Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02395013 2002-05-24
Case 1849
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING A VIRTUAL
OBJECT EVOLVE IN AN INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT
The present invention generally concerns a system for making a virtual object
evolve in an interactive environment. The present invention also concerns a
method
enabling a virtual object to evolve in an interactive environment.
In the present description, "virtual object" means an object defined by a set
of
parameters and data. In particular, "evolving virtual object" means a virtual
object
wherein at least a part of the parameters and/or data of the object can be
modified or
can evolve over time.
"Interactive environment" means an environment in which at feast a part of the
parameters and/or data of a virtual object can evolve over time or be modified
by the
direct or indirect interaction of a user with said virtual object.
One already knows portable devices commonly called "virtual companions" or
"artificial companions" whose "behaviour" or "evolution" can be affected by
means of a
user interface provided for example with push buttons or other similar control
members.
In such portable devices, the virtual object is capable of evolving in a
relatively
limited interactive environment. One drawback of such "artificial companions"
lies in
the fact that the possibilities offered to the user for affecting the
evolution of the virtual
object are greatly limited by the user interface with which they are typically
provided.
Indeed, because of the necessarily small size of these portable devices, and
thus the
generally low number of control members, the number of interactions between
the
user and the virtual object is greatly restricted. This drawback is all the
greater since
one typically wishes to produce devices having the smallest possible volume in
order
to avoid handicapping the user when carrying this device.
Another drawback of such portable devices or "artificial companions", also due
to the necessarily small size thereof, lies in the fact that they are
typically provided
with displays which only provide reduced and primitive visualisation of the
virtual
object and its environment. Portable devices of this type thus prove to be
unattractive
to the user.
One also knows computer programs which are capable of being executed on a
computer terminal, such as a personal computer or a play station for example,
wherein the virtual object is staged and evolves in a more or less broad
interactive
environment.
One advantage of such computer programs with respect to the aforementioned
portable devices lies in the fact that the computer terminal on which the
computer
program is executed offers wide possibilities for interaction between the user
and the
CA 02395013 2002-05-24
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virtual object or its environment, and wide possibilities for visualizing and
modelizing
the virtual object and its environment. Numerous possibilities for interaction
with the
virtual object and its environment are in particular possible, for example,
via the
keyboard of the computer tetiziinal or via other interface means, such as a
microphone, a mouse or a joystick connected to the computer terminal.
However, one drawback of such computer programs lies in the fact that they
typically require equipment which is large and less mobile, and cannot be
executed
completely in a portable object of small volume and low power. This thus
results in low
mobility, which also makes this type of solution unattractive to the user.
An additional drawback of the two aforementioned solutions also lies in the
fact
that they are typically limited to an interaction between a single user and a
single
virtual object.
Yet another drawback of the two aforementioned solutions lies in the fact that
they are typically limited to the evolution of a single virtual object in a
single interactive
environment.
One object of the present invention is thus to propose a system and a method
for making a virtual object evolve in an interactive environment, which
overcomes the
aforementioned multiple drawbacks.
The present invention thus concerns a system for making a virtual object
evolve in an interactive environment whose features are listed in claim 1.
The present invention also concerns a method for making a virtual object
evolve in an interactive environment whose features are listed in claim 10.
Advantageous embodiments of the present invention, described in the present
description, form the subject of the dependent claims.
One advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the user has
available a wide range of possibilities for interacting with the virtual
object. The user
has, moreover, both the advantages, in terms of mobility, of portable devices
known in
the prior art, and the advantages, in terms of interactivity, of the computer
programs
known in the prior art. The user is thus in no way limited by the reduced
capacity of
portable devices or the lack of mobility of computer programs.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, another advantage lies
in the fact that different virtual objects each evolving in different
environments can
nonetheless remain in contact and affect each other's evolution.
These objects, features and advantages of the present invention, in addition
to
others, will appear more clearly upon reading the following detailed
description, made
with reference to the annexed drawings given by way of non-limiting example
and in
which:
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- Figure 1 illustrates schematically the interactive system according to the
present invention,
- Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of a system for making a virtual
object evolve in accordance with the present invention and including a
portable unit
and a computer terminal,
- Figure 3 shows a detailed block diagram of a portable unit of the system of
Figure 2;
- Figure 4 illustrates how a virtual object is capable of evolving in the
interactive environment supported by the system according to the present
invention,
- Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein two portable units of
the system interact with each other,
- Figure 6 illustrates schematically the interaction of the two portable units
of
Figure 5; and
- Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein several
1,5 computer terminals are connected to each other via a computer network
Figure 1 shows schematically the subjacent principle of the present invention.
