Systems and methods for detecting handling events for portable devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025220108-A1
Application number	US-202418902440-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2024
Priority date	Dec 28, 2023
Publication date	Jul 3, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An event detection system includes processing circuitry with one or more processors. The event detection system also includes memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to process positioning data for a portable device to identify an occurrence of an improper handling event for the portable device by a user, and update a user event profile for the user by adding the improper handling event to a quantity of improper handling events for the portable device by the user. The instructions, that when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to apply one or more restrictions for the user in response to determining that the quantity of improper handling events for the portable device by the user meets or exceeds an event threshold.

First claim

1 . An event detection system, comprising:
processing circuitry comprising one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
process positioning data for a portable device to identify an occurrence of an improper handling event for the portable device by a user;
update a user event profile for the user by adding the improper handling event to a quantity of improper handling events for the portable device by the user; and
in response to determining that the quantity of improper handling events for the portable device by the user meets or exceeds an event threshold, apply one or more restrictions for the user.

2 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
set the event threshold based on a history of prior improper handling events by the user during prior visits to one or more interactive environments.

3 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
set the event threshold based on a time of a day, a special occasion, or any combination thereof.

4 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
in response to identifying the occurrence of the improper handling event for the portable device by the user, instruct an output device of the portable device to provide an alert.

5 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise decreasing operational features of the portable device.

6 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise blocking the user from reaching achievements in an interactive environment.

7 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the portable device comprises a targeting device, and the one or more restrictions comprise reducing a quantity of virtual projectiles available to the portable device, changing a type of virtual projectiles available to the portable device, or both.

8 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more restrictions include blocking access to one or more queues for one or more interactive environments, increasing wait times for the one or more interactive environments, or both.

9 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
instruct a respective display of a user device of the user, a respective display of the portable device, or both, to display an indication of the user event profile for the user, the one or more restrictions, or both.

10 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
link a user identifier received from a user device of the user with a device identifier received from the portable device; access a user profile that includes the user event profile for the user based on the user identifier received from the user device of the user; update the user event profile for the user to generate an updated user event profile for the user by adding the improper handling event to the quantity of improper handling events for the portable device by the user; and store the updated user event profile for the user in a database.

11 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the portable device is configured to facilitate interactions with interactive elements in an interactive environment, and the portable device comprises a handheld targeting device, a wand, a toy, a figurine, an article of clothing, a wearable accessory, augmented reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, or any combination thereof.

12 . The event detection system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning data comprises a signal generated by ultra-wideband (UWB) circuitry.

13 . The event detection system of claim 12 , comprising UWB readers in an interactive environment that are configured to read UWB tags in the portable device to generate the positioning data.

14 . An interactive system, comprising:
a processing circuitry comprising one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
dynamically set an event threshold;
process respective data for a first portable device utilized during a respective first visit of a first user to a first interactive environment to identify an occurrence of a handling event for the first portable device by the first user;
update a user event profile for the first user by adding the handling event to a quantity of handling events by the first user; and
in response to determining that the quantity of handling events meets or exceeds the event threshold, apply one or more restrictions for the user or one or more enhancements for the user.

15 . The interactive system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
process respective data for a second portable device utilized during a respective second visit of the first user to the first interactive environment or to a second interactive environment to identify an occurrence of an additional handling event for the second portable device by the first user; update the user event profile for the first user by adding the additional handling event to the quantity of handling events by the first user; and in response to determining that the quantity of handling events meets or exceeds the event threshold, apply the one or more restrictions for the user or the one or more enhancements for the user.

16 . The interactive system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
compare the quantity of handling events to the event threshold on a per visit basis.

17 . The interactive system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
set the event threshold to be specific to the first user.

18 . A method of operating an event detection system, the method comprising:
processing, using one or more processors, positioning data for a portable device to identify an occurrence of an improper handling event for the portable device; updating, using the one or more processors, an event profile by adding the improper handling event to a quantity of improper handling events for the portable device; and applying, using the one or more processors, one or more restrictions in response to determining that the quantity of improper handling events for the portable device meets or exceeds an event threshold.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising setting, using the one or more processors, the event threshold based on a history of prior improper handling events during prior visits to one or more interactive environments.

20 . The method of claim 18 , comprising applying, using the one or more processors, the one or more restrictions via decreasing operational features of the portable device, reducing a quantity of virtual projectiles available to the portable device, changing a type of virtual projectiles available to the portable device, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Majdali David Gerard
• Habiak Gregory Paul

Classifications

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title

• A63F13/428

  involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• A63F13/211

  using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• A63F13/75

  Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players · CPC title