U.S. patent application number 12/142064 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for rfid based positioning system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROADCOM CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran.
Application Number | 20080318683 12/142064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40135930 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080318683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rofougaran; Ahmadreza (Reza) ;
et al. |
December 25, 2008 |
RFID based positioning system
Abstract
The position of a mobile gaming object within a video gaming
environment is determined using radio frequency identification
(RFID) signals transmitted between RFID devices, at least one of
which is positioned on a gaming element. Based on signal
information regarding the RFID signals, the distances between the
gaming element and various RFID devices can be determined. The
position of the gaming element within the video gaming environment
is then determined based on the distances.
Inventors: |
Rofougaran; Ahmadreza (Reza);
(Newport Coast, CA) ; Rofougaran; Maryam; (Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARLICK HARRISON & MARKISON
P.O. BOX 160727
AUSTIN
TX
78716-0727
US
|
Assignee: |
BROADCOM CORPORATION
Irvine
CA
|
Family ID: |
40135930 |
Appl. No.: |
12/142064 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60936724 |
Jun 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/011 20130101;
A63F 13/212 20140902; A63F 2300/1031 20130101; G01S 13/003
20130101; G06F 3/012 20130101; A63F 13/57 20140902; G06F 3/045
20130101; A63F 2300/5553 20130101; A63F 13/213 20140902; A63F
13/211 20140902; A63F 2300/1012 20130101; A63F 13/825 20140902;
G01S 13/723 20130101; G01S 13/878 20130101; G01S 13/426 20130101;
A63F 13/573 20140902; A63F 13/235 20140902; G01S 7/412 20130101;
G06F 3/0346 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/39 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00 |
Claims
1. A system comprises: a radio frequency identification (RFID)
reader associated with a video gaming environment including: a
radio frequency (RF) front end operable to transmit an RFID
outbound Radio Frequency (RF) signal and receive an RFID inbound RF
signal; and a processing module operable to produce signal
information regarding the received RFID inbound RF signal; a gaming
element associated with the video gaming environment and operable
to facilitate a video game function of a video game, the gaming
element including: an RFID tag coupled to receive the RFID outbound
RF signal and operable to produce the RFID inbound RF signal
responsive to the RFID outbound RF signal; and a controller coupled
to receive the signal information from the RFID reader and operable
to: determine a distance between the gaming element and the RFID
reader based on the signal information.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprises: a plurality of radio
frequency identification (RFID) readers, each including: a radio
frequency (RF) front end operable to transmit a respective one of a
plurality of RFID outbound Radio Frequency (RF) signals and receive
a respective one of a plurality of RFID inbound RF signals; and a
processing module operable to produce respective signal information
regarding the respective received RFID inbound RF signal; wherein
the RFID tag is further coupled to receive the plurality of RFID
outbound RF signals and operable to produce the plurality of RFID
inbound RF signals responsive to the plurality of RFID outbound RF
signals; and wherein the controller is further coupled to receive
the signal information from the plurality of RFID readers and is
operable to: determine respective distances between the gaming
element and the plurality of RFID readers based on the signal
information; and determine a position of the gaming element within
the video gaming environment based on the distances.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further
operable to: process the video game function in accordance with the
position of the gaming element.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further
operable to map the position to a coordinate system, and wherein
the coordinate system is applied to a given physical area defined
by the video gaming environment.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the gaming element further
comprises a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein the system further
comprises: two or more radio frequency identification (RFID)
readers, each including: a radio frequency (RF) front end operable
to transmit a respective RFID outbound Radio Frequency (RF) signal
to each of at least some of the plurality of RFID tags and receive
respective RFID inbound RF signals from the at least some of the
plurality of RFID tags; and a processing module operable to produce
respective signal information regarding the respective received
RFID inbound RF signals; wherein the controller is further coupled
to receive the signal information from the two or more RFID readers
and is operable to: determine respective distances between the
gaming element and the plurality of RFID readers based on the
respective signal information; and determine a position of the
gaming element within the video gaming environment based on the
distances.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the RFID tags are physically
attached to the gaming element at reference points thereof.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the video game function includes
a video game image corresponding to the gaming element, and wherein
the controller is further operable to: determine object dimensions
of the gaming element; determine a respective position for each of
the reference points on the gaming element using respective signal
information associated with respective RFID inbound RF signals
produced by respective ones of the plurality of RFID tags; map each
of the positions to a coordinate system to produce coordinates for
each of the reference points; and map the coordinates of the
reference points to the video game image of the gaming element
based on the object dimensions.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further
operable to: determine coordinates of other points on the gaming
element based on the coordinates of the reference points using
linear interpolation; and map the coordinates of the other points
to the video game image of the gaming element based on the object
dimensions.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprises: a game console device
that comprises the RFID reader and at least a portion of the
controller, the game console device operable to perform the video
game function.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming element further
comprises: a gaming object transceiver coupled to communicate with
a game console device operating the video game using transceiver
radio frequency (RF) signals; and a processing module coupled to
the gaming object transceiver and the RFID tag to coordinate
communications between the gaming object transceiver and the RFID
tag.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transceiver RF signals are
at one or more carrier frequencies that are different from
frequencies of the RFID outbound RF signals and the RFID inbound RF
signals.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing module is
operable to coordinate communications between the gaming object
transceiver and the RFID tag using a frequency sharing
protocol.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming element comprises an
apparatus worn or held by a human video game player.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is operable to
produce the RFID inbound RF signal using at least one of: a
backscatter technique; a frequency modulation technique; and a
continuous wave radar technique.
15. The system of claim 1, further comprises: a plurality of gaming
elements, each including a respective one of a plurality of RFID
tags operable to produce a respective one of a plurality of RFID
inbound RF signals responsive to a respective one of a plurality of
RFID outbound signals; and a mobile gaming object including the
RFID reader, the RFID reader operable to transmit the plurality of
RFID outbound RF signals, receive the plurality of RFID inbound RF
signals and produce respective signal information representative of
properties of the respective received RFID inbound RF signals;
wherein the controller is further coupled to receive the signal
information from the RFID reader and is operable to: determine
respective distances between the RFID tags and the mobile gaming
object based on the signal information; and determine a position of
the mobile gaming object within the video gaming environment based
on the distances.
16. A game console device including: a radio frequency
identification (RFID) reader associated with a video gaming
environment, the RFID reader including: a radio frequency (RF)
front end coupled to transmit at least one of a plurality of RFID
outbound Radio Frequency (RF) signals and to receive at least one
of a plurality of RFID inbound RF signals produced responsive to
the respective RFID outbound RF signals by at least one RFID tag
associated with a gaming element within the video gaming
environment; and a processing module operable to produce signal
information regarding the at least one received RFID inbound RF
signal; and a controller coupled to receive the signal information
and operable to determine a position of the gaming element within
the video gaming environment based on the signal information.
17. The game console device of claim 16, wherein the controller is
further operable to map the position to a coordinate system, and
wherein the coordinate system is applied to a given physical area
defined by the video gaming environment.
