US 7,867,086 B2Granted

Image integration with replaceable content

OwnerDavid H. Sitrickinventor

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Abstract

A video game adapter interface apparatus has a user input device and an associated video display. The user selects a distinguishable visual image representation for association into a video game's audiovisual presentation, such as where that user is identified. For example, color, size graphics or shape can be used to distinguish users. In one embodiment a digitized image of each user's face is used as the distinguishable representation. Alternatively, the user can create an original image or select one of a predetermined set of visual images as the user's identification for use in the video game audiovisual presentation. In a preferred video game embodiment, the video game adapter interface system is coupled to a video game system and a storage card containing User Images. The video game adapter interface system then integrates a selected User Image from the Storage Card into the video game's audiovisual presentation, and can also integrate the User Image into the video game play. For non-User Image video game software and for non-video game and audiovisual presentations, an Intercept Adapter Interface Systems permits the integration of User Images into the audiovisual presentation in place of and/or in addition to predefined character images otherwise present in the audiovisual presentation.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An image integration method in a computing system, the method comprising:

storing replacement image content in memory, wherein the replacement image content replaces at least a portion of predefined image content;
for a first application software program executed by the computing system in connection with a first electronic game, the first application software program having first predefined image content,
receiving by the computing system a first input signal, the first input signal specifying that the replacement image content is to be linked to the first predefined image content;
in response to receiving the first input signal, linking by the computing system the replacement image content with at least a portion of the first predefined image content for integration into a first presentation output;
integrating by the computing system -the first predefined image content with at least a first portion of the replacement image content into the first presentation output, responsive to the linking;
and
generating by the computing system a first display presentation responsive to the presentation output;
and
for a second application software program executed by the computing system in connection with a second electronic game, the second application software program having second predefined image content, the second application software program being different from the first application software program, and the second predefined image content being different from the first predefined image content,
receiving by the computing system a second input signal, the second input signal specifying that the replacement image content is to be linked to the second predefined image content;
in response to receiving the second input signal, linking by the computing system the replacement image content with at least a portion of the second predefined image content for integration into a second presentation output;
integrating by the computing system the second predefined image content with at least a second portion of the replacement image content into the second presentation output, responsive to the linking;
and
generating by the computing system a second display presentation responsive to the presentation output.

11 more elements

A video system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem configured to receive an input signal, the input signal specifying that variable image content is to be linked to predefined image content;
storage configured to store the variable image content, wherein the variable image content is substituted for the predefined image content, and wherein at least part of the predefined image content and the variable image content are utilized in generating a display presentation;
image integration logic configured to link the variable image content with at least a portion of the predefined image content in response to the received input signal;
wherein the computing subsystem is configured to generate display presentations for multiple different application software programs including a first application software program having first predefined image content associated with a first video game and a second application software program having second predefined image content associated with a second video game, wherein the first application software program is different from the second application software program, wherein the first predefined image content is different from the second predefined image content, and wherein the generating comprises:
for the first application software program, integrating the first predefined image content with at least a first portion of the variable image content, responsive to the image integration logic;
and
for the second application software program, integrating the second predefined image content with at least a second portion of the variable image content, responsive to the image integration logic.

4 more elements

A computing system for generating a display presentation, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, a storage memory, and a writable memory,
wherein the storage memory is configured to store an application software program, and
wherein the writable memory is configured to store replacement image data and mappable links for linking the replacement image data to predefined audiovisual data, and wherein the writable memory is configured to map the replacement image data into the display presentation;
a first application software program configured to provide both a first executable program and first predefined audiovisual data for use in generation of a first display presentation in connection with a first electronic game, the first predefined audiovisual data replaceable by the replacement image data,
wherein the first application software program is configured to operate on the computing subsystem and to generate the first display presentation as a first audiovisual presentation, responsive to at least a portion of the first predefined audiovisual data, and selectively responsive to the replacement image data and the mappable links stored in the writable memory;
and
a second application software program configured to provide both a second executable program and second predefined audiovisual data for use in generation of a second display presentation in connection with a second electronic game, the second application software program being different from the first application software program, the second predefined audiovisual data being different from the first predefined audiovisual data, and the second predefined audiovisual data replaceable by the replacement image data,
wherein the second application software program is configured to operate on the computing subsystem and to generate the second display presentation as a second audiovisual presentation, responsive to at least a portion of the second predefined audiovisual data, and selectively responsive to the replacement image data and the mappable links stored in the writable memory.

