Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power
Sony's 2010 patent on using motion and image data to detect when a gamer stops playing, allowing the game console to pause or save energy.
Original patent title: “Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system”
Sony's 2010 patent on using motion and image data to detect when a gamer stops playing, allowing the game console to pause or save energy. Granted to Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC in 2010 with 35 claims and 42 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for a game console that figures out if a player has stopped playing. It does this by combining information from different sensors. For example, it might use 'inertial tracking information' (like from a motion controller that senses movement) and 'image tracking information' (from a camera watching the player). By 'mixing' these signals, it creates a picture of the player's position and how they are oriented. Then, it processes this information to see if the player's activity drops below a certain level. If the player is inactive, the game console can then take action, like pausing the game, as described in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 4. This is useful for saving power or preventing game progress loss.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Detecting inactivity using only one type of sensor data (e.g., only motion or only camera).
- Systems that don't combine at least two types of tracking information.
- Methods that don't process the combined tracking data to determine inactivity.
- Systems that don't control the game apparatus based on detected inactivity.
- Detecting inactivity based solely on button presses or controller input.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The core innovation was combining multiple, diverse sensor inputs (motion, camera) to reliably determine user inactivity, rather than relying on a single, potentially less accurate, data source.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
PlayStation consoles with inactivity detection features
Motion-sensing game controllers
Camera-based player tracking systems in gaming
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is relevant to the evolution of game consoles and energy-saving features. As consoles became more powerful, managing power consumption and user experience became important. Detecting inactivity allows for automatic pausing or power-down features, enhancing usability and efficiency for devices like the PlayStation.
Filed
May 8, 2006
Granted
August 24, 2010
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Sony Computer Entertainment, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to develop and implement such features in its PlayStation consoles. Other console manufacturers and smart TV platforms also incorporate similar inactivity detection mechanisms for power saving and user experience.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the development of intelligent power management and user-aware features in gaming consoles. It enabled consoles to automatically manage game states and power consumption based on real-time player presence, setting a precedent for energy efficiency in interactive entertainment systems.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for a game console that figures out if a player has stopped playing. It does this by combining information from different sensors. For example, it might use 'inertial tracking information' (like from a motion controller that senses movement) and 'image tracking information' (from a camera watching the player). By 'mixing' these signals, it creates a picture of the player's position and how they are oriented. Then, it processes this information to see if the player's activity drops below a certain level. If the player is inactive, the game console can then take action, like pausing the game, as described in claim 4. This is useful for saving power or preventing game progress loss.
The clever bit
The core innovation was combining multiple, diverse sensor inputs (motion, camera) to reliably determine user inactivity, rather than relying on a single, potentially less accurate, data source.
What it does not cover
- Detecting inactivity using only one type of sensor data (e.g., only motion or only camera).
- Systems that don't combine at least two types of tracking information.
- Methods that don't process the combined tracking data to determine inactivity.
- Systems that don't control the game apparatus based on detected inactivity.
- Detecting inactivity based solely on button presses or controller input.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
33/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$59K – $190K
Midpoint $119K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
35 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Zalewski, G., Marks, R., & Mao, X. (2010). Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power (U.S. Patent No. 7,782,297). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7782297/wii-remote
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power cover?
Sony's 2010 patent on using motion and image data to detect when a gamer stops playing, allowing the game console to pause or save energy.
Who owns patent US 7782297?
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC owns this patent, granted in 2010.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 24, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7782297 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 42 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is relevant to the evolution of game consoles and energy-saving features. As consoles became more powerful, managing power consumption and user experience became important. Detecting inactivity allows for automatic pausing or power-down features, enhancing usability and efficiency for devices like the PlayStation.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Detecting inactivity using only one type of sensor data (e.g., only motion or only camera).
Same assignee
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