Simulated indirect fire system and method

• US 10,213,679 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Carter
• Original Assignee: George Carter
• Inventors: Carter, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US15/698,615
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74

Abstract

An indirect fire simulation system includes a plurality of communication devices where each communication device is associated with a separate player. Each communication device includes a location services device for determining a location of the communication device which is communicated to a game server. The locations of all the communication devices are revealed to all the communication devices. Each communication device includes a directional orientation mechanism used when creating a targeting solution of a simulated indirect fire weapon. A processor is used for determining if a simulated targeting of another player by a simulated indirect fire weapon is a hit or miss based on the location indicia of a shooting communication device and the directional orientation of the shooting communication device. The targeting solution may be determined by aligning an aiming vector over the targeted communication device shown on a display of the shooting communication device.

Claims

1. An indirect fire simulation system, the system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices, each communication device associated with a separate player, wherein each communication device includes a location services device for determining some location indicia of the communication device and a mechanism for communicating the location indicia to a network, the location indicia providing a location of the communication device;

a game server communicating with the network for relaying the location indicia of each communication device to the plurality of communication devices;

wherein each communication device includes a mechanism for determining a directional orientation of the communication device when creating a targeting solution of a simulated indirect fire weapon;

wherein a shooting communication device targeting the targeted player having a targeted communication device receives location indicia of the targeted communication device;

wherein the shooting communication device aims and fires the simulated indirect fire weapon without having a direct line of sight between the communication device and a targeted player;

wherein each communication device includes a display providing a location of a targeted communication device;

wherein the targeting solution is obtained by aligning an aiming vector over the targeted communication device shown on the display; and

a processor for determining if a simulated indirect targeting of another player by a simulated indirect fire weapon is a hit or miss based on the location indicia of a shooting communication device, the location indicia of the targeted communication device of the targeted player received from the game server, and the directional orientation of the shooting communication device;

the processor determining a hit or miss of the targeting of another player and providing immediate feedback of a hit or miss to a shooting player of the shooting communication device.

2. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the processor resides within the communication device of a shooting player.

3. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the processor resides within the game server.

4. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the aiming vector is aligned with the targeted communication device by orientating the communication device.

5. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the aiming vector is moved on the display.

6. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device is a mobile phone.

7. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides aural feedback of a hit or miss of a targeting by the shooting communication device.

8. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides visual feedback of a hit or miss of a targeting by the shooting communication device.

9. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device of the targeted player provides aural feedback to the targeted player upon receiving notice of a hit of the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

10. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device of the targeted player provides visual feedback to the targeted player upon receiving notice of a hit of the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

11. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the game server provides some hit criteria for a hit or miss of a targeted player.

12. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the simulated indirect fire weapon is a missile.

13. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the simulated indirect fire weapon is fired from a virtual remote location different than the shooting communication device.

14. The indirect firing system according to claim 13 wherein the virtual remote location is mobile.

15. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the indicia includes an identification of a communication device of a targeted player.

16. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the network is a telecommunications network.

17. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the network is a Wi-Fi network.

18. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the game server informs the communication device of the target player of a hit of a simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

19. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides some hit criteria for a hit or miss of a targeted player.

20. The indirect firing system according to claim 1 wherein the indirect fire weapon is a beyond visual range weapon.

21. A method of simulating targeting by indirect fire of a target, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a shooting communication device by a first player and a targeted communication device by a targeted second player;

determining a geographic location of the shooting communication device;

determining a geographic location of the targeted communication device;

relaying the geographic location of the targeted communication device to the shooting communication device through a network;

creating an indirect fire targeting solution by the shooting communication device of the targeted communication device by aligning an aiming vector of the shooting communication device with a displayed location of the targeted communication device, wherein the shooting communication device aims and fires the simulated indirect fire weapon without having a direct line of sight between the communication device and a targeted player, wherein the targeting solution is obtained by overlaying an aiming vector over the targeted communication device shown on the display;

determining, by a processor, if the indirect fire targeting is a hit based on the orientation of the aiming vector and the location of the targeted communication device; and

providing immediate feedback of a hit or miss to a shooting player of the shooting communication device.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the processor resides within the shooting communication device.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein each communication device includes a display providing a location of a targeted communication device.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the aiming vector is aligned with the targeted communication device by orientating the communication device.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein the aiming vector is moved on the display.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of relaying the geographic location of the targeted communication device includes relaying the geographic location to a game server communicating with the network.

27. The method according to claim 21 wherein the network is a Wi-Fi network.

28. The method according to claim 21 wherein the network is a telecommunications network.

29. The method according to claim 21 wherein the shooting communication device and the targeted communication device are mobile phones.

30. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of creating a target solution includes simulating targeting for a notional airborne drone to strike the second player.

31. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of informing the communication device of the targeted player of a hit from the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.