Method and apparatus for an on-screen/off-screen first person gaming experience
AssigneeOutland Research, LLC
InventorLouis Rosenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interactive apparatus is described comprising a multiple portable gaming systems interconnected with a wireless communications link. Each gaming system comprises a visual display, a user interface, a communications link, a computer system and gaming software. The gaming system can display the real-time real-world images captured by a video camera mounted on the gaming system overlaid with simulated gaming objects and events. In this way a combined on-screen off-screen gaming experience is provided for the user that merges real-world events with simulated gaming actions.
Claims37
An apparatus for combined on-screen and off-screen player entertainment, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of portable gaming systems running gaming software;
- each of the portable gaming systems adapted to be moved about a real physical space by a user, each of said portable gaming systems including a visual display, user input controls, a local camera, and a wireless communication link;
- each of said portable gaming system operative to receive real-time image data from its local camera, said real-time image data comprising a first-person view of said real physical space, and display a representation of said image data upon said visual display, said portable gaming system also operative and sending gaming status information to other portable gaming systems over said communication link;
- and
- gaming software running upon each of said portable gaming system, said gaming software operative to monitor game play and provide its user with an on-screen/off-screen gaming experience, the gaming experience providing one or more simulated gaming features that are overlaid upon the visual display of said real-time image data.
A method for controlling a gaming apparatus that provides an on-screen off-screen entertainment experience within a real physical space, said method comprising:
- providing a handheld gaming system with a visual display and camera, said handheld gaming system configured such that it may be carried about said real physical space by a user;
- providing gaming software upon said handheld gaming system, said gaming software moderating game play, maintaining a game score, and generating at least one simulated gaming object.
- obtaining a real-time camera image from said camera;
- transferring the real-time camera image to the memory of a portable gaming system;
- overlaying the real-time camera image with a visual representation of a simulated gaming object, said simulated gaming object representing an element within the simulated gaming experience provided by said gaming software;
- displaying the real-time camera image with overlaid simulated gaming object on the screen of said handheld gaming system.
- repeatedly updating said real-time camera image as said handheld computing device is carried about said real physical space by said user.
A system for multi-player entertainment, said system comprising:
- a plurality of portable gaming systems;
- each of the portable gaming systems adapted to be moved about a real physical space by a user, each of said portable gaming systems including a visual display, user input controls, a local camera, and a wireless communication link;
- each of said portable gaming system operative to capture real-time image data with its local camera, said real-time image data comprising a first-person view of said real physical space, and transmit a representation of said image data to another of said portable gaming systems;
- each of said portable gaming systems also operative to receive transmitted image data from another of said portable gaming systems and display a representation of said transmitted image data upon the screen of said portable gaming system;
- and
- gaming software running upon each of said portable gaming system, said gaming software operative to monitor game play and provide a score based upon said game play.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.