Posts Tagged ‘Patent’
Microsoft patents 3D advertising environment
If you thought Sony’s Playstation Home was stupid, get ready for this — A recent patent filed by Microsoft details a 3D advertising environment that is somewhat similar to the abovementioned Home.
However, instead of a fully fuctional 3D environement players will instead take the form of an avatar that is determined based on the advertisment. Still don’t get it? Below is an excerpt from the patent filing that might give you a better picture:
In one example, to advertise the movie TRANSFORMERS, an advertiser may provide the robot BUMBLEBEE, which is a popular character in the movie, as the advertiser-generated avatar. The BUMBLEBEE avatar may include functionality to “transform” between the robot and the CHEVROLET CAMARO depicted in the movie. In another example, to advertise the cereal TRIX, an advertiser may provide the TRIX RABBIT as the advertiser-generated avatar. The TRIX RABBIT avatar may include functionality to say the popular catchphrase “SILLY RABBIT, TRIX ARE FOR KIDS.” In yet another example, to advertiser the ZUNE digital media player from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, an advertiser may provide an image of the ZUNE digital media player as the advertiser-generated avatar. The ZUNE digital media player avatar may include functionality to change colors, change models, and play various digital media.
But what will Microsoft give us in return for participating in these 3D advertisment environments? I’ll take Microsoft Points.
via Kotaku
Sony’s new motion control makes coffee mugs into controllers
Sure, the Playstation Motion Control that made its debut at E3 ‘09 was cool, but what if you didn’t have to use that funny looking controller? What if you could pick up any object and have it mapped directly into the game?
Sony is looking to do just that if a recent patent filing is anything to go by. According to said patent, players will be able to pick up objects like “coffee mugs, drinking glasses, books, bottles, etc.” and have them mapped directly into the game for use as a motion controller.
To map the objects, players will hold it up to a camera and rotate it so it can be fully mapped and saved for later use. But wait, I thought that’s what Project Natal did? Oh well, here’s to hoping this technology gets implemented sooner rather than later.
Sony patents PSP controlled RC car concept
Sony has recently filed a patent that involces a remote controlled car controlled using a PSP. However, this isn’t your run of the mill remote control car.
The patent details a car that is outfitted with a camera and microphone which is then beamed back to the PSP that it’s controlled by.
The car will also be able to recognized various obstacles physically placed by the player and then render them into computer generated images. This feature raises all new possiblities when it comes to handheld racing games. Too bad we probably won’t see this thing, if at all, for a very long time.
Read (Siliconera)
PSP to become a Remote Control
We have seen a lot of gadgets being used for crazy ideas such as remote controllers and apparently Sony has something in store for its portable PSP. Sony has filed a patent for a remote-controlled car that would use the PSP as an interface.
It’s equipped with a camera to feed video to the PSP and users would be able to upload the footage to a website if they want. But that’s not all. The patent mentions an augmented reality racing game. The game recognizes real objects as elements in the racing game, so basically, you build your own track from stuff ou have around the house.
(Source) Slipperybrick
Microsoft Being Sued Over Xbox Live Chat
While some companies are looking into restructuring and creating new innovative products as means of beating the recessions, others are going for a slightly different means of getting more money: lawsuits. Activision was recently sued by Gibson, the guitar manufacturer that they’d partnered with in making the Guitar Hero games over patent infringement. Joining the ranks of the legally besieged is Microsoft.
They’ve been sued by online chat company Paltalk who are claiming that certain functions of the Xbox Live chat violate patents that they hold including technologies for “gaming communications through a group message server to maintain a consistent environment for all players, as well as establishing groups for online game play.” Microsoft says that they had meetings with the company when they were creating Xbox Live, but after examining their technology went another way. The company is seeking $90 million in compensation, with the trial set to begin in Texas this month.
Gibson Loses Patent Suit With Activision
After several years of happy partnership with Activision to make the Guitar Hero games someone at Gibson decided that the oodles of money they were probably getting from licensing fees and royalties weren’t enough. The guitar maker sued Activision claiming that the game series infringed on a patent they held for “simulating a musical performance” which was filed in 1999. As you might imagine Activision filed a counter-suit claiming that their product doesn’t infringe upon Gibson’s patent (for a technology that they never actually made I might add).
A US District Court judge ruled yesterday in favor of Activision, claiming that Gibson’s patent only applies to devices that output an analog audio signal and not MIDI signals or any kind of control signals. After all, the guitar controller doesn’t produce any sort of music in and of itself as a real guitar does. Gibson also had a lawsuit out against Rock Band for a similar patent infringement but with this ruling it’s very likely to be dismissed as well.
Worlds.com Suing NCsoft
That’s right gaming fans, we’ve got yet another patent infringement lawsuit on our hands. Worlds.com, a company that focuses on creating ‘3D communities’ has filed a lawsuit against NCsoft, the company behind Tabula Rasa, Guild Wars, Lineage and City of Heroes. They’re claiming that the company violated a patent awarded to Worlds.com in February of 2007. If they win the case it’s going to be a big deal; the patent applies to what can only be described as the most basic underlying concept of every MMOs.
The patent is for technology that allows users to “interact with other users in a virtual space” through a server, with an avatar representing each user. As you can imagine, that concept applies to pretty much every MMO in existence. Worlds.com is seeking ‘damages’ and a ‘permanent injunction’ against violations of the patent, although any company they won a lawsuit against would likely find that Worlds.com is willing to negotiate, especially if they managed to win against powerhouses like Blizzard. NCsoft is likely their first target as they are not a US based company and likely have less lawyers on their payroll familiar with patent law and less money than Blizzard and Sony.