Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LINE RIDER
Field of The Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of electronic arts. More
specifically, the
present invention relates to an online and/or downloadable entertainment
electronic art with
game like characteristics.
Background of The Invention
The common game has been around for centuries. Typically, a game is a
structured
activity that may be utilized for both entertainment and education. Typically,
games are very
different than work activities, as they add the element of enjoyment, pleasure
and spontaneity
that otherwise most work environments lack.
Many games may be considered more than just a form of entertainment. There are
many
games that may be considered work and even artistic expressions. Typically,
games involve some
sort of mental and/or physical stimulation. Throughout the centuries, games
have been utilized
for exercise, recreation, education and simple leisure activities.
Games have been documented in many pre-historic civilizations and have been
known to
have been played by ancient civilizations such as the Ancient Babylonians,
Egyptians and
Greeks. The Greeks were famous for their games including the creation of the
Olympic games.
Games are a universal part of the human experience, and are played by all
cultures, genders and
ages.
Games have evolved throughout the ages to include field games, such as sports,
board
games, card games, role playing games, and a host of others.
A new type of game has developed quickly in the last thirty years. This new
type of game
has involved the use of electronic media to engage the user. The computer game
and/or video
game is an electronic or microprocessor controlled game. Computers and/or
other electronic
media can create virtual tools that may be utilized to play the game, such as
the games involving
cards, or the games that historically required a physical board.
The prior art computer and/or video game utilizes one or more input devices,
such as a
button, a combination of buttons, remote or joystick. Additionally, the prior
art computer and/or
video game may utilize a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, controller or any
other motion sensitive
tool. The use of more sophisticated and more complex user interfaces in these
computers and/or
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video games have changed the nature of the game development and utilization.
As the user
interfaces became easier to use and more sophisticated, the more complex and
more intricate the
gaming systems became. Additionally, the increased sophistication presented to
the user of the
game has increased pleasure and involvement. Moreover, as the video and/or
computer game
became more sophisticated, the realism and believability of the games also
became more
sophisticated, whereby the user became more involved in the game because of
its realism. This
realism has increased in recent years and has become more and more prevalent
in video and/or
computer game technology.
Essentially, any existing game can be emulated or re-created as a computer
game.
Because many computer games are essentially just simulations of real existing
games, every
conceivable tool, environment or rule can be re-created in computerized
format. Whether or not
the computer emulation possesses the same gameplay as the original game has
become a debate
for many.
In more open-ended computer simulations, the player may be free to do whatever
they
like within the confines of the virtual universe. An example of this type of
creative freedom
within a virtual universe are games that allow for creation of cities, towns,
and other
environments.
However, a problem with many of these new computer simulations and games that
allow
for the creation of a virtual universe is that they may be too sophisticated
and the computer may
still control a great deal of the movement and simulation. The reality is
still debatable and many
gamers believe that "the computer is cheating."
Additionally, another problem that exists is that the parameters for the games
are often
times dictated by the confines of the program itself and not dependent on
input by the user.
Often, the set parameters of the game can diminish the realism and
believability of the outcome
of the game because of the pre-set confines of the program.
Accordingly, a need therefore still exists for an improved electronic tool
that may be
executed with the help of an electronic media such as a computer.
Moreover, a need therefore exists for an improved electronic tool that allows
the user to
set the parameters using a free hand drawing tool that is displayed on a
monitor and allows for
movement of a moving object along the parameters set by the user.
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Further, a need therefore still exists for an improved electronic creative
tool that allows
the user to set the parameters for the creative tool and allows for display of
the parameters such
as zoom and pan operations.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system that may be utilized for
entertainment by a
user/author. The present invention utilizes an electronic media to allow a
user to draw one or
more lines with a user interface on which a moving object such as a sled may
ride after the
completion of the drawing and/or track by the author. The creative tool and
system utilizes a
computer program that may allow the user to input a set of parameters using a
free hand drawing
tool that is then graphically displayed to the user after the parameters are
set. Additionally, the
present invention utilizes the parameters input by the author/user and thereby
associates velocity
and trajectory from the moving object along the graphical representation
whereby the moving
object is central on the graphical display and will continue on the set
parameters input by the
author until interrupted or because normal velocity and trajectory dictate
deviation from the
user's parameters.
