INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING STORED THEREIN INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INPUT DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20120209563A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: TAKEDA, Genyo, Wakitani, Noboru
• Granted Patent: US 9,555,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/159
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/428 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 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

An example of a configuration of an information processing system of the exemplary embodiment includes a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put and an information processing apparatus for processing data obtained from the first input device. The first input device includes a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is put; and a distance data output unit. The distance data output unit outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first platform. The information processing apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and a processing unit. The data acquisition unit acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit. The processing unit performs a predetermined process, based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition unit.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put and an information processing apparatus for processing data obtained from the first input device, wherein

the first input device comprises:

a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is put; and

at least one distance data output unit for outputting distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first platform, and

the information processing apparatus comprises;

a data acquisition unit for acquiring the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit; and

a processing unit for performing a predetermined process, based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition unit.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

a surface, on which a user puts his/her foot sole, is set on the platform surface of the first platform, and

the at least one distance data output unit is disposed below the surface, and outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object present above the surface.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein

a pair of surfaces, on which the user puts his/her feet soles, respectively, is provided on the platform surface of the first platform, and

the at least one distance data output unit is disposed below at least one of the pair of surfaces, and outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object present above the at least one of the pair of surfaces.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein

the distance data output unit is disposed below each of the pair of surfaces, and outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object present above the surface.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein two of the distance data output unit are disposed below the platform surface at a predetermined distance therebetween in a direction along with the platform surface.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first platform comprises a plurality of projections projected from the platform surface.

7. The information processing system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of projections are configured in an up/down movable manner so as to be in a state in which either the plurality of projections project from the platform surface or the plurality of projections retract from the platform surface.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the processing unit comprises a parameter calculation unit for calculating a parameter corresponding to an energy consumed by the user, based on a distance in accordance with the distance data, and

the processing unit performs a predetermined process, based on the parameter calculated by the parameter calculation unit.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter so that the longer the distance in accordance with the distance data is, the larger the energy becomes.

10. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

the distance data output unit repeatedly outputs the distance data determined in accordance with the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the platform surface of the first platform,

the data acquisition unit repeatedly acquires the distance data repeatedly outputted by the distance data output unit, and

the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter each time the data acquisition unit repeatedly acquires the distance data.

11. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on a maximum value of the distance during a period in which the distance in accordance with the distance data is indicating a predetermined value or above.

12. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on an integration value of the distance in accordance with the distance data.

13. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on a maximal value of the distance in accordance with the distance data.

14. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

a plurality of the distance data output units is disposed below the platform surface, and each outputs distance data determined in accordance with a distance to the object present above the platform surface, and

the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on a distance in accordance with the distance data outputted by each of the plurality of distance data output units, and, by summing the parameters, calculates a parameter corresponding to an accumulated energy consumed by the user.

15. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

the processing unit comprises a count calculation unit for calculating the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down on the platform surface, based on the data outputted by the first input device, and

the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down, calculated by the count calculation unit, and the distance in accordance with the distance data.

16. The information processing system according to claim 15, wherein the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter so that the greater the number of times the user has moved his/her feet up and down, calculated by the count calculation unit, is, the larger the energy becomes.

17. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the distance data output unit comprises:

a radiation unit for radiating a predetermined wave in the direction away from the platform surface of the first platform;

a reception unit for receiving a reflected wave which is the predetermined wave reflected from the object; and

a detection unit for detecting the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the platform surface of the first platform, using information regarding the reflected wave received by the reception unit.

18. The information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the detection unit detects the distance, based on a position at which the reflected wave is received.

19. The information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the detection unit detects the distance, based on time at which the reflected wave has been received.

20. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data output unit wirelessly transmits the distance data to the information processing apparatus directly or via other apparatus.

21. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the information processing system further comprises:

a second input device to which operation input by the user is allowed; and

a cable connecting between the first input device and the second input device,

the distance data output unit outputs the distance data to the second input device via the cable, and

the second input device comprises a transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, data representing the operation input to the second input device, together with the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit.

22. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input device further comprises at least one load data output unit for outputting load data determined in accordance with a load applied to the first platform,

the data acquisition unit acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit and the load data outputted by the load data output unit, and

the processing unit performs the predetermined process, based on the distance data and the load data acquired by the data acquisition unit.

23. The information processing system according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of the load data output units is disposed below the first platform at different positions, and each outputs the load data determined in accordance with the load applied to the first platform.

24. The information processing system according to claim 22, wherein

the first input device comprises:

a first housing having a second platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is put;

a second housing, having the first platform, detachably mounted on a platform surface of the second platform so as to have the first platform face up,

the first housing is provided with at least the load data output unit,

the second housing is provided with at least the distance data output unit, and

the load data output unit outputs, via the second housing, the load data determined in accordance with the load applied to the first platform.

25. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a display control unit for displaying, on a display device, a result of the predetermined process performed by the processing unit.

26. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the processing unit comprises:

a determination unit for determining whether a distance in accordance with the distance data acquired by the data acquisition unit reaches a predetermined value; and

an informing unit for informing the user of a message determined in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit.

27. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

the first input device further comprises at least one load data output unit for outputting load data determined in accordance with a load applied to the first platform,

the data acquisition unit acquires the distance data outputted by the distance data output unit and the load data outputted by the load data output unit, and

the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on the distance in accordance with the distance data and a load in accordance with the load data.

28. The information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

the information processing apparatus further comprises a weight acquisition unit for acquiring weight of weights borne by the user on the first input device, in accordance with user input, and

the parameter calculation unit calculates the parameter, based on the distance in accordance with the distance data and the weight acquired by the weight acquisition unit.

29. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the distance data output unit detects the distance to the object positioned in the direction away from the platform surface of the first platform, and outputs the distance data representing the distance.

30. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus:

for which data outputted by a first input device, on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put, is available; and

for processing data obtained from the first input device, wherein

the information processing program causing the computer to execute;

acquiring, from the first input device, distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first input device; and

performing a predetermined process, based on the acquired distance data.

31. An information processing apparatus:

for which data outputted by a first input device, on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put, is available; and

for processing data obtained from the first input device, the information processing apparatus comprising;

a data acquisition unit for acquiring, from the first input device, distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first input device; and

a processing unit for performing a predetermined process, based on the distance data acquired by the data acquisition unit.

32. An input device, comprising:

a first platform on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is put; and

a distance data output unit for outputting, to other device, distance data determined in accordance with a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first platform.

33. An information processing method for processing data obtained from a first input device on which at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body is allowed to be put, the information processing method comprising:

detecting a distance to an object positioned in a direction away from a platform surface of the first platform; and

performing a predetermined process, based on the detected distance.