Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to facial perception. More particularly, the present invention relates to using facial perception to determine a gender and age of a player playing a video game. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Video game consoles and other computers and devices are capable of presenting interactive video games for players to play. Video games may be played by people of both genders and various ages. However, the game may have been designed for a specific gender or age range. The same gameplay may be entertaining for one gender or age group of players, but not as engaging to another group. For example, a game designed for young children may not appeal to adults. The game may be challenging to a young child, but too simple for an adult. 
         [0005]    Gaines may provide players with configurable options. Such options may tweak certain game settings, but may not otherwise substantially modify the gameplay itself. For example, a female player may be more interested in a click-and-collect type of game. Although the game may provide click-and-collect gameplay, the female player will not be able to otherwise modify the gameplay to provide more click-and-collect gameplay. A male player, who may not be interested in click-and-collect gameplay, may not be able to modify the game by reducing the amount of click-and-collect gameplay. 
         [0006]    Video game consoles and modern computers have become increasingly sophisticated. Many such devices have attached cameras, or are configured to accept camera attachments. The games themselves often have access to the camera and its functions. The camera may be capable of capturing an image of the room that houses the game device. As such, the camera can capture the players present in the room. Although the device may have access to this image, in conventional implementations the player must manually input the player&#39;s characteristics into the game. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a solution enabling the game device to determine the gender and age of the player for a video game without requiring manual intervention from the player, and modifying the game based on the determination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    There are provided systems and methods for determining the gender and age of a player of a game, 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 
         [0009]    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: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  presents a system for determining a gender and age of a player of a game, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  present, respectively, a top-down view and side view of an exemplary environment for determining a gender and age of a player of a game using facial perception, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by which a gender and age of a player of a game may be determined using facial perception. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present application is directed to a system and method for determining a gender and age of a player of a game using facial perception. 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 of 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. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  presents a system for determining a gender and age of a player of a game using facial perception, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Environment  100  of  FIG. 1  includes device  110 , camera  120 , and player  130 . Device  110  includes game  112 , processor  115 , memory  117 , and display  119 . Camera  120  includes image data  122 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , player  130  may be characterized by gender  132  and age  134 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, device  110  may comprise any computing machine capable of presenting game  112 , as well as accept connections from other devices, such as a camera. For example, device  110  may comprise a Playstation 3™ console, an Xbox 360™ console, or a personal computer. These devices are often located in a room in a house, such as a living room. Alternatively, device  110  may comprise a hand-held computing device, such as a Nintendo DS™ or an Apple iPhone™. Display  119  may comprise any display capable of displaying output from device  110 . Display  119  may be integrated with device  110 , such as the screen of an iPhone. In alternative embodiments, display  119  may comprise a separate component, externally connected to device  110 , such as a television. Processor  115  may comprise a processor capable of performing the tasks of device  110  described below. Memory  117 , which may be controlled by processor  115 , may comprise an area of memory, such as RAM, where software instructions and algorithms may reside. For example, game  112  may reside in memory  117 . Game  112  may comprise any interactive video based experience, such as a video game. Game  112  may present video shown on display  119  which a user or player may interact with through device  110 , often with specific objectives. Although in many embodiments game  112  may comprise a video game, the present invention is not limited to entertainment applications. For example, game  112  may instead comprise a vehicle simulation. 
         [0016]    Camera  120  may comprise any camera or image capture device capable of connecting to device  110 . For example, the Playstation Eye™ may connect to a Playstation 3, whereas the Microsoft Kinect may connect to an Xbox 360, and a webcam may connect to a personal computer. Camera  120  is preferably located in the same room as device  110 , situated to capture at least player  130 . However, camera  120  may be in another location than device  110 , particularly if player  130  is located elsewhere. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , camera  120  and device  110  may comprise a single integrated device. For example, the iPhone™ 4 has two built-in cameras. Camera  120  includes image data  122 . Image data  122  may comprise images captured by camera  120 . Image data  122  may be stored as a file or files on camera  120  and/or device  110 , or may alternatively comprise temporary data. In addition, image data  122  may comprise more than one image, or may comprise video data. Image data  122  may provide the raw data that may be used for facial perception, a technique known in the art. Accordingly, camera  120  and image data  122  are not limited to capturing only visual light. 
         [0017]    Player  130  may comprise one or more persons actively playing game  112  on device  110  when camera  120  captures image data  122 . Alternatively, player  130  may comprise one or more persons who will play game  112  but are spectators at the time camera  120  captures image data  122 . Player  130  may be present with device  110 , or may be located elsewhere, able to view and/or interact with game  112 , and detectable by camera  120 . Gender  132  corresponds to the gender of player  130 . Likewise, age  134  corresponds to the age of player  130 . Age  134  may correspond a specific age, such as eighteen, or may correspond an age range, such as 25-35. 
         [0018]    Before device  110  starts a video game, camera  120  may, at the request of device  110 , capture image data  122  of player  130 . Camera  120  may then send or otherwise make available image data  122  for analysis by device  110 . Device  110  may use facial recognition or facial perception techniques, which are known in the art, to analyze image data  122 . Alternatively, camera  120  may analyze image data  122 . Subsequently, device  110  may determine the genders and ages of player  130  in image data  122 , which corresponds to gender  132  and age  134 . Device  110  may then make gender  13 . 2  and age  134  available to game  112 . Game  112  may then be modified according to gender  132  and/or age  134 . 
         [0019]    Moving to  FIGS. 2A and 2B ,  FIG. 2A  shows a top-down view of an exemplary environment for determining a gender and age of a player of a game, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2B  shows a side view of the exemplary environment of  FIG. 2A .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  include the same elements. Environment  200  includes console  210 , TV  219 , camera  220 , view  225 , and player  230 . 
