U.S. patent application number 12/128797 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for local positioning system and video game applications thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Broadcom Corporation. Invention is credited to Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran, Maryam Rofougaran, Nambirajan Seshadri.
Application Number | 20080318689 12/128797 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40135930 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080318689 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rofougaran; Ahmadreza (Reza) ;
et al. |
December 25, 2008 |
LOCAL POSITIONING SYSTEM AND VIDEO GAME APPLICATIONS THEREOF
Abstract
A system includes a plurality of Local Positioning System (LPS)
base units, an LPS mobile unit, and a game console device. The LPS
base units are physically distributed and proximal to a gaming
environment and transmit an LPS signal. The LPS mobile unit
receives the LPS signal, determines distance to the LPS base units
based on the received LPS signals, and determines position of the
LPS mobile unit within the gaming environment based on the
distances. The game console device receives the position of the LPS
mobile unit, associates the position of the LPS mobile unit with a
position of a video game player, and processes a video game
function in accordance with the position of the video game
player.
Inventors: |
Rofougaran; Ahmadreza (Reza);
(Newport Coast, CA) ; Rofougaran; Maryam; (Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA) ; Seshadri; Nambirajan; (Irvine,
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.: |
12/128797 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60936724 |
Jun 22, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/573 20140902;
A63F 2300/5553 20130101; A63F 13/825 20140902; G06F 3/0346
20130101; A63F 13/211 20140902; G01S 13/878 20130101; A63F 13/235
20140902; G01S 7/412 20130101; A63F 13/212 20140902; A63F 2300/1012
20130101; G06F 3/012 20130101; G01S 13/426 20130101; G06F 3/045
20130101; G01S 13/723 20130101; A63F 13/57 20140902; G01S 13/003
20130101; A63F 2300/1031 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101; A63F 13/213
20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A system comprises: a plurality of Local Positioning System
(LPS) base units for physical distribution proximal to a gaming
environment, wherein an LPS base unit of the plurality of LPS base
units transmits an LPS signal; an LPS mobile unit associated with a
video game player, wherein the LPS mobile unit is operable to:
receive the LPS signal from at least some of the plurality of LPS
base units to produce a plurality of received LPS signals;
determine distance to each of the least some of the plurality of
LPS base units based on corresponding ones of the plurality of
received LPS signals to produce a plurality of distances; and
determine position of the LPS mobile unit within the gaming
environment based on the plurality of distances; and a game console
device coupled to: receive the position of the LPS mobile unit;
associate the position of the LPS mobile unit with a position of
the video game player; and process a video game function in
accordance with the position of the video game player.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the LPS base unit comprises: a
first functional module coupled to perform a first function; and an
LPS transmitter coupled to generate the LPS signal.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first function module
comprises at least one of: an access point of a wireless local area
network (WLAN); a local area network (LAN) device; a smoke
detector; a security camera; a motion sensor; a light bulb; a
speaker; an electrical outlet; and an electrical plug.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the LPS transmitter comprises: an
accurate clock circuit that generates a clock signal; a processing
module coupled to: determine timing information regarding time of
transmission of the LPS signal based on the clock signal; and
generate a baseband signal that includes a timing field and an
identity field, wherein the timing field contains the timing
information and the identify field includes at least identity of
the LPS base unit; and a transmitter section coupled to convert the
baseband signal into the LPS signal.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the game console device
comprises: a local area connection module operable to provide a
communication link with the plurality of LPS base units; a system
clock module coupled to produce a system reference clock, wherein
the system reference clock is provided to the plurality of LPS base
units via the communication link; a video display interface; a
transceiver coupled to: receive the position of the LPS mobile unit
as a high carrier frequency signal; and convert the high carrier
frequency signal into a baseband signal; a processing module
coupled to: process the baseband signal to obtain the position of
the LPS mobile unit; associate the position of the LPS mobile unit
with a position of the video game player; process the video game
function in accordance with the position of the video game player
to produce a video game rendering; and provide the video game
rendering to the video display interface.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the LPS mobile unit comprises: an
LPS receiver section coupled to: receive the plurality of LPS
signals as high carrier frequency signals; convert the high carrier
frequency signals into baseband signals; an LPS processing module
coupled to: interpret a corresponding one of the baseband signals
to identify one of the at least some of the plurality of LPS base
units; calculate a time delay of the corresponding one of the
baseband signals; and calculate the distance between the LPS mobile
unit and the one of the at least some of the plurality of LPS base
units based on the time delay.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the LPS mobile unit further
comprises: a gaming object input module coupled to receive a video
game response input relating to the video game function, and an LPS
transmitter section, wherein the LPS processing module converts the
video game response input into an outbound symbol stream; and the
LPS transmitter section is coupled to: convert the outbound symbol
stream into an outbound high carrier frequency response signal; and
transmit the outbound high carrier frequency response signal to the
game console device, wherein the game console device captures a
video game response from the outbound high carrier frequency
response signal and processes the video game response and the
position of the video game player with the video game function.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the LPS transmitter further
functions to: receive a second outbound symbol stream from the LPS
processing module, wherein the second outbound symbol stream
includes the position of the LPS mobile unit; convert the second
outbound symbol stream into a second outbound high carrier
frequency signal; and transmits position the second outbound high
carrier frequency signal to the game console device.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the LPS mobile unit comprises: a
plurality of physically distributed LPS receivers, wherein an LPS
receiver of the plurality of physically distributed LPS receivers
is coupled to: receive the plurality of LPS signals as high carrier
frequency signals; convert the high carrier frequency signals into
baseband signals; an LPS processing module coupled to: interpret a
corresponding one of the baseband signals to identify one of the at
least some of the plurality of LPS base units; calculate a time
delay of the corresponding one of the baseband signals; calculate
the distance between the LPS receiver and the one of the at least
some of the plurality of LPS base units based on the time delay;
and determine the position of the LPS mobile unit based on the
distances between the plurality of physically distributed LPS
receivers and the at least some of the plurality of LPS base
units.
