Abstract:
A method of providing an interactive game through playback of video, the method comprising the steps of providing a video player with a processor, the processor capable of accepting user input, drawing graphics or text on top of video playback, and controlling playback of sounds; providing media with a primary video stream for standard playback, and game instructions working in cooperation with the video stream, and an edit decision list; reading the edit decision list into the CPU and playing the portions of the video stream as instructed by the edit decision list; and superimposing other graphics onto the video to create an interactive game experience.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/475,339, filed Jun. 2, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/859,885, entitled “System And Method Of Programmatic Window Control For Consumer Video Players”; U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/859,888, entitled “System And Method Of Dynamic Interface Placement Based On Aspect Ratio”; U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/859,732, entitled “System And Method Of Video Player Commerce”; and U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/859,887, entitled “Video Playback Image Processing”; all of which are filed concurrently herewith on Jun. 2, 2004, and incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     In general, the field of the disclosure relates to digital video control. More specifically, the field of the disclosure relates new systems and methods for providing interactive game or educational experiences. 
     2. General Background and State of the Art 
     Interactive multimedia provides for a user to more fully appreciate a subject by exploring the varied multimedia resources available. Interactive multimedia includes the integration of text, audio, graphics, still image and moving pictures into a single, computer-controlled, multimedia product. The desire for interactive multimedia grows along with the desire for increasing data storage for these programs. 
     DVDs and other digital media players, such as high definition video players and software DVD-ROM, provide an increased amount of data storage and, thus, more avenues for media integration. Increased storage capacity translates into the ability to hold more information on a single disc or drive. In addition to increased storage capacity, this digital media can provide higher quality video and audio. 
     Although there are many uses for high quality audio and video products, the entertainment industry desires higher quality audio and video, especially in the video game industry. The video game industry desires high quality with low pricing. In order to make a video game based on a movie, the quality of the audio and video often suffered as a result of the cost. In other circumstances, a quality product was produced that was too expensive to make a profit. 
     For many years, the entertainment industry has attempted to add video from a movie to use in a video game. The concept was to produce games with Hollywood production values, but add interactivity through branching storylines and sprite overlays. A sprite is a graphics object made up of a pattern of pixels and defined by a computer programmer. The object can be manipulated and combined to produce animated games or graphic screen displays. Using such techniques, these “interactive movies” were once thought to be the future of the video game industry. Personal computer and console game-makers quickly found that film production quickly consumed the financial resources. 
     Attempts have been made in the video game industry to insert video into a video game, rather than relying on animation or computer graphics. The video game retains a number of video clips in storage. Depending upon the actions of the user, the video game plays the corresponding video clip. There are at least two distinct disadvantages to such a system. First, the video does not play continuously throughout the game. Second, the video may not be imported easily from a movie. Instead, the clips must be refilmed and stored on the appropriate media. Numerous attempts have been made to overlay games on the video clips in both the personal computer and game console industry. 
     One conventional attempt for playing an interactive game over a video is “Dragon&#39;s Lair.” Dragon&#39;s Lair used branching video paths to create an arcade experience. However, this game was based around an analog LaserDisc, not digital video. Digital video is superior to analog in quality. Also, the technology used for branching analog video paths does not translate into digital technology. 
     The first game to use digital video was “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective.” The budget was extremely high and was filmed by experienced filmmakers with professional actors on real sets. Both the high cost and the requirement to film separate scenes make this technology undesirable for interactive movies. 
     The first full motion video (“FMV”) game was “Night Trap” by Digital Pictures and was produced on both LaserDisc and CD platforms. FMV is video system that can display continuous motion. Some slow-speed CD-ROM drives and low-bandwidth networks are unable to handle the mass of data required for full-motion video, so video playback tends to jerk unevenly. Also, video is often grainy and slightly blurred. Night Trap was also one of the first interactive games composed of footage of real actors. Digital Pictures would later release “Sewer Shark” for the SegaCD platform. Properties such as resolution and color palette were lacking in video. Overall, FMV did not provide the solution to interactive movies. 
