US6166718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video game system with vertical array of cursor images
Assignee: Konami Group Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-10
•
Granted: 2000-12-26
•
Expires: 2017-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A cursor is displayed in a three-dimensionally displayed field as a plurality of cursor images three-dimensionally in a vertical array in the field. A plurality of different types of cursor images may be prepared as each of said cursor images, and displayed as each of said cursor images. Positions where at least selected ones of the cursor images are displayed may be changed in every predetermined period of time. The cursor images may be changed in shape as a viewpoint with respect to the field is changed in position.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Takeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/50; A63F13/53; A63F13/537; G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; A63F13/52; A63F13/5372; A63F13/55; A63F13/56; A63F13/80; A63F13/833; A63F13/57; A63F13/822; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/30; A63F2300/303; A63F2300/306; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/64; A63F2300/66; A63F2300/6607; A63F2300/6623; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of displaying a cursor on a display, comprising the steps of: displaying a three-dimensional environment; displaying in a frame a plurality of cursor images three-dimensionally depicted in a vertical array in the three-dimensional environment; and altering a position of said vertical array of said cursor images in a subsequent frame in response to a user input so as to provide continuous user controlled movement of said vertical array of said cursor images in the three-dimensional environment to effect cursor operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of displaying a cursor on a display, comprising the steps of: displaying a three-dimensional environment; displaying in a frame a plurality of cursor images three-dimensionally depicted in a vertical array in the three-dimensional environment; and altering a position of said vertical array of said cursor images in a subsequent frame in response to a user input so as to provide continuous user controlled movement of said vertical array of said cursor images in the three-dimensional environment to effect cursor operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of different types of cursor images for each of said cursor images; and displaying said different types of cursor images cyclically in subsequent display frames for each of said cursor images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of changing positions where at least selected ones of the cursor images are displayed, in every predetermined period of time of each subsequent frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: altering a viewpoint of the three-dimensional environment; and changing said cursor images in shape to reflect the alteration of the view point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying at least selected ones of said cursor images semitransparent.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of displaying a cursor on a display, comprising the steps of: displaying a three-dimensional environment; setting a three-dimensional coordinate value of a selected position in the three-dimensional environment; setting a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values based on said three-dimensional coordinate value such that the plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values have a predetermined spatial relationship to said three-dimensional coordinate value of said selected position; obtaining two-dimensional coordinate values from the three-dimensional coordinate values for generating graphic command image data for displaying in a frame a plurality of cursor images three-dimensionally in the three-dimensional environment at positions corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinate values; and altering said selected position of said three-dimensional coordinate value for a subsequent frame in response to a user input so as to provide continuous user controlled movement of said cursor images in said predetermined spatial relationship in the three-dimensional environment to effect cursor operation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of displaying a cursor on a display, comprising the steps of: displaying a three-dimensional environment; setting a three-dimensional coordinate value of a selected position in the three-dimensional environment; setting a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values based on said three-dimensional coordinate value such that the plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values have a predetermined spatial relationship to said three-dimensional coordinate value of said selected position; obtaining two-dimensional coordinate values from the three-dimensional coordinate values for generating graphic command image data for displaying in a frame a plurality of cursor images three-dimensionally in the three-dimensional environment at positions corresponding to the three-dimensional coordinate values; and altering said selected position of said three-dimensional coordinate value for a subsequent frame in response to a user input so as to provide continuous user controlled movement of said cursor images in said predetermined spatial relationship in the three-dimensional environment to effect cursor operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said step of setting a plurality of three-dimensional coordinate values comprises the steps of: adding a value to one coordinate value of said three-dimensional coordinate values; setting the three-dimensional coordinate values with said value added thereto; and continuously adding the value to said one of said three-dimensional coordinate values until said one coordinate value of said three-dimensional coordinate values exceeds a reference value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of different types of cursor images for each of said cursor images; and obtaining cursor image number data to select one of said different types of cursor images for in subsequent frames.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of generating image data for displaying at least selected ones of said cursor images semitransparently.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of prior to the step of adding a value to said one coordinate value of said three-dimensional coordinate values, adding a cyclically variable value to said one coordinate value of said three-dimensional coordinate values in every predetermined period of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of: altering a viewpoint of the three-dimensional environment; and changing said cursor images in shape to reflect the alteration of the view point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said plurality of different types of cursor images correspond to views of said cursor images rotated differing degrees such that said cursor images appear to rotate with display of subsequent frames.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of changing positions where at least selected ones of the cursor images are displayed, in every predetermined period of time of each subsequent frame, includes vertically incrementing said positions so as to depict continuous vertical movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said vertical movement is upward.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein: said vertical movement is upward; said three dimensional environment includes a field surface; and said at least selected ones of said cursor images exclude one of said cursor images and said one of said cursor images remains displayed at a level of said field surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined spatial relationship is a vector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said vector is vertically oriented.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said plurality of different types of cursor images correspond to views of said cursor images rotated differing degrees such that said cursor images appear to rotate with display of subsequent frames.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2238215A
Cited
US5162779A
Cited
US5850213A
Cited
US5654726A
Cited
US5771036A
Cited
US5801704A
Cited
US5929841A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-26 | 2004-06-26 | 2004-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-26 | 2008-06-26 | 2008-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-26 | 2012-06-26 | 2012-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |