- Number
- 9555337
- Published
- 2017-01-31
- Filed
- 2013-09-16
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Garlington; Joseph O. et al.
- CPC
- A63H30/04; A63F13/65; A63F13/327
- Verdict
- High Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Tracks physical play objects (toys) via virtual players in an online environment — toys-to-life hardware ecosystem (same family as #29/#79 pattern).
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for tracking physical play objects by virtual or non-player characters in an electronic game environment. More specifically, techniques are disclosed for enabling a game system to track a physical toy object, using tracking information to update the game state, and transmitting updated game state to the toy object and update the toy state. Additionally, a player is able to control the physical toy object, and use the physical toy object to play a game. The game system may track a remote-controlled toy, a handheld toy, or the player himself or herself. The virtual feedback to changes in the physical environment results in a more immersive game experience for the player.
Background
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) So that the manner in which the above recited aspectsare attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the appended drawings.(2) It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.(3) FIG. 1 illustrates components implementing a physical play object tracking system, according to one embodiment.(4) FIG. 2 illustrates an example of play object tracking, according to one embodiment.(5) FIG. 3 illustrates an example controller showing components used in physical play object tracking, according to one embodiment.(6) FIG. 4 illustrates an example toy device, configured to interact with a gaming environment, according to one embodiment.(7) FIG. 5 illustrates an example game system with components configured to track physical play objects, according to one embodiment.(8) FIG. 6 illustrates play object tracking in a local area network environment, according to one embodiment.(9) FIG. 7 illustrates physical play object tracking in a wide area network environment, according to one embodiment.(10) FIG. 8 further illustrates a multiplayer system configured with physical play object tracking, according to one embodiment.(11) FIG. 9 illustrates a method for tr
Claims
1. A method for providing an immersive physical and virtual interactive game play environment, the method comprising: receiving, by a first game console, tracking data from a physical toy object in the physical game playenvironment, wherein the physical toy object is controlled by a player interacting with afirst controller; updating a game state of the virtual game play environment based on thereceived tracking data; transmitting game state data to the physical toy object; updatinga current physical state of the physical toy object based on the game state data; and rendering images displayed on a first display based on the updated game state.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed on a processor, perform an operation for providing an immersive physical and virtual interactive game environment, the operation comprising: receiving, by a first game console, tracking data from a physical toy object in the physical game play environment, wherein the physical toy object is controlled by a player interacting with a first controller; updating a game state of the virtual game play environment based on the received tracking data; transmitting game state data to the physical toy object; updating a current physical state of the physical toy object based on the game state data; and rendering images displayed on a first display based on the updated game state.
15. A first game console system, comprising: a processor; a first controller in communication with the game console system; a physical toy object, wherein the toy object is controlled via the first controller; a memory storing an application program configured to perform an operation for providing an immersive physicaland virtual interactive game environment, the operation comprising: receiving, by the first game console, tracking data from the physical toy object, as controlled by a first player interacting with the first controller, updating a game state of the virtual game play environment based on the received tracking data, transmitting game state data to the physical toy object, updating a current physical state of the toy object based on the game statedata, and rendering images displayed on a first display based on the updated game state.
22. A method for providing an immersive game environment, comprising: capturing, by a first camera controlled by a first game console, a video stream of at least a first player at a first location engaging in game play; rendering, at a second location, the video stream captured by the first camera on a display connected to a second game console; capturing, by a second camera controlled by the second game console, a video stream of at least a second player at the second location engaging in game play; and rendering the video stream captured by the second camera on a display connected to a first game console.