Abstract:
There is provided a system and method for the interactive display floor with multi-touch surround surfaces that is integrated with an interactive computer system. There is provided a system comprising an interactive video floor, a sensitized peripheral surface, an interactive computer and video system. When the user makes contact with sensitized peripheral surface, digital input data is transmitted to interactive computer. After analyzing the digital input data, the interactive computer sends digital output data back to interactive video floor through video system, and back to sensitized peripheral surface. The interactive video floor redisplays its graphics based on the content of the digital output data, and the sensitized peripheral surface reconfigures itself with respect to the information within digital output data.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/318,117, filed on Mar. 26, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to an interactive display floor. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interactive display floor controlled by multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Interactive display floors, such as those used in electronic advertisements and multiplayer videogames, are well known in the art. Interactive display floors are widely used because they allow users to alter graphical contents displayed through the display floors by simply moving across the display floor. An interactive video floor can alter its graphical displays when it senses a physical presence or motion of objects on its surface. When an object&#39;s physical presence or motion is detected, the interactive display floor translates this detection into software commands that alter the graphical displays on the display floor. Given the advancement of modern hardware and software capabilities, display floor may be designed to be very sensitive to any minute differences in movement or pressure above display floor. For example, running or walking on a display floor may trigger two different graphical responses. In another example, different weight pressure applied onto display floor may trigger different graphical responses. It is precisely display floors&#39; real time reaction to user&#39;s presence and motion that may engage the user&#39;s attention towards the displayed contents on the display floor. 
         [0006]    One well-known usage of an interactive display floor is the display of a body of virtual water. The interactive display floor consists of one or more video display screens physically pieced together to display the entire body of calm water. A user may stand, walk, or run across the display floor. As a result of this movement, the body of virtual water reacts to the user&#39;s movements by generating virtual ripples and splashes, all in realistic fashion. Once the user&#39;s movements end, the ripples and splashes eventually subside and the virtual water returns to stillness. 
         [0007]    Another popular and simple example is the display of a virtual soccer ball on a virtual soccer field in an interactive display floor. This example creates a videogame like interactive environment with users cooperating with each other. In this example, multiple users may move across the display floor and kick at open space above the virtual soccer ball. Interactive display floor detects the kicking motion and causes the virtual soccer ball to react as if it is being kicked. Two users may kick the graphical soccer ball between each other. Multiple users may attempt to compete with each other by kicking the virtual soccer ball towards a virtual goal. 
         [0008]    However, there are several drawbacks when multiple individuals are required to interact with each other on the interactive display floor. When multiple individuals are moving across the display floor, physical contacts may occur and such physical contacts can disrupt a user&#39;s graphical interaction. Such physical contacts may be occasionally severe enough to cause physical pain and suffering to the users involved. Therefore, undesirable physical contact resulting from multiple individuals moving across a display floor is a substantial drawback. 
         [0009]    Another drawback when multiple users moving across the display floor is the obstruction to users&#39; views by other users. The interactive display floor generally lies flat on the ground. A user&#39;s vision of the interactive display floor can be easily obstructed when other people are moving within the user&#39;s field of vision. When a user&#39;s field of vision is obstructed, such obstruction may detract from the user&#39;s overall enjoyment of interacting with the display floor. 
         [0010]    Moreover, while some games may require individuals to move across the display floor, many games do not require any individual to actually move across the display floor. In fact, such movement across the display floor may greatly disrupt the nature of the game. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing an environment for competitive or cooperative play on a video floor when individuals are not required to move across the interactive display floor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    There are provided systems and methods for interacting with display floor using multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  presents a diagram of a system for implementing the interacting with display floor using multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  presents a diagram of three instances of the interacting with display floor using multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by which the interacting with display floor using multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces may be provided. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present application is directed to a system and method for the interacting with display floor using multi-touch surround surfaces. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order not to obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments in the invention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention, which use the principles of the present invention, are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  presents a diagram of a system for implementing the interacting with display floor using multi-touch sensitive surround surfaces, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  100  of  FIG. 1  includes an interactive video floor  110 , sensitized peripheral surfaces  120 , ramp  125 , video system  130 , and interactive computer system  140 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , interactive video floor  110  may comprise of one or more LCD video screens. When interactive video floor  110  comprises multiple LCD video screens, the LCD video screens may be pieced together to form a single display floor. In other embodiments of the invention, interactive video floor  110  may comprise any type of display monitor and multiple types of monitors may form interactive video floor  110 . Interactive video floor  110  may respond with real time graphical displays to an individual&#39;s movement across the surface of sensitized peripheral surface  120 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , sensitized peripheral surface  120  may surround the edges of interactive video floor  110 , and sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be attached to interactive video floor  110 . To interact with interactive video floor  110 , an individual may stand or move on top of sensitized peripheral surface  120 . Motions such as moving that individual&#39;s feet across the surface of sensitized peripheral surface  120  may cause real time changes to the graphical display within interactive video floor  110 , depending on the interactive graphical program or videogame being executed in interactive computer  140 . Sensitized peripheral surface  120  may comprise capacitive multi-touch LED display panel, or Sensacell TouchArray System. Sensitized peripheral surface  120  may detect any type of movement, such as feet being dragged or lifted off of the surface of sensitized peripheral surface  120 . In other embodiments of the invention, sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be configured to detect not only feet motion, but body motion as well, including hand motion. In other embodiments of the invention, sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be comprised of any type of sensing technology. 
