US 5,563,988 A · Method and system for facilitating wireless, full-body, real-time user interaction with a digitally represented visual environment

Abstract

An electronic system for integrating a user's moving image into a computer-generated pictorial environment, and allowing the user to interact with the environment and objects therein. The environment is rendered on a screen display in a manner that simulates three dimensions, including respect for occlusion relationships among the user and objects in the environment. The resulting image, which changes as the user gestures and interacts with the environment, is projected onto a large screen that the user faces. The environment includes a series of mobile entities, or "agents," which respond to one or more of the user's changing position, gestures and voice, exhibiting context-dependent behavior that appears semi-intelligent.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A system for facilitating real-time interaction between a user and a digitally represented visual environment within which the user's moving image is integrated, the system comprising:

a. imaging means for digitizing, into an array of multichromatic pixels, the full-body pictorial image of a user and a background, the user being physically displaced from the imaging means by a depthwise distance;
b. an isolator for separating the user's image from the background;
c. wireless means for ascertaining the depthwise distance between the user and the imaging means;
d. means for generating a visual display showing objects;
e. an integrator for introducing the user's digitized image into the visual display such that the user's image occludes any overlapping objects having depth parameters greater than the user's depthwise distance, and is occluded by any overlapping objects having depth parameters less than the user's depthwise distance.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for facilitating wireless, full-body, real-time user interaction with a digitally represented visual environment

Life of this patent

Method and system for facilitating wireless, full-body, real-time user interaction with a digitally represented visual environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49