TV-to-game sync

Number: 11931650
Published: 2024-03-19
Filed: 2020-01-21
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Robillard; Brian et al.
CPC: A63F13/424; A63F13/61; A63F13/69; G06Q30/0209
Verdict: Set aside content/gameplay sync feature, business
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for unlocking in-game content for a video game application. In one embodiment, the video game application may be operated by a user that is concurrently viewing media content. The video game application captures an audio signal from the concurrently-playing media content, performs content recognition on the captured audio signal, and determines whether to unlock one or more portions of in-game content based on the identified media content.

Background

BACKGROUND Field (1) Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to video games and, more particularly, to providing players with additional in-game content that augment game play. Description of the Related Art (2) Video games have become increasingly popular, particularly for video games played on handheld devices, such as Nintendo Gameboy available from Nintendo Co., Ltd of Japan, or iPhone available from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, California Typically, such gaming devices executes computer game code from a storage device (e.g., a CD-ROM disc or cartridge) or from a remote source (e.g., via download or streaming) to provide a player with a virtual environment with which they may interact. In some cases, additional content (referred to as downloadable content) for a video game may be made available after the original video game has been distributed, for example, via download. In other cases, video games may include the additional content in the released video game, but make the additional content initially inaccessible to players. Such content, referred to as “locked” or “unlockable content,” may be later unlocked by some action performed by a player or user. To generate revenue for the additional content, video game developers have required that players purchase the additional content. However, many consumers are reluctant to engage in monetary transactions for the additional content. Accordingly, there is a demand for other techniques for unlocking in-game conte

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: executing, by operation of a computing device, a game environment having locked content that is inaccessible to a user, the locked content having an association with one or more keys; capturing, using one or more sensors of the computing device, audio data from an external environment; processing the audio data to generate a key; determining that the key matches at least one key of the one or more keys associated with the locked content; modifying the game environment to enable access to at least a portion of the locked content in the game environment; and displaying to the user, via a user interface of the computing device, a notification that access has been enabled to at least the portion of the locked content in the game environment. || 9. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-readable program code configured to perform an operation comprising: executing, by operation of a computing device, a game environment having locked content that is inaccessible to a user, the locked content having an association with one or more keys; capturing, using one or more sensors of the computing device, audio data from an external environment; processing the audio data to generate a key; determining that the key matches at least one key of the one or more keys associated with the locked content; modifying the game environment to enable access to at least a portion of the locked content in the game environment; and displaying to the user, via a user interface of the computing device, a notification that access has been enabled to at least the portion of the locked content in the game environment. || 17. A computing system comprising: one or more computer processors; a user interface; a memory comprising (i) a program configured to provide a game environment and (ii) locked content, of the game environment, having an association with one or more keys; and a microphone configured to capture audio data based on sounds from an external environment; wherein the program, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising: processing audio data received from the microphone to generate a key of the one or more keys; enabling access to at least a portion of the locked content based on the key; augmenting gameplay of the game environment based on at least the portion of the locked content; and displaying to a user, via the user interface, a notification that access has been enabled to at least the portion of the locked content in the game environment.