To this end, in an exemplary embodiment the present invention, a method of
facilitating
playing an electronic amusement system, the method comprising: providing to a
user a code that
is suitable for execution on a computer, wherein the code is programmed to
acquire from the user
a first set of parameters using a free-hand drawing tool that is displayed on
a monitor; display a
graphic representation of the first set of parameters to the user; apply the
first set of parameters to
at least one predefined rule to thereby calculate velocity and trajectory for
an object moving
along the graphic representation; and display the object on the monitor as a
moving object,
wherein movement is representative of the calculated velocity and trajectory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: wherein the first set of parameters
comprise a plurality
of xly-coordinates.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: wherein the first set of parameters
comprise a plurality
of vectors.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: wherein the free-hand drawing tool is
selected from the
group consisting of a pencil, and a polygon.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: wherein the graphic representation is
a line generated by
movement of the free-hand drawing tool on the monitor.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: wherein the predefined rule is based
on at least one
ballistic flight equation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: the object is defined by at least one
predetermined
physical parameter.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: applying the first set of parameters
to at least one
predefined rule to thereby calculate velocity and trajectory for another
object moving along the
graphic representation, and displaying the other object on the monitor as
another moving object,
wherein movement is representative of the calculated velocity and trajectory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: displaying the object on the monitor
comprises at least
one of a zoom operation and a pan operation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: at least one of the zoom operation
and the pan operation
are calculated such that the object remains substantially centered in the
monitor.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: providing the code comprises a
download to a
networked computer, a download to a handheld device, or an upload from a data
carrier.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: the code is programmed to be executed
as an
independent application or an applet.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the method of facilitating playing an electronic
amusement
system comprises the additional step of: the code is programmed to allow
saving of at least one
of the first set of parameters, the graphic representation of the first set of
parameters; calculating
velocity and trajectory of the object, and the displaying of the object as a
moving object.
5 To this end, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method
of
entertaining is provided. The method comprises the steps of: prompting a user
to use a free-hand
drawing tool on a computer monitor to draw a free-hand line on the computer
monitor;
associating at least one of a plurality of coordinates and functions with the
free-hand line;
applying at least one of the extracted coordinates and functions to at least
one ballistic equation
to thereby calculate velocity and trajectory for an object moving along the
free-hand line; and
displaying the object on the computer monitor in movement, wherein the
movement is based on
the calculated velocity and trajectory.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the step of:
associating is performed as the user draws the free-hand line.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the
additional step
of: wherein the least one of the extracted coordinates and functions are
applied to the ballistic
equation such that the free-hand line represents zero altitude relative to the
object.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the
additional step
of: wherein the step of displaying comprises at least one of a zoom operation
and a pan
operation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the
additional step
of: at least one of the zoom operation and the pan operation are calculated
such that the object
remains substantially centered in the monitor.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the
additional step
of: using at least one of a wireless network, a cable network, a telephony
network, and a solid
phase data carrier.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method of entertainment comprises the
additional step
of: allowing the user to save at least one of the plurality of coordinates and
functions, the free-
hand line, calculating velocity and trajectory of the object, and the
displaying of the object in
movement.
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To this end, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method and
system
relating to electronic amusement is provided.
In another exemplary embodiment, an electronic creative tool is provided. The
electronic
creative tool may be utilized for entertainment purposes.
Another exemplary embodiment is an electronic amusement system wherein the
electronic amusement system allows for the user to set up the parameters of
the creative tool.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
amusement system wherein the electronic amusement system allows for graphical
representation
of a user input.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
entertainment system wherein the entertainment system allows a user to set
parameters by which
a moving object may travel.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
entertainment system
wherein the entertainment system may allow a user to utilize a drawing tool to
draw a linear
progression by which a moving object utilizes to travel thereon.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
entertainment system whereby the system may allow for graphical representation
of a user's
input.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
entertainment system whereby the system may utilize a computer.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
entertainment system whereby the system may utilize a computer and monitor.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
amusement
system whereby the amusement system would allow for utilization of a free-hand
drawing tool
within the system by a user. The user may be able to free-hand draw a linear
representation that
may be graphically represented to the user and upon commencement of the moving
portion of the
system, a moving object may travel along the linear representation drawn by
the user.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby a user may draw one or more lines with a computer mouse
on which a
small character may ride after completion of the drawing/track.
