Abstract: Management of user-generated game play advice is disclosed. The present invention allows for management of game play advice that is complete and up-to-date regardless of when a particular interactive gaming title is released. Game play advice is pervasive and easily accessible to game players in addition to being accurate and credible such that game players can trust or rely upon the rendered advice.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for acquiring information relating to at least one of a position and a rotation of a user's head wearing a head-mounted display; generating an image for the head-mounted display using information relating to at least one of a position and a rotation acquired at a certain point of time; and a correcting process includes receiving updated information relating to at least one of a position and a rotation at a different point of time and correcting the image generated using the updated information. The generating the image includes using the information relating to at least one of the position and the rotation in a first frequency; and the correcting includes receiving updated information relating to at least one of a position and a rotation in a second frequency corresponding to a frame rate of the head-mounted display.

Abstract: A position and rotation information acquisition unit 730 acquires information relating to a position and a rotation of the head of a user who wears a head-mounted display unit 100. A coordinate transformation unit 740 and a panorama image processing unit 750 generate an image to be displayed on the head-mounted display unit using the information relating to the position and the rotation acquired at a certain point of time by the position and rotation information acquisition unit 730. A correction processing unit 780 corrects the generated image using updated information relating to the position and the rotation at a different point of time.

Abstract: A position and rotation information acquisition unit 730 acquires information relating to a position and a rotation of the head of a user who wears a head-mounted display unit 100. A coordinate transformation unit 740 and a panorama image processing unit 750 generate an image to be displayed on the head-mounted display unit using the information relating to the position and the rotation acquired at a certain point of time by the position and rotation information acquisition unit 730. A correction processing unit 780 corrects the generated image using updated information relating to the position and the rotation at a different point of time.

Abstract: A method for interfacing with an interactive program is provided. The method includes: capturing images of first and second pages of a book object, the first and second pages being joined along a fold axis defined along a spine of the book; analyzing the captured images to identify a first tag on the first page and a second tag on the second page; tracking movement of the first and second pages by tracking the first and second tags, respectively; generating augmented images by replacing, in the captured images, the book object with a virtual book, the virtual book having a first virtual page corresponding to the first page of the book object, the virtual book having a second virtual page corresponding to the second page of the book object; rendering first and second scenes on the first and second virtual pages, respectively; and presenting the augmented images on a display.

Abstract: Management of user-generated and context appropriate game play advice is disclosed. The present invention allows for management of context appropriate game play advice that is complete and up-to-date regardless of when a particular interactive gaming title is released. Game play advice is pervasive and easily accessible to game players in addition to being accurate and credible such that game players can trust or rely upon the rendered advice. The game play advice is displayed in environmental contexts that are appropriate to the advice being displayed.

Abstract: A system for initiating and using a three-dimensional object as a controlling device when interfacing with a computer system used for interactive video game play is provided. One example system includes an interface for receiving data from a capturing device of a three-dimensional space and storage coupled with computer system. The computer system provides data to a screen and receiving user input to obtain geometric parameters of the three-dimensional object and assign actions to be performed with the three-dimensional object when moved or placed in positions in front of the capture device during interactive video game play. The geometric parameters and the assigned actions being saved to a database on the storage for access during interactive video game play or future interactive sessions.

Abstract: A method for interfacing with an interactive program is provided. The method includes: capturing images of first and second pages of a book object, the first and second pages being joined along a fold axis defined along a spine of the book; analyzing the captured images to identify a first tag on the first page and a second tag on the second page; tracking movement of the first and second pages by tracking the first and second tags, respectively; generating augmented images by replacing, in the captured images, the book object with a virtual book, the virtual book having a first virtual page corresponding to the first page of the book object, the virtual book having a second virtual page corresponding to the second page of the book object; rendering first and second scenes on the first and second virtual pages, respectively; and presenting the augmented images on a display.

Abstract: Data decompression apparatus is disclosed which is arranged to act on compressed data comprising: an ordered stream of references to groups of previously decoded data items; an ordered stream of direct representations of data items to be decoded; and an ordered stream of flags indicating whether each successive decompression operation should act on a reference or a direct representation. The apparatus comprises an output memory area; a detector to detect the number n of consecutive flags indicating that a decompression operation should act on a direct representation; and a data copier for copying to the output memory area either a next referenced group of previously decoded data or a group of n consecutive direct representations from the ordered stream of direct representations.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus arranged to receive successive images from a video camera comprises means for detecting the average image luminance of images received from the video camera; means for detecting whether the average image luminance is lower than a threshold luminance value; and means for initiating a control function of the data processing apparatus in response to detection of an average image luminance which is lower than the threshold luminance value over at least a threshold number of successive images.

