Modular Infrastructure For An Interactive Computer Program

Abstract

A modular infrastructure for an interactive computer program comprising a computer generated environment. The modular infrastructure comprises an instrument module, a first display and a second display. The instrument module comprises at least one tangible instrument for the user to interact within the computer generated environment, the tangible instrument(s) being accessible to a user of the interactive computer program and at least one virtualized instrument not accessible to the user of the interactive computer program. The first display is positioned in front of the user for displaying images from the computer generated environment interactive computer program. The second display is for displaying at least images of the virtualized instrument(s). An instrument position of the instrument module relative to a display position of the second display is customizable in the modular infrastructure to support different configurations of the interactive computer program. A method for reconfiguring the modular infrastructure.

1 . A modular infrastructure for an interactive computer program comprising a computer generated environment, the modular infrastructure comprising:
 an instrument module comprising:
 at least one tangible instrument for at least one user to interact within the computer generated environment, the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to a user of the interactive computer program, wherein the interactive computer program simulates a simulated vehicle of the computer generated environment, the at least one tangible instrument being relevant for the simulated vehicle of the computer generated environment; and 
 at least one virtualized instrument not accessible to the user of the interactive computer program, the at least one virtualized instrument being relevant for the simulated vehicle of the computer generated environment; 
   a first display positioned in front of the user for displaying images from the computer generated environment interactive computer program; and   a second display for displaying at least images of the at least one virtualized instrument, wherein a display position of the second display relative to an instrument position of the instrument module is customizable in the modular infrastructure to support different configurations of the interactive computer program,   wherein the instrument position is defined at least partially in front of the user; and   wherein a first configuration of the different configurations defines the display position on the left side of the user and a second configuration of the different configurations defines the display position on the right side of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1  further comprising a seat for the user, the at least one tangible instrument being accessible while the user is one of being seated, in motion or standing. 
     
     
         3 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 2 , wherein the second display is positioned beside the user while seated and is for further displaying images of a virtualized participant of the interactive computer program having access to the at least one virtualized instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 2 , wherein a first tangible instrument of the at least one tangible instrument is positioned between the seat and the first screen and a second tangible instrument of the at least one tangible instrument is positioned between the seat and the second display, the second tangible instrument being configurable to be provided on the left of the seat in a first of the different configurations and on the right of the seat in a second of the different configurations. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1  further comprising a seat for the user and a second seat for a second user of the modular infrastructure, a first of the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to the user while seated and a second of the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to the second user while seated. 
     
     
         7 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 6 , wherein the second display is configurable to be provided while the user and the second user are side-by-side in one of the different configurations and in the back of the user and the second user in another of the different configurations. 
     
     
         8 . A modular infrastructure for an interactive computer program comprising a computer generated environment, the modular infrastructure comprising:
 an instrument module comprising:
 at least one tangible instrument for at least one user to interact within the computer generated environment, the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to a user of the interactive computer program; and 
 at least one virtualized instrument not accessible to the user of the interactive computer program; 
   a seat for the user and a second seat for a second user of the modular infrastructure, a first of the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to the user while seated and a second of the at least one tangible instrument being accessible to the second user while seated;   a first display positioned in front of the user for displaying images from the computer generated environment interactive computer program;   a second display for displaying at least images of the at least one virtualized instrument, wherein an instrument position of the instrument module relative to a display position of the second display is customizable in the modular infrastructure to support different configurations of the interactive computer program, wherein the second display, in one of the different configurations, is configurable to be provided facing the user between the user and the second user, wherein the second of the at least one tangible instrument corresponds to the virtualized instrument; and   the modular infrastructure further comprising a third screen, facing the second user provided between the user and the second user, for displaying at least images of a second virtualized instrument corresponding to the at least one tangible instrument.   
     
     
         9 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1 , further comprising an instructor station for allowing an instructor to participate to the interactive computer program. 
     
     
         10 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1 , wherein the second display provides a virtual instructor station for managing settings of the interactive computer program. 
     
     
         11 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1  further comprising a sightline tracking module, implemented using one or more processors, for tracking at least factor of the user's sightline for geometry correction of the images displayed on at least one of the first display and the second display. 
     
     
         12 . The modular infrastructure of  claim 1 , comprising equipment from a conventional infrastructure, wherein a first configuration of the different configurations is a two-user configuration and wherein a second of the different configurations provides a one-user configuration in which only one user position is maintained, the first configuration setting the instrument position for allowing the instrument module to be accessible from the one user position, the display position being set such that the second display fits within the second user position. 
     
     
         13 . A method for modifying a modular infrastructure, configured for an interactive computer program in a first configuration in which a first display, displaying images from the interactive computer program, is provided in front of a user position in the modular infrastructure and a second display is provided on the left of the user position, the interactive computer program simulating a simulated vehicle, comprising:
 repositioning at least one tangible instrument in the modular infrastructure for a second configuration of the interactive computer program, the at least one tangible instrument being adapted for allowing at least one user, having a first role in the simulated vehicle under the first configuration, to interact in the interactive computer program from the user position under a second role in the simulated vehicle under the second configuration, the at least one tangible instrument being relevant for the simulated vehicle of the computer generated environment;   configuring a virtualized instrument position for a virtualized instrument in the second configuration of the interactive computer program, wherein the virtualized instrument is not accessible from the user position and the virtualized instrument is relevant for the simulated vehicle of the computer generated environment;   considering the second role in the simulated vehicle under the second configuration, repositioning the second display from the left of the user position to the right of the user position in view of the at least one tangible instrument repositioned in the second configuration and the virtualized instrument position in the second configuration of the interactive computer program; and   displaying at least images of the virtualized instrument at the virtualized instrument position in the second configuration on the second display.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the modular infrastructure is a modifiable conventional infrastructure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein configuring the virtualized instrument position for the virtualized instrument in the second configuration is performed from a management interface of an engine of the interactive computer program. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, managing settings of the interactive computer program and/or settings of the modular infrastructure from the management interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the settings comprise simulation parameters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the settings comprise at least one general lighting parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the settings comprise at least one ambient temperature parameter.