According to the present invention, as is schematised in Figure 1, a system is
proposed for making a virtual object evolve in an interactive environment
including a
first interactive environment 100, called the main interactive environment,
and a
second interactive environment 200, called the secondary interactive
environment,
smaller than main interactive environment 100, the user having interface means
and
display means in each of interactive environments 100 and 200.
A virtual object, designated by the reference numeral 150, is schematised in
Figure 1 in the form of a virtual animal, such as a dog. This virtual object
150 is
capable of evolving in either main interactive environment 100 or secondary
interactive environment 200, in particular via the interaction of a user in
the
corresponding environment. In Figure 1, virtual object 150 has thus been
schematised
as evolving in main interactive environment 100.
According to the present invention, virtual object 150 is capable of evolving
in
secondary interactive environment 200 by being transferred, totally or in
part, from
main interactive environment 100 to interactive environment 200. Preferably,
as is
shown schematically in Figure 1, only a part representative of virtual object
150, and in
particular a part of the parameters and/or data of virtual object 150 which
are capable
of evolving, will be transmitted or exchanged between main and secondary
interactive
environments 100 and 200. This representative part of virtual object 150,
indicated by
reference numeral 155 in Figure 1, will be called hereinafter in the present
description,
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an "evolving parameter". This evolving parameter 155 is for example a binary
word
including a plurality of bits each capable of being modified by an action by
the user.
It will be understood that the fact of only transferring a representative part
of
virtual object 150 and in particular the "evolving" part of virtual object
150, such as a
binary word of several bits, has the advantage of requiring only a relatively
short
communication time and thus permits the use of transmitting and receiving
means
with a low transmission rate.
Preferably, main interactive environment 100 has means for extracting this
representative part of virtual object 150, namely evolving parameter 155.
These
extracting means are essentially data processing means enabling characteristic
data
of the virtual object to be selected or defined, and in particular, the
characteristic data
of the virtual object capable of evolving following, in particular, an action
by the user.
As will be seen hereinafter, secondary interactive environment 200 is
supported by a portable unit that the user can thus carry with him and,
according to a
preferred embodiment, he can make it communicate with other similar portable
units.
According to the present invention, main interactive environment 100 is
supported by
a computer terminal preferably arranged to execute a computer program via
which the
user can interact with virtual object 150.
Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of a system enabling a virtual object
to evolve in an interactive environment in accordance with the present
invention. This
system includes at least a first portable unit indicated globally by the
reference
numeral 2 and at least a first computer terminal indicated globally by the
reference
numeral 1.
Portable unit 2 may be any type of autonomous portable device having its own
electric power source and at least one function enabling it to process and/or
store
data. Preferably, this portable unit 2 is a device capable of being worn on
the user's
wrist, such as a watch. It will be understood however that this portable unit
may take
other forms such as that of a cellular telephone or an electronic diary for
example.
Figure 2 thus shows a portable unit 2 such as a wristwatch having in
particular
display means 22 such as a liquid crystal display and interface means S1 to S5
that
the user can activate as he wishes to select functions and modify information
or data
stored or processed in portable unit 2, and in particular to interact with the
virtual
object of the system. In particular, the interface means of the portable unit
include,
purely by way of illustration, a plurality of control members such as push
buttons S1,
S2, S3, S4 and S5 arranged on the periphery of portable unit 2. It will be
noted that
other control members can be envisaged in order to allow the user to interact
with the
data processed or stored in portable unit 2. In particular, it will be noted
that portable
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unit 2 may also or alternatively be provided with acoustic means enabling for
example
a user to execute actions via speech. The notion of "interface means" thus
includes
any type of control means or members offering possibilities of interaction
between a
user and a portable unit 2.
Computer terminal 1 may be any type of computer device capable of executing
computer programs, such as a personal computer, as is for example illustrated
in
Figure 2. It will be noted that "computer terminal" also means a computer
device
dedicated to executing specific computer programs, such as for example a play-
station essentially dedicated to playing games.
In the example of Figure 2, computer terminal 1 is for example a multimedia
personal computer provided with display means 12, such as a monitor, and
interface
means 14, 15 and 16 including in particular a keyboard 14, a peripheral
control unit
15, such as a mouse, and a microphone 16.
According to the present invention, portable unit 2 and computer terminal 1 of
the system are each fitted with data transmission and receiving means, not
shown in
Figure 2, in order to assure data transfer, and in particular transfer of
evolving
parameter 155, from computer terminal 1 to portable unit 2, as is schematised
by
arrow A in Figure 2, respectively from portable unit 2 to computer terminal 1,
as is
schematised by arrow B.
These transmitting and receiving means are thus preferably bi-directional
communication means. In particular, these transmitting and receiving means are
preferably wireless communication means, such as radio, inductive, optical, or
acoustic communication means, allowing greater mobility and ease of use of the
portable unit and the computer terminal. The present description will not
enter into
details as to the particular embodiment of these transmitting and receiving
means,
those skilled in the art being perfectly able to choose the most suitable
solution
answering his criteria as to cost, performance and ease of manufacture.
