# US 8,465,367 B2 · Playing browser based games with alternative controls and interfaces

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- Number: US 8,465,367 B2
- Document ID: US8465367B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/669,362
- Filed: 2012-11-05
- Published: 2013-03-07
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-14
- Assignees: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
- Applicants: Gary M. Zalewski
- Inventors: Gary M. Zalewski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465367B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/42: by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
- A63F 13/335: using Internet
- A63F 13/49: Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
- A63F 13/61: using advertising information
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
- A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence)
- A63F 13/2145: the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
- A63F 13/215: comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
- A63F 13/22: Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
- A63F 13/493: Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
- A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
- A63F 2300/1018: Calibration; Key and button assignment
- A63F 2300/1025: details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
- A63F 2300/1075: using a touch screen
- A63F 2300/1093: using visible light
- A63F 2300/308: Details of the user interface
- A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet
- A63F 2300/552: for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
- A63F 2300/554: by saving game or status data
- A63F 2300/6045: for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
- A63F 2300/636: involving process of starting or resuming a game
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer programs for playing browser based game with alternative controls and interfaces are presented. One method includes an operation for receiving a definition of native inputs defined for causing actions in the game. The native inputs are tied to game actions through a native device. When a gesture recognition system, lacking some capability to play the game, is detected, at least some of the actions in the game associated with the native inputs are mapped to gesture inputs detected by the gesture recognition system. This enables game play with the gesture recognition system. Further, the alternate gesture inputs are translated to corresponding actions in the game according to the mapping during game play.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for playing a game online, the method comprising:
receiving a definition of native inputs defined for causing actions in the game, the native inputs being tied to game actions through a native device;
detecting a gesture recognition system lacking some capability to play the game;
mapping at least some of the actions in the game associated with the native inputs to gesture inputs detected by the gesture recognition system to enable game play with the gesture recognition system; and
translating alternate gesture inputs to corresponding actions in the game according to the mapping during game play.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further including:
translating by the gesture recognition system gestures performed by a user to gesture inputs, the gestures performed by the user being captured with a camera associated with the gesture recognition system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the gestures performed by the user include one or more of move left hand, moved right hand, crouch, jump, move leg up down, move thumb up, move thumb down, place back towards camera, or put both hands in front.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the game is played on a television.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the game is played on a game console.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein gestures inputs are translated to actions triggered by keyboard or mouse inputs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein operations of the method are performed by a computer program when executed by one or more processors, the computer program being embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

### Claim 8

A method for playing a game online, the method comprising:
receiving a definition of native inputs defined for causing action in the game, the native inputs being tied to game actions through a native device;
detecting a touch screen input system lacking some capability to play the game, the touch screen operable to generate touch inputs;
mapping at least some of the native inputs from the native device to touch inputs to enable game play with the touch screen input system; and
translating touch inputs to corresponding native inputs according to the mapping to cause corresponding actions during game play.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the native device is selected from a group consisting of a keyboard or a mouse.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein mapping at least some of the native inputs further includes:
receiving an input layout of the touch screen input system; and
for each of the native inputs, mapping each native input to a different touch input from the input layout of the touch screen input system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, further including:
detecting a different non-native control device being used by a player; and
remapping the native inputs to the different non-native control device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, further including:
providing a graphical user interface to enable a player to customize the mapping.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein operations of the method are performed by a computer program when executed by one or more processors, the computer program being embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

### Claim 14

A method for playing a game online, the method comprising:
receiving a query by a server for a mapping table that maps native inputs to alternate inputs, wherein the native inputs are generated by an input device operable to play the game, wherein the alternate inputs are generated by an alternate input system lacking some capability to play the game;
creating the mapping table; and
sending the mapping table in order to enable translating alternate inputs to corresponding native inputs to cause corresponding actions during game play, wherein operations of the method are executed by a processor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein creating the mapping table further includes:
downloading device configuration from a device manufacturer site.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein creating the mapping table further includes:
assessing predetermined probabilistic assignments between the native inputs and the alternate inputs.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein creating the mapping table further includes:
creating random mappings.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein creating the mapping table further includes:
creating mappings according to a type of game being played.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein creating the mapping table further includes:
making a determination between two buttons on the alternate input system based on knowledge of most frequently used buttons for a particular game.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein operations of the method are performed by a computer program when executed by one or more processors, the computer program being embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.