System and method of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game

Number: 10702770
Published: 2020-07-07
Filed: 2016-05-03
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Goslin; Michael
CPC: A63F13/211; A63F13/213; A63F13/24; H04W4/70; A63F13/218; A63F13/215
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Physical interactive-toy-to-game control interface.

Abstract

Systems and methods of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling one or more of a game, a virtual space, a video game taking place in the virtual space, and/or other interactive games are described herein. Individual physical objects may include one or more sensors and/or other components. Output signals generated by the one or more sensors may be used to determine control signals. For example, control specification information may be utilized. Control specification information may specify associations between output signals and control signals, and/or other associations.

Background

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE(1) This disclosure relates to configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game.BACKGROUND(2) Computing platforms, such as gaming consoles, be associated with controls and/or controllers that may be specific to a given computing platform. As such, controllers of one computing platform may be unusable for another computing platform.SUMMARY(3) One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system configured for configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling one or more of a game, a virtual space, a video game taking place in the virtual space, and/or other interactive games. The physical objects may comprise network-enabled devices. An individual physical object may have one or more sensors configured to generate output signals, and/or other components. The output signals generated by the sensors of the physical object may be associated with particular control inputs for controlling one or more user-controlled elements of one or more of a game, a virtual space, a video game taking place in the virtual space, and/or other interactive games. In some implementations, the associations may be defined by a user.(4) The system may include one or more of non-transitory electronic storage media, one or more physical processors, one or more physical object, and/or other components. The one or more physical object may comprise one or more of a first physical object, a second physical object, and/o

Claims

1. A system to configure disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the system comprising: a first physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal; a second physical object, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the first physical object is separate and distinct from the second physical object; non-transitory electronic storage media configured to store control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals generated by individual sensors and control signals for controlling a game; and one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: effectuate presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify the associations of the control specification information; determine the control specification information based on the user input, such that responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determine that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; obtain output signals generated by individual sensors of individual physical objects; determine, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; provide the determined control signals for controlling the game, such that the first control signal and the second control signal are provided to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and determine a third control signal responsive to obtaining a combination of the first output signal and the second output signal. 4. A system to configure disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the system comprising: a first physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal; a second physical object, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the first physical object is separate and distinct from the second physical object; non-transitory electronic storage media configured to store control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals generated by individual sensors and control signals for controlling a game; and one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: effectuate presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify the associations of the control specification information; determine the control specification information based on the user input, such that responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determine that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; obtain output signals generated by individual sensors of individual physical objects; determine, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; provide the determined control signals for controlling the game, such that the first control signal and the second control signal are provided to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; implement the control specification information for the first user responsive to the control specification information being determined based on the first user input from the first user, the first user being associated with the first physical object and the second physical object; and implement the control specification information for a second user, the second user being associated with a third physical object and a fourth physical object. 5. A system to configure disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the system comprising: a first physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal; a second physical object, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the first physical object is separate and distinct from the second physical object; non-transitory electronic storage media configured to store control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals generated by individual sensors and control signals for controlling a game; and one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: effectuate presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify the associations of the control specification information; determine the control specification information based on the user input, such that responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determine that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; obtain output signals generated by individual sensors of individual physical objects; determine, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; provide the determined control signals for controlling the game, such that the first control signal and the second control signal are provided to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and detect presence of the individual physical objects based on signals received from the individual physical objects, the first physical object being detectable based on a third signal conveying information associated with the first physical object, and the second physical object being detectable based on a fourth signal conveying information associated with the second physical object. 8. A system to configure disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the system comprising: a first physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal; a second physical object, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, wherein the first physical object is separate and distinct from the second physical object; and a control device, the control device comprising: non-transitory electronic storage media configured to store control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals generated by individual sensors and individual control signals for controlling a game; and one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: determine the control specification information based on user input into a user interface presented on a computing platform, the user input specifying the associations of the control specification information, such that responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determine that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; obtain output signals generated by the individual sensors, the individual sensors being disposed on or in individual physical objects; determine, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; effectuate transmission of the determined control signals to the computing platform to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and determine a third control signal responsive to obtaining a combination of the first output signal and the second output signal. 9. A method of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the method being implemented in a system comprising one or more physical processors, non-transitory electronic storage, a first physical object and a second physical object, the first physical object being separate and distinct from the second physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, the method comprising: effectuating presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals of individual sensors of individual physical objects and control signals for controlling a game; determining the control specification information based on the user input, individual responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determining that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; storing the control specification information; obtaining output signals generated by the individual sensors of the individual physical objects; determining, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; providing the determined control signals for controlling the game, including providing the first control signal and the second control signal to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and determining a third control signal responsive to obtaining a combination of the first output signal and the second output signal. 12. A method of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the method being implemented in a system comprising one or more physical processors, non-transitory electronic storage, a first physical object and a second physical object, the first physical object being separate and distinct from the second physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, the method comprising: effectuating presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals of individual sensors of individual physical objects and control signals for controlling a game; determining the control specification information based on the user input, individual responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determining that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; storing the control specification information; obtaining output signals generated by the individual sensors of the individual physical objects; determining, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; providing the determined control signals for controlling the game, including providing the first control signal and the second control signal to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; implementing the control specification information for the first user responsive to the control specification information being determined based on the first user input from the first user, the first user being associated with the first physical object and the second physical object; and implementing the control specification information for a second user, the second user being associated with a third physical object and a fourth physical object. 13. A method of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the method being implemented in a system comprising one or more physical processors, non-transitory electronic storage, a first physical object and a second physical object, the first physical object being separate and distinct from the second physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, the method comprising: effectuating presentation of a user interface on a computing platform, the user interface being configured to receive user input to specify control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals of individual sensors of individual physical objects and control signals for controlling a game; determining the control specification information based on the user input, individual responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, determining that the control specification information includes the first association and the second association; storing the control specification information; obtaining output signals generated by the individual sensors of the individual physical objects; determining, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; providing the determined control signals for controlling the game, including providing the first control signal and the second control signal to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and detecting presence of the individual physical objects based on signals received from the individual physical objects, the first physical object being detectable based on a third signal conveying information associated with the first physical object, and the second physical object being detectable based on a fourth signal conveying information associated with the second physical object. 16. A method of configuring disparate physical objects to provide control signals for controlling a game, the method being implemented in a system comprising a control device, a first physical object, and a second physical object, the first physical object being separate and distinct from the second physical object, the first physical object having a first sensor disposed thereon, the first sensor being configured to generate a first output signal, the second physical object having a second sensor disposed thereon, the second sensor being configured to generate a second output signal, the method comprising: storing control specification information, the control specification information specifying associations between output signals generated by individual sensors and individual control signals for controlling a game; determining the control specification information based on user input into a user interface presented on a computing platform, the user input specifying the associations of the control specification information, including responsive to obtaining first user input from a first user specifying a first association between the first output signal and a first control signal and a second association between the second output signal and a second control signal, the control specification information is determined to include the first association and the second association; obtaining output signals generated by the individual sensors, individual sensors being disposed on or in individual physical objects; determining, from the obtained output signals, one or more control signals to control the game based on the control specification information, such that the first control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the first output signal and the second control signal is determined responsive to obtaining the second output signal; effectuating transmission of the determined control signals to the computing platform to control the game; wherein determining the control specification information is further based on one or more control specification templates, the one or more control specification templates including a first template, the first template being specific to a first theme, the first theme corresponding to a common use of the first physical object and the second physical object, and wherein the first template specifies one or more predetermined associations between output signals of the first physical object and the second physical object and one or more control signals for controlling the game; and determining a third control signal responsive to obtaining a combination of the first output signal and the second output signal.