In the system according to the present invention, illustrated in Figure 2, the
main interactive environment (100 in Figure 1) is thus supported by computer
terminal
1, and secondary interactive environment (200 in Figure 1) is supported by
portable
unit 2.
It will be noted that the user thus has broad interface means (keyboard 14,
mouse 15, microphone 16, etc.) for interacting with virtual object 150 in the
main
interactive environment supported by computer terminal 1, and more limited
interface
means (push buttons S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) for interacting with virtual object
150 in the
secondary interactive environment supported by portable unit 2. The user also
has
broad display means (monitor 12) for displaying virtual object 150 in the main
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interactive environment and reduced display means (display 22) for displaying
at least
a part of virtual object 150, namely evolving parameter 155, in the secondary
interactive environment.
Figure 3 shows in more detail, in the form of a block diagram, an example
embodiment of portable unit 2 of the system illustrated in Figure 2. This
portable unit 2
includes in particular a central processing unit or microprocessor 20
controlling the
functions of the portable unit, and an electric power source 21 connected in
particular
to microprocessor 20 as is illustrated in Figure 3. This power source 21 also
powers
other components of the portable unit.
Portable unit 2 further includes, connected to microprocessor 20, display
means 22, such as a liquid crystal display, clock means 23, such as a quartz
oscillator
allowing a clock signal (CLK) to be supplied to microprocessor 20, interface
means 24
responding to action on control members S1 to S5.
Connected to microprocessor 20, portable unit 2 also includes memory means
25 including in particular a RAM memory 251, a ROM memory 252, and a
reprogrammable EEPROM memory 253. Reprogrammable EEPROM memory 253 is
in particular intended for storing the evolving parameter (155 in Figure 1 )
from the
virtual object transmitted, for example, by computer terminal 1.
Portable unit 2 further includes transmitting and receiving means 26 for
transmitting and receiving data, in particular with computer terminal 1 of the
system.
With a view to transmitting data, these transmitting and receiving means
typically
modulate an electric control signal on the basis of data to be transmitted and
convert
this electric control signal into a transmission signal capable of being
transmitted to
the addressee. With a view to receiving data, these transmitting and receiving
means
26 typically convert an incident transmission signal into a modulated electric
signal
and demodulate this electric signal into data capable of being processed by
microprocessor 20 of portable unit 2. As was mentioned hereinbefore, various
transmitting and receiving means fulfilling the aforementioned functions can
be
envisaged by those skilled in the art. In a non-limiting manner the Applicant
was able
to observe that a wireless link via acoustic waves easily allows communication
to be
achieved between portable unit 2 and computer terminal 1.
Figure 4 annexed hereto illustrates how a virtual object is capable of
evolving
in the interactive environment supported by the system according to the
present
invention, such as the system of Figure 2. Figure 4 shows main interactive
environment 100 and secondary interactive environment 200 schematised by two
assemblies. Arrows A and B in Figure 4 respectively show a transfer of
evolving
parameter 155 from main interactive environment 100 to secondary interactive
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environment 200 and a transfer of evolving parameter 155 from secondary
interactive
environment 200 to main interactive environment 100.
A person using the system according to the present invention, thus generates,
or "gives life", firstly, to a virtual object 150 in main interactive
environment 100. This
virtual object 150 is for example created on the computer terminal supporting
main
interactive environment 100 by means of a computer programs. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, which will be presented hereinafter with
reference to Figure 7, the user also has the possibility of downloading a
predetermined virtual object, which is for example accessible on a server
connected to
the computer terminal via a computer network.
Rhombus-shaped unit 41, and all the other units of the same shape in Figure
4, symbolise an interaction of the user with the virtual object. More
specifically, unit 41
symbolises an interaction of the user via the interface means, such as the
keyboard,
the mouse or the microphone (14, 15, 16 in Figure 2) of the computer terminal
supported main interactive environment 100.
As symbolised by arrow A, an evolving parameter 155 representative of virtual
object 150 can be transferred into secondary interactive environment 200. In
this
secondary interactive environment 200, the user can thus interact with the
virtual
object, i.e. evolving parameter 155, via the interface means, such as the
control
members (S1 to S5 in Figure 2) of the portable unit supporting secondary
interactive
environment 200, as is schematised by unit 42.
Evolving parameter 155 may be transferred again to main interactive
environment 100 as is symbolised by arrow B.