18. The game console device of claim 17, wherein the controller is
further operable to: determine object dimensions of the gaming
element; determine a respective position for each of a plurality of
reference points on the gaming element using respective signal
information associated with respective RFID inbound RF signals
produced by respective RFID tags attached to each of the reference
points; map each of the positions to the coordinate system to
produce coordinates for each of the reference points; and map the
coordinates of the reference points to a corresponding image of the
gaming element based on the object dimensions to produce the image
thereof.
19. The game console device of claim 18, wherein the controller is
further operable to: determine coordinates of other points on the
gaming element based on the coordinates of the reference points
using linear interpolation; and map the coordinates of the other
points to a corresponding image of the gaming element based on the
object dimensions to produce the image thereof.
20. The game console device of claim 16, wherein other ones of the
plurality of RFID outbound RF signals and the plurality of RFID
inbound RF signals are transmitted and received by other RFID
readers coupled to the game console device, and wherein the
controller is further operable to: receive respective signal
information regarding each of the other ones of the plurality of RF
inbound signals from the other RFID readers; determine respective
distances between the at least one RFID tag and the other RFID
readers based on the respective signal information; and determine
the position of the gaming element within the video gaming
environment based on the distances.
21. The game console device of claim 16, wherein the RFID reader
includes: a plurality of transmitters coupled to transmit the
plurality of RFID outbound RF signals; and a plurality of receivers
coupled to receive the plurality of RFID inbound RF signals;
wherein pairs of the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of
receivers are physically separated from each other.
22. The game console device of claim 21, wherein the controller is
further operable to: determine respective distances between the at
least one RFID tag and the plurality of transmitters based on the
signal information; and determine the position of the gaming
element within the video gaming environment based on the
distances.
23. The game console device of claim 16, wherein the controller is
further operable to process a video game function in accordance
with the position of the gaming element.
24. The game console device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of
RFID inbound RF signals are produced using one of: a backscatter
technique; a frequency modulation technique; and a continuous wave
radar technique.
25. The game console device of claim 16, wherein the controller is
further operable to track the position of the gaming element by
determining subsequent positions of the gaming element within the
video gaming environment.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
[0001] This patent application is claiming priority under 35 USC
.sctn.119 to a provisionally filed patent application entitled
POSITION AND MOTION TRACKING OF AN OBJECT, having a provisional
filing date of Jun. 22, 2007, and a provisional Ser. No.
60/936,724.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] NOT APPLICABLE
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0003] NOT APPLICABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention relates generally to wireless systems and
more particularly to determining position within a wireless system
and/or tracking motion within the wireless system.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art
[0007] Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire
lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined
communication devices. Such communication systems range from
national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the
Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks to radio
frequency identification (RFID) systems. Each type of communication
system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one
or more communication standards. For instance, radio frequency (RF)
wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one
or more standards including, but not limited to, RFID, IEEE 802.11,
Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS,
global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division
multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems
(LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS),
and/or variations thereof. As another example, infrared (IR)
communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more
standards including, but not limited to, IrDA (Infrared Data
Association).
[0008] IR communications are commonly used video games to detect
the direction in which a game controller is pointed. As an example,
an IR sensor is placed near the game display, where the IR sensor
to detect the IR signal transmitted by the game controller. If the
game controller is too far away, too close, or angled away from the
IR sensor, the IR communication will fail.
[0009] Further advances in video gaming include three
accelerometers in the game controller to detect motion by way of
acceleration. The motion data is transmitted to the game console
via a Bluetooth wireless link. The Bluetooth wireless link may also
transmit the IR direction data to the game console and/or convey
other data between the game controller and the game console.
[0010] While the above technologies allow video gaming to include
motion sensing, it does so with limitations. As mentioned, the IR
communication has a limited area in which a player can be for the
IR communication to work properly. Further, the accelerometer only
measures acceleration such that true one-to-one detection of motion
is not achieved. Thus, the gaming motion is limited to a handful of
directions (e.g., horizontal, vertical, and a few diagonal
directions.
[0011] Therefore, a need exists for motion tracking and positioning
determination for video gaming and other applications that overcome
the above limitations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods
of operation that are further described in the following Brief
Description of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of the
Invention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention made with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
an embodiment of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3B is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a gaming system in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a side view of
another embodiment of a gaming system in accordance with the
present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic block diagrams of an
embodiment of an RFID reader and an RFID tag in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a method for determining position
and/or motion tracking in accordance with the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
gaming object in accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
game console in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
gaming object and/or game console in accordance with the present
invention;
[0024] FIGS. 11-13 are diagrams of an embodiment of a coordinate
system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0025] FIGS. 14-16 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0026] FIGS. 17-19 are diagrams of yet another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention; and
[0027] FIGS. 10-22 are diagrams of examples of motion patterns in
accordance with the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 23 is a diagram of an example of motion estimation in
accordance with the present invention;
[0029] FIGS. 24-25 are diagrams of examples of reference points on
a player to determine player's physical measurements in accordance
with the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 26 is a diagram of an example of mapping a player to an
image in accordance with the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 27 is a diagram of an method for determining motion in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0032] FIG. 28 is a diagram of a method for processing a position
and/or motion based gaming action in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
an embodiment of a gaming system 10 that includes a game console
device 30 and a mobile gaming object 40. The gaming system has an
associated video gaming environment 20 corresponding to a physical
area in which the game console device 30 and the mobile gaming
object 40 are located. The physical area may be a room, portion of
a room, and/or any other space where the mobile gaming object 40
and game console device 30 are proximally co-located (e.g., airport
terminal, on a bus, on an airplane, etc.).
[0034] The mobile gaming object 40 may be a wireless game
controller and/or any object used or worn by the player to
facilitate play of a video game. For example, the mobile gaming
object 40 may be a simulated sword, a simulated gun, a helmet, a
vest, a hat, shoes, socks, pants, shorts, gloves, etc. The mobile
gaming object 40 is able to move within a position and motion
tracking area 50 of the gaming environment 20. For example, motion
of the mobile gaming object 40 may be achieved through user
manipulation of the mobile gaming object 40 within the gaming
environment 20.
[0035] The game console device 30 operates to determine the
position of the mobile gaming object 40 within the gaming
environment 20 using one or more positioning techniques, as
subsequently discussed. Once the mobile gaming object's 40 position
is determined, the game console device 30 tracks the motion of the
mobile gaming object 40 to facilitate video game play. For example,
the game console device 30 may determine the position of the mobile
gaming object 40 within a positioning tolerance (e.g., within a
meter) at a positioning update rate (e.g., once every second or
once every few seconds) and track the motion within a motion
tracking tolerance (e.g., within a few millimeters) at a motion
tracking update rate (e.g., once every 10-100 milliseconds).
[0036] In operation, the game console device 30 operates to
determine the environment parameters of the gaming environment 20
corresponding to the physical area in which the gaming object 40
moves. The environmental parameters include, but are not limited
to, height, width, and depth of the localized physical area,
objects in the physical area, differing materials in the physical
area, multiple path effects, interferers, etc. The game console
device 30 then maps the environment parameters to a particular
coordinate system. As an example, if the physical area is a room, a
point in the room is selected as the origin and the coordinate
system is applied to at least a portion of the room. In addition,
objects in the room (e.g., a couch, a chair, etc.) may be mapped to
the coordinate system based on their physical location in the
room.