10. A system comprises: a Local Positioning System (LPS) mobile
unit that transmits an LPS signal, wherein the LPS mobile unit is
associated with a video game player; a plurality of LPS base units
for physical distribution proximal to a gaming environment, wherein
an LPS base unit of the plurality of LPS base units: receives the
LPS signal; and determines distance to the LPS mobile unit based on
the received LPS signal; a game console device coupled to: receive
the distance to the LPS mobile unit from the plurality of LPS base
units to produce a plurality of distances; determine position of
the LPS mobile unit within the gaming environment based on the
plurality of distances; associate the position of the LPS mobile
unit with a position of the video game player; and process a video
game function in accordance with the position of the video game
player.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the LPS base unit comprises: a
first functional module coupled to perform a first function; and an
LPS receiver coupled to receive the LPS signal.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first function module
comprises at least one of: an access point of a wireless local area
network (WLAN); a local area network (LAN) device; a smoke
detector; a security camera; a motion sensor; a light bulb; a
speaker; an electrical outlet; and an electrical plug.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the LPS receiver comprises: a
receiver section coupled to: receive the LPS signal as a high
carrier frequency signal; and convert the high carrier frequency
signal into a baseband signal; an accurate clock circuit that
generates a clock signal; a processing module coupled to: process
the baseband signal to determine transmission timing information;
determine a time delay based on the transmission timing information
and the clock signal; and determine the distance to the LPS mobile
unit based on the time delay.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the game console device
comprises: a local area connection module operable to provide a
communication link with the plurality of LPS base units, wherein
the plurality of LPS base units transmit the plurality of distances
via the communication link; a system clock module coupled to
produce a system reference clock, wherein the system reference
clock is provided to the plurality of LPS base units via the
communication link; a video display interface; a processing module
coupled to: determine position of the LPS mobile unit within the
gaming environment based on the plurality of distances; associate
the position of the LPS mobile unit with a position of the video
game player; process the video game function in accordance with the
position of the video game player to produce a video game
rendering; and provide the video game rendering to the video
display interface.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the LPS mobile unit comprises:
an LPS processing module coupled to generate a baseband positioning
signal; and an LPS transmitter section coupled to: convert the
baseband positioning signal into a high carrier frequency signal;
and transmit the high carrier frequency signal as the LPS
signal.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the LPS mobile unit further
comprises: a gaming object input module coupled to receive a video
game response input relating to the video game function, wherein
the LPS processing module converts the video game response input
into an outbound symbol stream; and the LPS transmitter section is
coupled to: convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound
high carrier frequency response signal; and transmit the outbound
high carrier frequency response signal to the game console device,
wherein the game console device captures a video game response from
the outbound high carrier frequency response signal and processes
the video game response and the position of the video game player
with the video game function.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the LPS mobile unit comprises:
an LPS processing module coupled to generate baseband positioning
signal; and a plurality of physically distributed LPS transmitters,
wherein an LPS transmitter of the plurality of physically
distributed LPS transmitters is coupled to: convert the baseband
positioning signal into a high carrier frequency signal; and
transmit the high carrier frequency signal as the LPS signal.
18. A local positioning system (LPS) mobile unit comprises: an LPS
receiver section coupled to: receive a plurality of LPS signals as
high carrier frequency signals; convert the high carrier frequency
signals into baseband signals; an LPS processing module coupled to:
interpret a corresponding one of the baseband signals to identify
one of at least some of the plurality of LPS base units; calculate
a time delay of the corresponding one of the baseband signals;
calculate a distance between the LPS mobile unit and the one of the
at least some of the plurality of LPS base units based on the time
delay; and determine position of the LPS mobile unit within an
environment based the distances to the at least some of the
plurality of LPS base units.
19. The LPS mobile unit of claim 18 further comprises: a gaming
object input module coupled to receive a video game response input
relating to a video game function, and an LPS transmitter section,
wherein the LPS processing module converts the video game response
input into an outbound symbol stream; and the LPS transmitter
section is coupled to: convert the outbound symbol stream into an
outbound high carrier frequency response signal; and transmit the
outbound high carrier frequency response signal to a game console
device, wherein the game console device captures a video game
response from the outbound high carrier frequency response signal
and processes the video game response and the position of the LPS
mobile unit with the video game function.
20. The LPS mobile unit of claim 19, wherein the LPS transmitter
further functions to: receive a second outbound symbol stream from
the LPS processing module, wherein the second outbound symbol
stream includes the position of the LPS mobile unit; convert the
second outbound symbol stream into a second outbound high carrier
frequency signal; and transmits position the second outbound high
carrier frequency signal to the game console device.
21. The LPS mobile unit of claim 18 further comprises: a plurality
of physically distributed LPS receivers, wherein the plurality of
physically distributed LPS receivers includes the LPS receiver,
wherein the LPS processing module further functions to: calculate
the distances between the plurality of physically distributed LPS
receivers and the one of the at least some of the plurality of LPS
base units based on the time delay; and determine the position of
the LPS mobile unit based on the distances between the plurality of
physically distributed LPS receivers and the at least some of the
plurality of LPS base units.
22. A local positioning system (LPS) mobile unit comprises: an LPS
processing module coupled to generate a baseband positioning
signal; and an LPS transmitter section coupled to: convert the
baseband positioning signal into a high carrier frequency signal;
and transmit the high carrier frequency signal as an LPS
signal.
23. The LPS mobile unit of claim 22 further comprises: a gaming
object input module coupled to receive a video game response input
relating to a video game function, wherein the LPS processing
module converts the video game response input into an outbound
symbol stream; and the LPS transmitter section is coupled to:
convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound high carrier
frequency response signal; and transmit the outbound high carrier
frequency response signal to a game console device, wherein the
game console device captures a video game response from the
outbound high carrier frequency response signal and processes the
video game response and position of the LPS mobile unit with the
video game function.
24. The LPS mobile unit of claim 22 further comprises: a plurality
of physically distributed LPS transmitters, wherein the plurality
of physically distributed LPS transmitters includes the LPS
transmitter, wherein each of the plurality of physically
distributed LPS transmitters is coupled to: convert the baseband
positioning signal into the high carrier frequency signal; and
transmit the high carrier frequency signal as the LPS signal to
produce a plurality of high carrier frequency signals.
Description
[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. of
60/936,724.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
[0002] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0006] 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.
[0007] 2. Description of Related Art
[0008] 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).