         [0020]    Environment  200  may comprise a living room in a typical house. Console  210 , which may correspond to device  110  of  FIG. 1 , may comprise a video game console. Although not depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , console  210  may be connected to TV  219  and camera  220 . Console  210  may be capable of presenting video games, such as game  112  in  FIG. 1 , through TV  219 , which may correspond to display  119  in  FIG. 1 . TV  219  may comprise a television set. Camera  220 , which may correspond to camera  120  in  FIG. 1 , may comprise a camera peripheral that may connect to console  210 . View  225  corresponds to the range of vision of camera  220 . Player  230 , which may correspond to player  130  in  FIG. 1 , may comprise one or more persons in environment  200  who are currently playing game  112  on console  210 . Alternatively, player  130  may comprise one or more persons in environment  200  who are not playing game  112 . 
         [0021]    As depicted in  FIG. 2A , TV  219  may be centrally located in environment  200  to provide a good viewing angle for player  230 . Console  210  may be located near TV  219 , for example beside TV  219 , in order to be connected to TV  219 . In this embodiment, camera  220  may be located on top of TV  219 , as depicted in  FIG. 2B , so that view  225  may capture player  230 . Once camera  220  captures an image of player  230 , console  210  may determine a gender and age of player  230 , a process described in further detail below with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0022]    Moving to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by which a gender and age of a player of a game may be determined using facial perception. 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 may involve specialized equipment or materials, as known in the art. While steps  310  to  350  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 . 
         [0023]    Referring to step  310  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  310  of flowchart  300  comprises camera  120  capturing image data  122  of player  130 . Processor  115 , though device  110 , may request camera  120  to capture image data  122  before player  130  starts playing game  112  on device  110 . Possible times include but are not limited to the following: during a loading screen; during a demo screen; while a startup screen is displayed; or when a menu screen is displayed. Alternatively, camera  120  may capture image data  122  during actual gameplay. For example, camera  120  may capture image data  122  as part of its normal function within game  112 , or during downtime or loading screens during gameplay. Preferably, the time between capturing image data  122  and actual gameplay should be minimized, in order to obtain the most recent and accurate image of player  130 . In addition, camera  120  preferably captures a clear view of player  130 . 
         [0024]    Referring to step  320  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  320  of flowchart  300  comprises determining a gender and age of the player of a game based on image data  122 . Device  110  may analyze image data  122  using facial recognition or facial perception techniques known in the art to determine gender  132  and age  134 . Alternatively, camera  120  may conduct parts or all of the analysis on image data  122 . Device  110  may make gender  132  and age  134  available to game  112 . Preferably, game  112  has not previously prompted player  130  for gender  132  and age  134 . 
         [0025]    Referring to step  330  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  330  of flowchart  300  comprises determining modifications to game  112  based on gender  132  and age  134 . For example, a possible modification may be to change color schemes. Alternatively, device  110  may determine modifications to game  112  based on gender  132  only, or age  134  only. However, the modifications are not limited to tweaks to game  112 . 
         [0026]    The modifications may alter the gameplay for player  130 . A possible modification may change the type of gameplay. Playtests and other market research may find that specific genders or age groups prefer certain types of gameplay. For example, the market research may suggest that males from ages 15-25 prefer first-person shooters, whereas females from ages 6-12 prefer click-and-collect games. If gender  132  corresponds to male, and age  134  corresponds to 15-25, a relevant modification Would be to incorporate more first-person shooter elements into the gameplay. Similarly, if gender  132  corresponds to female, and age  134  corresponds to 6-12, a more relevant modification would be to incorporate more click-and-collect elements into the gameplay. In addition, one or more objectives of game  112  may be modified. For example, research may reveal that males prefer to eliminate a particular enemy in game  112 , whereas females prefer to sneak past the particular enemy. If gender  132  corresponds to male, an objective of game  112  may be modified to require player  130  to eliminate the particular enemy. Likewise, if gender  132  corresponds to female, the objective of game  112  may be modified to require player  130  to sneak past the particular enemy. A length of game  112  may also be modified. For example, research may reveal that persons from ages 3-7 are not able to concentrate on game  112  for extended periods of time. Accordingly, the length of game  112  may be shortened when age  134  corresponds to ages 3-7. 
         [0027]    In embodiments where player  130  comprises a spectator, the modifications may provide audience participation, rather than alter the main gameplay. A possible modification may involve adding interesting background events and images which market research may reveal appeals to persons corresponding to gender  132  and/or age  134 . Such background images may further be based on image data  122 , for example using an image of a face of player  130 . A more elaborate modification may involve establishing a secondary game in the background. The secondary game may provide player  130  with objectives, appealing to persons corresponding to gender  132  and/or age  134 , which do not interfere with the main gameplay. 
         [0028]    Referring to step  340  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  340  of flowchart  300  comprises recommending the modifications to game  112 . Game  112 , through device  110 , may present player  130  with options to apply the recommended modifications. Game  112  may alternatively ask player  130  to confirm the modifications. For example, game  112  may present player  130  with an alternative route which may appeal to persons corresponding to gender  132  and age  134 . In alternative embodiments, this step may be skipped for some or all modifications. 
         [0029]    Referring to step  350  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  350  of flowchart  300  comprises adopting the modifications to game  112 . The modifications may have been explicitly accepted in the previous step, such as players  130  taking the alternative route mentioned in the previous example. Game  112  may then adopt the accepted modifications and alter its gameplay accordingly. 
         [0030]    Other modifications may be automatically adopted, particularly if step  340  was skipped. For example, game  112  may automatically adopt interesting background scenery if player  130  comprises a spectator. In another example, game  112  may automatically alter its gameplay to appeal to persons corresponding to gender  132  and/or age  134 . Such alterations may be subtly or drastically alter game  112 . 
         [0031]    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 rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1