System and method for displaying an interactive event

• US 6,010,403 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Perfect Link, LLC
• Original Assignee: LBE Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Adam, Richard D., Farnham, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clayton, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US08/985,938
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/6, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43, 463/30-36, 434/43-44, 434/307, 434/308, 434/66-69, 273/441-445, 273/434
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/577 for watching a game played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to novel systems and methods for displaying an interactive event, such as a race car video game. Numerous display devices are disclosed for displaying video and audio elements of the video game to both current players and to individuals not currently playing the video game. The race car video game further has seating for two occupants, a driver and a crew member and has a separate video monitor for the crew member, through which the crew member can selectively view the race from different viewpoints and can obtain race information. The display of the race car game to individuals not currently playing the game varies according to several factors to enhance the attraction and interest in the race car video game.

Claims

1. A method of displaying significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game comprising the steps:

receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring, and what type of significant game event is occurring and to which racers;

monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals that can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having the best position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates; and

using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation.

2. A method of providing video coverage and simulated live announcer audio descriptions of significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game, comprising the steps:

receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring, and what type of significant game event is occurring and to which racers;

monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals and audio signals, wherein said video signals generated in response to each significant game event can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening in the race simulation as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having the best position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates, and wherein said audio signals generated in response to said significant game event can be used to provide a simulated live announcer'"'"'s audible description of the significant game event;

using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation; and

using said audio signals to create an audible simulation of a live announcer'"'"'s description of the significant game event as it occurs.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of generating video and audio signals during the race simulation that provide general video coverage and simulated announcements by an announcer and race sounds that a television viewer of an actual race of the type being simulated would see and hear during the television coverage during intervals between significant game events.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said event data stream includes game state data indicating the state of the race such as the simulated race is just starting or the simulated race is just finishing, and further comprising the step of monitoring said game state data and determining if there has been a change in game state, and, if the game state has changed, generating video signals and audio signals that are mapped to video and audio commands so as to create images and sounds for said bystanders that are appropriate to the new game state.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of timing the duration during which the current video and audio signals have been used to created images and sounds and monitoring said duration for the end of a predetermined interval, and when said predetermined interval is over, using a randomly generated factor to select new video and audio commands so as to change the images and sounds presented to said bystander.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of timing the duration during which the current video and audio signals have been used to created images and sounds and monitoring said duration for the end of a predetermined interval, and wherein said interval changes from a short interval of, for example, about 8 seconds at the beginning of the game to a longer interval of, for example, 20 seconds at the end of a game, and wherein said interval gets progressively longer as the race progresses and when said predetermined interval is over, determining if a randomly generated factor is going to be used to select new video and audio commands, and, if so, using said randomly generated factor to select new video and audio commands so as to change the images and sounds presented to said bystander, and, if not, selecting the next video and audio commands in a preprogrammed sequence of such commands to change the images and sounds presented to said bystanders.

7. A display apparatus for a video game, comprising:

an input for receiving an interactive event data stream containing data defining the types and times of events which are occurring in an interactive racing game simulating a real race wherein one or more players are competing against each other or computer controlled drones or both, said events including predetermined significant game events of interest to bystanders watching the race such as crashes and other events of significance to race results;

a production controller computer coupled to receive said interactive event data stream and programmed to generate video commands at a video command stream output which are used to control images displayed to said bystanders and the viewpoints of said images, and programmed to monitor said interactive event data stream for the occurrence of said significant game events and, when a significant game event occurs, to select and transmit one or more specially generated video commands, with the generation therof being controlled by which significant game event occurred to which race contestant so as to change the viewpoint and images displayed to said bystanders to show said significant game event as it happens;

a video generation system coupled to said video command stream output so as to receive said video commands and respond by generating video signals which can be displayed on a monitor or used by a video projection system to generate said images which present the action of the race and including circuitry to receive said specially selected video command or commands each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating video signals which, when displayed on a video monitor or used by a video projection system to project an image, create an image for said bystanders of the significant game event as it happens, said image being similar to the images of a race event which the significant game event simulates which the bystanders would be likely to see if they were television viewers of a race in which such a race event occurred and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a live director was controlling which signals from which cameras were broadcast to said television viewers so as to show the race event which the significant game event simulates; and

a video monitor or video projection system and projection screen, positioned such that said bystanders can watch the race and coupled to receive said video signals generated by said video generation system and display video images that show said race to said bystanders and to show to said bystanders watching said race game significant game events in said simulated race as they happen.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said event data stream includes game state data and wherein said production controller is further programmed to monitor said event data stream for a change in said game state data, and when such a change occurs, generate video commands to cause said images displayed to bystanders to be changed so as to be appropriate to the new game state.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for timing the duration during which the current video signals have been used to created images and monitoring said duration for the end of a predetermined interval, and when said predetermined interval is over, using a randomly generated factor to select new video and audio commands so as to change the images and sounds presented to said bystander.