     Other games rely heavily on a mixture of computer graphics and additional footage of actors. “Star Wars: Rebel Assault” and “Rebel Assault II” by LucasArts Entertainment Company utilized video recorded on a stage using professional actors. To add authenticity, original props and costumes were borrowed from the actual film production for the video game shoot. No ships, buildings, or other sets were built for use with the actors. Instead, actors were videotaped on a blue-screen stage, a large room whose walls are all painted in a special shade of blue. After the footage is recorded and digitized, a special-effects technician can use a computer to replace all the blue portions of the imagery with computer-generated imagery of an appropriate location. The budget for this product was very high and required significant time to provide the necessary computer graphics. 
     In another conventional attempt at an interactive movie, Trilobyte&#39;s “The 7th Guest” played video clips as a reward for solving puzzles. The video was poor quality, as actors were filmed on a blue screen stage. Without a clean key, the resulting film had the appearance of blue halos around the actors. Additionally, game play was not related to the sequence of the video. 
     Other conventional attempts require the game to load a video clip associated with an action of the user. In “The Psychic Detective” by Electronic Arts, an adventure game used video branches and sprite overlays to provide user interaction. When the game prompts the user with options such as “Run Away” or “Knock on the Door,” the perspective view changes based on the user&#39;s selection. Through these selections, the game can lead the user to one of many different endings. 
     The Psychic Detective does provide for constant movement throughout the game. Even through a wrong choice, the video continues. However, the game is not playing a continuous video, but rather playing video clips sequentially based on the user&#39;s selections. In fact, The Psychic Detective requires a three CD set to provide all of the video clips and programming. 
     The Psychic Detective is far from the desired product of a mixture of motion picture and video games. These conventional attempts to provide an interactive movie do not fully incorporate the product of the filmmakers and game developers. Interactive movies require features that are not incorporated in conventional interactive media. The media does not allow a user to “participate” in a movie. The user can neither play the role of a character or assist in an action sequence. Conventional attempts have utilized both personal computers and video playback devices such as VCRs. However, a personal computer is not an ideal video playback device and video playback devices do not have the computing power of a personal computer. 
     Creating original video content for a video game is a costly process that often does not have the production qualities of a Hollywood movie. Because utilizing custom video content is so expensive considering the revenue generated, conventional attempts are not successful in creating a true interactive movie. What is desired is a move that can be altered to allow the user to interact with the high quality footage of the film studio. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and method of interactive video playback is disclosed which provides interactive game experiences on consumer playback devices, such as a DVD or High-Definition video players. Pre-existing media is used to provide an interactive game experiences to a user. A media playback device dynamically edits or compresses pre-existing media from its original form to a form more conducive to interactivity, such as game playing. Graphics, text, or other video is superimposed on the media to create an interactive experience. 
     The interactive media player may for example be a DVD player, a personal computer, a high definition or software video player. In one embodiment, the pre-existing media is a video such as a television show or a movie. 
     For example, a DVD containing a movie may be used as the pre-existing data for which an interactive game is created. Generally, movies contain many scenes edited together, some of which may be close-ups. However, in an interactive game, scenes such as close-ups are not desired. Therefore, the video is edited to remove portions not desired such as slower scenes and close-ups, leaving only the action sequence as the remaining video. 
     In one embodiment, the video is edited on the fly by utilizing a table or list of times or triggers which define when to stop, start, or how long to cut the video. The media player processor is utilized to dynamically edit the video stream, with sufficient memory to buffer the segments to allow a smooth transition between segments. The system also allows for an overlay of graphics or text for game play or interactivity. Additionally, the system is capable of video and audio mixing. 
