MULTIPLY INTERCONNECTABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY INTERACTIVE CHARACTER SIMULATION MODULE METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20100216548A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Conceptioneering Limited
• Original Assignee: Conceptioneering Limited
• Inventors: Ellis, Anthony Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/721,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/004 Artificial life, i.e. computing arrangements simulating life

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game, including a first module having a housing, a processor, a display operably coupled to the processor and an electrical contact positioned such that access is available to the electrical contact of the first module through the first module housing, and a second module having a housing, a processor, a display operably coupled to the processor and an electrical contact positioned such that access is available to the electrical contact of the second module through the second module housing, the electrical contact of the second module configured to contact the electrical contact of the first module, allowing the processor of the first module to communicate with the processor of the second module. Wherein when the processor of the second module is in communication with the processor of the first module, the first module display and the second module display are configured to each display a portion of a the game, each such portion configured to not overlap each other such portion.

Claims

1. A module, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit that stores one or more computer-readable instructions, that when executed by the processor, implement a method, the method comprising;

selectively displaying a first animation sequence of a first simulated character based on a first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors;

receiving connection information indicating a physical connection status of the module with a second module; and

in response to the connection status,

processing module information associated with the second module;

modifying the first animation sequence based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors; and

displaying the modified animation sequence.

2. The module of claim 1, further in response to the connection status, transmitting character animation information to the second module based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

3. The module of claim 1, further in response to the connection status, receiving the module information from the second module.

4. The module of claim 1 wherein the module information includes character animation information that enables the display of an animation sequence of a second simulated character based on a second set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

5. The module of claim 1 wherein the module information includes properties of the second module.

6. The module of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises receiving sensor input information, and in response to the sensor input information, selectively modifying at least one of the animation sequence and the modified animation sequence.

7. The module of claim 6 wherein the sensor input information includes at least one of light sensor information, sound sensor information, and orientation sensor information.

8. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-readable instructions, that, when executed, implement a method for controlling an animation, the method comprising;

selectively displaying on a first module a first animation sequence of a first simulated character based on a first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors;

receiving connection information indicating a physical connection status of the first module with a second module; and

in response to the connection status,

processing module information associated with the second module;

automatically modifying the first animation sequence based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors; and

displaying the modified animation sequence.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further in response to the connection status, transmitting character animation information to the second module based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, further in response to the connection status, receiving the module information from the second module.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the module information includes character animation information that enables the display of an animation sequence of a second simulated character based on a second set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the module information includes properties of the second module.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises receiving sensor input information, and in response to the sensor input information, selectively modifying at least one of the animation sequence and the modified animation sequence.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the sensor input information includes at least one of light sensor information, sound sensor information, and orientation sensor information.

15. A method of animating a simulated character, the method comprising:

selectively displaying on a first module a first animation sequence of a first simulated character based on a first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors;

receiving connection information indicating a physical connection status of the first module with a second module; and

in response to the connection status,

processing module information associated with the second module;

automatically modifying the first animation sequence based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors; and

displaying the modified animation sequence.

16. The method of claim 15 further in response to the connection status, transmitting character animation information to the second module based on the module information and the first set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

17. The method of claim 15, further in response to the connection status, receiving the module information from the second module.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the module information includes character animation information that enables the display of an animation sequence of a second simulated character based on a second set of at least one of character attributes and behaviors.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the module information includes properties of the second module.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving sensor input information, and in response to the sensor input information, selectively modifying at least one of the animation sequence and the modified animation sequence.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the sensor input information includes at least one of light sensor information, sound sensor information, and orientation sensor information.