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Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby a user may draw a plurality of lines in the creative
tool and fiu-ther wherein
a small character having a sled may ride upon the plurality of lines.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electronic
creative
tool whereby a user may draw a line or plurality of lines whereby a small
character may ride upon
the line when the user presses a play button contained within the electronic
creative tool.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may allow the user to draw lines, draw
a plurality of lines
and/or alter the lines previously drawn.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool allows the user to stop the creative
tool at any point after a
small character is allowed to proceed along the user drawn lines.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may allow the user to zoom and pan to
portions of the
lines which the user may wish to alter or view.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may have an eraser portion to erase
lines previously drawn
by the user.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may provide the user with a small
character which
proceeds along the lines using naturally occurring velocities and
trajectories.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may provide the user with a small
character that may
proceed along the drawn lines whereby the small character may be a sled.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may provide the user with a small
character that may
proceed along the drawn lines whereby the small character may be a bicycle.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may provide the user with a small
character that may
proceed along the drawn lines whereby the small character may be on skis,
boards, skates, cars,
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motorcycles, and/or any other object that may be utilized by the character to
proceed along the
drawn lines of the electronic creative tool.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool allows the user to have a small
character that may perform
stunts.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool allows the user to create
sophisticated tracks, stunts, loops
and more.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool that may allow the user to provide scenery and other non
functional aspects to the
creative tool.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic toy
whereby the toy has no goal or objective other than general entertainment.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool that may allow the user to save and share their creative tool
with other users.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool that may allow for multiple users to utilize the same creative
tool.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the author of a creative tool may upload their drawing
such that other users
and/or other authors may view the creative tool and/or may utilize the
creative tool and add
additional track/drawings to the existing creative tool.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the drawn tracks may be shared with other users that may
download the
tracks and complete or add to them.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the creative tool may have a pen feature which may act
as a drawing tool.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a line tool
whereby the line tool may
allow for creation of computer aided straight lines.
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Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a line tool
whereby the line tool may
allow for creation of planar lines in the absence of free hand drawn lines.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an electronic
creative tool
may be provided whereby the electronic creative tool may allow the user to
utilize a plurality of
different colors when drawing lines and/or tracks.
Still a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may allow the user to
utilize a plurality of
different colors to draw lines in the creative tool whereby each different
color line may have a
different function including acceleration lines, scenery lines, and regular
lines but may also
include a plurality of different functions including slowing lines, hyper
lines wherein the hyper
lines are lines allowing the character to accelerate at a faster rate, among
others.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool wherein the electronic creative tool may have an eraser
component to erase earlier
drawn lines by the user.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a magnifying
portion wherein a user
may zoom in and pan out of the drawings they have made within the creative
tool whereby it may
allow the user to achieve more detail both when drawing and when the play
button is utilized and
the user is following the moving character.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a hand feature
which allows the user
to grab parts of the graphical representation and move it around on the
screen.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a play feature
which starts the small
character along the drawn lines and/or track.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a stop feature
whereby after the small
character begins along the track and/or drawn lines, the user may stop the
small character from
proceeding further and may make subsequent changes to the track.
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Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may also have a flag
feature whereby when the
flag feature is engaged, a flap may be placed where the small character was at
the time. This flag
feature may allow the user to start he small character at this flag site in
subsequent starts of the
5 creative tool.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a save feature
which allows the user
to save the particular creative tool play and/or track for subsequent use,
editing and/or allows the
user to upload the particular creative tool play/track for others to view and
edit.
10 Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a trash feature
which may allow the
user to delete the entire drawing/track and restart with an entirely new
track.
Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a target feature
whereby the target
marks a location on the track where the small character should begin.
Additionally, the target
feature may be moved from location to location on the track such that the
small character start
point may be moved and altered by the user.
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide an
electronic
creative tool whereby the electronic creative tool may have a help feature
which when accessed
by the user may allow the user to read instructions on how to utilize the
program and the uses for
each of the other features relating to the creative tool.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention
will become
more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments
of the
invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals
represent like
components.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described
herein, and will
be apparent from the detailed description of the presently preferred
embodiments and from the
drawings.