[0037] Based on the mapped coordinate system, the game console
device 30, in conjunction with the mobile gaming object 40, is able
to determine the coordinates of the gaming object's 40 initial
position in the gaming environment 20 using the one or more
positioning techniques described below. It should be noted that the
position of the mobile gaming object 40 may be used to determine
the position of the player(s) if the mobile gaming object 40 is
something worn by the player or is in close proximity to the
player. In addition, the game console device 30, in conjunction
with the mobile gaming object 40, is able to update the coordinates
of the mobile gaming object's 40 position to track its motion.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system 10 that includes the mobile
gaming object 40, an RFID reader 60 and at least one RFID tag 70
within the gaming environment 20. The RFID tag 70 may be physically
attached to the mobile gaming object 40 and/or worn or held by a
player. In addition, the RFID tag 70 may be an active device that
includes an internal power source or a passive device that derive
powers from the RFID reader 60. In one embodiment, the RFID reader
60 is included within the game console device of FIG. 1. In another
embodiment, the game console device may be separate from the RFID
reader 60, but electronically connected to the RFID reader 60
(e.g., direct connection, WLAN, WAN, telephone, DSL modem, cable
modem, etc.).
[0039] In this system, the RFID reader 60 periodically (e.g., in
the range of once every 1 millisecond to once every 10 seconds)
communicates with the RFID tag 70 to determine distances between
the RFID reader 60 and the player and/or gaming object within the
gaming environment 20. In one embodiment, the RFID reader 60 and
RFID tag 70 communicate using a backscatter technique in which the
RFID reader 60 transmits an RFID outbound radio frequency (RF)
signal that is received by the RFID tag 70 and retransmitted (i.e.,
backscattered) by the RFID tag 70 towards the RFID reader 60 as an
RFID inbound RF signal. For example, the RFID reader 60 can request
data (e.g., a tag 70 identifier) from the RFID tag 70 via the RFID
outbound RF signal, and the RFID tag 70 can respond with the
requested data by modulating and backscattering the RFID outbound
RF signal provided by the RFID reader 60. Typically, the RFID tag
70 provides the requested data to the RFID reader 60 on the same RF
carrier frequency as the RFID outbound RF signal. By noting the
difference in time between the initial time that the RFID outbound
RF signal is transmitted by the RFID reader 60 and the time that
the backscattered RFID inbound RF signal is received by the RFID
reader 60, the distance between the RFID reader 60 and RFID tag 70
can be measured.
[0040] In an exemplary operation involving a passive RFID tag 70,
the RFID reader 60 first transmits an unmodulated, continuous wave
(CW) RF signal to activate and provide power to the passive RFID
tag 70. After a period of time sufficient to power the RFID tag 70,
the RFID reader 60 generates and transmits an amplitude modulated
RF interrogation signal to the RFID tag 70, requesting data (e.g.,
a tag 70 identifier) from the RFID tag 70. After the RF
interrogation signal has been transmitted for a predetermined
length of time, the RFID reader 60 begins transmitting the CW
signal again to provide additional power to the tag 70 and to allow
backscattering of the signal by the tag 70 with the requested
data.
[0041] In another embodiment, the RFID reader 60 and RFID tag 70
communicate using frequency modulation. In this embodiment, the
RFID reader 60 transmits a frequency modulated RFID outbound RF
signal. Upon receiving the RFID outbound RF signal, the RFID tag 70
retransmits the frequency modulated RFID outbound RF signal as an
RFID inbound RF signal that is received by the RFID reader 60. By
determining the phase shift of the envelope of the received
frequency modulated RFID inbound RF signal, the distance between
the RFID reader 60 and RFID tag 70 can be measured.
[0042] In yet another embodiment, the RFID reader 60 and RFID tag
70 communicate using a continuous wave radar technique. In this
embodiment, the RFID reader 60 frequency modulates a "carrier" RF
signal in a predictable way over a fixed period of time, typically
by varying up and down with a sine wave or sawtooth pattern at
audio frequencies or other desired frequency, to produce an RFID
outbound RF signal. The RFID outbound RF signal is then transmitted
by the RFID reader 60 towards the RFID tag 70. Upon receiving the
RFID outbound RF signal, the RFID tag 70 retransmits the RFID
outbound RF signal as an RFID inbound RF signal that is received at
the RFID reader 60. The RFID outbound signal is typically sent out
from one antenna on the RFID reader 60, while the RFID inbound RF
signal is received on another antenna of the RFID reader 60. Since
the signal frequency is changing, by the time the RFID inbound RF
signal returns to the RFID reader 60, the RFID outbound RF signal
has shifted to some other frequency. The amount of frequency shift
is greater over longer periods of time. As such, greater frequency
differences translate into greater distances between the RFID
reader 60 and the RFID tag 70. The amount of frequency shift can
therefore be used to directly measure the distance between the RFID
reader 60 and the RFID tag 70.
[0043] The measured distance between the RFID reader 60 and RFID
tag 70 can be used to determine an initial position of the mobile
gaming object 40 and/or the player within the gaming environment
40, as described below. Once the player's and/or mobile gaming
object's 40 position is determined, the RFID reader 60 may be
adjusted to focus on the player and/or mobile gaming object 40
movement. For example, subsequently determined distances can be
processed using a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional
algorithm to determine the motion of the mobile gaming object 40
and/or of the player.
[0044] FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system 10 that includes a mobile
gaming object 40, a plurality of RFID readers 60a-60c and at least
one RFID tag 70 within a gaming environment 50. The RFID tag 70 may
be physically attached to or included within the mobile gaming
object 40 and/or worn or held by the player. In one embodiment, at
least one of the RFID readers is included within the game console
device of FIG. 1. For example, one of the RFID readers, e.g., RFID
reader 60b, can be included within the game console device and the
other RFID readers 60a and 60c can be physically distributed
throughout the gaming environment 20. As another example, all of
the RFID readers 60a-60c can be included within or attached to the
game console device at disparate locations on the game console
device. In another embodiment, the game console device may be
separate from the RFID readers 60a-60c, but electronically
connected to at least one of the RFID readers (e.g., direct
connection, WLAN, WAN, telephone, DSL modem, cable modem, etc.).
Regardless of the configuration of the RFID readers 60a-60c, all of
the RFID readers 60a-60c communicate with the game console device
either directly (via a wired or wireless connection) or indirectly
through another RFID reader or other device.
[0045] In embodiments in which at least some of the RFID readers
60a-60c are positioned outside of the game console device, the RFID
readers 60a-60c may be stand-alone devices that are physically
distributed throughout the gaming environment 20 or may be included
within device(s) that are already positioned within the gaming
environment 20. For example, the RFID readers 60a-60c may be
included in access points of a WLAN, smoke detectors, motion
detectors of a security system, speakers of an intercom system,
light fixtures, light bulbs, electronic equipment (e.g., computers,
TVs, radios, clocks, etc.), and/or any device or object found or
used in a localized physical area. Typically, once the RFID readers
60a-60c are positioned within the gaming environment 20, a
calibration of the RFID readers 60a-60c is performed to determine
the fixed three-dimensional locations of the RFID readers 60a-60c
within the gaming environment 20.