Abstract: A method of transferring a preview version of material from a first entertainment apparatus to a second entertainment apparatus is disclosed. In said first entertainment apparatus, said method comprises the steps of: extracting said preview material from a package containing both a full version of the material and said preview version of the material, said preview version being an illustration of said full version of the material; and uploading at least part of said preview material to said second apparatus over a network.

Abstract: Game processing apparatus comprising: an indication generator operable to generate an indication of a sequence of target actions to be executed by a user; a detector operable to detect user actions executed by said user; comparison logic operable to compare said target actions with said user actions to determine whether said target actions have been successfully completed by said user actions; and scoring logic operable, when in a non-scoring mode, to detect a first pattern of target actions that have been successfully completed with respect to target actions that have not been successfully completed, as determined by said comparison logic, said scoring logic entering a scoring mode upon detection of said first pattern, said scoring logic operable, when in said scoring mode, to detect a second pattern of target actions that have been successfully completed with respect to target actions that have not been successfully completed, as determined by said comparison logic, said scoring logic entering said non-s

Abstract: A method of rewarding an end-user of a product. The method comprises supplying, in association with the product, an augmented reality marker for use with an augmented reality application. The augmented reality marker is provided as a free promotional supplement to the product.

Abstract: An entertainment device for combining virtual images with real images captured by a video camera so as to generate augmented reality images. The device comprises receiving means operable to receive a sequence of video images from the video camera via a communications link. The device further comprises detecting means operable to detect an augmented reality marker within the received video images, and processing means operable to generate a virtual image plane in dependence upon the detection of the augmented reality marker by the detecting means. The virtual image plane is arranged to be substantially coplanar with a real surface upon which the augmented reality marker is placed so that virtual images may be generated with respect to the real surface.

Abstract: An entertainment device includes a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an online virtual environment, and to generate for display within said representation of the online virtual environment at least one avatars corresponding to users of at least one remote entertainment devices interacting with the online virtual environment. A data communications arrangement is operable to receive respective configuration data for at least one of the avatars that determines their appearance, and is operable to receive data identifying purchasable items visibly associated with a respective avatar; a query arrangement operable to initiate a query of an avatar and to identify to a user of the entertainment device purchasable items visibly associated with the avatar; and in which the data communications arrangement is operable to transmit a purchase initiation request identifying an item for purchase, selected in response to a purchasable item visibly associated with the queried avatar.

Abstract: Data decompression apparatus is disclosed which is arranged to act on compressed data comprising: an ordered stream of references to groups of previously decoded data items; an ordered stream of direct representations of data items to be decoded; and an ordered stream of flags indicating whether each successive decompression operation should act on a reference or a direct representation. The apparatus comprises an output memory area; a detector to detect the number n of consecutive flags indicating that a decompression operation should act on a direct representation; and a data copier for copying to the output memory area either a next referenced group of previously decoded data or a group of n consecutive direct representations from the ordered stream of direct representations.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus arranged to receive successive images from a video camera comprises means for detecting inter-image motion for selected points in an image region associated with a control function of the data processing apparatus; and means for executing the control function if inter-image motion is detected in the image region; in which the detecting means is arranged to select points in an image region of a current image that are validated by selecting test points in a currently received image based upon their correspondence with points in a preceding received image, the points in the preceding received image themselves corresponding with the points originally selected in the currently received image, and deselect points in the current image whose corresponding test points do not to substantially coincide.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus arranged to receive successive images from a video camera comprises means for detecting inter-image motion for selected points in an image region associated with a control function of the data processing apparatus; and means for executing the control function if inter-image motion is detected in the image region; in which the detecting means is arranged to detect inter-image motion by detecting the cumulative inter-image motion for the points in the image region over a group of m consecutive images, where m is at least three.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus arranged to receive successive images from a video camera comprises means for detecting inter-image motion in an image region associated with a control function of the data processing apparatus; and means for initiating the control function if inter-image motion is detected in the image region in respect of at least a threshold number of the images within a test group of the images.