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Brief Description of The Drawin~
Figure 1 is a screen shot of the creative tool in an exemplary embodiment of
the present
invention;
Figure 2 is another screen shot of the creative tool illustrating the moving
character in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a screen shot of the moving character in an exemplary embodiment
of the
present invention;
Figure 4 is a screen shot of the key symbols in an exemplary embodiment of the
present
invention;
Figure 5 is an example of a track in an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 6 is an example of a track with the moving character in an exemplary
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 7 is an example of a hand drawn track illustrating background scenery
in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is another example of a drawn track with various background scenery
in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is another example of a drawn track with various background scenery
in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 10 is another example of a drawn track with various background scenery
in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
Turning now to the drawings wherein elements are identified by numbers and
like
elements are identified by like numbers throughout the 10 figures, the
invention is depicted in
Figure 1 and illustrates a basic screen shot 1 that may be utilized by an
individual author and/or
user 3. The screen shot 1 may be displayed on a display means 5 such as a
computer monitor (not
shown). Additionally, the creative tool may be of the electronic nature
whereby a computer
program 8 is utilized with pre-set parameters to allow a user 3 and/or author
to participate in the
creative tool 9.
Referring first to Figure 1, a screen shot 1 of the creative tool 9 is
provided. The creative
tool 9 may be a flash game that allows a user 3 to draw a line 11 by utilizing
a user input means
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13. In an exemplary embodiment, the user input means 13 may be a mouse (not
shown). It should
be understood however, that any input means 13 may be utilized by the user 3
to draw a line 11
in the creative tool 9. The creative tool 9 may be more fittingly thought of
as an entertaining toy
as most games have a goal to accomplish while the present invention does not
have such a goal.
The creative tool 9 or entertaining toy may utilize simulated physics such
naturally occurring as
gravity, trajectory and velocity incorporated into the parameters of the
creative tool 9.
As further illustrated in Figure 1, the creative tool 9 may have a plurality
of different
options 15 for the user 3 to utilize before and after playing the creative
tool 9. In an embodiment,
the user 3 may select the play option 19 to begin drawing within the display
means 18 by
utilizing a game key 21. The play option 19 may be selected at any point by
the user 3 to begin
drafting a new creative tool 9. Figure 1 further illustrates a movie option
23. The movie option
23 may allow the user 3 to access, download and edit other user 3 completed
and/or uncompleted
creative tools 9. Additionally, in another exemplary embodiment, the creative
tool 9 may have a
news option 25 thereby allowing news, content and other information relating
to the creative tool
9 or upgrades to be viewed, downloaded or otherwise selected by the user 3. In
yet a further
exemplary embodiment, a contest option 27 may be provided whereby certain
contests or
competitions may be held to determine the best creative tool 9 simulation to
be created by any
user 3. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, an about option 29 may be
utilized by the user 3
to explain how to play the creative tool 9 and other additional features and
aspects of the creative
tool 9. Further, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a forum
option 31 may be
provided whereby the forum option 31 may allow different users 3 to
communicate information
to each other. Additionally, the forum option 31 may also allow different
users 3 to share
information, compare creative tool 9 simulations and a host of other
information that my be
communicated from one user 3 to another.
Also illustrated in Figure 1 is a line 33 that may be drawn by the user 3
whereby when the
play button 41 is engaged, the small moving character 45 may follow the
trajectory of the line 33
till its completion or until the trajectory and velocity of the small moving
character 45 causes
deviation from the line 33. Figure 1 also illustrates the flag feature 51. The
flag feature 51 may
allow the user 3 to insert a flag 55 into the drawn line 33 to any point that
the user 3 may wish to
utilize. The flag feature 51 allows for the small moving character 45 to be
placed at a specific
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point 32 on the line 33 for commencement of the creative tool. The flag
feature may also be
utilized to allow the user 3 to fix portions of the line 33 that are incorrect
or lead to deviation of
the small character 45 away from the parameters desired by the user 3.
Figure 1 and Figure 4 also illustrate a key portion 57 shown in the top
portion 59 of the
screen shot 1. The key portion 57 may have a plurality of different usable
options that the user 3
may utilize while manipulating the creative tool 9. As seen on many of the
accompanying
figures, the key portion 57 typically will include a pencil option 61, a line
option 63, an eraser
option 65, a magnifying option 67, a hand option 69, a play button 41, a stop
button 71, a flag
button 73, a save button 75, a garbage button 77, a first line color button
79, second line color
button 81 and a third line color button 83.
The pencil option 61 allows the user 3 to select the option of hand drawing
lines 33 on
the graphical display and manually manipulate the creative tool 9 by selecting
and drawing hand
drawn lines 33. Because some individual users 3 may have difficulty drawing
straight lines 33 at
times, the creative tool 9 may provide the option of using a line option 63.