In addition to the possibilities of interaction schematised by units 41 and
42,
the user also has, in each interactive environment 100 and 200, according to
one
embodiment of the invention, additional possibilities of interaction,
schematised by
units 41' and 42'. As will be seen subsequently with reference to Figures 5
and 6, unit
42' symbolises interaction of/with another portable unit of the system, unit
41'
symbolises interaction oflwith another computer terminal of the system as will
be
illustrated subsequently with reference to Figure 7.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, schematised in Figure
5, a first 2.1 and another portable unit 2.1' of the system are capable of
exchanging at
least a part of their evolving parameter 155, respectively 155'. The
transmitting and
receiving means (26 in Figure 3) of each portable unit 2.1 and 2.1', in this
embodiment
are thus adapted to transmit at least a part of evolving parameter 155,
respectively
155', from first portable unit 2.1 to the other portable unit 2.1',
respectively from the
other portable unit 2.1' to first portable unit 2.1.
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CA 02395013 2002-05-24
In the system illustrated in Figure 5, a virtual object evolving in the
secondary
interactive environment of a first portable unit, for example portable unit
2.1, is thus
capable of affecting the evolution of a virtual object evolving in the
secondary
interactive environment of another portable unit, for example portable unit
2.1', and,
conversely, a virtual object evolving in the second interactive environment of
the other
portable unit 2.1' is capable of affecting the evolution of a virtual object
evolving in the
secondary interactive environment of first portable unit 2.1.
Preferably, each portable unit is adapted to generate a new evolving
parameter, which depends upon the preceding evolving parameter of this
portable unit
and the evolving parameter part of another unit. Figure 6 thus shows a diagram
illustrating the generation of a new evolving parameter, indicated by the
reference
numeral 155*, from evolving parameters 155 and 155' of two similar portable
units of
the system.
Following an exchange between two similar portable units of the system of
their respective evolving parameter, each portable unit thus has, stored in
its memory
means, its own evolving parameter 155 and the evolving parameter 155'
transmitted
by the other portable unit. These evolving parameters 155 and 155' are each
schematised, in Figure 6, by a binary word of N bits.
The microprocessor (20 in Figure 3) of each portable unit is thus adapted to
effect a mixing operation between at least parts of each evolving parameter
155 and
155' to generate at one of its outputs a new evolving parameter 155*, for
example a
new binary word of N bits.
Preferably, as is schematised in Figure 6, the mixing operation is effected
also
taking account of an additional variable or random parameter, designated 160.
This
additional parameter 160 can for example be provided via the clock means (23
in
Figure 3) of each portable unit. In particular, this additional parameter 160
can for
example be the time of a watch forming the portable unit.
Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a system according to the present
invention constituting an evolution of the interactive system described
hereinbefore.
Figure 7 shows a diagram of a system comprising several portable units, 2.1 to
2.3
and 2.1', and several computer terminals, 1.1 to 1.3. Each portable unit and
each
computer terminal is similar to the portable unit and computer terminal of
Figure 2. It
will be understood that there is a different user, not shown, for each
portable unit.
The system according to Figure 7 has the peculiarity that the computer
terminals 1.1 to 1.3 are connected or capable of being connected to each other
on a
computer network, schematised by the connecting lines designated 30. This
computer
network 30 is either a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or
a
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' CA 02395013 2002-05-24
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combination of these two types of network. It will be noted that the
connecting lines
schematising computer network 30 cover both a network formed of physical lines
as
well as a wireless network. The term "computer network" thus covers, in the
present
description, any type of system in which at least two computer terminals are
communicating with each other.
Parallel to computer terminals 1.1 to 1.3, the system further includes a
server
5, connected to the computer network 30, which houses applications and data
that a
user is capable of downloading from one or the other of computer terminals 1.1
to 1.3.
This server 5 is further capable of receiving data emanating from computer
terminals
1.1 to 1.3. Server 5 may for example house different types of predetermined
virtual
objects that the user can download on his computer terminal and can cause to
evolve
in his own interactive environment.
By means of the system according to Figure 7, it will be understood that
multiple interactive environments are thus interconnected. In this system, a
virtual
object can thus be affected, when it evolves in a main interactive environment
supported by a first computer terminal, for example computer terminal 1.1, by
other
virtual objects or other users acting on another computer terminal, for
example
computer terminal 1.2 or 1.3. Likewise, the virtual object or the user
connected to a
first computer terminal 1.1 can affect the evolution of a virtual object
evolving in the
main environment supported by another computer terminal 1.2 or 1.3 connected
to
this first terminal 1.1 via computer network 30.
Figure 7 also shows a diagram of a first portable unit 2.1 and another
portable
unit 2.1' capable of exchanging data in accordance with what was stated with
reference to Figure 4.
It will be understood that various modifications andlor adaptations can be
made to the embodiments described in the present description without however
departing from the scope of the invention defined by the annexed claims.