[0009] Depending on the type of RF wireless communication system, a
wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone,
two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer
(PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader,
RFID tag, et cetera communicates directly or indirectly with other
wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also
known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless
communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the
same channel or channels (e.g., one of the plurality of radio
frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and
communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless
communications, each wireless communication device communicates
directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular
services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home
or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To
complete a communication connection between the wireless
communication devices, the associated base stations and/or
associated access points communicate with each other directly, via
a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, via
the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
[0010] For each RF wireless communication device to participate in
wireless communications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver
(i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated
radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building
wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the
receiver is coupled to the antenna and includes a low noise
amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering
stage, and a data recovery stage. The low noise amplifier receives
inbound RF signals via the antenna and amplifies then. The one or
more intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signals
with one or more local oscillations to convert the amplified RF
signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)
signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IF
signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce
filtered signals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from
the filtered signals in accordance with the particular wireless
communication standard.
[0011] As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation
stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power
amplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into
baseband signals in accordance with a particular wireless
communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequency
stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations
to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signals
prior to transmission via an antenna.
[0012] In most applications, radio transceivers are implemented in
one or more integrated circuits (ICs), which are inter-coupled via
traces on a printed circuit board (PCB). The radio transceivers
operate within licensed or unlicensed frequency spectrums. For
example, wireless local area network (WLAN) transceivers
communicate data within the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and
Medical (ISM) frequency spectrum of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz.
While the ISM frequency spectrum is unlicensed there are
restrictions on power, modulation techniques, and antenna gain.
[0013] In IR communication systems, an IR device includes a
transmitter, a light emitting diode, a receiver, and a silicon
photo diode. In operation, the transmitter modulates a signal,
which drives the LED to emit infrared radiation which is focused by
a lens into a narrow beam. The receiver, via the silicon photo
diode, receives the narrow beam infrared radiation and converts it
into an electric signal.
[0014] IR communications are used in 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
detects 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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).
[0017] Therefore, a need exists for improved motion tracking and
positioning determination for video gaming and other
applications.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] 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)
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
video game system that includes a local positioning system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system that includes a local positioning system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for determining position
and/or motion tracking in accordance with the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram of another method for determining
position and/or motion tracking in accordance with the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system that includes a local positioning system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS transmitter of an LPS base unit in accordance with the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS mobile unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system that includes a local positioning system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS receiver of an LPS base unit in accordance with the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment
of an LPS mobile unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0029] FIGS. 11-13 are diagrams of an embodiment of a coordinate
system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0030] FIGS. 14-16 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0031] FIGS. 17-19 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention; and
[0032] FIGS. 20-22 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a gaming system in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a
video game system 10 that includes a game console device 12, a
local positioning system (LPS) mobile unit 14, a player 16, and a
plurality of LPS base units 36-40 within a gaming environment 22.
The gaming environment 22 may be a room, portion of a room, and/or
any other space where the LPS mobile unit 14 and the game console
device 12 can be proximally co-located (e.g., airport terminal, on
a bus, on an airplane, etc.).
[0034] The game console device 12 includes a processing module 20,
a transceiver 32, a bus 33, a video display interface 34, a local
area connection module 35, and a system clock module 39. The
processing module 30 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 30 may have an associated memory and/or 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 processing module 30 implements one
or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry,
digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or 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
processing module executes, hard coded and/or operational
instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or
functions illustrated in FIGS. 1-22.
[0035] As shown, the plurality of LPS base units (embodiments of
which will be described with references to FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9) is
physically distributed and proximal to the gaming environment 22.
The LPS base units 36-40 may transmit signals to and/or receive
signals from the LPS mobile unit 14 to facilitate determining the
position of the LPS mobile unit 14 within the gaming environment
22. For example, three or more of the LPS base units 36-40 transmit
an LPS signal.
[0036] The LPS mobile unit 14, which is associated with the video
game player 16, receives the LPS signals from the three or more LPS
base units 36-40 to produce a plurality of received LPS signals.
The LPS mobile unit 14 then determines the distance to each of the
LPS base units that it received a signal from to produce a
plurality of distances. The LPS mobile unit 14 then determines its
position within the gaming environment 22 based on the plurality of
distances.
[0037] As an example, each LPS base unit 36-40 includes an accurate
clock (e.g., an atomic clock) or is coupled to an accurate clock
source (e.g., has a global positioning system (GPS) receiver) to
provide an accurate time standard available for synchronization at
any point in the gaming environment 22. The LPS signal transmitted
by the LPS base units 36-40 may be a spread spectrum signal
containing a BPSK (Bi-Phase Switched keyed) signal in which 1's
& 0's are represented by reversal of the phase of the carrier.
Each LPS signal is transmitted at a specific frequency at a
"chipping rate" of x bits per second (e.g., 50 bits per millisecond
or more bits at a higher rate). The LPS signals may repeat every 30
milliseconds (or more frequently) and may be referred as a local
C/A signal (Coarse Acquisition signal) and include information
regarding the positioning of the LPS base units within the gaming
environment and identity the corresponding LPS base unit 36-40.
[0038] From these signals, the LPS mobile unit 14 determines the
position of the corresponding plurality of LPS base units 36-40
using the position data of the local C/A signals to calculate the
LPS base unit's position. The LPS mobile unit 14 then determines
its distance to each of the LPS base units and uses the distances
to determine its location within the gaming environment 22. For
instance, by knowing the position and the distance of an LPS base
unit 36-40, the LPS mobile unit 14 can determine it's location to
be somewhere on the surface of an imaginary sphere centered on that
LPS base unit and whose radius is the distance to it. When three or
more (e.g., four) LPS base units 36-40 are measured simultaneously,
the intersection of the three or more imaginary spheres reveals the
location of the LPS mobile unit 14. Often, these spheres will
overlap slightly instead of meeting at one point, so the LPS mobile
unit 14 will yield a mathematically most-probable position (and
often indicate the uncertainty).
[0039] The LPS mobile unit 14 transmits it position to the game
console device 12 via signaling within the radio frequency band of
30 HZ to 3 GHz, the microwave frequency band of 3 GHz to 300 GHz,
and/or the infrared (IR) frequency band of 300 GHz to 428 THz. The
transceiver 32, which may include a direct conversion receiver and
a direct conversion transmitter or a superheterodyne receiver and a
superheterodyne transmitter, receives the position of the LPS
mobile unit 14 as a high carrier frequency signal (e.g., a signal
within the RF band, the microwave band, and/or the IR band). The
transceiver 32 converts the high carrier frequency signal into a
baseband signal. The transceiver 32 may also transmit a system
reference clock to the LPS mobile unit 14 to facilitate its
determination of position.
