Dynamic Selection Of Sensitivity Of Tilt Functionality

Abstract

Disclosed is a gaming system having a processing device and a remote input device that is operationally coupled to the processing device. The remote input device may include a motion sensor. The resolution of the motion sensor may be set dynamically from the game software, such that both gross and fine gestures can have the maximum effect. By enabling the game software to assess and control the resolution requirements, and enabling the input device to adjust and respond accordingly, relatively fine gestures, as well as relatively gross gestures, can be discerned and depicted with better accuracy and precision.

1 . A method for use in a computing system, the computing system comprising a processing device and a remote input device, the remote input device being operable over a plurality of sensitivity ranges, the method comprising:
 determining, at the processing device, a desired sensitivity range for the remote input device; and   signaling by the processing device to the remote input device to operate in the desired sensitivity range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system comprises a game playing system, and wherein determining the desired sensitivity range is based at least in part on a current context in an application executing on the game playing system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system comprises a game playing system, and wherein determining the desired sensitivity range is based at least in part on a user profile. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote input device comprises a motion sensor that is operable over a plurality of selectable sensitivity ranges, and wherein signaling by the processing device to the remote input device comprises signaling by the processing device to the remote input device to cause the motion sensor to operate in a sensitivity range selected from the plurality of sensitivity ranges. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote input device comprises a plurality of motion sensors, each said motion sensor being operation in at least one sensitivity range, and wherein signaling by the processing device to the remote input device comprises signaling by the processing device to operate a sensor selected from the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote input device comprises at least one of a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote input device is wirelessly coupled to the processing device. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a context-determining module configured to ascertain a current context in an application executing on a computing device;   a sensitivity-determining module configured to receive information from the context-determining module, and to determine a desired sensitivity range for a remote input device, wherein the remote input device is operationally coupled to provide input to the computing device, and wherein the remote input device is operable over a plurality of sensitivity ranges; and   a communications module configured to communicate information indicative of the desired sensitivity range to the remote input device for use in selecting a sensitivity range for the remote input device.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote input device is wirelessly coupled to the computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the application executing on the computing device is a game-playing application, and the context-determining module is configured to ascertain a current scripted situation within the game playing application. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the context-determining module is configured to ascertain a user profile, and the sensitivity-determining module is configured to determine the desired sensitivity range based at least in part on the user profile. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote input device comprises a physical motion sensor having a plurality of sensitivity ranges, and is configured to respond to communicated information indicative of the desired sensitivity range by operating in the desired sensitivity range. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote input device comprises a plurality of physical motion sensors, each said motion sensor having at least one sensitivity range, and wherein the remote input device is configured to respond to communicated information indicative of the desired sensitivity range by activating at least one of the physical motion sensors, the at least one physical motion sensor being operable in a sensitivity range corresponding to the desired sensitivity range. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the remote input device comprises at least one of a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented game-playing system, comprising:
 a remote input device comprising a physical motion sensor that is operable over a plurality of sensitivity ranges; and   a processing device that ascertains a current scripted situation within a game playing application executing on the processing device, determines a desired sensitivity range for the remote input device based at least in part on the current scripted situation, and communicates information indicative of the desired sensitivity range to the remote input device,   wherein the remote input device receives from the processing device the communicated information indicative of the desired sensitivity range, and responds to receiving the communicated information by causing the physical motion sensor to operate in the desired sensitivity range.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processing device determines the desired sensitivity range based at least in part on a user profile. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the physical motion sensor is operable over a plurality of selectable sensitivity ranges, and wherein the remote input device responds to receiving the communicated information by causing the physical motion sensor to operate in a selected one of the plurality of sensitivity ranges. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the remote input device comprises a plurality of physical motion sensors, each said physical motion sensor operable in at least one respective sensitivity range, and wherein the remote input device responds to receiving the communicated information by causing a selected one of the plurality of physical motion sensors to operate in the desired sensitivity range. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the physical motion sensor includes at least one of a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the remote input device is wirelessly coupled to the computing device.