Multiplayer game invitation system

• US 8,894,484 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Latta, Stephen, Geisner, Kevin, Mount, Brian, Steed, Jonathan, Ambrus, Tony, Zepeda, Arnulfo, Krauss, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US13/361,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31, 463/32, 463/33, 463/34, 463/35, 463/29, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463 36- 39, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• 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: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list

Abstract

A system and related methods for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game via a user head-mounted display device are provided. In one example, a potential player invitation program receives user voice data and determines that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in a multiplayer game. The program receives eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data. The program associates the invitation with the potential player using the eye-tracking information, the depth information, the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data. The program matches a potential player account with the potential player. The program receives an acceptance response from the potential player, and joins the potential player account with a user account in participating in the multiplayer game.

Claims

1. A method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game with a user, the multiplayer game displayed by a display of a user head-mounted display device, comprising:

receiving user voice data from the user;

determining that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in the multiplayer game;

receiving eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data;

associating the invitation with the potential player using the eye-tracking information, the depth information, the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data;

matching a potential player account with the potential player;

receiving an acceptance response from the potential player; and

joining the potential player account with a user account associated with the user in participating in the multiplayer game.

2. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, wherein the multiplayer game is an active multiplayer game in which the user is currently participating.

3. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, wherein the depth information comprises a measured depth of an interaction space in which the user and the potential player are located, further comprising:

using the depth information to select a suggested multiplayer game that is physically compatible with the measured depth of the interaction space; and

suggesting to the user the suggested multiplayer game.

4. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, further comprising displaying via the display of the user head-mounted display device an indicator adjacent to the potential player showing a potential player availability and/or an invitation status.

5. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, further comprising displaying via the display of the user head-mounted display device potential player profile information.

6. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 5, wherein the potential player profile information includes a name, a user ID, a game achievement level, and/or game interests.

7. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, further comprising matching the potential player account with the potential player using the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data.

8. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, wherein the acceptance response comprises the potential player voice data and/or a gesture performed by the potential player.

9. The method for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user voice data is a command to exit the multiplayer game; and

removing the user account from participation in the multiplayer game.

10. A multiplayer game invitation system including a user head-mounted display device having a display, the user head-mounted display device operatively connected to a computing device, the multiplayer game invitation system comprising:

a potential player invitation program executed by a processor of the computing device, the potential player invitation program configured to;

receive user voice data from a user;

determine that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in a multiplayer game;

receive eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data;

associate the invitation with a potential player using the eye-tracking information, the depth information, the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data;

match a potential player account with the potential player;

receive an acceptance response from the potential player; and

join the potential player account with a user account associated with the user in participating in the multiplayer game.

11. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to display via the display of the user head-mounted display device a list of one or more multiplayer games available to the user and the potential player.

12. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the depth information comprises a measured depth of an interaction space in which the user and the potential player are located, and the potential player invitation program is further configured to:

use the depth information to select a suggested multiplayer game that is physically compatible with the measured depth of the interaction space; and

suggest to the user the suggested multiplayer game.

13. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to display via the display of the user head-mounted display device an indicator adjacent to the potential player showing a potential player availability and/or an invitation status.

14. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to display via the display of the user head-mounted display device potential player profile information.

15. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to:

display via the display of the user head-mounted display device an image corresponding to an active multiplayer game in which a currently-participating potential player is participating;

determine that the user voice data is a request to join in participating in the active multiplayer game;

receive the acceptance response from the currently-participating potential player; and

join the user account with a currently-participating potential player account in participating in the active multiplayer game.

16. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to match the potential player account with the potential player using the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data.

17. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the acceptance response comprises the potential player voice data and/or a gesture performed by the potential player.

18. The multiplayer game invitation system of claim 10, wherein the potential player invitation program is further configured to:

determine that the user voice data is a command to exit the multiplayer game; and

remove the user account from participation in the multiplayer game.

19. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon and executable by a computing device to enable a user to invite a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game with the user, the instructions being executable to:

receive user voice data from the user;

determine that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in a multiplayer game;

receive eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data;

associate the invitation with the potential player using the eye-tracking information, the depth information, the facial recognition information, the potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or the potential player voice data;

match a potential player account with the potential player;

receive an acceptance response from the potential player; and

join the potential player account with a user account associated with the user in participating in the multiplayer game.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the depth information comprises a measured depth in an interaction space in which the user and the potential player are located, and the instructions are executable by the computing device to:

use the depth information to select a suggested multiplayer game that is physically compatible with the measured depth of the interaction space; and

suggest to the user the suggested multiplayer game.