[0040] The processing module 30 processes the baseband signal to
obtain the position of the LPS mobile unit 14. Such processing
includes one or more of digital intermediate frequency to baseband
conversion, time to frequency domain conversion, demodulation,
constellation demapping, deinterleaving, depuncturing, decoding,
and/or descrambling. Depending on the frequency of transmitting the
LPS signals, the accuracy of the clocks, and the carrier frequency
of the LPS signals, the accuracy of the LPS mobile unit's position
may be within a few millimeters to about a meter. If the accuracy
is the former, then this arrangement may also be used to track the
motion of the LPS mobile unit 14. If the accuracy is the latter,
then this arrangement may be used to determine the LPS mobile
unit's position and another scheme would be used to track its
motion (e.g., the position of the LPS mobile unit 14 is updated on
a periodic basis (e.g., once every 10-30 milliseconds)).
[0041] The processing module 20 then associates the position of the
LPS mobile unit 14 with a position of the video game player 16 and
processes a video game function in accordance with the position of
the video game player to produce a video game rendering. The video
game function may be any type of video game action involving input
from and/or output to the mobile LPS unit, which is used by the
player as a video game controller for the video game. For example,
if the video game function corresponds to a video tennis lesson
(e.g., a ball machine feeding balls), the game console device 12
tracks the motion of the LPS mobile unit 14 (e.g., a simulated
tennis racket) and maps the motion with the feeding balls to
emulate a real tennis lesson. The motion, which includes direction
and velocity, enables the game console device 12 to determine how
the tennis ball is being struck. Based on how it is being struck,
the game console device 12 determines the ball's path and provides
a video representation thereof. The processing module 20 then
provides the video game rendering to the video display interface
34, which provides the rendering to a display (e.g., LCD, plasma,
projector, etc.) for visual presentation to the player 16.
[0042] The local area connection module 35, which may be a wired or
wireless network card (e.g., Ethernet, fiber-optics, wireless local
area network (WLAN), etc.) provides a communication link (e.g.,
local area connection 37) to the plurality of LPS base units 36-40
for exchanging data therebetween. For example, the local area
connection module 35 may transmit the system reference clock
generated by the system clock module 39 (e.g., a phase locked loop,
a GPS receiver clock, etc.) to the LPS base units 36-40.
[0043] As another example of the video gaming system 10, the LPS
mobile unit 14 transmits an LPS signal to the plurality of LPS base
units 36-40. Three or more of the LPS base units receives the LPS
signal and determines distance to the LPS mobile unit 14 based on
the received LPS signal. The LPS base units provide the distances
to the game console device 12 via the local area connection 37.
[0044] The local area connection module 25 receives the distance
messages and strips off any local area overhead information (e.g.,
headers for an Ethernet based protocol, WLAN based protocol,
fiber-optics based protocol, etc.). The processing module 30
receives the distances and determines the position of the LPS
mobile unit 14 within the gaming environment based on the
distances. For instance, by knowing the position and the distance
of an LPS base unit 36-40, the game console device 12 can determine
the position of the LPS mobile unit 14 to be somewhere on the
surface of an imaginary sphere centered on that LPS base unit and
whose radius is the distance to it. When three or more (e.g., four)
LPS base units 36-40 are measured simultaneously, the intersection
of the three or more imaginary spheres reveals the location of the
LPS mobile unit 14.
[0045] Depending on the frequency of transmitting the LPS signals,
the accuracy of the clocks, and the carrier frequency of the LPS
signals, the accuracy of the LPS mobile unit's position may be
within a few millimeters to about a meter. If the accuracy is the
former, then this arrangement may also be used to track the motion
of the LPS mobile unit 14 (e.g., the position of the LPS mobile
unit 14 is updated on a periodic basis (e.g., once every 10-30
milliseconds) to track its motion). If the accuracy is the latter,
then this arrangement may be used to determine the LPS mobile
unit's position and another scheme would be used to track its
motion.
[0046] The processing module 20 then associates the position of the
LPS mobile unit 14 with a position of the video game player 16 and
processes a video game function in accordance with the position of
the video game player to produce a video game rendering. The video
game function may be any type of video game action involving input
from and/or output to the mobile LPS unit, which is used by the
player as a video game controller for the video game. The
processing module 20 then provides the video game rendering to the
video display interface 34, which provides the rendering to a
display (e.g., LCD, plasma, projector, etc.) for visual
presentation to the player 16.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system 10 that that includes a game console device 12,
a first local positioning system (LPS) mobile unit 14, a first
player 16, a second mobile unit 52, a second player 54, and a
plurality of LPS base units 36-40 within a gaming environment.
[0048] As shown, the plurality of LPS base units is physically
distributed and proximal to the gaming environment. The LPS base
units 36-40 may transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the
first and second LPS mobile units 14 and 52 to facilitate
determining the position of each LPS mobile unit 14 and 52 within
the gaming environment. For example, three or more of the LPS base
units 36-40 transmit an LPS signal.
[0049] Each of the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 receives the LPS
signals from the three or more LPS base units 36-40 to produce a
plurality of received LPS signals. Each of the LPS mobile units 14
and 52 then determines the distance to each of the LPS base units
that it received a signal from to produce a plurality of distances.
Each of the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 then determines its position
within the gaming environment based on the plurality of
distances.
[0050] Each of the LPS mobile units 14 transmits it position to the
game console device 12 via signaling within the radio frequency
band of 30 HZ to 3 GHz, the microwave frequency band of 3 GHz to
300 GHz, and/or the infrared (IR) frequency band of 300 GHz to 428
THz. The game console device 12 associates the position of each of
the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 with a position of the first and
second player 16 and 54, respectively. The game console device 12
then processes a video game function in accordance with the
position of the first and second players.
[0051] As another example of the video gaming system 10, each of
the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 transmits an LPS signal to the
plurality of LPS base units 36-40. Three or more of the LPS base
units receives the LPS signals and determines distance to each of
the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 based on the received LPS signals,
respectively. The LPS base units provide the distances for each of
the LPS mobile units to the game console device 12.
