User identified to a controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440144-B2
Application number	US-201113092110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2011
Priority date	Apr 21, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer programs for configuring a computer program based on user are provided. One method includes an operation for detecting, by a controller, an object carried by a user, where the object includes a parameter value—e.g., a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag—that uniquely identifies the object from a plurality of objects. The parameter value is transmitted to a computing device executing the computer program, and the computer program determines if the computer program has user information associated with the transmitted parameter value. The computer program is configured utilizing the user information, when the computer program has the user information for the parameter value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for configuring a computer program, embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for executing a game for play by a user, the method comprising:
determining that a game controller is being held by a user whose identity is undetermined;
receiving, by the game controller while the user is holding the game controller, a first parameter value sent by a wearable object of the user holding the game controller to determine the identity of the user, wherein the wearable object is separate and distinct from the game controller; and
transmitting the first parameter value from the game controller to a computing device executing the computer program for the game, wherein, in response to receiving the first parameter value, the computing device:
determines the identity of the user holding the game controller based on the first parameter value and the game controller that transmitted the first parameter value,
configures the computer program to play the game utilizing user information for the user based on the identity of the user, and
sets a first calibration for tracking motions of the user and the game controller while playing the game, wherein the first calibration is based on a previously captured motion profile made by the user with the game controller,

wherein setting the first calibration by the computing device includes,
setting the first calibration for the game controller for use by a location tracking system based on user information associated with the identified user without requiring the user to perform new calibrating operations to record motions of the user while holding the game controller, and
wherein the first calibration acts to change a value for a size of the user that is used for interfacing with the game, and the location tracking system functions to track the motions of the game controller and a location of the game controller while executing the game.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first parameter value is received using radio-frequency identification (RFID), wherein the wearable object includes an RFID electronic tag associated with the parameter value, wherein the game controller reads the RFID electronic tag and transmits the RFID electronic tag to the computing device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein setting the first calibration by the computing device further includes:
setting the value in the computer program for the size of the user, the size of the user utilized in tracking the motions of the user and the motions of the came controller, wherein the size of the user is calculated based on the previously defined motion profile of the user that is based on motions of the user while holding the game controller.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , setting the first calibration further includes:
performing a calibrating operation for the user when the computer program has no calibration information for the user, the calibration operation including presenting instructions to the user to move the game controller and recording the motions of the game controller in response to the presented instructions.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including:
determining if the user belongs to a group of users based on the user information for the user; and
giving the user access to features of the computer program that are available to the group of users.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including:
receiving, by the game controller, a second parameter value sent by a second wearable object; and
transmitting the second parameter value from the game controller to the computing device, wherein, in response to receiving the second parameter value, the computing device determines that a second user is holding the game controller based on the second parameter value, configures the computer program to play the game utilizing user information for the second user, and sets a second calibration for tracking motions of the second user and the game controller while playing the game.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein setting the first calibration by the computing device further includes:
setting an age of the user in the computer program for determining an expected reaction time by the user while playing the game.

8. A game controller for configuring a computer program, embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for executing a game for play by a user, the game controller including:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to detect an RFID tag, the RFID tag uniquely identifying a wearable object from a plurality of wearable objects, the wearable object defined to determine an identity of the user holding the game controller and is separate and distinct from the game controller;
a memory;
buttons for receiving user input to play the game; and
a processor operable to transmit the RFID tag to a computing device executing the computer program, wherein, in response to receiving the RFID tag, the computing device determines that the game controller is being held by a user whose identity is undetermined, and
the computing device determines the identity of the user holding the game controller based on the RFID tag and the game controller that transmitted the RFID tag,
wherein the computing device configures the computer program utilizing user information for the user based on the identity of the user, and sets a first calibration for tracking motions of the user and the game controller while playing the game,
wherein the first calibration is based on a previously captured motion profile made by the user with the game controller,
wherein setting the first calibration by the computing device includes,
setting the first calibration for the game controller for use by a location tracking system based on user information associated with the identified user without requiring the user to perform new calibrating operations that include recording motions of the user while holding the game controller, and
wherein the first calibration acts to change a value for a size of the user that is used for interfacing with the game, and the location tracking system functions to track the motions of the game controller and a location of the game controller while executing game.

9. The game controller of claim 8 , wherein the computing device sets a second calibration for a second user after receiving a new RFID tag.

10. A game console comprising:
a processor;
a wireless communications module; and
a memory having a computer program for executing a game, the memory further including user information about one or more users, wherein the computer program includes program instructions that when executed by the processor perform operations including:
determine that a game controller is being held by a user whose identity is undetermined;
receive a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag from the game controller via the wireless communication module, the game controller having an RFID reader operable to detect the RFID tag while the user is holding the game controller, the RFID tag being defined to determine the identity of the user, the RFID tag uniquely identifying a wearable object from a plurality of wearable objects, wherein the wearable object is separate and distinct from the game controller;
determining the identity of the user associated with the RFID tag;
configure the computer program utilizing user information for the user based on the identity of the user;

set a first calibration for tracking motions of the user and the game controller while playing the game, wherein the first calibration is based on a previously captured motion profile made by the user

Assignees

• Mikhailov Anton
• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Mikhailov Anton

Classifications

• A63F2300/208

  for storing personal settings or data of the player · CPC title

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• A63F13/213

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A63F13/22

  Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment · CPC title

• A63F2300/1031

  using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth®, infrared connections · CPC title