         [0021]    Sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be configured to allow multiple individuals to use sensitized peripheral surface  120 , simultaneously. In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , each side of interactive video floor  110  may contain a segment of sensitized peripheral surface  120 , for a total of four segments as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each segment of sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be further partitioned into four sections and an individual may stand in each section. Each section of a segment of sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be equipped with the sensitized controls that an individual may step onto in order to interact with graphical display shown on interactive video floor  110 . The sensitized controls of each section may be configured into various formats depending on the nature of the interactive content programmed into interactive computer  140 . Essentially, each sensitized control provides an individual with the control interface to interact with the graphical contents displayed on interactive video floor  110 . For example, if a videogame may be displayed through interactive video floor  110  and this videogame involves racing a virtual racecar though a virtual racetrack, then sensitized controls may be digitally configured by interactive computer  140  to represent a directional pad for left and right turns, an acceleration controller, a break controller and a gear-shifting controller. Each section&#39;s sensitized controls may allow an individual to drive a racecar across interactive video floor  110 . In another example, the interactive video floor  110  may comprise of a videogame where the user must shoot at targets travelling across interactive video floor  110 . The sensitized controls for this videogame may be digitally configured to comprise a directional control pad for aiming at targets travelling across interactive video floor  110  and a shoot pad for shooting at the target. The sensitized controls on sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be configured to accommodate the controls required for various videogame. 
         [0022]    Ramp  125  may be attached to sensitized peripheral surface  120 . In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , ramp  125  is designed to allow individuals to walk up to and onto sensitized peripheral surface  120 . Both interactive video floor  110  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  are slightly above ground level and horizontal to the ground level due to connection with ramp  125 . Ramp  125  is slightly slanted upwards from ground level to level of sensitized peripheral surface  120 . The space underneath interactive video floor  110  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be used to store hardware related to this invention. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , user interaction with sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be translated into digital input data that may be transmitted to interactive computer  140  through physical connections such as network wires. In other embodiments of the invention, the connection mechanism between sensitized peripheral surface  120  and interactive computer  140  may take on any form, such as wireless connection. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , interactive computer  140  may control the contents displayed on interactive video floor  110 . Interactive computer  140  may be physically detached from interactive video floor  110  and interactive computer  140  may be stored elsewhere. Interactive computer  140  may communicate with interactive video floor  110  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  through wired or wireless connection. Interactive computer  140  may contain software that displays interactive graphical applications, videogames, or any other interactive graphical program. Software may be programmed directly into interactive computer  140  or downloaded onto interactive computer  140 . In other embodiments of the invention, connection between interactive computer  140  and interactive video floor  110  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be achieved through any type of network system setup. 
         [0025]    Interactive computer  140  may receive continuous digital input data from sensitized peripheral surface  120  due to user interaction with sensitized peripheral surface  120 . The digital input data may be processed within interactive computer  140  and the resulting digital output data, affecting the display on interactive video floor  110 , may be transmitted back to interactive video floor  110 . The digital output data may comprise, in addition to graphical data, sensitized peripheral data and audio data. In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , interactive computer  140  may transmit sensitized peripheral data to sensitized peripheral surface  120  to reconfigure the sensitized controls within sensitized peripheral surface  120 . For example, different videogames programmed into interactive computer  140  may configure sensitized controls on sensitized peripheral surface  120  differently. Interactive computer  140  may be programmed to reconfigure the sensitized controls on sensitized peripheral surface  120  to suit changing needs of different videogames, including changing the number of available sensitized controls on sensitized peripheral surface  120 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , audio data may be broadcasted through speakers located within interactive video floor  110  and/or within sensitized peripheral surface  120 . In other embodiments of the invention, audio data may be broadcasted through external audio speakers through any type of wireless connection between interactive computer  140  and external audio speakers. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , interactive computer  140  may transmit digital output data to interactive video floor  110  through video system  130 . Video system  130  may receive digital output data from interactive computer  140  and may distribute digital output data back to interactive video floor  110  and to sensitized peripheral surface  120 . Since interactive video floor  110  may comprise multiple LCD display monitors, video system  130  ensures that proper graphical information in digital output data is distributed to proper LCD monitors within interactive video floor  110 . In other embodiments of the invention, all exchange of digital data between interactive video floor  110  and interactive computer  140  may go through video system  130 . In yet other embodiments, exchange of data between interactive computer  140  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  may also take place through video system  130 . 