[0052] For each of the LPS mobile units, the game console device 12
determines position of the LPS mobile unit within the gaming
environment based on the plurality of distances; associates the
position of the LPS mobile unit with a position of the video game
player; and processes a video game function in accordance with the
position of the video game player.
[0053] Depending on the frequency of transmitting the LPS signals,
the accuracy of the clocks, and the carrier frequency of the LPS
signals, the accuracy of the LPS mobile units' position may be
within a few millimeters to about a meter. If the accuracy is the
former, then this arrangement may also be used to track the motion
of the LPS mobile units 14 and 52 (e.g., the positions of the LPS
mobile units 14 and 52 are updated on a periodic basis (e.g., once
every 10-30 milliseconds) to track the motion). If the accuracy is
the latter, then this arrangement may be used to determine the LPS
mobile units 14 and 52 positions and another scheme would be used
to track their motion.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for determining position
and/or motion tracking performed within the system 10. The method
begins at step 60 where the game console device determines the
gaming environment 22 (e.g., determining the properties of the
localized physical area such as height, width, depth, objects in
the physical area, etc.). The method then continues at step 62
where the game console device maps the gaming environment to a
coordinate system (e.g., Cartesian coordinate system of FIGS. 11-13
or spherical system of FIGS. 14-16). The method continues at step
64 where the game console device determines position of the player
and/or the LPS mobile unit within the gaming environment in
accordance with the coordinate system.
[0055] The method continues at step 66 where the game console
device tracks the motion of the player and/or the LPS mobile unit.
In a system that includes two or more players, the game console
device separately determines the players' position and separately
tracks their motion. In a system where a player has two or more
gaming objects (e.g., a wireless game controller, any object used
or worn by the player to facilitate play of a video game such as a
simulated sword, a simulated gun, a helmet, a vest, a hat, shoes,
socks, pants, shorts, gloves, etc.) associated with an LPS mobile
unit, the game console device separately determines the gaming
objects' position and separately tracks their motion. In a system
that includes multiple players and at least one player has multiple
gaming objects associated with the LPS mobile unit, the game
console device separately determines the players' position,
separately tracks their motion, separately determines the gaming
objects' position and separately tracks the gaming objects' motion.
With respect to motion tracking, an object moving at 200 miles per
hour (mph) moves 0.1 millimeters per millisecond; thus determining
a new position every 10 milliseconds (mS) provides about 1
millimeter accuracy for objects moving at 200 mph. As such, the
game console device may determine the new position of the player
and/or LPS mobile unit every 10 mS and use the old and new
positions to determine the motion of the player and/or LPS mobile
unit.
[0056] The method continues at step 68 where the game console
device receives a gaming response from the LPS mobile unit
regarding a video game function from a gaming object. The method
continues at step 70 where the game console device integrates the
gaming response and the motion of the at least one of the player
and the LPS mobile unit with the video game function. If the system
includes multiple players and/or multiple gaming objects associated
with an LPS mobile unit, the game console device 12 integrates
their motion into the video game graphics being displayed. If the
game console device receives multiple gaming responses, the game
console device integrates them into the video game graphics being
displayed.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a diagram of another method for determining
position and/or motion tracking that begins at steps 80 and 82 by
determining the relative position of the player and/or LPS mobile
unit using two or more positioning techniques (e.g., the technique
discussed with reference to FIG. 5 and the technique discussed with
reference to FIG. 8.) The method continues at step 84 by combining
the two or more positions to produce the initial position. Note
that the two or more positioning techniques may be weighted based
on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, accuracy,
distance, interference, availability, etc.
[0058] The method continues at steps 86 and 88 by determining the
motion of the player and/or LPS mobile unit using two or more
motion tracking techniques. Note that in many instances the same
technique may be used for positioning as for motion tracking, where
the motion tracking is done with greater resolution and at a
greater rate than the positioning. The method continues at step 90
by combining the two motion tracking values to produce the current
motion of the player and/or gaming object. Note that the two or
more motion tracking techniques may be weighted based on a variety
of factors including, but not limited to, accuracy, availability,
speed of movement, interference, distance, user preference,
etc.
[0059] The method continues at step 92 by determining whether the
position needs to be updated (e.g., change focus of motion tracking
processing). If yes, the method repeats at steps 80 and 82. If not,
the method repeats at steps 86 and 88.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system 10 that includes the game console device 12,
the LPS mobile unit 14, the player 16, and the plurality of LPS
base units 36-40 within the gaming environment. Each of the
plurality of LPS base units 36-40 includes a functional module
106-110 and an LPS transmitter 100-104. The LPS mobile unit 14
includes an LPS receiver 112, an LPS processing module 114, a
gaming object input module 116, and an LPS transmitter 118. The
game console device 12 is coupled to a monitor 128.
[0061] In this embodiment, the LPS base units have at least a dual
purpose: transmit the LPS signal 120-124 and the function of the
functional module 106-110. Each of the functional modules 106-110
may be one or more of an access point of a wireless local area
network (WLAN), a local area network (LAN) device, a smoke
detector, a security camera, a motion sensor, a light bulb, a
speaker, an electrical outlet, and an electrical plug. In general,
an LPS base unit may be any household or business component that is
provided throughout a room, or portion of a room, that includes an
LPS transmitter 100-104 (an embodiment of which will be discussed
with reference to FIG. 6).
[0062] Each of the LPS transmitters 100-104 generates and transmits
an LPS signal 120-124. In general, each of the LPS signals includes
timing information (e.g., when the signal was transmitter with
reference to a particular clock) and the identity of the LPS
transmitter (which may include an identification code and position
information within the gaming environment).
[0063] Within the LPS mobile unit 14, the LPS receiver section 112
receive the plurality of LPS signals 120-124 as high carrier
frequency signals (e.g., signals within the radio frequency band of
30 HZ to 3 GHz, the microwave frequency band of 3 GHz to 300 GHz,
and/or the infrared (IR) frequency band of 300 GHz to 428 THz). The
LPS receiver section 112 converts the high carrier frequency
signals into baseband signals.
[0064] For instance, the receiver section 112 may amplify the high
carrier frequency signals to produce amplified high carrier
frequency signals. The receiver section 112 may then mix in-phase
(I) and quadrature (Q) components of the amplified high carrier
frequency signals with in-phase and quadrature components of first
and second local oscillations, respectively, to produce mixed I
signals and mixed Q signals. The mixed I and Q signals are combined
to produce one or more inbound symbol streams (which may be
converted to the digital domain to provide the baseband signals).