[0046] Each of the RFID readers 60a-60c periodically (e.g., in the
range of once every 1 millisecond to once every 10 seconds)
communicates with the RFID tag 70 to determine the respective
distances between the RFID readers and the RFID tag 70. For
example, each RFID reader 60a-60c can request data (e.g., a tag
identifier) from the RFID tag 70 by sending a respective RFID
outbound RF signal toward the RFID tag 70, and the RFID tag 70 can
respond with the requested data by separately modulating and
backscattering each of the RFID outbound RF signals provided by the
RFID readers 60a-60c as respective RFID inbound RF signals. Each
RFID reader 60a-60c receives a respective RFID inbound RF signal
that was modulated and backscattered in response to the RFID
outbound RF signal transmitted by that RFID reader 60a-60c. The
RFID readers 60a-60c analyze the received RFID inbound RF signals
to determine signal properties of the received RFID inbound RF
signals. These signal properties are used to determine the
respective distances between the RFID readers 60a-60c and the RFID
tag 70, as described above.
[0047] Each RFID reader 60a-60c may operate with the same frequency
or different frequencies using a frequency sharing protocol. In the
former situation where the same frequencies are used, the RFID
readers 60a-60c may transmit their RFID outbound RF signals in a
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or round-robin manner so as to
avoid interference between the RFID outbound RF signals. In the
latter situation where different frequencies may be used for each
RFID outbound RF signal, the RFID readers 60a-60c may transmit
their RFID outbound RF signals in a Frequency Division Multiple
Access (FDMA) manner.
[0048] By obtaining multiple distances from multiple RFID readers
60a-60c, and with knowledge of the fixed locations of the RFID
readers 60a-60c, the position and/or motion of the RFID tag 70
(mobile gaming object 40) can be determined using a triangulation
technique. For example, with the known position of a particular
RFID reader, e.g., RFID reader 60b, and the measured distance
between the that RFID reader 60b and the mobile gaming object 40,
the mobile gaming object 40's location can be determined to be
somewhere on the surface of an imaginary sphere (shown as a circle
in two-dimensions) centered on that RFID reader 60b, and whose
radius is the distance to it. When the distance to at least three
RFID readers 60a-60c is known, the intersection of the three
imaginary spheres reveals the position of the mobile gaming object
40. To determine the position of the mobile gaming object 40 in
three-dimensions, the distance to four or more RFID readers may be
preferred.
[0049] In one embodiment, the RFID readers 60a-60c calculate their
respective distances to the RFID tag 70 and provide the distances
to the game console for use in calculating the position of the
mobile gaming object 40 within the gaming environment 20. In
another embodiment, the RFID readers 60a-60c provide the signal
properties of the received RFID inbound RF signals to the game
console, and the game console calculates the respective distances
between the RFID tag 70 and the RFID readers 60a-60c and the
position of the mobile gaming object 40 within the gaming
environment 20 based on these signal properties.
[0050] FIG. 3B is a schematic block diagram of an overhead view of
another embodiment of a gaming system 10 that includes a gaming
object 40, a plurality of RFID tags 70a-70c and at least one RFID
reader 60 within a gaming environment 20. In this embodiment, it is
the RFID reader 60, instead of the RFID tag 70, that is physically
attached to or included within the mobile gaming object 40. The
RFID tags 70a-70c may be placed throughout the gaming environment
20 and/or within the game console device. For example, one of the
RFID tags, e.g., RFID tag 70b, can be included within the game
console device and the other RFID tags 70a and 70c can be
physically distributed throughout the gaming environment 20. As
another example, all of the RFID tags 70a-70c can be included
within or attached to the game console device at disparate
locations on the game console device. In another embodiment, the
game console device may be separate from the RFID tags 70a-70c.
[0051] In embodiments in which the RFID tags 70a-70c are positioned
outside of the game console device, the RFID tags 70a-70c may be
stand-alone RFID devices that are physically distributed throughout
the gaming environment 20 or may be included within device(s) that
are already positioned within the gaming environment 20. For
example, the RFID tags 70a-70c may be included in access points of
a WLAN, smoke detectors, motion detectors of a security system,
speakers of an intercom system, light fixtures, light bulbs,
electronic equipment (e.g., computers, TVs, radios, clocks, etc.),
and/or any device or object found or used in a localized physical
area. Typically, once the RFID tags 70a-70c are positioned within
the gaming environment 20, a calibration of the RFID tags 70a-70c
is performed to determine the fixed three-dimensional locations of
the RFID tags 70a-70c within the gaming environment 20.
[0052] The RFID reader 60 periodically (e.g., in the range of once
every 1 millisecond to once every 10 seconds) communicates with the
RFID tags 70a-70c to determine the respective distances between the
RFID reader 60 and each of the RFID tags 70a-70c. For example, the
RFID reader 60 can request data (e.g., a tag identifier) from each
RFID tag 70a-70c by sending an RFID outbound RF signal toward each
RFID tag 70a-70c. In one embodiment, the RFID reader 60 generates a
single RFID outbound RF signal that is received and responded to by
all RFID tags 70a-70c. For example, each RFID tag can respond to
the RFID outbound RF signal with the requested data by modulating
and backscattering the received RFID outbound RF signal to produce
a respective RFID inbound RF signal. In another embodiment,
multiple RFID outbound RF signals can be sent. For example, each
RFID outbound signal can include a tag identifier of a particular
one of the RFID tags, e.g., RFID tag 70b. Upon receipt of the RFID
outbound signal at one of the RFID tags, e.g., RFID tag 70b, that
RFID tag 70b compares the tag identifier included in the received
RFID outbound RF signal with its internally stored tag identifier
to determine whether to respond to the received RFID outbound RF
signal. If the tag identifiers match, the RFID tag 70b responds
with the requested data by modulating and backscattering the
received RFID outbound RF signal to produce an RFID inbound RF
signal.
[0053] The RFID reader 60 receives the RFID inbound RF signals from
all of the RFID tags 70a-70c and determines signal properties of
each of the RFID inbound RF signals. The signal properties of the
RFID inbound RF signals are used to determine the respective
distances between the RFID reader 60 and the RFID tags 70a-70c. By
obtaining multiple distances from multiple RFID tags 70a-70c, and
with knowledge of the fixed locations of the RFID tags 70a-70c, the
position and/or motion of the RFID reader 60 can be determined, as
described above. In one embodiment, the RFID reader 60/mobile
gaming object 40 calculates the respective distances to the RFID
tags 70a-70c and provides the distances to the game console device
for use in calculating the position of the mobile gaming object 40
within the gaming environment 20. In another embodiment, the RFID
reader 60/mobile gaming object 40 provides the signal properties of
the received RFID inbound RF signals to the game console device,
and the game console device calculates the respective distances
between the RFID tags 70a-70c and the RFID reader 60 and the
position of the mobile gaming object 40 within the gaming
environment 20 based on these signal properties.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a gaming system 10 that includes a gaming object 40, a game console
device 30, a plurality of RFID tags 70a-70c and two or more RFID
readers 60a and 60b within a gaming environment 20. The RFID
readers 60a and 60b, as shown, are physically attached to or
included within the game console device 30. However, in other
embodiments, one or both of the RFID readers 60a and 60b may be
separate from the game console device 30. The RFID tags 70a-70c, as
shown, are physically attached to or included within the mobile
gaming object 40. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the
RFID tags 70a-70c may be worn or held by a player.
