Generating an animation depicting a user using motion and physiological data captured using sensors

Abstract

A system that wirelessly integrates actual sports equipment with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive simulated sports game.

1 . A system for depicting user motion detected, obtaining at a first device on a second device, the first device, comprising:
 a contact sensor, to detect the user motion and generate motion data responsive to a contact event;   a processor;   a communication interface for coupling to a wireless link; and   at least one member selected from a group comprising:   a camera,   a global position system (GPS) sensor,   an infrared marker,   a light emitting diode,   an accelerometer, and   a gyroscope;   wherein the communication interface transmits the motion data wirelessly from the first device to the second device via the wireless communication link, and generating at the second device, rendered graphics from the motion data depicting the physical motion of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the image data from the second device to a display that is configured to display the visual depiction of the user.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual depiction comprises a wire-frame model of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising rendering an image of the user from the wire-frame model. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion data comprises animation data. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one part of the motion data is captured by the camera in conjunction with the infrared marker. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the infrared marker is configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating angular relationship data, using the motion data, and generating an animation using the motion data and the angular relationship data.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 capturing orientation data using the gyroscope, wirelessly transmitting the orientation data to the second device, analyzing the orientation data, and generating an animation using the orientation data.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform steps comprising:
 capturing motion data associated with a physical movement of a user;   wirelessly transmitting the motion data to a remote device; and   generating image data from the motion data at the remote device, the image data corresponding to a visual depiction of the user based on the motion data,   wherein the motion data is captured using at least one member selected from a group comprising:   a camera,   a global position system (GPS) sensor,   a light emitting diode,   an accelerometer, and   a gyroscope.   
     
     
         11 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein the image data comprises animation data. 
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein at least part of the motion data is captured by the camera in conjunction with the infrared marker. 
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein the infrared marker is configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise the steps of:
 calculating angular relationship data from the motion data; and   generating an animation using the motion data and the angular relationship data.   
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instruction further comprises the steps of;
 capturing orientation data using the gyroscope, wirelessly transmitting the orientation data to the second device, analyzing the orientation data, and generating animation using the orientation data.   
     
     
         16 . A computer implemented method of obtaining physiology information at a first device for display at a second device, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining physiological data associated with a user with a first device comprising an electrocardiogram sensor, configured to capture heart rate data and or a piezo electric respiration sensor, configured to capture respiration data, wirelessly transmitting the physiological data from the first device to the second device, and   generating, at the second device, a first set of graphical data using the physiological data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 capturing motion data using at least one selected from the group consisting of:   a camera device,   an infrared marker,   an accelerometer,   a gyroscope,   a global positioning sensor, and   a light emitting diode,   wirelessly transmitting the motion data to the second device, and   generating at the second device a second set of graphical data using the motion data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 displaying the first and second set of graphical data at the second device as a visual depiction of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer is configured to derive spatial acceleration motion data based on stimulation to the accelerometer and transmit the spatial acceleration motion data to the second device, the acceleration motion data relating to a spatial acceleration of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication link comprises a radio frequency transmitter and or receiver.