Each inbound symbol stream may each include phase information
(e.g., .+-..DELTA..theta. [phase shift] and/or .theta.(t) [phase
modulation]) and/or frequency information (e.g., .+-..DELTA.f
[frequency shift] and/or f(t) [frequency modulation]). In addition
to, or in the alternative, the LPS signals 120-124 may include
amplitude information (e.g., .+-..DELTA.A [amplitude shift] and/or
A(t) [amplitude modulation]). To recover the amplitude information,
the receiver section 112 includes an amplitude detector such as an
envelope detector, a low pass filter, etc.
[0065] The LPS processing module 114 (which may be one or more
processing devices as defined with reference to processing module
30 of the game console device 12) interprets a corresponding one of
the baseband signals to identify one of the LPS base units. The
interpreting may include one or more of digital intermediate
frequency to baseband conversion, time to frequency domain
conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping, deinterleaving,
depuncturing, decoding, and/or descrambling. The LPS processing
module 114 then calculates a time delay of the corresponding one of
the baseband signals and calculates the distance (e.g., d1, d2, d3)
between the LPS mobile unit and the one of the at least some of the
plurality of LPS base units based on the time delay.
[0066] The LPS processing module 114 then determines the position
of the LPS mobile unit 14 within the gaming environment based on
the plurality of distances. For instance, by knowing the position
and the distance of an LPS base unit 36-40, the LPS processing
module 114 can determine the location of the LPS mobile unit 14 to
be somewhere on the surface of an imaginary sphere centered on that
LPS base unit and whose radius is the distance to it. When three or
more (e.g., four) LPS base units 36-40 are measured simultaneously,
the intersection of the three or more imaginary spheres reveals the
location of the LPS mobile unit 14.
[0067] The LPS transmitter 118 receives an outbound symbol stream
from the LPS processing module 114, where the outbound symbol
stream includes the position of the LPS mobile unit 14. The LPS
transmitter 118 converts the outbound symbol stream into an
outbound high carrier frequency signal and transmits the position
126 the second outbound high carrier frequency signal to the game
console device 12.
[0068] The LPS transmitter 118 may convert the outbound symbol
stream into the outbound high carrier frequency signal by mixing
the outbound symbol stream with a local oscillation to produce an
up-converted signal. One or more power amplifiers and/or power
amplifier drivers amplifies the up-converted signal to produce an
amplified up converted signal, which may be RF bandpass filtered to
produce the outbound high carrier frequency signal. Alternatively,
the LPS transmitter 118 may include an oscillator that produces an
oscillation. The outbound symbol stream includes phase information
(e.g., .+-..DELTA..theta. [phase shift] and/or .theta.(t) [phase
modulation]) that adjusts the phase of the oscillation to produce a
phase adjusted RF signal, which is transmitted as the outbound high
carrier frequency signal. In addition, or in the alternative, the
outbound symbol stream includes amplitude information (e.g., A(t)
[amplitude modulation]), which is used to adjust the amplitude of
the phase adjusted RF signal to produce the outbound high carrier
frequency signal.
[0069] The gaming object input module 116 is coupled to receive a
video game response input from one or more gaming objects (e.g., a
wireless game controller, any object used or worn by the player to
facilitate play of a video game such as a simulated sword, a
simulated gun, a helmet, a vest, a hat, shoes, socks, pants,
shorts, gloves, etc.) associated with the LPS mobile unit 14. The
game response input relates to a video game function (e.g., push a
button to cause the video game to feed a tennis ball, swinging of a
video game tennis racket, etc.).
[0070] The LPS processing module 114 converts the video game
response input into an outbound symbol stream. Such a conversion
may include one or more of scrambling, encoding, puncturing,
constellation mapping, modulation, interleaving, frequency to time
domain conversion, and baseband to low intermediate frequency
conversion. The LPS transmitter section 118 converts the outbound
symbol stream into an outbound high carrier frequency response
signal and transmits the outbound high carrier frequency response
signal to the game console device 12, wherein the signal includes
the game response input.
[0071] The game console device 12 captures a video game response
from the outbound high carrier frequency response signal and
processes the video game response and the position 126 of the video
game player with the video game function 130. The rendered video
gaming is displayed on the monitor 128.
[0072] In an embodiment, the LPS base units 36-40 are access points
of a WLAN that includes the LPS transmitters 100-104. The LPS base
units 36-40 are positioned throughout a given area to provide a
seamless WLAN for the given area (e.g., a house, an apartment
building, an office building, etc.). In addition, each LPS base
units 36-40 includes an accurate clock (e.g., an atomic clock) or
is coupled to an accurate clock source to provide an accurate time
standard for synchronization at any point in the physical area.
[0073] In operation, each LPS base units 36-40 transmits a spread
spectrum signal (s1) containing a BPSK (Bi-Phase Switched keyed)
signal in which 1's & 0's are represented by reversal of the
phase of the carrier or a signal having some other format (e.g.,
FM, AM, QAM, QPSK, ASK, FSK, MSK). This message is transmitted at a
specific frequency at a "chipping rate" of x bits per second (e.g.,
50 bits per 10 millisecond or other bit rate). The signal may
repeat every 10-30 millisecond (or longer duration) and it contains
information regarding the entire LPS and information regarding the
AP transmitting the signal. Alternatively, the signal may be a very
narrow pulse (e.g., less than 1 nanosecond), repeated at a desired
rate (e.g., 1-100 KHz).
[0074] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS transmitter 100-104 of an LPS base unit 36-40 that includes an
accurate clock circuit 140, a processing module 142, and a
transmitter section 144. The processing module 142 may be one or
more processing devices as previously defined with reference to
processing module 30.
[0075] The accurate clock circuit 140, which may be an atomic
clock, GPS receiver based clock, etc., generates a clock signal
146. The processing module 142 determines timing information
regarding time of transmission of the LPS signal 120-124 based on
the clock signal 146. The processing module 142 then generates a
baseband signal 150 that includes a timing field 152 and an
identity field 154. The timing field 152 contains the timing
information 148 and the identify field 154 includes at least the
identity 156 of the LPS base unit. In addition, the identity field
may include the position of the LPS base unit within the gaming
environment. The transmitter section 144 converts the baseband
signal 150 into the LPS signal 120-124.