[0055] In an exemplary operation, each RFID reader 60a and 60b
generates and transmits a respective RFID outbound RF signal 80
toward each of the RFID tags 70a-70c. Each RFID outbound RF signal
80 includes a tag identifier (TAG ID) 82 identifying the particular
RFID tag 70a-70c that the RFID outbound RF signal is directed to,
along with a command 84 instructing that RFID tag 70a-70c to echo
back with its TAG ID. Upon receiving an RFID outbound RF signal at
an RFID tag, e.g., RFID tag 70b, to which the RFID outbound RF
signal is directed (as indicated by the TAG ID therein), that RFID
tag 70b responds with its TAG ID by modulating and backscattering
the received RFID outbound RF signal to produce an RFID inbound RF
signal. The RFID readers 60a and 60b receive the RFID inbound RF
signals from all of the RFID tags 70a-70c and determine signal
properties of each of the RFID inbound RF signals. The signal
properties of the RFID inbound RF signals are used to determine the
respective distances between the RIFD readers 60a and 60b and the
RFID tags 70a-70c.
[0056] For example, in one embodiment, the signal properties
include the total time of travel of the combination of the RFID
outbound RF signal and the RFID inbound RF signal. The total amount
of time that it takes for the RFID outbound RF signal to travel
from an RFID reader, e.g., RFID reader 60a, to an RFID tag, e.g.,
RFID tag 70a, and return to that RFID reader 60a as an RFID inbound
RF signal is equal to:
t.sub.TOT=2t.sub.d+t.sub.TAG, (Equation 1)
where t.sub.d is the time of travel between the RFID reader 60a and
the RFID tag 70a and t.sub.TAG is the internal processing time of
the RFID tag 70a. The internal processing time of the RFID tag 70a
is known (based on data sheets, a calibration of the RFID tag or
other measurement process). In addition, the total travel time
(t.sub.TOT) can be determined by calculating the difference between
the time that the RIFD outbound RF signal is transmitted by the
RFID reader 60a and the time that the responsive RFID inbound RF
signal is received at the RFID reader 60a. Therefore, Equation 1
can be used to calculate the time of travel between the RFID reader
60a and the RFID tag 70a (t.sub.d).
[0057] Once the time of travel (t.sub.d) is determined, the
distance between the RFID reader 60a and RFID tag 70a (d) can be
calculated as:
d=c*t.sub.d, (Equation 2)
where c is the speed of light. With knowledge of the distances
between each of the RFID readers 60a and 60b and each of the RFID
tags 70a-70c, and since the RFID tags 70a-70c are separated by
known distances, d12 and d23, and the two RFID readers 60a and 60b
are separated by a known distance dr12, the position of the mobile
gaming object 40 within the gaming environment 20 can be
determined. With three or more RFID readers 60a and 60b, the
position of the mobile gaming object 40 can be determined without
knowledge of the distances between the RFID tags 70a-70c.
[0058] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a side view of
another embodiment of a gaming system 10 that includes a mobile
gaming object 40, one or more RFID readers 60, a plurality of RFID
tags 70 associated with the player, and a plurality of RFID tags 70
associated with the gaming object 40. In this illustration, the
player and the mobile gaming object 40 are within the position and
motion tracking area 50. To track the player's and gaming object
40's motion with respect to the area 50, the one or more RFID
readers 60 transmit a plurality of RFID outbound RF signals towards
the RFID tags 70 and receive a plurality of RFID inbound RF signals
from the RFID tags 70 to determine the position of the player and
gaming object 40 over time.
[0059] As described above, the communication between the RFID
reader(s) 60 and RFID tags 70 may be done in a variety of ways,
including, but not limited to, a broadcast transmission and a
collision detection and avoidance response scheme, in a round robin
manner, in a TDMA manner or in an ad hoc manner based on a desired
updating rate for a given RFID tag (e.g., a slow moving tag may
need to be updated less often than a fast moving tag).
[0060] FIGS. 6A is schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of an
RFID reader 60. In FIG. 6A, the RFID reader 60 is shown within the
game console device 30, but in other embodiments, the RFID reader
60 may be a stand-alone device, included within the mobile gaming
object or included within another device, as discussed above. The
RFID reader 60 includes a protocol processing module 102, an
encoding module 104, a digital-to-analog converter 106, an RF
front-end 108, an antenna 110, a digitization module 112, a
pre-decoding module 114 and a decoding module 116.
[0061] The protocol processing module 102 is operable to prepare
data for encoding in accordance with a particular RFID standardized
protocol. In an exemplary embodiment, the protocol processing
module 102 is programmed with multiple RFID standardized protocols
to enable the RFID reader 60 to communicate with any RFID tag,
regardless of the particular protocol associated with the tag. In
this embodiment, the protocol processing module 102 operates to
program filters and other components of the encoding module 104,
decoding module 116, pre-decoding module 114 and RF front end 108
in accordance with the particular RFID standardized protocol of the
tag(s) currently communicating with the RFID reader 60.
[0062] In operation, once the particular RFID standardized protocol
has been selected for communication with one or more RFID tags, the
protocol processing module 102 generates and provides digital data
to be communicated to the RFID tag to the encoding module 104 for
encoding in accordance with the selected RFID standardized
protocol. By way of example, but not limitation, the RFID protocols
may include one or more line encoding schemes, such as Manchester
encoding, FM0 encoding, FM1 encoding, etc. Thereafter, the
digitally encoded data is provided to the digital-to-analog
converter 106 which converts the digitally encoded data into an
analog signal. The RF front-end 108 modulates the analog signal to
produce an RFID outbound RF signal at a particular carrier
frequency that is transmitted via antenna 110 to one or more RFID
tags.
[0063] The RF front-end 108 further includes transmit blocking
capabilities such that the energy of the transmitted RF signal does
not substantially interfere with the receiving of a back-scattered
or other RF signal received from one or more RFID tags via the
antenna 110. Upon receiving an RFID inbound RF signal from one or
more RFID tags, the RF front-end 108 converts the received RFID
inbound RF signal into a baseband signal. The digitization module
112, which may be a limiting module or an analog-to-digital
converter, converts the received baseband signal into a digital
signal. The pre-decoding module 114 converts the digital signal
into an encoded signal in accordance with the particular RFID
protocol being utilized. The encoded data is provided to the
decoding module 116, which recaptures data therefrom in accordance
with the particular encoding scheme of the selected RFID protocol.
The protocol processing module 102 processes the recovered data
associated with the RFID tag(s) to determine properties of the RFID
inbound RF signal and/or provides the recovered data to the game
console device for further processing.
