US 8,574,075 B2Granted

Asynchronous audio for networked games

AssigneeDolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

InventorsGlenn N. Dickins, John J. Griffin, Aya Itokawa, Hiroaki Kondo, Lori L. Solomon, Matthew A. Tullis

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Abstract

In a game, multiple players are communicatively coupled with a network. A progression of game action states is tracked. The action states relate to events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the events. Upon reaching a first action state, in which a player is expected to utter a first vociferation based on that player's situation with respect to a game event that occurs in association with the first action state, it is detected whether the vociferation is uttered. The first vociferation is captured. The vociferation may be sent to the other players asynchronously with respect to its capture where it may be rendered locally.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method, comprising the steps of:

tracking a progression of one or more action states of a game, wherein a plurality of players of the game are communicatively coupled with a network via computing devices, and wherein the one or more action states relate to one or more events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the one or more events;
detecting whether a first vociferation is uttered upon reaching a first action state wherein at least one of the players is expected, based on the situation of the at least one player with respect to at least one game event that occurs in association with the first action state, to utter the first vociferation based on the first action state;
capturing the first vociferation;
upon capturing the first vociferation, uniquely associating the first vociferation with the at least one of the players from whom the first vociferation was uttered;
characterizing a first player emotional state that corresponds to the first vociferation;
associating a classification with the first vociferation based on the characterized first player emotional state and the at least one of the players with whom the first vociferation is associated;
and
storing the captured first vociferation along with the associated classification;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

6 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a computer readable storage medium that stores instructions which, when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform steps that include:
monitoring a progression of one or more action states of a game, wherein a plurality of players of the game are communicatively coupled with a network via computing devices, and wherein the one or more action states relate to one or more events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the one or more events;
detecting whether a first vociferation is uttered upon reaching a first action state wherein at least one of the players is expected, based on the situation of the at least one player with respect to at least one game event that occurs in association with the first action state, to utter the first vociferation based on the first action state;
capturing the first vociferation;
upon capturing the first vociferation, uniquely associating the first vociferation with the at least one of the players from whom the first vociferation was uttered;
characterizing a first player emotional state that corresponds to the first vociferation;
associating a classification with the first vociferation based on the characterized first player emotional state and the at least one of the players with whom the first vociferation is associated;
and
storing the captured first vociferation along with the associated classification.

8 more elements

A system, comprising:

means for monitoring a progression of one or more action states of a game, wherein a plurality of players of the game are communicatively coupled with a network via computing devices, wherein the one or more action states relate to one or more events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the one or more events;
means for detecting whether a first vociferation is uttered upon reaching a first action state wherein at least one of the players is expected, based on the situation of the at least one player with respect to at least one game event that occurs in association with the first action state, to utter the first vociferation based on the first action state, for detecting whether the first vociferation is uttered;
means for capturing the first vociferation;
means, upon capturing the vociferation, for uniquely associating the vociferation with the at least one of the players from whom the first vociferation was uttered;
means for characterizing a first player emotional state that corresponds to the first vociferation;
and
means for associating a classification with the first vociferation based on the characterized first player emotional state and the at least one of the players with whom the first vociferation is associated;
and
means for storing the captured first vociferation along with the associated classification.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing encoded instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

monitoring a progression of one or more action states of a game, wherein a plurality of players of the game are communicatively coupled with a network via computing devices, and wherein the one or more action states relate to one or more events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the one or more events;
detecting whether a first vociferation is uttered upon reaching a first action state wherein at least one of the players is expected, based on the situation of the at least one player with respect to at least one game event that occurs in association with the first action state, to utter the first vociferation based on the first action state;
capturing the first vociferation;
upon capturing the first vociferation, uniquely associating, by the computing device, the first vociferation with the at least one of the players from whom the first vociferation was uttered;
characterizing a first player emotional state that corresponds to the first vociferation;
associating a classification with the first vociferation based on the characterized first player emotional state and the at least one of the players with whom the first vociferation is associated;
and
storing the captured first vociferation along with the associated classification.

5 more elements

A device, comprising:

at least one processor;
and
a computer readable storage medium that stores instructions which, when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform at least one of:
configure an environment of a game application;
or
control at least one other component of the device to configure an environment of a game application;
wherein the game application functions to operate a game wherein a plurality of players of the game are communicatively coupled with a network via computing devices;
and
wherein the game application includes:
at least one game action component that controls and monitors a progression of one or more action states of the game wherein the one or more action states relate to one or more events that occur during the game and a situation of each of the players that corresponds to the one or more events;
one or more vociferation components that, upon reaching a first action state wherein at least one of the players is expected, based on the situation of the at least one player with respect to at least one game event that occurs in association with the first action state, to utter a first vociferation based on the first action state:
detect whether the first vociferation is uttered;
capture the first vociferation.
upon capturing the first vociferation, uniquely associates the first vociferation with the at least one of the players from whom the first vociferation was uttered;
characterize a first player emotional state that corresponds to the first vociferation;
and
associate a classification with the first vociferation based on the characterized first player emotional state and the at least one of the players with whom the first vociferation is associated;
and
store the captured first vociferation along with the associated classification.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/809,450Filed 18 Dec 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 21 Dec 2007
Published: US 2011/0165945 A17 Jul 2011
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A63F 13/34
Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection…: using…
A63F 13/215
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
A63F 13/424
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…:…
A63F 2300/5533
Game data structure: using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game