{
  "patent_number": "US 7782297",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power",
  "original_title": "Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2006-05-08",
  "granted": "2010-08-24",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/sony-computer-entertainment-america-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Gary Zalewski",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gary-zalewski"
    },
    {
      "name": "Richard Marks",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/richard-marks"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiadong Mao",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/xiadong-mao"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 42,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "gaming",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Methods and techniques for use in the operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining an activity level of a user in relation to the game apparatus or other system. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for performing such methods and techniques is also included, as well as an example system for implementation.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7782297/wii-remote",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7782297/wii-remote/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US7782297",
  "relatedPatents": []
}