10. A display apparatus for a video game, comprising:

an input for receiving an interactive event data stream containing data defining the types and times of events which are occurring in an interactive racing game simulating a real race wherein one or more players are competing against each other or computer controlled drones or both, said events including predetermined significant game events of interest to bystanders watching the race such as crashes and other events of significance to race results;

an audio/video production controller computer coupled to receive said interactive event data stream and programmed to generate video commands at a video command stream output and audio commands at an audio command stream output, said video commands for use in controlling viewpoints of video images which show the race to bystanders and said audio commands for use in generating simulated announcer commentary and race sounds to give bystanders audio information about the race, said audio/video production controller also programmed to monitor said interactive event data stream for the occurrence of said significant game events and, when a significant game event occurs, to transmit out said video command stream output one or more specially generated video commands and to transmit out said audio command stream output one or more specially generated audio commands;

a video generation system coupled to said video command stream output so as to receive said video commands and respond by generating video signals which can be displayed on a monitor or used by a video projection system to generate video images which present the action of the race, said video generation system also containing circuits to receive said specially selected video viewpoint command each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating video signals which, when displayed on a video monitor or used by a video projection system to project a video image, create an image of the significant game event selected to show the significant game event to bystanders watching the race game as if the race game bystanders were television viewers watching a race on television and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a live director was controlling which signals from which cameras were broadcast to said television viewers so as to show a significant race event which the significant game event represents and simulates;

an audio generation system coupled to said audio command stream output so as to receive said audio commands and respond by generating audio signals which can be played through a speaker which describe the action of the race and/or provide other sounds a real spectator at a race might hear, said audio generation system also containing circuits to receive said one or more specially selected audio commands each time a significant game event occurs and respond by generating audio signals which, when played through a speaker simulate an announcer describing the significant game event to bystanders watching the race game as if the race game bystanders were television viewers watching a race on television and a live television camera crew with multiple cameras were covering the race and a announcer was describing a significant race event which the significant game event represents and simulates; and

a video monitor or video projection system and projection screen, positioned such that said bystanders can watch the race and coupled to receive said video signals generated by said video generation system and display video images that show said race to said bystanders and to show to said bystanders watching said race game significant game events in said simulated race as they happen.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said event data stream includes game state data indicating the state of the race such as the simulated race is just starting or the simulated race is just finishing, and further comprising means for monitoring said game state data and determining if there has been a change in game state, and, if the game state has changed, generating video signals and audio signals that are mapped to video and audio commands selected from a list of preprogrammed video and audio command which video and audio commands can be used to create images and sounds for said bystanders that are appropriate to the new game state.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for timing the duration during which the current video and audio signals have been used to created images and sounds and monitoring said duration for the end of a predetermined interval, and when said predetermined interval is over, determining if a randomly generated factor is going to be used to select new video and audio commands, and, if so, using said randomly generated factor to select new video and audio commands so as to change the images and sounds presented to said bystander, and, if not, selecting the next video and audio commands in a preprogrammed sequence of such commands to change the images and sounds presented to said bystanders.

13. An apparatus for displaying significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game comprising:

an input for receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring and the type of event which is occurring and to which racers;

means for monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals that can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having a position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates; and

means for using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation.

14. An apparatus for providing video coverage and simulated live announcer audio descriptions of significant game events to bystanders watching a race simulation game, comprising:

an input for receiving an event data stream from any video game system which simulates a race, said event data stream containing data which indicates when significant game events are occurring and the type of event which is occurring and to which racers;

means for monitoring said event data stream for data indicating significant game events are occurring and responding to said significant game events by generating video signals and audio signals, wherein said video signals generated in response to each significant game event can be used to create an image of the significant game event as it is happening in the race simulation as if an actual race was being covered by a live television crew with multiple cameras and a live director was controlling which camera signals were selected for broadcast to a television viewing audience and the director selected the camera or cameras having a position to show the event in the race which the significant game event simulates, and wherein said audio signals generated in response to said significant game event can be used to provide a simulated live announcer'"'"'s audible description of the significant game event; and

video image generation means for using said video signals to create an image of said significant game event on a monitor visible to bystanders watching the race simulation or using said video signals in a video projection system to create and project video images of the significant game event on a screen visible to bystanders watching the race simulation;