[0064] The protocol processing module 102, along with all other
processing modules herein, may be a single processing device or a
plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a
microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor,
microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate
array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry,
analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that
manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of
the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing
module may have an associated memory element, which may be a single
memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded
circuitry of the processing module. Such a memory device may be a
read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory,
non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory,
cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.
Note that when the protocol processing module 102 implements one or
more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry,
digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory element
storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded
within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,
analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.
Further note that, the memory element stores, and the protocol
processing module 102 executes, hard coded and/or operational
instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or
functions illustrated in FIGS. 1-28.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 6B, there is illustrated an exemplary
RFID tag 70. In FIG. 6B, the RFID tag 70 is shown within the mobile
gaming object 40, but in other embodiments, the RFID tag 70 may be
a stand-alone device, included within the game console device or
included within another device, as discussed above. The RFID tag 70
includes a power generating circuit 120, an oscillation module 126,
a processing module 130, an oscillation calibration module 128, a
comparator 124, an envelope detection module 122, a capacitor C1,
and a transistor T1. The oscillation module 122, the processing
module 130, the oscillation calibration module 128, the comparator
124, and the envelope detection module 122 may be a single
processing device or a plurality of processing devices.
[0066] In operation, the power generating circuit 120 generates a
supply voltage (V.sub.DD) from an RFID outbound RF signal that is
received via an antenna 132. The power generating circuit 120
stores the supply voltage V.sub.DD in capacitor C1 and provides it
to modules 122-130. When the supply voltage V.sub.DD is present,
the envelope detection module 122 determines an envelope of the
RFID outbound RF signal. In one embodiment, the RFID outbound RF
signal is an amplitude modulation signal, where the envelope of the
RFID outbound RF signal includes transmitted data. The envelope
detection module 122 provides an envelope signal to the comparator
124. The comparator 124 compares the envelope signal with a
threshold to produce a stream of recovered data.
[0067] The oscillation module 126, which may be a ring oscillator,
crystal oscillator, or timing circuit, generates one or more clock
signals that have a rate corresponding to the rate of the RFID
outbound RF signal in accordance with an oscillation feedback
signal. For instance, if the RFID outbound RF signal is a 900 MHz
signal, the rate of the clock signals will be n*900 MHz, where "n"
is equal to or greater than 1.
[0068] The oscillation calibration module 128 produces the
oscillation feedback signal from a clock signal of the one or more
clock signals and the stream of recovered data. In general, the
oscillation calibration module 128 compares the rate of the clock
signal with the rate of the stream of recovered data. Based on this
comparison, the oscillation calibration module 128 generates the
oscillation feedback to indicate to the oscillation module 126 to
maintain the current rate, speed up the current rate, or slow down
the current rate.
[0069] The processing module 130 receives the stream of recovered
data and a clock signal of the one or more clock signals. The
processing module 130 interprets the stream of recovered data to
determine a command or commands contained therein. The command may
be to store data, update data, reply with stored data, verify
command compliance, acknowledgement, etc. If the command(s)
requires a response, the processing module 130 provides a signal to
the transistor T1 at a rate corresponding to the RFID outbound RF
signal. The signal toggles transistor T1 on and off to generate a
response RFID inbound RF signal that is transmitted via the antenna
132. In one embodiment, the RFID tag 70 utilizes a back-scattering
RF communication.
[0070] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a method for determining position of
a player and/or gaming object that begins at step 202 with an RFID
reader transmitting a power up signal to one or more RFID tags,
which may be active or passive tags. In one embodiment, the power
up signal may be a tone signal such that a passive RFID tag can
generate power therefrom. In another embodiment, the power up
signal may be a wake-up signal for an active RFID tag. The method
continues at step 204 with the RFID tag providing an
acknowledgement that it is powered up. It should be noted that, in
some embodiments, step 202 may be skipped.
[0071] The method continues at step 206 with the RFID reader
transmitting a command (e.g., an RFID outbound RF signal) at time
t0, where the command requests a response to be sent at a specific
time after receipt of the command. In response to the command, at
step 208, an RFID tag provides the response (e.g., an RFID inbound
RF signal). The method continues at step 210 with the RFID reader
recording the time and the tag ID. The reader then determines at
step 212 the distance to the RFID tag based on the stored time,
time t0, and the specific time delay.
[0072] The method continues at step 214 by determining whether all
or a desired number of tags have provided a response. If not, the
process loops as shown. If yes, the method continues at step 218 by
determining the general position of the player and/or mobile gaming
object based on the distances. As an alternative, at step 216, the
general position of each of the tags may be determined from their
respective distances. Note that at least three, and preferably
four, distances need to be accumulated from different sources
(e.g., multiple RFID readers, an RFID reader with multiple
physically separated transmitters or multiple RFID tags) to
triangulate the player and/or mobile gaming object position.
[0073] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
gaming object 40 that includes a gaming object transceiver 42, an
RFID device 60 or 70 and a processing module 44. In one embodiment,
the RFID device includes an RFID tag 70 operable to receive RFID
outbound RF signals transmitted from RFID readers and to transmit
back to the RFID readers RFID inbound RF signals responsive to the
received RFID outbound RF signals. In another embodiment, the RFID
device includes an RFID reader 60 operable to transmit RFID
outbound RF signals towards RFID tags and to receive from the RFID
tags RFID inbound RF signals produced responsive to the RFID
outbound RF signals.
[0074] The gaming object transceiver 42 is coupled to transmit and
receive RF signals to and from the game console device. For
example, in one embodiment, the gaming object transceiver 42 can
transmit signal information (i.e., signal properties, distances
and/or positions) associated with RFID signals for use in
determining the position and/or motion of the mobile gaming object
40. In another embodiment, the gaming object transceiver 42 can
transmit and/or receive control information or other information,
such as video game control information, to/from the game console
device.
[0075] The RFID device 60 or 70 may use a different frequency than
the gaming object transceiver 42 for RF communications or it may
use the same, or nearly the same, frequency. In the latter case,
the frequency spectrum may be shared using a TDMA, FDMA, or some
other sharing protocol. If the RFID device 60 or 70 and the gaming
object transceiver 42 share the frequency spectrum, they may share
the antenna structures. Note that the antenna structures may be
configurable as discussed in patent application entitled,
"INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ANTENNA STRUCTURE", having a Ser. No.
11/648,826, and a filing date of Dec. 29, 2006, patent application
entitled, "MULTIPLE BAND ANTENNA STRUCTURE, having a Ser. No.
11/527,959, and a filing date of Sep. 27, 2006, and/or patent
application entitled, "MULTIPLE FREQUENCY ANTENNA ARRAY FOR USE
WITH AN RF TRANSMITTER OR TRANSCEIVER", having a Ser. No.
11/529,058, and a filing date of Sep. 28, 2006, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0076] The processing module 44 is operable to process RF signals
that are transmitted and/or received via the RF transceiver 42. In
embodiments in which the RFID device is an RFID reader 60, the
processing module 44 may further be operable to process the RFID
inbound RF signals to produce signal information representative of
properties of the received RFID inbound RF signals and to provide
this signal information, via the gaming object transceiver 42, to
the game console device. In addition, although not shown, the
processing module 44 may further couple to an input device (e.g.,
one or more navigation or selection buttons) and an output device
(e.g., a speaker or display) on the mobile gaming device 40.