The line option 63
may allow the user 3 to select the use of straight, computer aided line 34
whereby the user 3 may
be able to manipulate the lines 34 to provide substantially straight lines for
the small moving
character 45 to travel on. In another exemplary embodiment, the creative tool
9 may also utilize
an eraser option 65 is whereby the user 3 may utilize an eraser 66 during play
to erase portions of
the lines 33 and/or correct problem areas in the lines 33 prior to starting
the small moving
character 45 thereon. Additionally, the eraser option 65 may allow the user 3
to correct, and/or
add additional elements and characteristics such as those shown in Figures 5
and 6.
The magnifying option 67 may be utilized by the author/user 3 to magnify a
portion of the
line 33 to correct, alter or otherwise draw a line 33 in the creative tool 9.
The magnifying option
67 may allow the user 3 properly draft better quality lines 33 or in some way
alter the lines 33 to
facilitate the movement of the small moving character 45 along a pre-
determined planned
trajectory.
The hand option 69 servers a similar purpose but allows the user 3 to move the
screen
shot 1 from a first portion 70 of the screen to a second portion 72 of the
screen 74. The user 3
may manually manipulate the screen 74 to continue the lines 33 drawn off the
screen 74 into
another portion of the screen 74. This hand option 69 also allows for almost
unlimited expansion
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and customization of lines as the user 3 may use the hand option 69 to move
from one portion of
the line 33 to another portion.
The play button 41 may be utilized by the user 3 after the user 3 has
completed a portion
of the line 33 that he/she has drawn. It is only after the play button 41 has
been pressed that the
small moving character 45 may begin its movement along the drawn lines 33, 34.
The play
button 41 may also be utilized whereby a flag 55 has been planted subsequently
and the small
moving character 45 may start from the flag 55 location instead of the
beginning of the line 33
drawn by the user 3. Similarly, the stop button 71 may allow the user 3 to
stop the creative tool 9
at any point during play which also may stop the small moving character 45
from further
movement, such that the user 3 may start the creative tool 9 over, make
corrections, erase
portions or make alterations to the lines 33 before continuing with the
creative tool play.
The flag feature 51 may be utilized by selecting the flag button 73. As
explained earlier,
the user 3 may wish to place a flag 55 on a portion of the line 33 for later
alteration, correction or
deletion or may wish to flag 55 a portion of the line 33 to allow the small
moving character 45 to
begin its trajectory from that particular point. The save button 75 may allow
the user 3 to save the
track that they have drawn for editing or completion at a later date. The
garbage button 77 may
allow the user 3 to discard the drawn lines 33 and start the creative tool 9
over.
In an exemplary embodiment, the key portion 57 may also have a first line
color 79, a
second line color 81 and a third line color 83. The line colors 79, 81, and 83
may be any color,
but for illustrative purposes, the colors are blue, red and green. The first
line color 79 may be
blue which may represent a regular line. The second line color 81 may be red
and may represent
acceleration lines whereby the small moving character 45 may move at an
accelerated pace when
moving about the second line color 81. The third line color 83 may be green
and may be non-
functioning lines 33. The green third line color 83 may be utilized for
background and/or scenery
89 as illustrated in Figures 7-10.
Figure 2 illustrates the small moving character 45 traveling along the line 33
in an
embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, as
illustrated in Figures 2
and 3, the small moving character 45 is a cartoon of a human figure 48 on a
sled 50. However, it
should be understood that the small moving character 45 may be any object that
can traverse the
lines such as animals, humans and inanimate objects.
CA 02680795 2009-09-14
WO 2008/112847 PCT/US2008/056777
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a screen shot 1 whereby a plurality of lines 33 may
be
incorporated to form a trajectory for the small moving character 45 as
illustrated in Figure 6.
Figures 7-10 illustrates several screen shots 1 whereby additional features
such as
background and/or scenery 89 may be added to the creative tool 9 to enhance
the aesthetic
5 evaluation of the creative too19. Additionally, as illustrated in Figures 8-
10, the creative too19
may include a pan and zoom option that may allow the user 3 to see a larger
portion of the lines
33 drawn and adjust the lines and/or make alterations/corrections by viewing
the entire drawn
track. Additionally, the pan and zoom option may allow the user 3 to add more
challenging
trajectories to the track prior to releasing the small moving character 45
thereon.
10 Thus, specific embodiments and applications of a safety device system have
been
disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that
many more
modifications besides those already described are possible without departing
from the inventive
concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be
restricted except in the spirit
of the appended claims. The terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be
interpreted as
15 referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner,
indicating that the
referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or
combined with other
elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
