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`PCT/US94/07612
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`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
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`-48-
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`1.
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`A method for controlling production of a
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`virtual environment by a virtual reality computer
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`system,
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`including the steps of:
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`5
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`(a) processing music signals to generate control
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`signals; and
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`(b) operating the virtual reality computer
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`system in response to the control signals to generate
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`said virtual environment.
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`10
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`The method of claim 1, wherein step (b)
`2.
`includes the step of:
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`producing a graphic display of the virtual
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`environment on a display device of a type coupled to
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`a head of a human user which provides an immersive
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`visual experience of said virtual environment to the
`user .
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`3.
`The method of claim 2, wherein the graphic
`display is populated with at least one animated
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`virtual object, where at least one characteristic of
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`the virtual object changes in response to at least
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`one of the music signals.
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`4.
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`The method of claim 2, wherein the graphic
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`display is a stereoscopic representation of a three-
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`dimensional virtual environment.
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`I
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`5.
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`A method for controlling production of a
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`virtual environment by a virtual reality computer
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`system,
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`including the steps of:
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`(a) prerecording a control track corresponding
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`to an audio signal; and
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`30
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`(b) operating the virtual reality computer
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`system in response to said prerecorded control track
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`to generate said virtual environment.
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`Harmonix Exhibit 1015
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`Harmonix Exhibit 1015
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`WO 95/03588
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`PCT/US94/07612
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`-49-
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`6.
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`The method of claim 5, wherein step (b)
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`includes the step of producing a graphic display of
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`the virtual environment on a display device, and also
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`including the steps of:
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`(c) supplying the audio signal to the virtual
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`reality computer system; and
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`(d) operating the virtual reality computer
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`system in response to both said audio signal and said
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`prerecorded control track to generate said virtual
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`environment.
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`7.
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`The method of claim 6, wherein step (c)
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`includes the step of supplying the audio signal to
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`the virtual reality computer system with a first
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`delay relative to the prerecorded control track,
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`wherein the first delay is selected to enable
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`generation of sounds in response to the audio signal
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`in a manner so that the sounds have a desired time
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`relationship to the graphic display.
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`8.
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`The method of claim 5, wherein step (a)
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`20
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`includes the step of automatically generating the
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`control track by processing the audio signal.
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`9.
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`The method of claim 5, wherein step (a)
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`includes the step of manually operating an input
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`device to generate the control track.
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`10.
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`A method for controlling a computer system,
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`including the steps of:
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`(a) prerecording a control track corresponding
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`to an audio signal; and
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`(b) operating the computer system in response to
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`30
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`said prerecorded control track.
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`11.
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`The method of claim 10, also including the
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`steps of:
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`(c) supplying the audio signal to the computer
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`system; and
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`5
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`(d) operating the computer system in response to
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`both the audio signal and the prerecorded control
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`track.
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`12.
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`A virtual reality computer system,
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`including:
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`10
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`means for supplying a first signal selected from
`a group consisting of a control signal generated in
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`‘.
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`response to a music signal, a prerecorded control
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`track corresponding to the music signal, and a
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`control signal generated in response to the
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`prerecorded control track; and
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`means for receiving the first signal and
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`influencing action within a virtual environment in
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`response to said first signal.
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`13.
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`The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the
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`means for supplying the first signal includes an
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`analysis apparatus having means for receiving said
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`music signal in digital or analog form, and
`processing said music signal to produce control
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`information for modification of objects in the
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`‘D
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`.
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`virtual environment.
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`14.
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`The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said
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`music signal is delayed in time to compensate for
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`delays in other parts of the virtual reality computer
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`system.
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`15.
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`The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the
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`means for supplying the first signal includes a music
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`playing means for supplying said music signal.
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`16.
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`A virtual reality computer system for
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`«producing a virtual environment,
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`including:
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`means for prerecording a control track
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`corresponding to a music signal; and
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`5
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`means for producing the virtual environment
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`in
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`response to said prerecorded control track.
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`’
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`17.
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`The system of claim 16, wherein the means
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`for producing the virtual environment includes:
`a display device; and
`a means for producing a graphic display of the
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`virtual environment on the display device.
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`18.
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`The system of claim 16, also including:
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`means for supplying the music signal to the
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`means for producing the virtual environment, and
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`wherein the means for producing the virtual
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`environment includes means for producing said virtual
`environment in response to both said music signal and
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`said prerecorded control track.
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`, 19. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said
`control track contains additional information to that
`which can be extracted from the music signal.
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`20.
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`The system of claim 16, wherein said
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`control track is time shifted relative to the music
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`signal to compensate for delays in said virtual
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`reality computer system.
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`21, A virtual reality computer system,
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`including:
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`a source of a music signal; and
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`an apparatus for extracting information from the
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`music signal for modification of objects in a virtual
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`.environment.
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`22.
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`A computer system,
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`including:
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`5
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`means for prerecording a control track
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`corresponding to an audio signal; and
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`a processor which receives the control track and
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`which is programmed with software for operating the
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`computer system in response to said control track.
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`23.
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`The system of claim 22, also including:
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`means for supplying the audio signal to the
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`processor, and wherein the processor is programmed
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`with software for operating the computer system in
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`response to both the audio signal and the control
`track.
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