[0077] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
game console device 30 that includes a game console transceiver 32,
an RFID device 60 or 70 and a processing module 34. In one
embodiment, the RFID device includes an RFID tag 70 coupled to
receive RFID outbound RF signals transmitted from an RFID reader
associated with a mobile gaming object and operable to transmit
back to the RFID reader RFID inbound RF signals responsive to the
received RFID outbound RF signals. In another embodiment, the RFID
device includes an RFID reader 60 operable to transmit RFID
outbound RF signals towards RFID tags associated with the mobile
gaming object and/or player and to receive from the RFID tags, RFID
inbound RF signals produced responsive to the RFID outbound RF
signals.
[0078] The game console transceiver 32 is coupled to transmit and
receive RF signals to and from the mobile gaming object and/or
other RFID readers. For example, in one embodiment, the game
console transceiver 32 can receive signal information (i.e., signal
properties and/or distances) from other RFID readers for use in
determining the position and/or motion of the mobile gaming object.
In another embodiment, the game console transceiver 32 can transmit
and/or receive control information or other information, such as
video game control information, to/from the mobile gaming
object.
[0079] The RFID device 60 or 70 may use a different frequency than
the game console transceiver 32 for RF communications or it may use
the same, or nearly the same, frequency. In the latter case, the
frequency spectrum may be shared using a TDMA, FDMA, or some other
sharing protocol. If the RFID device 60 or 70 and the game console
transceiver 32 share the frequency spectrum, they may share the
antenna structures. Note that the antenna structures may be
configurable as discussed in patent application entitled,
"INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ANTENNA STRUCTURE", having a Ser. No.
11/648,826, and a filing date of Dec. 29, 2006, patent application
entitled, "MULTIPLE BAND ANTENNA STRUCTURE, having a Ser. No.
11/527,959, and a filing date of Sep. 27, 2006, and/or patent
application entitled, "MULTIPLE FREQUENCY ANTENNA ARRAY FOR USE
WITH AN RF TRANSMITTER OR TRANSCEIVER", having a Ser. No.
11/529,058, and a filing date of Sep. 28, 2006, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0080] The processing module 34 is operable to process RF signals
received from the mobile gaming object and/or other RFID readers
via the gaming transceiver 32, to determine the position of the
mobile gaming object and/or player and to provide data for
transmission to the mobile gaming object via the game console
transceiver 32. The processing module 34 is further operable to run
software providing a plurality of video game functions for playing
a video game and to process one or more of the video game functions
in accordance with the position of the mobile gaming object and/or
player. In embodiments in which the RFID device is an RFID reader
60, the processing module 34 is further operable to process the
RFID inbound RF signals to produce signal information
representative of properties of the received RFID inbound RF
signals and to use this signal information in the determination of
the position of the mobile gaming object and/or player.
[0081] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
mobile gaming object 40 and/or game console device 30 that includes
a physical layer (PHY) integrated circuit (IC) 350 and a medium
access control (MAC) layer controller 380. The PHY IC 350 includes
a position and/or motion tracking RF section 320, a control
interface RF section 340, and a baseband processing module 360. The
game console device 30 may use a standardized protocol, a
proprietary protocol, and/or a combination thereof to provide the
communication between the mobile gaming object 40 and the game
console device 30.
[0082] The MAC controller 380 triggers position and/or tracking
data collection, formatting of the data, processing of the data,
and/or controlling position and/or tracking data communications
and/or control interface communications. The position and/or
tracking data may include, for example, the received combined RF
signals and/or the signal information representing signal
properties of the received combined RF signals. The position and/or
tracking RF section 320 includes circuitry to transmit/receive one
or more RF signals associated with the position and/or tracking
data. The control interface RF section 340 includes circuitry to
transmit/receive control information related to gaming
functionality and/or the collection and/or processing of the
position and/or tracking data.
[0083] When operating as a game console device 30, the MAC
controller 380 further operates to determine the environment
parameters of the gaming environment corresponding to the physical
area in which the gaming object moves, and to map the environment
parameters to a particular coordinate system. In addition, the MAC
controller 380 operates to determine the coordinates of the mobile
gaming object's or players' position in the gaming environment
based on distance information provided by one or more RFID readers
and to facilitate video game play in accordance with the mobile
gaming object's or player's coordinates.
[0084] FIGS. 11-13 are diagrams of an embodiment of a coordinate
system of a localized physical area that may be used for a gaming
system including a mobile gaming object 40 and a game console
device 30. In these figures, an xyz origin is selected to be
somewhere in the localized physical area and each point being
tracked and/or used for positioning on the mobile gaming object 40
is determined based on its Cartesian coordinates (e.g., x1, y1,
z1). As the mobile gaming object 40 moves, the new position of the
tracking and/or positioning points are determined in Cartesian
coordinates with respect to the origin.
[0085] FIGS. 14-16 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a localized physical area that may be used for
a gaming system including a mobile gaming object 40 and a game
console device 30. In these figures, an origin is selected to be
somewhere in the localized physical area and each point being
tracked and/or used for positioning on the mobile gaming object 40
is determined based on its vector, or spherical, coordinates
(.rho., .phi., .theta.), which are defined as: .rho..gtoreq.0 is
the distance from the origin to a given point P.
0.ltoreq..phi..ltoreq.180.degree. is the angle between the positive
z-axis and the line formed between the origin and P.
0.ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.360.degree. is the angle between the
positive x-axis and the line from the origin to the P projected
onto the xy-plane. .phi. is referred to as the zenith, colatitude
or polar angle, while .theta. is referred to as the azimuth..phi.
and .theta. lose significance when .rho.=0 and .theta. loses
significance when sin(.phi.)=0 (at .phi.=0 and .phi.=180.degree.).
To plot a point from its spherical coordinates, go .rho. units from
the origin along the positive z-axis, rotate .phi. about the y-axis
in the direction of the positive x-axis and rotate .theta. about
the z-axis in the direction of the positive y-axis. As the gaming
object 40 moves, the new position of the tracking and/or
positioning points are determined in vector, or spherical,
coordinates with respect to the origin.
[0086] While FIGS. 11-16 illustrate two types of coordinate system,
any three-dimensional coordinate system may be used for tracking
motion and/or establishing position within a gaming system.
[0087] FIGS. 17-19 are diagrams of a coordinate system for tracking
motion of a mobile gaming object 40. In these figures, an origin is
selected to be somewhere in the localized physical area and the
initial position of a point being tracked on the mobile gaming
object 40 is determined based on its vector, or spherical
coordinates (e.g., .rho.1, .phi.1, .theta.1). As the mobile gaming
object 40 moves, the new position of the tracking and/or
positioning points are determined as a vector, or spherical
coordinates with respect to the preceding location (e.g., .DELTA.V,
or .DELTA..rho., .DELTA..phi., .DELTA..theta.). As another example,
the positioning and motion tracking of the player may be done with
reference to the position of the mobile gaming object 40, such that
the mobile gaming object's position is determined with reference to
the origin and/or its previous position and the position of the
player is determined with reference to the mobile gaming object's
position.