5 more elements

A video game system, the system comprising:

a computing subsystem comprising a processor, a display apparatus, and a storage memory comprising a first memory portion and a second memory portion,
wherein the first memory portion is configured to store an application software program comprising game rules logic, wherein the game rules logic comprises predefined game function mapping logic configured to link predefined image data with replacement image data,
wherein the second memory portion is configured to store presentation image data, wherein the presentation image data comprises predefined image data and replacement image data,
wherein the computing subsystem is configured to receive an input specifying at least a portion of the presentation image data to utilize in generation of a display presentation,
wherein the processor is configured to generate a display presentation of a video game on the display apparatus responsive to the application software program, the presentation image data, and the input,
wherein the game rules logic, at least in part responsive to the input, is configured to select portions of the presentation image data to utilize in the generation of the display presentation, and
wherein the processor is configured to selectively integrate portions of the predefined image data and portions of the replacement image data to generate the display presentation, responsive to the predefined game function mapping logic, wherein the integrating comprises:
identifying a request for a portion of the predefined image data;
and in response to the request,
accessing from the second memory location a portion of the replacement data;
and
integrating the portion of the replacement data into the display presentation in place of the portion of the predefined image data.

9 more elements

A tangible computer-readable medium having stored thereon non-transitory instructions, the instructions comprising:

instructions for storing replacement content in memory, wherein the replacement image content replaces at least a portion of predefined image content;
for a first application software program having first predefined content associated with a first electronic game,
instructions for receiving a first input signal specifying that the replacement content is to be linked to the first predefined image content;
in response to receiving the first input signal, instructions for linking the replacement image content with at least a portion of the first predefined image content for integration into a first presentation output;
instructions for integrating the first predefined image content with at least a first portion of the replacement image content into the first presentation output, responsive to the linking;
and
instructions for generating a first display presentation responsive to the presentation output;
and
for a second application software program having second predefined image content associated with a second electronic game, the second application software program being different from the first application software program, and the second predefined image content being different from the first predefined image content,
instructions for receiving a second input signal specifying that the replacement image content is to be linked to the second predefined image content;
in response to receiving the second input signal, instructions for linking the replacement image content with at least a portion of the second predefined image content for integration into a second presentation output;
instructions for integrating the second predefined image content with at least a second portion of the replacement image content into the second presentation output, responsive to the linking;
and
instructions for generating a second display presentation responsive to the presentation output.

11 more elements

A video system, the system comprising:

means for storing variable image content, wherein the variable image content is substituted for predefined image content;
means for receiving an input signal specifying that the variable image content is to be linked to the predefined image content;
means for linking the variable image content with at least a portion of the predefined image content in response to the received input signal;
means for generating display presentations for multiple different application software programs including a first application software program having first predefined image content associated with a first video game and a second application software program having second predefined image content associated with a second video game, wherein the first application software program is different from the second application software program, wherein the first predefined image content is different from the second predefined image content, and wherein the means for generating comprises:
for the first application software program, means for integrating the first predefined image content with at least a first portion of the variable image content, responsive to the image integration logic;
and
for the second application software program, means for integrating the second predefined image content with at least a second portion of the variable image content, responsive to the image integration logic.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/982,223Filed 1 Nov 2007 · continuation
Priority: 22 May 1992
Published: US 2008/0085766 A110 Apr 2008
Granted: 11 Jan 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H04N 5/272
Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the…: means…
A63F 13/00
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or
A63F 13/10
A63F 13/45
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: controlling the progress of the video game

Family

Application07/887,715Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 May 1992
Application08/645,678Parent of this continuation · filed 15 May 1996
US 5,553,864 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Sep 1996
Application09/184,600Parent of this division · filed 2 Nov 1998
US 5,830,065 AParent of this continuation · filed 3 Nov 1998
Application09/415,986Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Oct 1999
US 6,425,825 B1Parent of this division · filed 30 Jul 2002
Application10/336,447Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Jan 2003
US 2008/0085766 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Apr 2008
Application09/415,986Parent of this division
Application09/184,600Parent of this continuation
Application08/645,678Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2003/0148811 A1Published application
US 8,317,611 B2Related patent
US 7,867,086 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.