Patent ID: 8368721
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A63F,G06T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for generating a virtual reality simulation of at least a portion of a sporting event, the simulation including visual images depicting actions of one or more simulated players, the actions of the simulated players appearing from the perspective of a user to be taking place within the three dimensions of an open location physically occupied by the user, the apparatus comprising: a user interface that enables specification of simulation input parameters that at least partly determine the action depicted by the visual images of the simulation, the simulation parameters including at least one of: the starting position of at least one simulated player and the intended actions of at least one simulated player; locating means that can determine user position information regarding location and orientation of the user within the open location, including the orientation of the user's head; a simulation generator, coupled to the user interface, that can generate the visual images of the simulation, the actions of the simulated players depicted by the visual images based at least partly on the simulation parameters and on the user position information, the scale and perspective of the visual images being continuously updated in real-time based on the user position information including the orientation of the user's head; first wireless transceiver means coupled to the simulation generator that can wirelessly receive the user position information transmitted from, and that can further wirelessly transmit the visual images to, a second wireless transceiver means coupled to headgear worn by the user; and a visual superimposing apparatus attached to the headgear that superimposes the visual images of the generated simulation onto the user's real-world field of vision of the open space so that it appears from the user's perspective that the one or more simulated players are carrying out their actions within in the three dimensions of the open space physically occupied and viewed by the user and that the user is in the midst of the simulation.