Gesture-Based Skill Search for In-Game Action Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Players face difficulties in learning new or unfamiliar digital games due to complex controller inputs and language barriers, making it hard to find guidance for in-game skills without traditional search methods.

Innovation Solution

A gesture-based search system that maps real-world actions to in-game actions using a server that captures user gestures, identifies the corresponding in-game actions, and provides instructions through a user interface during gameplay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional text-based search methods are used to find in-game skill guidance, then players can obtain information about controller inputs and game mechanics, but players face language barriers and difficulty understanding vocabulary of virtual elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidsearch operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces text-based search with gesture-based search. Instead of requiring players to type text queries and navigate search results, the system captures gesture data from players performing actions and directly matches these gestures to in-game skills and controller inputs. This substitution eliminates language barriers and makes the search process as simple as performing the desired action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the physical gesture performance and uses it as the search query. Players physically perform the gesture they want to learn, and the system captures this gesture data to search for corresponding in-game skills. This copying approach allows the system to understand player intent without requiring textual description or language comprehension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If complex controller input combinations are required to perform in-game actions, then players can execute precise maneuvers, but new or inexperienced players find gameplay difficult and frustrating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput precisionVSAvoidcontroller operation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements immediate feedback by capturing player gestures during gameplay and providing real-time identification of corresponding in-game skills and required controller inputs. Players perform gestures, receive feedback about what skill is being executed and what controls are needed, and can repeat the gesture to learn the correct input combination. This iterative feedback loop helps players master complex controls without frustration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows players to perform gestures before actually executing the in-game action they wish to learn. By capturing and analyzing these preliminary gesture attempts, the system can identify the intended skill and provide guidance on the correct controller inputs before the player commits to the action, reducing trial-and-error frustration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If players pause gameplay to search for skill guidance, then players can obtain information about controls and actions, but gameplay flow is interrupted and learning time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidgameplay interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous gesture-based skill search without pausing gameplay. Players can perform search gestures during active gameplay, and the system processes these gestures to provide skill information while the game continues running. This maintains the continuity of useful action by allowing information seeking to occur alongside gameplay rather than requiring interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4137916B1Gesture-based skill search
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4137916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4137916B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4137916B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A map regarding one or more virtual actions may be stored in memory. The virtual actions may be associated with a set of data associated with performing a corresponding action in a real-world environment. Data regarding a action by a user in the real-world environment may be captured. A current progress level of the user within the virtual environment is identified. The current identified progress level is associated with one or more available virtual actions. The captured data may correspond to an identified one of the available virtual actions based on a match between the captured data and the set of data associated with the identified virtual action as indicated by the map. A search of one or more databases for instructions corresponding to the identified virtual action is initiated.