METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN DETERMINING LACK OF USER ACTIVITY, DETERMINING AN ACTIVITY LEVEL OF A USER, AND/OR ADDING A NEW PLAYER IN RELATION TO A SYSTEM

摘要

A method for use in operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining a lack of user activity (800) in relation to the game apparatus includes obtaining a time series of samples containing information usable to determine activity of a user in relation to a predetermined object (802), processing the time series to determine whether the user is currently inactive in relation to the predetermined object (804), and, when the step of processing the time series determines that the user is currently inactive, providing a first signal to the game apparatus for use in controlling the operation of the game apparatus (806). A time series of samples may also be obtained containing information usable to determine an activity level of a user of the game apparatus (822). A method for use in operation of a game apparatus may include adding a new player to a game already in progress in response to a determination that one of a plurality of predetermined objects is currently active after determining that it was inactive. Machine-readable mediums having embodied thereon instructions for performing such methods and techniques are also included, as well as an example systems for implementation.