System and method for using image analysis of user interface signals for program control

Abstract

Advantage is taken of the fact that as a player becomes uncomfortable, visually observable aspects of the player's physiological state, such as the frequency of eye blinks, may change. By analyzing such changes and / or other image changes, as obtained from signals generated by an input device, the system is able to determine changes in a player's comfort level and change the game accordingly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is related to concurrently filed, co-pending, and commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, Attorney Docket No. 70051558-01, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING WAVELET ANALYSIS OF A USER INTERFACE SIGNAL FOR PROGRAM CONTROL,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to interactive computer systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methods for using image analysis of a user interface signal to control a program.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Electronic games using computers, game consoles or hand held consoles typically employ an input device, a processor, and a visual display. The input device can be a mouse, joystick or other form of controller which allow the player to input responses into the processor. The processor can be a part of a computer system or it can be a dedicated game system, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantage of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

However, when user skill levels must be set before a game is started there is not a convenient way in which the user can adjust the skill level short of restarting the game.

Often, the user does not even know that the skill level is wrong for that user.

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