IP Library Granted Patent US 11,173,398
Granted Patent B2
US 11,173,398 · App. 16/024,597 · Granted Nov 16, 2021

Virtual camera placement system

Inventors: Jeffrey Brooks Spradling (Seattle, WA); Kyle Matthew Emtman (Kenmore, WA); Andrew David Beaudoin (Carnation, WA); Timothy Craig Dean (Sammamish, WA); Huw David Bowles (Brighton, GB); Stephen James Malpass (Redhill, GB); William Myles (Brighton, GB); Martin Stoykov Mihov (Hove, GB); Phillip Williams (Eastbourne, GB)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
A63F13/5258A63F13/5375A63F13/803A63F2300/634
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,173,398
App. No.
16/024,597
Granted
Nov 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A virtual camera placement system is provided which includes a user input device configured to receive user input and a display device configured to display images captured by a virtual camera. The virtual camera placement system further includes non-volatile memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to generate a three-dimensional simulation including a plurality of challenge points for a user, navigate the simulation including the challenge points in response to the user input, and control the virtual camera in the simulation differently in a plurality of camera stages based on at least the user input and an outcome of navigating one or more of the challenge points.

Claims (55)

1. A virtual camera placement system, comprising:

a user input device configured to receive user input including a single input that is released and reinputted;

a display device configured to display images captured by a virtual camera;

non-volatile memory configured to store instructions including artificial intelligence (AI) logic; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

generate a simulation including a plurality of challenge points for a user, the simulation being three dimensional;

navigate the simulation including the plurality of challenge points in response to the user input;

control a speed of an object representing the user in response to the single input;

control steering of the object by the AI logic, based on at least the speed and a route of the simulation and without receiving user steering input; and

control the virtual camera in the simulation differently in a plurality of camera stages based on at least the user input and an outcome of navigating one or more of the plurality of challenge points, wherein the plurality of camera stages includes a first camera progression comprising:

a first stage in which a broad view of an upcoming first challenge point is provided;

a second stage in which a close-up view of an interaction with the first challenge point is provided; and

a third stage in which a cinematic view of results of the interaction is provided.

2. The virtual camera placement system of claim 1 , wherein the third stage further includes a cinematic replay of part of the second stage.

3. The virtual camera placement system of claim 1 , wherein

when the outcome includes the object representing the user passing an object of another user or a computer-controlled object, the third stage further includes a view highlighting the passing.

4. The virtual camera placement system of claim 1 , wherein the simulation is a video game.

5. The virtual camera placement system of claim 4 , wherein the video game is a racing game.

6. The virtual camera placement system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of challenge points are curves in a route.

7. The virtual camera placement system of claim 6 , wherein each challenge point includes a braking phase, a turn phase, and an acceleration phase, and for each challenge point, the outcome is determined by a degree of success in at least one phase.

8. A virtual camera placement method, comprising:

generating a simulation including a plurality of challenge points for a user, the simulation being three dimensional;

receiving user input;

navigating the simulation including the plurality of challenge points in response to the user input;

controlling a virtual camera in the simulation differently in a plurality of camera stages based on at least the user input and an outcome of navigating one or more of the plurality of challenge points, wherein the virtual camera is positioned in a different manner based on which camera stage the simulation is in; and

displaying images captured by the virtual camera, wherein the plurality of camera stages includes a first camera progression comprising:

a first stage in which a broad view of an upcoming first challenge point is provided;

a second stage in which a close-up view of an interaction with the first challenge point is provided; and

a third stage in which a cinematic view of results of the interaction is provided.

9. The virtual camera placement method of claim 8 , wherein the third stage further includes a cinematic replay of part of the second stage.

10. The virtual camera placement method of claim 8 , wherein the user input is limited to a single input that is released and reinputted.

11. The virtual camera placement method of claim 10 , wherein

the single input controls a speed; and

the method further includes controlling steering based on at least the speed and a route of the simulation via artificial intelligence (AI) logic.

12. The virtual camera placement method of claim 8 , wherein the simulation is a video game.

13. The virtual camera placement method of claim 12 , wherein the video game is a racing game.

14. The virtual camera placement method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of challenge points are curves in a route.

15. The virtual camera placement method of claim 14 , wherein

each challenge point includes a braking phase, a turn phase, and an acceleration phase; and

the method further includes, for each challenge point, determining the outcome by determining a degree of success in at least one phase.

16. A virtual camera placement system for a racing video game, comprising:

a user input device configured to receive a single input that is released and reinputted as user input;

a display device configured to display images captured by a virtual camera;

non-volatile memory configured to store instructions including artificial intelligence (AI) logic; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

generate a simulation including a plurality of challenge points for a user, the simulation being three dimensional;

navigate the simulation including the plurality of challenge points in response to the user input;

control a speed of an object representing the user in response to the single input;

control steering of the object by the AI logic, based on at least the speed and a route of the simulation and without receiving user steering input; and

control the virtual camera in the simulation differently in a plurality of camera stages based on at least the user input and an outcome of navigating one or more of the plurality of challenge points, the virtual camera being positioned in a different manner based on which camera stage the simulation is in, the plurality of camera stages including a first camera progression comprising:

a first stage in which a broad view of an upcoming first challenge point is provided;

a second stage in which a close-up view of an interaction with the first challenge point is provided; and

a third stage in which a cinematic view of results of the interaction is provided.

17. The virtual camera placement system of claim 16 , wherein each challenge point includes a braking phase, a turn phase, and an acceleration phase, and for each challenge point, the outcome is determined by a degree of success in at least one phase.

18. The virtual camera placement system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of challenge points are curves in a route.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2018
From: SPRADLING, JEFFREY BROOKS; EMTMAN, KYLE MATTHEW; BEAUDOIN, ANDREW DAVID; DEAN, TIMOTHY CRAIG; BOWLES, HUW DAVID; MALPASS, STEPHEN JAMES; MYLES, WILLIAM; MIHOV, MARTIN STOYKOV; WILLIAMS, PHILLIP
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 047204/0312 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62674590 · May 21, 2018
Related Publication 20190351325A1 · Nov 21, 2019