Interactive virtual thematic environment

• US 7,373,377 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quantum Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Barbaro Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Altieri, Frances Barbaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boutah, Alina N.
• Application Number:
  US10/805,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709203-204, 434/308, 704/275, 725/44, 725/46, 725/91, 463/31, 463/1, 463/42, 705/1, 483/1, 703/1, 345/418
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0005 Adaptation of holography to specific applications holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of integrating information, including real-time information, into a virtual thematic environment using a computer system, including accessing the stored information from a database or downloading the real-time information from a source external to the thematic environment; inserting the real-time information into the thematic environment; and displaying the information to a user within the thematic environment. In one embodiment, the computer system is connected to a holographic projection system such that the images from the thematic environment can be projected as holographic projections. The computer system includes an interactive software application platform having at least one thematic/publishing logic module which contains thematic environment rules; at least one digital content library module which provides content management on the thematic environment; and at least one quantum imaging environment (QIE) module which interprets content such that the content is manipulated and accessed by any device.

Claims

1. A method of integrating real-time information into a virtual thematic environment using a computer system including a client and a server, comprising:

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application in the client system;

providing a first user interface that is associated with the primary application;

sending a request for first real-time information via the QIE module to the world wide web;

obtaining the first real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the first real-time information from the world wide web into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via the first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application at the client system;

sending a request for second real-time information via the QIE module;

obtaining the second real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the second real-time information into the secondary application;

enabling a user to access the at least one secondary application through the first user interface; and

enabling the user to control the at least one secondary application through a second user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first real-time information and said second real-time information include audio, video, chronological, text, GPS, or any combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first real-time information and said second real-time information are accessed by a user selection mechanism.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said selection mechanism is a voice recognition system.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said selection mechanism is a hot click button.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first real-time information and said second real-time information are displayed within the virtual thematic environment.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first real-time information and said second real-time information are provided to a user via a mobile device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first real-time information and the second real-time information are downloaded from the world wide web.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first real-time information and said second real-time information are downloaded from cable, satellite, or both.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first real-time information and said second real-time information are automatically downloaded based on actions of the user within the virtual thematic environment.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is provided with objects within the virtual thematic environment which operate in real-time with real-time information.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary application includes at least one of an entertainment application, a business application, a publishing application, a game application, a financial application, a music application, a graphic application, an education application, a medical application, a word processing application, an electronic mail application, a spreadsheet application, a static purchasing application, an instant messaging application, and a video messaging application.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising providing real time language translation of said first real-time information and said second real-time information.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein said virtual thematic environment is holographically projected.

15. A method of integrating information into a virtual thematic environment using a computer system including a client and a server, comprising:

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application for use in the client system;

accessing a database that stores at least first real-time information and second real-time information downloaded from the world wide web;

retrieving at least the first real-time information and the second real-time information from said database;

accessing the primary application;

inserting the first real-time information into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via a first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application;

downloading second real-time information into the at least one secondary application; and

enabling a user to control the at least one secondary application via a second user interface.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the virtual thematic environment is a game environment.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first real-time information and the second real-time information include audio, video, text, or any combination thereof.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first real-time information and the second real-time information is updated at predetermined intervals.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one secondary application includes at least one of an entertainment application, a business application, a publishing application, a game application, a financial application, a music application, a graphic application, an education application, a medical application, a word processing application, an electronic mail application, a spreadsheet application, a static purchasing application, an instant messaging application, and a video messaging application.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein one of said primary application or said at least one secondary application provides language translation.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said virtual thematic environment is holographically projected.

22. A computer system having a program for integrating real-time information into a virtual thematic environment, comprising:

a client system;

a server system;

a graphics user interface (GUI) module provided for use at the client system;

a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module provided at one of the client system or the server system;

a digital logic library provided at one of the client system or the server system;

means for providing a primary application at the client system;

a first user interface associated with the primary application;

means for sending a request for first real-time information via the QIE module, from the world wide web;

means for obtaining the first real-time information via the world wide web;

means for downloading the first real-time information into the primary application;

means for providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via the first user interface;

means for providing at least one secondary application within the primary application;

means for sending a request for second real-time information via the QIE module from the world wide web;

means for obtaining the second real-time information via the world wide web;

means for downloading the second real-time information into the secondary application;

means for enabling a user to access the at least one secondary application through the first user interface; and

means for enabling the user to control the at least one secondary application through a second user interface.

23. A computer system having a program for integrating information into a virtual thematic environment using a computerized system, comprising:

a client system;

a server system;

a graphics user interface (GUI) module provided for use at said client system;

a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module provided in one of said client system or the server system;

a digital logic library provided in one of the client system or the server system;

means for providing a primary application in the client system;

means for accessing a database that stores at least first real-time information and second real-time information obtained from the world wide web;

means for retrieving at least the first real-time information and the second real-time information from said database;

means for accessing a primary application;

means for inserting the first real-time information into the primary application;

means for providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via a first user interface;

means for providing at least one secondary application within the primary application;

means for downloading second real-time information into the at least one secondary application; and

means for enabling a user to control the at least one secondary application via a second user interface.

24. A computer system for integrating real-time information into a virtual thematic environment including a client system and a server system, comprising:

at least one memory device containing at least one program comprising the steps of;

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application in the client system;

providing a first user interface that is associated with the primary application;

sending a request for first real-time information via the QIE module to the world wide web;

obtaining the first real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the first real-time information from the world wide web into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via the first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application at the client system;

sending a request for second real-time information via the QIE module;

obtaining the second real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the second real-time information into the secondary application;

enabling a user to access the at least one secondary application through the first user interface; and

enabling the user to control the at least one secondary application through a second user interface; and

a microprocessor for running the program.

25. A computer system for integrating information into a virtual thematic environment including a client system and a server system, comprising:

at least one memory device having at least one program comprising the steps of;

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application for use in the client system;

accessing a database that stores at least first real-time information and second real-time information downloaded from the world wide web;

retrieving at least the first real-time information and the second real-time information from said database;

accessing the primary application;

inserting the first real-time information into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via a first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application;

downloading second real-time information into the at least one secondary application; and

enabling a user to control the at least one secondary application via a second user interface; and

a microprocessor for running the program.

26. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to integrate real-time information into a virtual thematic environment, the computer system having a program comprising the steps of:

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application in the client system;

providing a first user interface that is associated with the primary application;

sending a request for first real-time information via the QIE module to the world wide web;

obtaining the first real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the first real-time information from the world wide web into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via the first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application at the client system;

sending a request for second real-time information via the QIE module;

obtaining the second real-time information via the world wide web;

downloading the second real-time information into the secondary application;

enabling a user to access the at least one secondary application through the first user interface; and

enabling the user to control the at least one secondary application through a second user interface.

27. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to integrate information into a virtual thematic environment, the computer system having a program comprising the steps of:

providing a graphics user interface (GUI) module for use in the client system;

providing a quantum imaging environment (QIE) module in one of the client or the server system;

providing a digital logic library in one of the client or the server system;

providing a primary application for use in the client system;

accessing a database that stores at least first real-time information and second real-time information downloaded from the world wide web;

retrieving at least the first real-time information and the second real-time information from said database;

accessing the primary application;

inserting the first real-time information into the primary application;

providing access to the first real-time information within the virtual thematic environment via a first user interface;

providing at least one secondary application within the primary application;

downloading second real-time information into the at least one secondary application; and

enabling a user to control the at least one secondary application via a second user interface.