IP Library Granted Patent US 9,855,497
Granted Patent B2
US 9,855,497 · App. 14/601,083 · Granted Jan 2, 2018

Techniques for providing non-verbal speech recognition in an immersive playtime environment

Inventors: Michael P. Goslin (Sherman Oaks, CA); Eric C. Haseltine (Silver Spring, MD); Joseph L. Olson (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
A63F13/215A63F13/424G06F3/017G06F3/0346G06F3/167G10L17/26G10L25/18G06F2203/0381
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,855,497
App. No.
14/601,083
Granted
Jan 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An immersive play environment platform including techniques describing recognizing non-verbal vocalization gestures from a user is disclosed. A headset device receives audio input from a user. The headset device transmits the audio input to a controller device. The controller device evaluates characteristics of the audio input (e.g., spectral features over a period of time) to determine whether the audio input corresponds to a predefined non-verbal vocalization, such as a humming noise, shouting noise, etc. The controller device may perform an action in response to detecting such non-verbal vocalizations, such as engaging a play object (e.g., an action figure, an action disc) in the play environment.

Claims (38)

1. An immersive play experience platform providing an interactive environment, comprising:

an audio device configured to receive audio input; and

a controller device configured to perform an operation for recognizing non-verbal vocalizations, the operation comprising:

receiving audio input transmitted by the audio device,

determining that the audio input matches spectral features of one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations characterizing gameplay within the interactive environment, and

causing an action corresponding to the one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations to be performed on an interactive gameplay object within the interactive environment.

2. The platform of claim 1 , further comprising:

a physical device configured to receive instructions from the controller device to perform the corresponding action; and

wherein the interactive gameplay object is connected with the physical device.

3. The platform of claim 2 , wherein performing the corresponding action comprises:

causing the interactive gameplay object to disconnect from the physical device.

4. The platform of claim 1 , wherein the predefined non-verbal vocalizations include at least one of a humming gesture or a shouting gesture.

5. The platform of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor device having an accelerometer and a gyroscope, the sensor device configured to receive position and orientation input and to transmit the position and orientation input to the controller device.

6. The platform of claim 5 , wherein the one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations are associated with a choreographed sequence having one or more gestures corresponding to specified position and orientation input transmitted from the sensor device.

7. The platform of claim 1 , wherein the predefined non-verbal vocalizations are further determined based on amplitude and timing thresholds measured in the audio input.

8. A method for recognizing non-verbal vocalizations, comprising:

receiving, by a controller device executing on an immersive play experience platform providing an interactive environment, audio input;

determining, by the controller device, that the audio input matches spectral features of one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations characterizing gameplay within the interactive environment; and

causing an action corresponding to the one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations to be performed on an interactive gameplay object within the interactive environment.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, transmitting instructions to a physical device for performing the corresponding action.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein performing the corresponding action comprises:

causing the interactive gameplay object to disconnect from the physical device.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predefined non-verbal vocalizations include at least one of a humming gesture or a shouting gesture.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, receiving position and orientation input.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more predefined non-verbal vocalizations are associated with a choreographed sequence having one or more gestures corresponding to specified position and orientation input.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predefined non-verbal vocalizations are further determined based on amplitude and timing thresholds measured in the audio input.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed on a processor, perform an operation for recognizing non-verbal vocalizations, the operation comprising:

receiving, by a controller device executing on an immersive play experience platform providing an interactive environment, audio input;

determining, by the controller device, that the audio input matches spectral features of at least a first predefined non-verbal vocalization characterizing gameplay within the interactive environment;

determining that the matched audio input is received as a part of a predefined sequence of gestures including at least a first physical gesture and the first predefined non-verbal vocalization, and

causing an action corresponding to the predefined sequence of gestures to be performed on an interactive gameplay object.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises, transmitting instructions to a physical device for performing the corresponding action.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein performing the corresponding action comprises:

causing, via the physical device, the interactive gameplay object to disconnect from the physical device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises, receiving position and orientation input.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the at least the first physical gesture matches specified position and orientation input.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least the first predefined non-verbal vocalization is further determined based on amplitude and timing thresholds measured in the audio input.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2015
From: GOSLIN, MICHAEL P.; HASELTINE, ERIC C.; OLSON, JOSEPH L.
To: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035360/0557 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160206955A1 · Jul 21, 2016