- Number
- 10369487
- Published
- 2019-08-06
- Filed
- 2016-02-11
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises. Inc.
- Inventors
- Goslin; Michael P., Bassett; Katherine M., Haseltine; Eric C., Olson; Joseph Logan
- CPC
- A63H17/34; G09B5/06; A63H3/28; A63H17/32; A63H33/42; A63H33/26
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Storytelling environment mapping virtual settings to physical locations (interactive toy).
Abstract
A method, computer-readable medium, and system are disclosed for an interactive storytelling environment. The method comprises identifying a plurality of storytelling devices available to participate in a storytelling experience, at least one of the plurality of the storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device. The method further comprises beginning playback of a first story of the storytelling experience, the first story comprising a first plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined first virtual setting, the first virtual setting mapped to the first beacon device. The method further comprises determining a location of a user using the first beacon device, and during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the first virtual setting based on the determined location of the user.
Background
BACKGROUND(1) Field of the Disclosure(2) The present disclosure generally relates to home entertainment, and more specifically to techniques for providing an immersive playtime environment using interactive devices.(3) Description of the Related Art(4) Computer graphics technology has significantly progressed since the first video games were developed. Relatively inexpensive 3D graphics engines now provide nearly photo-realistic interactive game play on hand-held video game, home video game, and personal computer hardware platforms costing only a few hundred dollars. These video game systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or, in the case of a hand-held video game platform, an integrated controller. A user interacts with the controller to send commands or other instructions to the video game system to control a video game or other simulation. For example, the controller may include a joystick and buttons operated by the user.(5) While video games allow the user to interact directly with the video game system, such interactions primarily influence the graphical depiction shown on the video game device (or on a connected display), and rarely influence any other objects outside of the virtual world. That is, a user may specify an input to the video game system, indicating that the user's avatar should perform a jump action, and in response the video game system could display the user's avatar jumping. However, such interactions are typically limited to
Claims
1. A method, comprising: identifying a plurality of storytelling devices in a plurality of distinct physical locations available to participate in a storytelling experience, wherein the storytelling experience comprises two or more predetermined virtual settings assigned to each of the plurality of distinct locations, each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising an electronic device configured to perform at least one audiovisual effect, at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device in a first distinct physical location and a second beacon device in a second distinct physical location; beginning playback of a first story of the storytelling experience, the first story comprising a first plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined first virtual setting of the two or more predetermined virtual settings and a second plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined second virtual setting of the two or more predetermined virtual settings, wherein the first plurality of predetermined actions and the second plurality of predetermined actions comprise one or more overlapping actions associated with the predetermined first virtual setting and the predetermined second virtual setting of the first story, wherein the predetermined first virtual setting is associated with the first beacon device, wherein each of the first plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices, wherein the predetermined second virtual setting is associated with the second beacon device, wherein each of the second plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices; determining, using the first beacon device, a first local location of a user within the first distinct physical location; during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the first plurality of predetermined actions and the overlapping actions of the first virtual setting based on the first local location of the user; determining, using the second beacon device, a second local location of the user within the second distinct physical location; and during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing at least one of the one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the second plurality of predetermined actions and overlapping actions of the second virtual setting based on the second local location of the user. |
8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program code that, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising: identifying a plurality of storytelling devices in a plurality of distinct locations available to participate in a storytelling experience, wherein the storytelling experience comprises two or more predetermined virtual settings, where at least one predetermined virtual setting is assigned to each of the plurality of distinct locations, each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising an electronic device configured to perform at least one audiovisual effect, at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device in a first distinct physical location and a second beacon device in a second distinct physical location; beginning playback of a first story of the storytelling experience, the first story comprising a first plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined first virtual setting of the two or more predetermined virtual settings and a second plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined second virtual setting of the two or more predetermined virtual settings, wherein the first plurality of predetermined actions and the second plurality of predetermined actions comprise one or more overlapping actions associated with the predetermined first virtual setting and the predetermined second virtual setting of the first story, wherein the predetermined first virtual setting is associated with the first beacon device, wherein each of the first plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices, wherein the predetermined second virtual setting is associated with the second beacon device, wherein each of the second plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices; determining, using the first beacon device, a first local location of a user within the first distinct physical location; during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the first plurality of predetermined actions and the overlapping actions of the first virtual setting based on the first local location of the user; determining, using the second beacon device, a second local location of the user within the second distinct physical location; and during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing at least one of the one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the second plurality of predetermined actions and overlapping actions of the second virtual setting based on the second local location of the user. |
15. A system, comprising: a plurality of storytelling devices in a plurality of distinct locations, each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising an electronic device configured to perform at least one audiovisual effect, at least one of the plurality of the storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device; and control logic configured to perform an operation comprising: identifying a plurality of storytelling devices in a plurality of locations available to participate in a storytelling experience, wherein the storytelling experience comprises two or more predetermined virtual settings, where at least one predetermined virtual setting is assigned to each of the plurality of distinct locations, each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising an electronic device configured to perform at least one audiovisual effect, at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices comprising a first beacon device in a first distinct physical location and a second beacon device in a second distinct physical location; beginning playback of a first story of the storytelling experience, the first story comprising a first plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined first virtual setting of the one or more predetermined virtual settings and a second plurality of predetermined actions associated with a predetermined second virtual setting of the two or more predetermined virtual settings, wherein the first plurality of predetermined actions and the second plurality of predetermined actions comprise one or more overlapping actions associated with the first virtual setting and the second virtual setting of the first story, wherein the predetermined first virtual setting is associated with the first beacon device, wherein each of the first plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices, wherein the predetermined second virtual setting is associated with the second beacon device, wherein each of the second plurality of predetermined actions is mapped to a corresponding one of the plurality of storytelling devices; determining, using the first beacon device, a first local location of a user within the first distinct physical location; during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the first plurality of predetermined actions and the overlapping actions of the first virtual setting based on the first local location of the user; determining, using the second beacon device, a second local location of the user within the second distinct physical location; and during playback of the first story and using at least one of the plurality of storytelling devices, producing at least one of the one or more of the at least one audiovisual effect corresponding to the second plurality of predetermined actions and overlapping actions of the second virtual setting based on the second local location of the user.