Ambient Effects System Screen Region Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing ambient effects in computer gaming and film environments require direct access to the source code or embedded scripts, limiting their application to media content not originally authored with ambient scripts or code.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that capture screen contents, analyze defined regions to determine content events, and select appropriate effects scripts to render ambient effects using ambient effects devices, allowing for flexible and content-specific ambient environments without direct scripting or access to original code.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct access to source code or embedded scripts is required, then sophisticated and synchronised effects can be achieved, but the system loses adaptability to media content not originally authored with ambient scripts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a screen region analysis system as an intermediary between the media content and the ambient effects generation. This intermediary captures screen contents, analyzes defined regions to determine content events, and selects appropriate effects scripts without requiring direct access to the original source code. The analysis engine acts as a mediator that translates visual screen elements into actionable events for ambient effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the screen contents by capturing the display output and analyzing the captured image data. Instead of accessing the original code, the system works with a visual representation (copy) of the screen, extracting information about objects, colors, and positions from the captured image to trigger appropriate ambient effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ambient effects scripts are embedded in the virtual game world, then synchronised effects occur at particular points or events, but the system cannot be applied to existing games or films without code access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional code-based event triggering mechanism with a visual analysis mechanism. Instead of relying on programmed events in the source code, the system uses computer vision techniques to detect and analyze visual elements on the screen, substituting the mechanical code-execution model with an optical/visual recognition model that can work with any media content.
3Adaptability or versatility
If screen contents are captured and analyzed in real-time, then flexible and content-specific ambient effects can be provided, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the screen into multiple defined regions and analyzes each region independently for specific content events. By segmenting the screen into manageable areas (such as character regions, background regions, UI elements), the analysis process becomes more efficient and can identify relevant events without processing the entire screen at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-defines the regions of interest on the screen before analysis begins. By preparing the region definitions and analysis parameters in advance, the real-time processing requires only simple pattern matching against these pre-established criteria, significantly reducing computational overhead during actual media playback.
Data Source
AI summary
An ambient effects system and method of operation is described in which regions (30, 38) of a game or movie screen (10) are analyzed (32, 40). The result of the analysis is then processed using logical, heuristic, or a combination of both techniques to determine a content related event. An ambient effects script (34, 36, 48) is then selected (if pre-authored) or generated (if not pre-authored) on the basis of the determination, and provided to the system to render appropriate ambient effects throughout the users environment. Hence, immersive, ambient effects are enabled for media or game content created independently of, and without, the ambient effects system in mind.