[0076] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS mobile unit 14 that includes the LPS processing module 114, the
gaming object input module 116, the LPS transmitter 118, and a
plurality of LPS receivers 112. The plurality of LPS receivers 112
are physically distributed within and/or about the LPS mobile unit
14. Each LPS receiver 112 receives the plurality of LPS signals
120-124 as high carrier frequency signals from the LPS base units
36-40 and converts the high carrier frequency signals into baseband
signals.
[0077] The LPS processing module 114 interprets a corresponding one
of the baseband signals to identify one of the LPS base units. The
LPS processing module 114 then calculates a time delay of the
corresponding one of the baseband signals and calculates the
distance between the LPS receiver and the one of the LPS base units
based on the time delay. The LPS processing module 114 then
determines the position of the LPS mobile unit based on the
distances between the plurality of LPS receivers and the at least
some of the plurality of LPS base units. For example, if the LPS
mobile unit 14 is shaped liked a tennis racket, the LPS receivers
112 are distributed throughout the racket shaped unit such that the
physical positioning and/or motion of the entire racket, or a
substantial portion thereof, can be tracked at various points of
the racket.
[0078] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of
a video game system 10 that includes the game console device 12,
the LPS mobile unit 14, the player 16, and the plurality of LPS
base units 36-40 within the gaming environment. Each of the
plurality of LPS base units 36-40 includes a functional module
106-110 and an LPS receiver 160-164. The LPS mobile unit 14
includes an LPS transmitter 166, an LPS processing module 168, and
a gaming object input module 116. The game console device 12 is
coupled to a monitor 128.
[0079] In this embodiment, the LPS base units have at least a dual
purpose: receive the LPS signal 170-174 and the function of the
functional module 106-110. Each of the functional modules 106-110
may be one or more of an access point of a wireless local area
network (WLAN), a local area network (LAN) device, a smoke
detector, a security camera, a motion sensor, a light bulb, a
speaker, an electrical outlet, and an electrical plug. In general,
an LPS base unit may be any household or business component that is
provided throughout a room, or portion of a room, that includes an
LPS receiver 160-164 (an embodiment of which will be discussed with
reference to FIG. 9).
[0080] In operation, the LPS processing module 168, which may be
one or more process devices as defined with reference to processing
module 30, generates a baseband positioning signal. The baseband
positioning signal includes timing information and identity of the
LPS mobile unit 14. Alternatively, the baseband positioning signal
is representative of a narrow high frequency pulse train signal.
The LPS transmitter section 166 converts the baseband positioning
signal into a high carrier frequency signal and transmits the high
carrier frequency signal as the LPS signal 170.
[0081] The LPS receivers 160-164 of LPS base units 36-40 receive
the LPS signal 170 and determine a distance to the LPS mobile unit
based on the received LPS signal 170. The LPS base units 36-40
provide the respective distances to the game console device 12,
which determines position of the LPS mobile unit 14 within the
gaming environment based on the plurality of distances. The game
console device 12 then associates the position of the LPS mobile
unit with a position of the video game player and processes a video
game function 130 in accordance with the position of the video game
player.
[0082] In this embodiment, the gaming object input module 116
receives a video game response input from one or more gaming
objects associated with the LPS mobile unit 14. The video game
response input relates to the video game function 130. The LPS
processing module 168 converts the video game response input into
an outbound symbol stream. The LPS transmitter section 166 converts
the outbound symbol stream into an outbound high carrier frequency
response signal and transmit the outbound high carrier frequency
response signal to the game console device 12. The game console
device 12 retrieves a video game response from the outbound high
carrier frequency response signal and processes the video game
response and the position of the video game player with the video
game function.
[0083] In an embodiment, the LPS base units 36-40 are access points
within a WLAN that include the LPS receivers 160-164. The game
console device 12 is coupled to the plurality of LPS base units
36-40, which are positioned throughout a given area to provide a
seamless WLAN for the given area (e.g., a house, an apartment
building, an office building, etc.). In addition, the game console
device 12 is coupled to at least one wide area network (WAN)
connection (e.g., DSL connection, cable modem, satellite
connection, etc.). In this manner, the game console device may
function as the bridge, or hub, for the WLAN to the outside
world.
[0084] In operation, the LPS transmitter 166 transmits a narrow
pulse (e.g., pulse width less than 1 nano second) at a desired rate
(e.g., once every milli second to once every few seconds). The
narrow pulse signal includes a time stamp of when it is
transmitted.
[0085] The LPS base units 36-40 receive the narrow pulse signal and
determine their respective distances to the LPS transmitter 166. In
particular, an LPS base units 36-40 determines the distance to the
LPS transmitter 166 based on the time stamp and the time at which
the LPS base units 36-40 received the signal. Since the narrow
pulse travels at the speed of light, the distance can be readily
determined.
[0086] The plurality of distances between the LPS base units 36-40
and the LPS transmitter 166 are then processed to determine the
position of the LPS transmitter 166 within the local physical area
in accordance with the known positioning of the LPS base units
36-40.
[0087] The processing of the LPS base units 36-40 to transmitter
166 distances may be performed by a master one of the LPS base
units 36-40, by the game console device 12, by a motion tracking
processing module, and/or by an LPS computer coupled to the
plurality of LPS base units 36-40. Depending on the frequency of
transmitting the signal (s1), the accuracy of the LPS base units
36-40 clocks and the carrier frequency of the signal, the accuracy
of the gaming object's position may be within a few millimeters to
about a meter. If the accuracy is the former, then this arrangement
may be used to determine the relative position and to track the
motion of the player and/or gaming object. If the accuracy is the
latter, then this arrangement may be used to determine the player's
and/or gaming object's position and another scheme would be used to
track their motion.
[0088] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an
LPS receiver 160-164 of an LPS base unit 36-40. The LPS receiver
160-164 includes an accurate clock circuit 180, a processing module
182, and a receiver section 184. The processing module 182 may be
one or more processing devices as previously defined with reference
to processing module 30.
[0089] The receiver section 184 receives the LPS signal 170 as a
high carrier frequency signal and converts the high carrier
frequency signal into a baseband signal 186. The accurate clock
circuit, which may be an atomic clock, a GPS receiver based clock,
etc., generates a clock signal 188.
