Interactive augmented reality using a self-propelled device

Abstract

A method is disclosed for operating a mobile computing device. The method may include a communication link between the mobile computing device and a second computing device. The second computing device may provide a virtual environment for the mobile computing device. Furthermore, the mobile computing device may allow a user to control a self-propelled device, which may be rendered as a virtual entity upon the virtual environment.

1 . A method for operating a self-propelled device, the method comprising:
 controlling movement of the self-propelled device in a real-world environment;   interfacing with a second computing device that provides a virtual environment in order to cause the second computing device to render a virtual entity upon the virtual environment, the virtual entity corresponding to the self-propelled device moving in the real-world environment; and   displaying, from interfacing with the second computing device, the virtual environment on the mobile computing device through the second computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting an event relating to the self-propelled device in the real-world environment;   determining a virtual event based on the detected event; and   incorporating the virtual event into the virtual environment.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing saved data associated with the virtual environment stored on the second computing device, the saved data corresponding to previous interactions within the virtual environment; and   conveying the saved data to the mobile computing device, and congruently linking the previous interactions within the virtual environment to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the previous interactions and the current controlling of the self-propelled device correspond to gameplay within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the gameplay is associated with one or more of a minigame, emergent gameplay, or a mobile game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual environment displayed on the mobile computing device is linked to a display of the virtual environment through the second computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual environment corresponds to augmented reality. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is one or more of a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein interfacing with the second computing device is performed by the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of interfacing is performed by the second computing device. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a self-propelled device; and   a mobile computing device operatively linked to the self-propelled device, the mobile computing device configured to interface with a second computing device, the second computing device providing a virtual environment to be displayed upon the mobile computing device;   wherein the self-propelled device correlates to an entity rendered upon the virtual environment.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an event associated with the self-propelled device is augmented and incorporated as a virtual event in the virtual environment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile computing device is configured to access saved data associated with the virtual environment stored on the second computing device, the saved data corresponding to previous interactions within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the previous interactions within the virtual environment are congruently linked to current interactions by a user operating the self-propelled device via the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the previous interactions and the current interactions correspond to gameplay within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gameplay is associated with one or more of a minigame, emergent gameplay, or a mobile game. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual environment corresponds to augmented reality. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile computing device is one or more of a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile computing device performs one or more operations that enable the mobile computing device to interface with the second computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second computing device performs one or more operations to interface with the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)