         [0028]    Moving to  FIG. 2   a ,  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   c ,  FIG. 2   a ,  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   c  presents three instances of interactive display floor with multi-touch surround surfaces, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2   a  includes interactive video floor  210   a , sensitized peripheral surface  220   a , directional pad  221   a , pop balloon button  222   a , crosshairs  223   a  and balloons  224   a .  FIG. 2   b  includes interactive video floor  210   b , sensitized peripheral surface  220   b , indestructible round objects  221   b , disc cannon  222   b , two directional buttons  223   b  and fire button  224   b .  FIG. 2   c  includes interactive video floors  210   c , sensitized peripheral surfaces  220   c , directional pad  221   c , crosshairs  222   c , select button  223   c , drop button  224   c  and pizza  225   c . Interactive video floors  210   a  through  210   c  may each correspond to interactive video floor  110  in  FIG. 1 , and sensitized peripheral surfaces  220   a  through  220   c  may each correspond to sensitized peripheral surface  120  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    Interactive video floor  210   a  in  FIG. 2   a  is an alternative embodiment of interactive video floor  110  in  FIG. 1 . Interactive video floor  210   a  may display the contents of a balloon popping videogame that may involve one or more players working together in a team and that team may compete against other teams. In one embodiment of an interactive balloon popping videogame as shown in  FIG. 2   a , many balloons  224   a  may spawn within interactive video floor  210   a . Interactive video floor  210   a  may be separated into four triangular areas by two diagonal lines across opposite corners of the rectangular screen as shown in  FIG. 2   a . Randomly generated balloons  224   a  may slowly drift towards the edges surrounding interactive video floor  210   a  but those balloons  224   a  may not drift into adjacent areas. If not popped by the players, these balloons  224   a  may reach the edges of interactive video floor  210   a . Each player or players within an area may cooperate together as a team to try to pop all floating balloons  224   a  in that area by setting the target or targets onto balloons  224   a  to pop and by stepping on the light pad to pop those balloons  224   a.    
         [0030]    Every player on sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be given access to directional pad  221   a  used to move crosshairs  223   a  upon any drifting balloons  224   a  within the corresponding area, and pop balloon button  222   a  to pop any targeted balloons  224   a  in Diagram  200  of  FIG. 2 . Balloons  224   a  that successfully drifts to an edge of interactive video floor  210   a  may be counted against the team occupying that side of interactive video floor  210   a . Balloons  224   a  may spawn within any of the four areas within interactive video floor  210   a , but those spawned balloons  224   a  may only drift within the area they are spawned within. At the end of the videogame match the side of interactive video floor  210   a  with least number of balloons  224   a  having reached that side wins. 
         [0031]    Interactive video floor  210   b  of  FIG. 2   b  is an alternative embodiment of interactive video floor  110  in  FIG. 1 . Interactive video floor  210   b  may display the graphical contents of a multi-team disc shooting and defending videogame. In this videogame, teams of up to four individuals per team may be pitted against each other with the goal of shooting one or more indestructible round object  221   b  floating across interactive video floor  210   b  into the side of another team with ammunition from a disc cannon  222   b . When indestructible round objects  221   b  are hit with ammunition fired from a disc cannon  222   b , indestructible round objects  221   b  may be pushed into the direction the ammunition is traveling. In order to win this videogame, a team may try and force as many indestructible round objects  221   b  to collide into opponent team&#39;s occupied edge of interactive video floor  210   b . Each team&#39;s members may occupy one whole side of the interactive video floor  110  in  FIG. 1 . Each team that fails to prevent a pre-determined number of indestructible round object  221   b  from reaching its side may have all of its members eliminated from participating in such a game, and all remaining teams may continue to compete until only one team remains. Indestructible round objects  221   b  that collide an edge of interactive video floor  220   b  may be removed from the videogame. Interactive computer  140  from  FIG. 1  is programmed to randomly introduce new indestructible round objects  221   b . In one embodiment of this videogame as shown in  FIG. 2   b , there are two teams competing against each other. One team may contain three players located on a segment of sensitized peripheral surface  220   b , and another team with two players. 