[0090] The processing module 182 processes the baseband signal 186
to determine transmission timing information. The processing module
182 then determines a time delay based on the transmission timing
information and the clock signal 188. The processing module 182
then determines the distance to the LPS mobile unit 14 based on the
time delay. The processing module 182 then determines the position
of the LPS mobile unit 14 based on the distances.
[0091] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment
of an LPS mobile unit 14 that includes the gaming object input
module 116, the LPS processing module 168, and a plurality of the
LPS transmitters 166. In this embodiment, the LPS processing module
168 generates baseband positioning signal (e.g., a narrow pulse low
frequency signal). Each of the LPS transmitters 166 converts the
baseband positioning signal into a high carrier frequency signal
and transmits the high carrier frequency signal as a plurality of
LPS signals 170.
[0092] The LPS base units receive the plurality of LPS signals 170
and determine a distance to each one of the plurality of LPS
transmitters 166. The game console device 12, or other device,
determines the position of each of the LPS transmitters 166 based
on the distances to each. In this instance, if the LPS mobile unit
14 is shaped liked a tennis racket, the LPS transmitters 166 are
distributed throughout the racket shaped unit such that the
physical positioning and/or motion of the entire racket, or a
substantial portion thereof, can be tracked at various points of
the racket.
[0093] FIGS. 11-13 are diagrams of an embodiment of a
three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system of a localized
physical area that may be used for a gaming system 10. In these
figures an x-y-z origin is selected to be somewhere in the
localized physical area and the position and motion of the player
16 and/or the gaming object 14 is determined with respect to the
origin (e.g., 0, 0, 0). For example, a point (e.g., x1, y1, z1) on
the player is used to identify its position in the gaming
environment and a point (e.g., x2, y2, z2) on the LPS mobile unit
14 is used to identify its position in the gaming environment. As
the player and/or LPS mobile unit 14 moves, its new position is
identified within the gaming environment and the relation between
the old point and the new point is used to determine
three-dimensional motion.
[0094] FIGS. 14-16 are diagrams of an embodiment of a spherical
coordinate system of a localized physical area that may be used for
a gaming system 10. In these figures an origin is selected to be
somewhere in the localized physical area and the position and
motion of the player 16 and/or the LPS mobile unit 14 is determined
with respect to the origin. For example, the position of the player
may be represented as vector, or spherical coordinates, (.rho.,
.phi., .theta.), where p.gtoreq.0 and is the distance from the
origin to a given point P; 0.ltoreq..phi..ltoreq.180.degree. and is
the angle between the positive z-axis and the line formed between
the origin and P; and 0.ltoreq..theta..gtoreq.360.degree. and is
the angle between the positive x-axis and the line from the origin
to P projected onto the xy-plane. In general, .phi. is referred to
as the zenith, colatitude or polar angle, .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.). A point is plotted from its spherical
coordinates, by going .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.
[0095] For example, a point (e.g., .rho.1, .phi.1, .theta.1) on the
player is used to identify its position in the gaming environment
and a point (e.g., .rho.2, .phi.2, .theta.2) on the LPS mobile unit
14 is used to identify its position in the gaming environment. As
the player and/or gaming object move, its new position is
identified within the gaming environment and the relation between
the old point and the new point is used to determine
three-dimensional motion. 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.
[0096] FIGS. 17-19 are diagrams of another embodiment of a
coordinate system of a localized physical area that may be used for
a gaming system 10. In these figures an xyz origin is selected to
be somewhere in the localized physical area and the initial
position of a point being tracked on the player and/or LPS mobile
unit 14 is determined based on its Cartesian coordinates with
respect to the origin. As a point moves from one position (e.g.,
x0, y0, z0) to a new position (e.g., x1, y1, z1), the movement is
tracked based on the two positions (e.g., .DELTA.x=x0-x1,
.DELTA.y=y0-y1, .DELTA.z=z0-z1). Note that the player and the LPS
mobile unit 14 may each have several points that are tracked and
used to determine position and motion.
[0097] The positioning and motion tracking of the player (i.e., one
or more points on the player) and/or LPS mobile unit 14 (i.e., one
or more points on the LPS mobile unit 14) may be done with respect
to the origin or with respect to each other. For instance, the LPS
mobile unit's position and motion may be determined with reference
to the origin and the position and motion of the player may be
determined with reference to the position and motion of the gaming
object. Alternatively, the player's position and motion may be
determined with reference to the origin and the position motion of
the LPS mobile unit 14 may be determined with reference to the
player's potion and motion.
[0098] FIGS. 20-22 are diagrams of an embodiment of a spherical
coordinate system of a localized physical area that may be used for
a gaming system 10. In these figures an origin, or reference point,
is selected to be somewhere in the localized physical area and the
initial position of a point being tracked on the player and/or LPS
mobile unit 14 is determined based on its spherical coordinates
with respect to the origin. As a point moves from one position
(e.g., .rho.0, .phi.0, .theta.0) to a new position (e.g., .rho.1,
.phi.1, .theta.1), the movement is tracked based on the two
positions (e.g., .DELTA.V=V0-V1 or .DELTA..rho.=.rho.0-.rho.1,
.DELTA..phi.=.phi.0-.phi.1, .DELTA.0=.theta.0-.theta.1). Note that
the player and the LPS mobile unit 14 may each have several points
that are tracked and used to determine position and motion.
[0099] The positioning and motion tracking of the player (i.e., one
or more points on the player) and/or LPS mobile unit 14 (i.e., one
or more points on the LPS mobile unit 14) may be done with respect
to the origin of the spherical coordinate system or with respect to
each other. For instance, the LPS mobile unit's position and motion
may be determined with reference to the origin and the position and
motion of the player may be determined with reference to the
position and motion of the LPS mobile unit 14. Alternatively, the
player's position and motion may be determined with reference to
the origin and the position motion of the LPS mobile unit 14 may be
determined with reference to the player's potion and motion.
[0100] As may be used herein, the terms "substantially" and
"approximately" provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its
corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an
industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to
fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component
values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature
variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such
relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent
to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s)
"coupled to" and/or "coupling" and/or 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. As may be used herein, the term "compares
favorably", indicates that a comparison between two or more items,
signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when
the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude
than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the
magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the
magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.
[0101] 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.
[0102] 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.
* * * * *