audio sound generation means for using said audio signals to create an audible simulation of a live announcer'"'"'s description of the significant game event as it occurs.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for monitoring said event data stream also generates video and audio signals during intervals between significant game events that provide general coverage of the simulated race.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said event data stream includes data indicating the status of the game and wherein said means for monitoring said event data stream also functions to monitor said event data stream for changes in game state, and changes said video and audio signals whenever there is detected a change in the game state to generate images and create sounds for the bystanders that are appropriate for the current game state, and wherein said means for monitoring also monitors a timer or counter to determine when the current video and audio signals have been used for a predetermined interval which increases in length over the duration of the game, and when said predetermined interval has elapsed, changing the video and audio signals output to said video image generation means and said audio sound generation means so as to change the images and sounds from the simulated race being presented to said bystander.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said monitoring functions are weighted such that the change of game state is weighted the highest in importance in priority to change said video and audio signals being generated, followed by any significant game event followed by said monitoring of said predetermined interval, said weighting operating to cause said monitoring function to look first for any game state change, and if a game state change is found, changing the video and audio signals in response thereto, and if no game state change has occurred, then monitoring said event data stream for the occurrence of a significant game event, and if one has occurred, changing said video and audio signals accordingly, and if no significant game event has occurred, then determining if said predetermined interval has passed and changing said video and audio signals when said predetermined interval has expired.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for monitoring changes said video signal much more frequently than it changes said audio signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said video image generation means comprises a computer having a 3D accelerator video circuit and wherein said audio sound generation means comprises a computer with an audio signal generation circuit coupled to an audio storage element having a library of audio samples of commentary and race sounds each of which can be selectively played in response to receipt by said audio signal generation circuit of a particular audio command generated by said means for monitoring.

20. A method for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game having a simulated vehicle with at least two places being maneuvered through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with a driver display visible from both a driver position and a crew position in a simulated vehicle and a crew monitor positioned closest to a crew station in said simulated vehicle and having one or more crew switches located adjacent said crew monitor, comprising the steps:

displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered;

displaying images on said crew monitor which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the situation to convey to said driver;

monitoring the positions of said crew switches for changes in position indicating said crew member is requesting different images displayed on said crew monitor at least some of which may bear different information than the images previously displayed, and displaying the requested images on said crew monitor.

21. A method for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game having a simulated vehicle with at least two places being maneuvered through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with a driver display visible from at least the driver position and a crew monitor positioned closest to a crew station in said simulated vehicle, comprising the steps:

displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation or environment through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered;

displaying one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver.

22. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:

a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle and having one or more crew switches located adjacent said crew monitor;

means for displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered and for changing the position and/or orientation or speed of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment in response to manipulation of said controls;

means for displaying images on said crew monitor which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the situation in said race or other environment to convey to said driver;

means for monitoring the positions of said crew switches for changes in position indicating said crew member is requesting that different images be displayed on said crew monitor at least some of which may bear different information about the situation in said race or other environment than the images previously displayed, and for displaying the requested images on said crew monitor.

23. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:

a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle;

means for displaying on said driver display images depicting a simulated race or any other simulated situation through which said simulated vehicle is being maneuvered and for changing the position and/or orientation or speed of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment in response to manipulation of said controls; and

means for displaying one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver.

24. An apparatus for displaying video information to a crew member position in a simulation game, comprising:

a simulated vehicle with at least two places with controls to allow a driver to maneuver said simulated vehicle through a race or any other environment, said simulated vehicle having a driver station with at least one driver display visible from at least a driver position and having a crew position, and having a crew monitor visible at least from said crew station in said simulated vehicle;

a vehicle dynamics computer coupled to receive operator inputs from said controls and programmed to model the simulated responses said simulated vehicle would make in response to said control manipulations if it was a real vehicle, and programmed to receive information from vehicle dynamics computers modelling the response of other simulated vehicles in said race or other environment, and programmed to model the entire race or other environment;

a driver display computer coupled to drive said driver display and to receive race or environment modelling data from said vehicle dynamics computer indicating the situation in said race or other environment and programmed to use said race or environment modelling data to generate video signals to drive said driver display to display an image that depicts the position, speed, acceleration and orientation of said simulated vehicle in said race or other environment;

a crew display computer coupled to drive said crew display and coupled to receive race or environment modelling data from said vehicle dynamics computer and using said modelling data to generate video signals which drive said crew monitor to display one or more images on said crew monitor which are different from the images being displayed on said driver monitor and which are useful to a crew member sitting at said crew station for gathering information about the race or other situation to convey to said driver.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising one or more crew switches located adjacent to said crew monitor and which can be manipulated by a crew member sitting in said crew station of said simulated vehicle to request more or different displays, and wherein said crew display computer is programmed to monitor the positions of said one or more crew switches and to determine which images or data said crew member is requesting by manipulating of said one or more switches and using said modelling data to generate one or more video images and/or data displays requested by said crew member.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

a rear view display;

a left side display;

a right side display;

a rear view display computer coupled to drive said rear view display and to receive said modelling data from said vehicle dynamics model computer, and programmed to use said modelling data to generate video signals to drive said rear view display to display an image of the situation in said race or other environment behind said simulated vehicle;

a left side display computer coupled to drive said left side display and to receive said modelling data from said vehicle dynamics model computer, and programmed to use said modelling data to generate video signals to drive said left side display to display an image of the situation in said race or other environment on the left side of said simulated vehicle; and

a right side display computer coupled to drive said right side display and to receive said modelling data from said vehicle dynamics model computer, and programmed to use said modelling data to generate video signals to drive said right side display to display an image of the situation in said race or other environment on the right side of said simulated vehicle.