     Another embodiment provides a method of providing an interactive game through playback of video, the method comprising the steps of providing a video player with a processor, the processor accepting user input, drawing graphics or text on top of video playback, and controlling playback of sounds; providing media with a video stream for standard playback and a plurality of segment identifiers to indicate to the processor which segments of the video stream are to be played during game play; and superimposing graphics or text onto the video to create an interactive game experience. A segment of the video stream is skipped that interrupts continuous play of a game. A segment of the video stream is played based on user interaction. The segment identifiers may be triggers. The segment identifiers may be provided in an edit decision list. Input by a user is provided with a remote device. The remote device comprises a keyboard, mouse, remote control, or gaming controller. Associated audio is provided with the graphics or text. Additional graphics or text are displayed in response to user input. 
     Still another embodiment provides a system for interactive media, the system comprising a video player for playing media; a plurality of segment identifiers within the media, wherein the video player recognizes the segment identifiers and plays segments between select segment identifiers; and an overlay for the played segments, wherein the overlay assists a user to interact with the played segments. A CPU for managing the playing of segments and overlay for played segments. The plurality of segment identifiers are in an edit decision list. The edit decision list is a branching edit decision list, wherein the played segments correspond to user input. The segment identifiers may be triggers. The overlay comprises graphics or text. The video player is a DVD player, high definition player, or personal computer. The media is a DVD, DVD-ROM, CD, CD-ROM, or media from a LAN storage, the internet, a server, or a hard drive. The overlay comprises audio. 
     Another embodiment provides a method for interacting with media, the method comprising the steps of providing the media to a media playback device; removing portions of the media to allow for substantially continuous viewing of a scene; and inserting graphics on the remaining portions of the media to assist the user in interacting with the remaining portions of the media. Portions of the media are marked to be removed. The remaining portions of the media are played based upon user interaction. A list of times to begin and end scene removal from the media is also provided. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent form a reading of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which illustrate the features and advantages of the invention in conjunction with references to the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles. 
         FIGS. 1   a - 1   b  are flow diagrams according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is an exemplary screenshot according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The system and method of interactive video playback adds interactive movie functionality to video players. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the process of providing an interactive movie is shown. Media  10  is fed into a video player  20  that may play video  30  on media  10  in a conventional application. Video players include, but are not limited to, DVD players, high definition video players, and software DVD-ROM. Media includes, but is not limited to, DVDs and other high capacity storage devices. In an example of the conventional use for the video player, a DVD player can play a movie recorded on a DVD. 
     Video player  20  provides at least a few functions that differ from conventional video players. First, video player  20  provides an on-screen menu for the user. Second, video player  20  recognizes capabilities in the DVD. Third, video player  20  inserts an overlay. Fourth, video player  20  skips undesirable scenes. 
     A method and a system allow a user to play a game or other interactive experience utilizing the provided media. Upon a depression of a button on a remote control, joystick, or keyboard, a click on a mouse, or other activation, optionally through a remote device, a user  15  commands a CPU or processor  24  of video player  20  to display a menu  40 . CPU  24  then commands a media co-processor  22  which sends the graphics and text of menu  40  to output buffer  23  before being displayed on the screen to ensure smooth transitions and prevent frame drift. Menu  40  can be displayed to the user during the operation or playback of media  10 . Alternatively, this menu may be presented before or during playback of the media. Upon such activation or through other means before or during playback, the system displays an on-screen menu  40 . Through a similar action, the user can select the option for playing a game or other interactive program from menu  40 . Alternatively, by depressing a button on a remote control, joystick, or keyboard, clicking on a mouse, or other activation through a remote device, the system may load a game or other interactive program without the use of a menu. In such an instance, a button on the remote device may be labeled “Start” or “Game.” 
     The system has the capacity to reuse traditional, linear narrative media effectively for interactivity. Media  10  is streamed into a media interface  21  of video player  20 . An executable file, optionally provided in media  10 , is provided from media interface  21  to CPU  24 . The video stream continues to media co-processor  22 . In order to provide effective interactivity, CPU  24  recognizes triggers  50  within media  10 . 
