Electronic Game That Detects and Incorporates a User's Foot Movement

• US 20100035688A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harmonix Music Systems Incorporated (Epic Games, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MTV Networks (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Picunko, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/514,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20100035688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/70 : using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 : Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7038 : Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 : adapted for specific applications or environments
• 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 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

An electronic video system incorporates the foot movements of a user into a video program. The system includes a receiver and a computer processor. The receiver is configured to wirelessly receive signals transmitted from footwear worn by a user. The signals correspond to a series of foot movements of the user. The computer processor is operatively connected to the receiver and is configured to run the video program, which utilizes the signals received by the receiver as input data. The processor processes the input data to recognize the series of foot movements of the user, and outputs video signals simulating the series of foot movements.

Claims

1. A computer system that utilizes data corresponding to foot movements of a user, comprising:

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive signals transmitted from footwear worn by a user, the signals corresponding to a series of foot movements of the user; and

a computer processor operatively connected to the receiver and configured to run a program that utilizes the signals received by the receiver as input data,

wherein the processor processes the input data to recognize the series of foot movements of the user, the series of foot movements including one or more of;

a kick, a tap, a step, a lift, a swipe, a stomp, and a combination thereof, and

wherein the processor outputs video signals simulating the series of foot movements recognized from the input data.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a video representation that simulates the series of foot movements, based on the video signals output by the processor.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive signals from at least one sensor in the footwear.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the program is a video game.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the signals from the footwear via Bluetooth®

technology.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive signals from left and right units of the footwear corresponding to left and right feet of the user.

7. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, and an inertial tracker.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a filter for filtering the signals received from the footwear to recognize data patterns corresponding to the series of foot movements of the user.

9. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit signals to the footwear, wherein the transmitted signals include at least one or a vibrational signal, for causing vibrations to occur in the footwear, and a light signal, for causing a lighting element in the footwear to emit light.

10. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive signals transmitted from footwear of two or more users, the signals corresponding to a series of foot movements of the two or more users, and

wherein the processor processes the received signals and outputs video signals simulating the series of foot movements of the two or more users.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the program is one of:

an aerobics video program, a martial arts video program, a dance video program, a cheerleading video program, a yoga video program, a pilates video program, a driving video program, a sports video program, a weight-reduction video program, an exercise video program, and a video game program.

12. A computer-implemented method for utilizing data corresponding to foot movements of a user, comprising:

wirelessly receiving signals transmitted from footwear worn by a user, the signals corresponding to a series of foot movements of the user;

executing a computer program that utilizes the signals received by the receiver as input data;

processing the input data to recognize the series of foot movements of the user, the series of foot movements including one or more of;

a kick, a tap, a step, a lift, a swipe, a stomp, and a combination thereof; and

outputting video signals simulating the series of foot movements recognized from the input data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a video representation that simulates the series of foot movements, based on the outputted video signals.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining a plurality of training data corresponding to a foot movement; and

processing the plurality of training data to determine a data pattern representative of the foot movement,

wherein the processing of the input data to recognize the series of foot movements of the user includes filtering the input data to recognize the data pattern representative of the foot movement.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing of the input data includes filtering the input data to recognize data patterns corresponding to the series of foot movements of the user.

16. Footwear for a video-game system, comprising:

a housing unit configured to be attached to a foot of a user; and

a sensor assembly attached to the housing,

wherein the sensor assembly includes;

at least one sensor for sensing a series of foot movements of the user, and

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals to a video-game system, the signals corresponding to the series of foot movements of the user.

17. The footwear of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of:

an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a touch sensor;

a gyroscope;

a magnetometer;

an optical sensor;

an infrared sensor; and

an inertial tracker.

18. The footwear of claim 16, wherein the housing unit is a shoe, and wherein the sensor assembly is incorporated in the shoe.

19. The footwear of claim 16, wherein the housing unit is a shoe, and wherein the sensor assembly is removably attachable to the shoe.

20. The footwear of claim 16, wherein the housing unit is configured to be attachable to a shoe or to the foot of the user.

21. The footwear of claim 16, further comprising a receiver for receiving signals from the video-game system.

22. The footwear of claim 21, further comprising a lighting element, wherein the signals received from the video-game system cause the lighting element to emit light.

23. The footwear of claim 21, further comprising a vibration element, wherein the signals received from the video-game system cause the vibration element to vibrate.

24. The footwear of claim 21, further comprising a sound element, wherein the signals received from the video-game system cause the sound element to emit a sound.