- Number
- 11207599
- Published
- 2021-12-28
- Filed
- 2020-02-26
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Elbert; Jeffrey, Iwanowski; Przemyslaw, Strong; Brent David, Daly; Matthew S., Ghildayal; Sarit, Hickman; Bob, Hampton; John Cody, Wilde; Alex Christopher, Leahy; Amanda Marie
- CPC
- G06V20/20; A63F13/216; A63F13/65; A63F13/213; G06V40/10
- Verdict
- Low Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Physical-merchandise-augmented interactive gameplay hardware (granted).
Abstract
A gameplay system for providing interactivity based on a piece of merchandise or other object held or worn by a player. Th system includes an object identification assembly, which may be a modified computer vision system, that operates to sense, for a gameplay participant, the presence and identity of a particular augmenting object such as themed merchandise worn or held by a rider of a theme park ride. The sensing may be performed by detecting an on-and-off pattern of light emitted from the object. In response, the gameplay system selects or modifies the interactive features of gameplay associated with the participant based on the identified augmenting object. For example, the interactive features are selected from memory by the gameplay system controller to match a character associated with the augmenting object during any interactive gameplay. This allows the gameplay participant to choose their abilities or powers for gameplay.
Background
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present invention relates, in general, to augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other gameplay systems and experiences configured for interactive gameplay for one or more players or participants, and, more particularly, to a gameplay system configured to provide augmented or modified gameplay or interactive experiences based upon detection or sensing of an augmenting object (e.g., a particular piece of merchandise that is worn, handheld, or otherwise made a part of gameplay by a player or participant). 2. Relevant Background (2) There are numerous situations where it is desirable to provide participants with unique interactive experiences. For example, theme and amusement parks and other large venues continue to strive to entertain visitors in way that allows them to participate in the experience. This may involve providing interactivity such that they can modify or effect the produced experience. In particular applications, a ride or space may include gameplay that is interactive with the system being adapted to sense visitor input and to respond by changing audio outputs, visual displays, and the like. (3) To date, though, it has been difficult to provide interactive experiences on rides and other settings with a larger number of participants that are individualized so that each participant can immediately recognize that actions they have taken individually has changed gameplay or the experience. Instead, each parti
Claims
1. A system for providing augmented interactive experiences, comprising: a display system operating to present to a participant located in or proximate to a predefined space an image within an interactive experience; an augmenting object held or worn by the participant while in the predefined space, wherein the augmenting object includes a signaling assembly generating an output signal; and an object identification assembly processing the output signal to detect the augmenting object in the predefined space and to determine a location of the augmenting object in the predefined space, wherein the image presented by the display system is generated after the detection of the augmenting object by the object identification assembly and based on the location of the augmenting object, wherein the object identification system includes a computer vision system capturing an image of the predefined space including the participant, the augmenting object, and the output signal, wherein the output signal comprises output light from the augmenting object, wherein the output light comprises a pattern of light flashes at an output frequency, and wherein the object identification system includes an object identification module comparing the pattern of light flashes to a plurality of predefined signaling patterns to identify a matching one of the predefined signaling patterns. ||
10. A system for providing augmented interactive experiences, comprising: an interactive system providing an interactive effect to a participant of an interactive experience; an object held or worn by the participant, wherein the object includes a light-based signaling assembly generating output light in a signaling light pattern; and an object identification assembly processing a captured image of a space including an imagery of the participant, the object, and the output light to detect the object in the space, wherein the signaling light pattern includes encoded information including an identifier for the object as being a specific one of a plurality of differing objects, and wherein the interactive system generates the interactive effect based on the identifier for the object and wherein each of the plurality of differing objects is associated with a differing set of interactive effects. ||
14. A system for providing player-selected interactive functionalities, comprising: a base toy comprising memory storing a set of base operating functions, a body, a set of operational elements mounted upon the body, and a controller operating the set of operational elements to operate to provide one or more of the set of base operating functions; and an add-on element detachably mounted upon the body, wherein the add-on element comprises memory storing a set of upgrade operating functions, wherein the controller further operates the set of operational elements to operate to provide one or more of the set of upgrade operating functions, wherein set of base operating functions includes attacking modes, defensive modes, and life parameters for use in interactive gameplay, and wherein the set of upgrade operating functions modifies or adds to at least one of the attacking modes, the defensive modes, and the life parameters.