     The system provides an interactive video playback platform with arbitrary real-time edit decisions. Upon activation of the game or interactive program, CPU  24  searches media  10  for triggers or segment identifiers. The segment identifiers provide indications for the segments that should be played during use of the media as a game. The played segments of a movie may be played in sequential order, or in any varied order. The remaining segments are filtered out by skip segments  60  due to their interruptive nature of the game. For example, in an action sequence of a movie, some scenes comprise close-ups of a character&#39;s face. In playing a game based on this footage, the system optionally removes the close-up footage so that the action sequence can run continuously. Segment identifiers are situated at the beginning and end of the interruptive scenes. The segment identifiers may appear in one of at least two different ways. In one embodiment, triggers are embedded within the code of the media. In an alternative embodiment, the control program utilizes a listing corresponding to the timing of certain segments. 
     In one embodiment, triggers are embedded within the media. As media  10  streams into media interface  21 , CPU  24  recognizes a starting trigger at the beginning of a segment. CPU  24  commands media co-processor to skip a segment between a the starting trigger and a next trigger. Output buffer  23  does not receive that segment for display. As a result, output buffer must have sufficient capacity to transition segments smoothly and maintain a continuous video. Video player  20  plays the media after the next trigger until another starting trigger appears. 
     In an alternative embodiment for skipping segments, along with any data required to play the game, the CPU processes an “edit decision list” (“EDL”) for interactivity. The interactive EDL can exist embedded on the media, encoded into the video stream itself, or loaded and/or streamed from a computer network. When in conventional movie-playing mode, this EDL is ignored, allowing the media to play in its original form. When the player is placed into interactive or game mode, the CPU causes the player to skip over portions of the media that detract from the interactive experience. During game play, the logic in the CPU examines the EDL and determines that on reaching a certain frame of video, the read-head should jump ahead by a few seconds to skip over the next few shots of non-interactive material. Also, the EDL can cause the video stream to jump backwards arbitrarily, allowing reuse of shots to increase the duration of the game. 
     In one embodiment, the video player utilizes the EDL to play segments of media depending upon the user&#39;s interaction with the game. The CPU uses the interaction of the user to advance to another segment or replay a segment if the user provides successful actions within the game. For example, as the user is playing a game, successful hits of a target prompts the CPU to skip to a more advanced level of game play. This requires the CPU to advance to another segment on the EDL. However, if the user does not successfully hit the targets, the CPU will replay certain segments listed on the EDL to provide a less challenging game for the user. Thus, the EDL may be either dynamic or fixed, allowing a game to vary based on user performance. 
     By branching the EDL, the logic in the CPU customizes the game based on how well player scores or other user interactivity. Referring to  FIG. 1   b , a user activates game play mode  85 . The CPU reads the EDL and commands the media co-processor to play segment  90 . Upon user interaction  115 , the CPU may play segment  90  again or skip segment  95 , as indicated by the EDL, and play segment  100  or segment  110 . Upon further user interaction  115 , the CPU may play segment  100  again or skip segment  105 , as indicated by the EDL, and play segment  110 . The CPU may also replay segment  90  or skip to segment  110  based on user interaction or playback as defined in the EDL. The EDL allows the CPU to jump from one segment to another based on user interaction or the sequential playback as seen in a movie. 
     To enable arbitrary jumps in the video stream, the video player reads video data into memory faster than the rate of the video playback. This buffering system allows video to continue playing uninterrupted even when the playback device is temporarily unable to read new video data, for instance an asynchronous read-head seek on a DVD player. The read-head is the tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to read back the magnetic patterns on the disk. Seek is the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track. 
     For instance, the concept of taking a spaceship battle form a science fiction film and making it interactive may seem straight forward. The player guides a cursor around the screen, earning points for shooting the bad guys and losing points for shooting the good guys. Shooting a ship triggers an explosion animation and a sound, respectively placed over the video and soundtrack. In practice, the interactive designer would find that a large portion of the scene would be made up of cut-aways, close-ups, reaction shots, and other clips that do nor support the interactive design. 