[0088] FIGS. 20-22 are diagrams of examples of motion patterns in
accordance with human bio-mechanics. As shown in FIG. 20, a head
can move up/down, it can tilt, it can rotate, and/or a combination
thereof. For a given video game, head motion can be anticipated
based on current play of the game. For example, during an approach
shot, the head will be relatively steady with respect to tilting
and rotating, and may move up or down along with the body.
[0089] FIG. 21 shows the motion patterns of an arm (or leg) in
accordance with human bio-mechanics. As shown, the arm (or leg) may
contract or extend, go up or down, move side to side, rotate, or a
combination thereof. For a given video game, an arm (or leg) motion
can be anticipated based on the current play of the game. Note that
the arm (or leg) may be broken down into smaller body parts (e.g.,
upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, fingers). Further note that
the mobile gaming object's motion will be similar to the body part
it is associated with.
[0090] FIG. 22 illustrates the likely motions of a torso, which can
move up/down, side to side, front to back, and/or a combination
thereof. For a given video game, torso motion can be anticipated
based on current play of the game. As such, based on the human
bio-mechanical limitations and ranges of motion along with the
video game being player, the motion of the player and/or the
associated gaming object may be anticipated, which facilitates
better motion tracking.
[0091] FIG. 23 is a diagram of an example of motion estimation for
the head, right arm, left arm, torso, right leg, and left leg of a
video game player. In this game, it is anticipated that the arms
will move the most often and over the most distance, followed by
the legs, torso, and head. In this example the interval rate may be
10 milliseconds, which provides a 1 mm resolution for an object
moving at 200 miles per hour. In this example, the body parts are
not anticipated to move at or near 200 mph.
[0092] At interval 1, at least some of the reference points on the
corresponding body parts are sampled. Note that each body part may
include one or more reference points. Since the arms are
anticipated to move the most and/or over the greatest distances,
the reference point(s) associated with the arms are sampled once
every third interval (e.g., interval 1, 4, 7). For intervals 2 and
3, the motion of the reference points is estimated based on the
samples of intervals 1 and 4 (and may be more samples at different
intervals), the motion pattern of the arm, human bio-mechanics,
and/or a combination thereof. The estimation may be a linear
estimation, a most likely estimation, and/or any other mathematical
technique for estimating data points between two or more samples. A
similar estimation is made for intervals 5 and 6.
[0093] The legs have a data rate of sampling once every four
intervals (e.g., intervals 1, 5, 9, etc.). The motion data for the
intervening intervals is estimated in a similar manner as the
motion data of the arms was estimated. The torso has a data rate of
sampling once every five samples (e.g., interval 1, 6, 11, etc.).
The head has a data rate of sampling once every six samples (e.g.,
interval 1, 7, 13, etc.). Note that the initial sampling does not
need to be done during the same interval for all of the reference
points.
[0094] FIGS. 24-25 are diagrams of examples of reference points 75
on a player corresponding to locations of RFID tags 70 on the
player's body to determine the player's physical measurements. In
this example, once the positioning of the reference points 75 is
determined, their positioning may be used to determine the physical
attributes of the player (e.g., height, width, arm length, leg
length, shoe size, etc.).
[0095] FIG. 26 is a diagram of an example of mapping a player to an
image 400 produced by the video game. In this embodiment, the image
400 displayed in the video game corresponds to the player such
that, as the player moves, the image 400 moves the same way. The
image 400 may a stored image of the actual player, a celebrity
player (e.g., a professional athlete), a default image, and/or a
user created image. The mapping involves estimating motion of the
non-reference points of the player based on the reference points
75/RFID tags 70 of the player. In addition, the mapping involves
equating the reference points 75 on the player to the same points
on the image. The same may be done for the mobile gaming
object.
[0096] FIG. 27 is a diagram of a method for determining motion that
begins at step 502 by obtaining coordinates for the reference
points of the player and/or gaming object. The method continues at
step 504 by determining the player's dimensions and/or determining
the dimensions of the mobile gaming object. The method continues at
step 506 by mapping the reference points of the player to
corresponding points of a video image based on the player's
dimensions. This step may also include mapping the reference points
of the mobile gaming object (e.g., a sword) to the corresponding
image of the mobile gaming object based on the mobile gaming
object's dimensions.
[0097] The method continues at step 508 by determining coordinates
of other non-referenced body parts and/or parts of the mobile
gaming object based on the coordinates of the reference points.
This may be done by a linear interpolation, by a most likely motion
algorithm, by a look up table, and/or any other method for
estimated data points from surrounding data points. The method
continues at steps 510 and 512 by tracking motion of the reference
points and predicting motion of the non-referenced body parts
and/or parts of the mobile gaming object based on the motion of the
reference points. This may also be done by a linear interpolation,
by a most likely motion algorithm, by a look up table, and/or any
other method for estimated data points from surrounding data
points.
[0098] FIG. 28 is a diagram of a method for processing a position
and/or motion based gaming action that begins at step 602 by
placing the mobile gaming object (e.g., a controller) and/or game
console device in a gaming mode. The method continues at step 604
by establishing the mobile gaming object's (e.g., controller, cell
phone, etc.) current position and orientation with respect to an
initial position in a gaming display area. For example, if the game
being played is a shooing arcade game and the mobile gaming object
is functioning as a gun, this step determines the initial aiming of
the gun.
[0099] The method continues at step 606 by determining whether the
position and orientation of the mobile gaming object is within the
gaming display area. If yes, the method continues at step 608 by
providing a display icon corresponding to the position and
orientation. For example, the icon may be cross hairs of a gun to
correspond to the aiming of the video game gun. The method
continues at steps 610 and 612 by tracking the motion of the mobile
gaming object and mapping the motion to the gaming display
area.
[0100] The method continues at step 614 by determining whether an
action has been received. For example, has the trigger of the gun
been pulled? If not, the process repeats as shown. If yes, the
process continues at step 616 by processing the action. For
example, the processing may include mapping the shooting of the gun
in accordance with the aiming of the gun.
[0101] As may be used herein, the term(s) "coupled to" and/or
"coupling" includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect
coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item
includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a
circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, the
intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but
may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As
may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one
element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct
and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as
"coupled to". As may even further be used herein, the term
"operable to" indicates that an item includes one or more of power
connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform one or more its
corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling
to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein,
the term "associated with", includes direct and/or indirect
coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within
another item.
[0102] The present invention has also been described above with the
aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified
functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of
these functional building blocks and method steps have been
arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description.
Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the
specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed.
Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the
scope and spirit of the claimed invention.
[0103] The present invention has been described above with the aid
of functional building blocks illustrating the performance of
certain significant functions. The boundaries of these functional
building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of
description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the
certain significant functions are appropriately performed.
Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily
defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To
the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence
could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain
significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both
functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences
are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One
of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional
building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and
components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete
components, application specific integrated circuits, processors
executing appropriate software and the like or any combination
thereof.
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