         [0032]    Each player has a disc cannon  222   b  displayed on interactive video floor  210   b  which may be rotated from aiming left to aiming right by using two directional buttons  223   b  each player has. Each player also has a fire button  224   b  to contact with in order to fire disc cannon  222   b  ammunition at indestructible round objects  221   b . In  FIG. 2   b , there may be a couple of indestructible round objects  221   b  traveling across interactive video floor  210   b  but there may be more or less indestructible round objects  221   b  in other games. The other two segments of sensitized peripheral surface  220   b  are blank because no players have chosen to occupy those two segments of sensitized peripheral surface  220   b . When a segment of sensitized peripheral surface  220   b  contains no players, indestructible round objects  221   b  may bounce off of that edge corresponding to that segment of sensitized peripheral surface  220   b.    
         [0033]    Interactive video floor  210   c  of  FIG. 2   c  is an alternative embodiment of interactive video floor  110  in  FIG. 1 . Interactive video floor  210   c  is displaying the contents of a pizza  225   c  creation videogame. In this videogame, up to four teams may cooperate with each other in order to create a pizza  225   c  with various virtual toppings. There may be two modes available in this embodiment of the videogame. The first mode may be creating a pizza  225   c  with randomly selected toppings during a period of time. In the second mode to this game, a player may place only appropriate pre-selected toppings onto the pizza  225   c . The pre-selected toppings may be determined by interactive computer  140  shown in  FIG. 1 . When pre-selected toppings are displayed on interactive video floor  210   c , the player may select that topping and may place that topping onto the virtual pizza  225   c  using directional pad  221   c.    
         [0034]    The controls for the pizza  225   c  creation videogame may be located on sensitized peripheral surface  220   c . In one embodiment of the pizza  225   c  creation videogame as shown in  FIG. 2   c , two segments of sensitized peripheral surface  220   c  may be in use, indicating two individual players of this videogame. Within each segment of sensitized peripheral surface  220   c , one set of sensitized controls may be created for each individual player. The sensitized controls may comprise of a directional pad  221   c  and two buttons. Directional pad  221   c  may allow the player to control crosshairs  222   c . The player may place toppings at the locations of crosshairs  222   c . The locations of crosshairs  222   c  may be changed with directional pad  221   c . Select button  223   c  on sensitized peripheral surface  220   c  may allow the player to scroll through a list of toppings available in the current session of the videogame. Drop button  224   c  on sensitized peripheral surface  220   c  may allow a player to place currently selected topping at locations of crosshairs  222   c.    
         [0035]    Moving to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by which the interactive display floor with multi-touch surround surfaces may be provided. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart  300  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a step may comprise one or more substeps or many involve specialized equipment or materials, as known in the art. While steps  310  through  340  indicated in flowchart  300  are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present invention, other embodiments of the invention may utilize steps different from those shown in flowchart  300 . 
         [0036]    Referring to step  310  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and diagram  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  310  comprises sensitized peripheral surface  120  sensing a contact by a user with sensitized peripheral surface  120 . Thus, the user may touch the sensitized peripheral surface  120  with his hands, feet or other objects, which is then stored as digital input data by the sensitized peripheral surface  120 . In other embodiments of this invention, contact might not be direct physical contact. Motion of any body parts on top of sensitized peripheral surface  120  may be considered a contact. 
         [0037]    Referring to step  320  of the flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and diagram  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  320  comprises sensitized peripheral surface  120  sending digital input data to interactive computer  140  after converting the contact from step  310  into digital input data. Step  320  occurs immediately after step  310 . Digital input data may be generated from sensitized peripheral surface  120  due to user contact in step  310 . Digital input data may be transmitted from the sensitized peripheral surface  120  to interactive computer  140 . 
         [0038]    Referring to step  330  of the flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and diagram  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  330  comprises interactive computer  140  and sensitized peripheral surface  120  based on the digital input data sent after step  320 . After receiving digital input data in step  320 , interactive computer  140  may process the digital input data and interactive computer  140  may generate a display output data to be transmitted back to sensitized peripheral surface  120 . 
         [0039]    Referring to step  340  of the flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and diagram  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  340  comprises sensitized peripheral surface  120  and interactive video floor  110 . Digital output data received by sensitized peripheral surface  120  in step  330  may contain graphical information that may be displayed on the interactive video floor  110 . 
         [0040]    From the above description of the invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skills in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. As such, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many rearrangement, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.