SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANIPULATION OF OBJECTS

• US 20120322556A1
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetris Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tetris Holding, LLC
• Inventors: Rogers, Henk B., Eden, Jared Wiant, Boon, Mark, Cook, Nicholas Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• 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 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24 Classification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for manipulating an object include a display for displaying an object where the object has a geometric shape and is arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape. The display also displays at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object. The system includes a user interface for receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape. A processor, in communication with the display and user interface, determines one or more possible orientations of the object including the second orientation and arranges the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating an object comprising:

displaying the object via a display, the object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

displaying at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object;

receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape; and

arranging the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising setting a time limit for manipulating the object from when the object is first displayed.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising moving the object from a first position toward a second position on the display at a rate of movement.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time limit is based on the rate of movement of the object and the second position on the display.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising determining one or more orientations of the object including the second orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is two-dimensional.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the geometric shape includes at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is three-dimensional.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying all possible orientations of the geometric shape in proximity to the object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is via at least one of a pointer device, touch screen, audio input, voice command, eye tracking, gaze tracking, EEG-based thought control, camera-based body movement, gesture tracking, and buttons.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input changes the position of the object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the change in position includes a change in at least one of a horizontal and vertical position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user input includes selecting the object and dragging the object to a desired position on the display.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the object represents a physical item of substantially corresponding shape.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein arranging the orientation of the object results in a corresponding arranging of the orientation of the physical item.

16. A system for manipulating an object comprising:

a computer;

a computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the computer, the computer readable medium storing program codes causing the computer to perform functions comprising;

displaying the object via a display, the object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

displaying at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object;

receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape; and

arranging the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.

17. A portable electronic device for manipulating an object comprising:

a display for displaying the object, the object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape and displaying at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object;

a user interface for receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape; and

a processor in communication with the display and user interface for arranging the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.

18. A method for manipulating a first object in relation to one or more other objects comprising:

displaying the one or more other objects on a display such that each of the other objects is arranged adjacent to at least another object of the other objects, each of the other objects having a geometric shape and being arranged in an orientation of the geometric shape, each of the one or more other objects being non-overlapping with respect to any other objects;

displaying the first object in a first position on the display, the first object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

receiving a user input to select a destination position and orientation of the first object, wherein the destination position is adjacent to at least one of the one or more other objects, the first object being non-overlapping with respect to any one of the other objects; and

positioning and orienting the object at the destination position and orientation in response to the user input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of the display adjacent to the one or more other objects on the display.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising displaying one or more destination position and orientation candidates that correspond to the selected portion of the display.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising adjusting the selected portion of the display to determine the destination position and orientation of the first object.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting includes highlighting one or more cells of the display, the one or more cells including a shape of a mino of at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the user input includes clicking and holding a pointing device button.

24. The method of claim 18 comprising determining the best destination position and orientation of the object based on at least one of a selected portion of the display, the geometric shape of the object, the geometric shape of one or more subsequently available objects, one or more possible destination position and orientation candidates, the height to width ratio of an object or the other objects, the number and position of any empty cells adjacent to the other objects, any gaps adjacent to the other objects, any empty cells or gaps subsequent to positioning and orienting the object.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of the display.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the selected potion of the display includes one or more cells, each cell including the shape of a mino of at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the destination position and orientation corresponds to the determined best destination position and orientation.

28. The method of claim 18 comprising determining one or more best destination position and orientation candidates of the object based on at least one of a selected portion of the display, the geometric shape of the object, the geometric shape of one or more subsequently available objects, one or more possible destination position and orientation candidates, the height to width ratio of an object or the other objects, the number and position of any empty cells adjacent to the other objects, any gaps adjacent to the other objects, any empty cells or gaps subsequent to positioning and orienting the object.

29. The method of claim 28 comprising displaying the one or more candidates in a format other than the format for the first object and the one or more other objects.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the format includes at least one of a color, shading, transparency, texture, and patterning.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the user input includes selecting a portion of one of the best destination position and orientation candidates.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more candidates include a first set of best destination position and orientation candidates.

33. The method of claim 32 comprising displaying a second set of best destination position and orientation candidates instead of the first set of candidates in response to a second user input.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the second user input includes selecting a button on the display.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the best destination position and orientation candidates do not overlap and are not adjacent to each other.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein determining includes determining an order or rank of the candidates such that the first set of candidates includes candidates having a higher order or rank than candidates of the second set.

37. The method of claim 18 comprising setting a time limit for manipulating the object from when the object is first displayed.

38. The method of claim 37 comprising moving the object from a first position toward a second position on the display at a rate of movement.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the time limit is based on the rate of movement of the object and the second position on the display.

40. The method of claim 18, wherein the geometric shape is two-dimensional.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the geometric shape includes at least one of a tetromino, trimino, pentomino, and polyomino.

42. The method of claim 18, wherein the geometric shape is three-dimensional.

43. A system for manipulating a first object in relation to one or more other objects comprising:

a computer;

a computer readable medium, operatively coupled to the computer, the computer readable medium storing program codes causing the computer to perform functions comprising;

displaying the one or more other objects on a display such that each of the other objects is arranged adjacent to at least another object of the other objects, each of the other objects having a geometric shape and being arranged in an orientation of the geometric shape, each of the one or more other objects being non-overlapping with respect to any other objects;

displaying the first object in a first position on the display, the first object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

receiving a user input to select a destination position and orientation of the first object, wherein the destination position is adjacent to at least one of the one or more other objects, the first object being non-overlapping with respect to any one of the other objects; and

positioning and orienting the object at the destination position and orientation in response to the user input.

44. A portable electronic device for manipulating a first object in relation to one or more other objects comprising:

a display arranged to i) display the one or more other objects such that each of the other objects is arranged adjacent to at least another object of the other objects, each of the other objects having a geometric shape and being arranged in an orientation of the geometric shape, each of the one or more other objects being non-overlapping with respect to any other objects, and ii) display the first object in a first position on the display, the first object having a geometric shape and being arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape;

a user interface arranged to receive a user input to select a destination position and orientation of the first object, wherein the destination position is adjacent to at least one of the one or more other objects, the first object being non-overlapping with respect to any one of the other objects; and

a processor in communication with the display and user interface arranged to position and orient the object at the destination position and orientation in response to the user input.