     Media co-processor  22  provides video segments as well as graphics and text by insert graphics  70  into the video stream during game play. Such graphics and text may include, but are not limited to, the score of the game, a cursor for the remote device, or other graphics desirably overlaid on the video. The graphics and text provide a guide for playing the game as well as a means for the user to command the CPU to provide additional graphics or text. CPU  24  commands media co-processor  22  to include graphics and text in a certain configuration such that the user can play a game  80 . Throughout the game, dependent upon user interaction, the chosen segments to be played, and data from the executable file, media co-processor  22  provides a graphic overlay for the segments to output buffer  23  for playback. Through the remote device, user  15  can play a game  80  on original movie content using the overlaid graphics text, while simultaneously skipping the segments that interrupt the continuous linear media. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a video stream has a spaceship  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . By depressing a button on a game controller, a menu is activated and the option  210  for “Activities” appears on the screen. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , upon the selection of “Activities” by the user, an option  320  for “Rocket Zapper” appears on the screen in addition to option  310  for “Activities.” Previously chosen menu options may optionally appear on the screen. Also, use of menu items does not stop or pause the video stream, although menu items may be selected before playback of the media. In  FIG. 3 , spaceship  300  is still flying on the screen. 
     Upon choosing “Rocket Zapper,” the video player switches to gameplay mode. The control program and processor recognize an EDL and draws graphics and text on the screen for playing the game. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a two player game is shown. Names of players “Donald” and “Mickey” appear in text boxes  405 ,  410 . In this exemplary embodiment, targets  415 ,  420  are used for the two players in order to aim and shoot other spaceships  425 . Shooting through targets  415 ,  420  may be controlled by a remote device. In the conventional playing mode, spaceships  425  would fly on the screen in an identical fashion. 
     In this embodiment, close-ups and cutaways that appear in the original video stream are filtered from the footage. Responsive to the times on the EDL, the processor filters images and scenes, such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 . Showing this cutaway would disrupt the continuous play of the game. Accordingly, it is removed and the read-head seeks the next position on the DVD to continue playing the game. 
     The game play continues with the user unaware of the presence of removed scenes. As shown in  FIG. 6 , counter  630  displays the same countdown, 11 seconds, as shown in  FIG. 4 , due to the fact that only a split second has elapsed, rather than a few seconds required to play the cutaway of  FIG. 5 . The two players can continue playing the game. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the player “Mickey” shoots lasers  720  through target  710  at spaceship  730 . Spaceship  730  is part of the original video stream. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an explosion  840  on spaceship  830  is shown after a direct hit from the lasers. Spaceship  830  is still original video content from the movie on the media. However, explosion  840  is drawn by the system and overlaid on the screen corresponding to spaceship  830  to appear as though it is exploding. Referring to  FIG. 9 , explosion  940  continues to overlay spaceship  930  as spaceship  930  appears to fly across the screen. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a target  1010 ,  1020  appears for each user to play a bonus movie trailer. If the user successfully hits the target, a movie trailer from the media, or alternative source, will be streamed from the media onto the display. Referring to  FIG. 11 , one player has successful hit the target  1120 . The other player has missed the target  1110 , thus prompting “better luck next time.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the user who successfully hit the target has the options of “Download Now”  1210  or “Later”  1220 . These options appear as buttons similar to the menu functions discussed above. Referring to  FIG. 13 , “Download Now”  1310  has been selected and a graphic overlay appears to make button  1310  glow. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , button  1410  becomes alpha transparent and trailer  1420  appears on the display. Trailer  1420  may be downloaded from the internet, streamed from the media, or retrieved from a storage device. Referring to  FIG. 15 , trailer  1520  continues to maximize on the display. Referring to  FIG. 16 , trailer  1620  is fully maximized on the display. Referring to  FIG. 17 , upon completion of playback of trailer  1720 , trailer  1720  becomes alpha transparent and fades away. The user may continue to watch the movie, play the game again, play a different game, or return to the menu. 
     The system provides audio as well as video to the game. Audio from played segments may be optionally included. Further, audio from the executable file may be included in the graphic overlay or in response to actions by a user. 
     While the system and method have been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the disclosure cover the modifications and variations provided they fall within the spirit and the scope as described herein.