Methods and systems for providing programmable computerized interactors

• US 7,724,236 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Dougherty, Thomas J., Thomas, Greg, Cummings, Daniel E., Weil, Emily, Mountford, S. Joy
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck; Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US11/212,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18.01, 178 1901- 2004, 273/237, 273/238, 345156-158, 345/170, 345173-177, 345/179, 434/156, 434/159, 434/224, 446/91, 446/118, 446/484, 446/485
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/055 Spint toy, i.e. specifically designed for children, e.g. adapted for smaller fingers or simplified in some way; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces with simplified control features

Abstract

A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating.

Claims

1. A set of interactors, each interactor suitable for placement within a three-dimensional (3-D) detection space of a computerized interactor system to affect a game executing on the computerized interactor system, the set of interactors comprising:

a first interactor that includes;

a first identity circuitry configured to provide the computerized interactor system with an identity of the first interactor and a position of the first interactor within the 3-D detection space, wherein the identity and the position of the first interactor operates to automatically select a first game to be played on the computerized interactor system; and

a first user programmable state circuitry responsive to the computerized interactor system, configured to receive user control input and provide a state of the first interactor;

wherein upon receiving the user control input, the first user programmable state circuitry causes an interrupt to be generated for the computerized interactor system,

wherein, when received by the computerized interactor system, a combination of the identity of the first interactor, the position of the first interactor and the state of the first interactor, affects the first game executing on the computerized interactor system; and

a second interactor that includes;

a second identity circuitry configured to provide the computerized interactor system with an identity of the second interactor and a position of the second interactor within the 3-D detection space, wherein the identity and the position of the second interactor operates to automatically select a second game to be played on the computerized interactor system; and

a second user programmable state circuitry responsive to the computerized interactor system, configured to receive user control input and provide a state of the second interactor;

wherein upon receiving the user control input, the second user programmable state circuitry causes an interrupt to be generated for the computerized interactor system,

wherein, when received by the computerized interactor system, a combination of the identity of the second interactor, the position of the second interactor and the state of the second interactor, affects the second game executing on the computerized interactor system.

2. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first identity circuitry includes a first resistor having a value, wherein the value defines the identity of the first interactor.

3. The set of interactors of claim 2, wherein the first resistor has a value unique among other resistors of the set of interactors.

4. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first user programmable state circuitry includes a first variable resistor having a value that is adjustable by a user, wherein the value defines the state of the first interactor.

5. The set of interactors of claim 4, wherein the first interactor further includes a user adjustable knob that when manipulated adjusts the value of the first variable resistor.

6. The set of interactors of claim 4, wherein the first interactor further includes a squeezable transducer that when squeezed adjusts the value of the first variable resistor.

7. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first interactor is a translucent bead interactor.

8. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first user programmable state circuitry includes first memory configured to store information.

9. The set of interactors of claim 8, wherein the first memory is configured to store sound recordings.

10. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first user programmable state circuitry is configured to store a plurality of state values.

11. The set of interactors of claim 1, wherein the first interactor further includes a first sound recording medium arranged such that a user can record a playable sound message thereon.

12. The interactor of claim 1, wherein the game executing on the computerized interactor system includes a mystery game, and wherein the position of the interactor, when received by the computerized interactor system, causes the mystery game to provide a clue associated with the mystery game.

13. The interactor of claim 1, wherein the game executing on the computerized interactor system includes a time-related aspect, and wherein the position of the interactor, when received by the computerized interactor system, causes the game to provide an indication associated with time.

14. A system for allowing a user to control a game executing on a computer, the system comprising:

a set of interactors, each interactor having a different identity, the set of interactors including at least a first interactor that automatically selects a first game to be played on the computer and a second interactor that automatically selects a second game to be played on the computer;

a three-dimensional (3-D) detection space coupled to the computer; and

a processor, coupled to a memory, configured to;

generate a play array that includes data corresponding to a position and an identity of each interactor positioned within the 3-D detection space;

determine from the play array that either the first interactor or the second interactor is positioned within the 3-D detection space;

based on the determination, automatically begin executing either the first game or the second game;

execute instructions including game instructions to perform a game action in either the first game or the second game based upon the play array;

monitor to determine whether an event has occurred that requires updating the play array; and

update the play array when an event occurs that requires such an update.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a parameter associated with the first interactor, the parameter being selected from the set consisting of

     1) a position of the first interactor within the 3-D detection space,

     2) an orientation of the first interactor within the 3-D detection space,

     3) a motion of the first interactor within the 3-D detection space, and

     4) a relative position of the first interactor with respect to the second interactor;

determine an identity of the first interactor; and

generate a first interactor interrupt and data associated with the parameter value and identity of the first interactor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the first interactor has been removed from the 3-D detection space; and

generate a first interactor interrupt and data associated with the removed first interactor.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one interactor positioned with the 3-D detection space further includes a user programmable state variable, the play array further includes data corresponding to a value of the user programmable state variable, and the events requiring an update include a state variable interrupt corresponding to an adjustment being made to the user programmable state variable.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that an adjustment has been made to the user programmable state variable; and

generate a state variable interrupt and data associated with a new value of the user programmable state variable.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the game instructions include instructions to play a plurality of sounds.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the game instructions include instructions to play a sound sequence.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the interactors positioned in the 3-D detection space is coupled to a light source, wherein the game instructions include instructions to light up the at least one interactor coupled to the light source.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a speaker, wherein the 3-D detection space has a discrete, finite number of positions each representing a particular sound modification characteristic, and wherein the game instructions include instructions to play sounds in accordance with the identities and arrangement of the set of interactors within the 3-D detection space.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the game executing on the computer includes a mystery game, and wherein the game action includes providing a clue associated with the mystery game based upon at least one of the identity and the position of the interactor.