describing one or more other characteristics of the first gaming content, wherein third gaming content corresponds to the third metadata, wherein each of the first and second gaming content differs from the third gaming content, and wherein the determination comprises correlating the second metadata with the third metadata based on matching a contemporaneous characteristic of the first gaming content described by the third metadata with a characteristic of the digital content described by the second metadata; and

receive, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the third gaming content in response to the determination of the third metadata;

generate, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, fourth gaming content comprising the second and third gaming content; and

cause, during the execution and by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the output device of the electronic device to output the fourth gaming content.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the third metadata is extracted from:

a profile associated with an owner of the digital media asset,

a profile associated with a user of the digital media asset presentation application, and

an online marketplace comprising a plurality of gaming content including the third gaming content.