Synchronized augmented reality gameplay across multiple gaming environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940387-B2
Application number	US-201916354848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2019
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein provide techniques for implementing augmented reality (AR) gameplay across multiple AR gaming environments. A synchronized AR gaming application executing on an AR gaming console detects that a first gaming console that is executing an AR gaming application has exited a first AR gaming environment and entered a second AR gaming environment. The synchronized AR gaming application connects to a communications network associated with the second AR gaming environment. The synchronized AR gaming application detects, via the communications network, a sensor associated with the second AR gaming environment. The synchronized AR gaming application alters execution of the AR gaming application based at least in part on sensor data received via the sensor to enable the AR gaming application to continue executing as the first gaming console exits the first AR gaming environment and enters the second AR gaming environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for implementing augmented reality (AR) gameplay across multiple gaming environments, the method comprising:
detecting that a first gaming console that is executing an AR gaming application has exited a first AR gaming environment and entered a second AR gaming environment;
connecting to a communications network associated with the second AR gaming environment;
detecting, via the communications network, a sensor associated with the second AR gaming environment; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application based at least in part on sensor data received via the sensor to enable the AR gaming application to continue executing as the first gaming console exits the first AR gaming environment and enters the second AR gaming environment.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that the first gaming console has exited the second AR gaming environment and entered a third AR gaming environment;
disconnecting from the communications network; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application based at least in part on second sensor data received via a second sensor integrated into the first gaming console to enable the AR gaming application to continue executing as the first gaming console exits the second AR gaming environment and enters the third AR gaming environment.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting that a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level associated with second sensor data received via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment is below a threshold level.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first AR gaming environment is associated with a vehicle, and wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting, via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment, that a user associated with the first gaming console has exited a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first AR gaming environment is associated with a residence, and wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting, via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment, that a user associated with the first gaming console has exited a bounded area within the residence.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the first gaming console has entered the second AR gaming environment comprises detecting a network signal associated with the communications network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that a second gaming console that is executing the AR gaming application resides within a third AR gaming environment;
determining that the second gaming console is within a threshold distance from the first gaming console; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application to enable an interaction between the first gaming console and the second gaming console.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a computing device that is in communication with the communications network;
determining that the computing device is configured to execute a portion of the AR gaming application; and
offloading a task associated with the portion of the AR gaming application to the computing device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting that the first gaming console is about to exit the second AR gaming environment; and
offloading the task from the computing device to the first gaming console.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that a second gaming console that is executing the AR gaming application resides within the second AR gaming environment; and
generating a mesh network that includes the first gaming console and the second gaming console.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
detecting that a first gaming console that is executing an AR gaming application has exited a first AR gaming environment and entered a second AR gaming environment;
connecting to a communications network associated with the second AR gaming environment;
detecting, via the communications network, a sensor associated with the second AR gaming environment; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application based at least in part on sensor data received via the sensor to enable the AR gaming application to continue executing as the first gaming console exits the first AR gaming environment and enters the second AR gaming environment.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting that the first gaming console has exited the second AR gaming environment and entered a third AR gaming environment;
disconnecting from the communications network; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application based at least in part on second sensor data received via a second sensor integrated into the first gaming console to enable the AR gaming application to continue executing as the first gaming console exits the second AR gaming environment and enters the third AR gaming environment.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting that a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level associated with second sensor data received via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment is below a threshold level.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the first AR gaming environment is associated with a vehicle, and wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting, via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment, that a user associated with the first gaming console has exited a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the first AR gaming environment is associated with an open play space, and wherein detecting that the first gaming console has exited the first AR gaming environment comprises detecting, via a second sensor associated with the first AR gaming environment, that a user associated with the first gaming console has exited a defined area within the open play space.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein detecting that the first gaming console has entered the second AR gaming environment comprises detecting a network signal associated with the communications network.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting that a second gaming console that is executing the AR gaming application resides within a third AR gaming environment;
determining that the second gaming console is within a threshold distance from the first gaming console; and
altering execution of the AR gaming application to enable an interaction between the first gaming console and the second gaming console.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Goslin Michael P
• Nocon Nathan

Classifications

• G06T19/006

  Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00) · CPC title

• A63F13/48

  Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04M1/72427

  for supporting games or graphical animations · CPC title

• A63F13/323

  between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines · CPC title