Virtual performance system

• US 10,369,474 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Walling, Willoughby H.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US15/591,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20170239577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 : Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 : for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 : for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 : for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 : Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 : Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 : user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 : player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 : Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 : for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 : Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 : Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 : Virtual reality

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to rewarding users of an electronic game for real-world physical activity. Further aspects relate to altering virtual items based upon physical activity. An electronic game may comprise or otherwise relate to an online world (such as a “Virtual World”). Users may be represented through customized graphical representations, such as avatars. An account of a user (or entity) may be associated a “virtual region.” A threshold level of real-world physical activity may result in obtaining a reward that may be associated with a virtual item. A reward may be configured to result in: (1) altering visual appearance of a virtual item within a virtual region; (2) altering a virtual characteristic of a virtual item, such that the first user may engage in at least one additional virtual activity using that virtual item; and/or (3) acquiring a new virtual item for a virtual region.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a virtual world server comprising one or more processors and memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the virtual world server to;

provide a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,

prompt a user of the plurality of users to perform a real-world physical activity,

reward the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on sensor data characterizing movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity, and

penalize the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity;

a client computing device in signal communication with the virtual world server and operated by the user to access the virtual world; and

a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

determine a geographic location of the user,

determine an environmental condition of the geographic location, and

select a reward based on the environmental condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

visually represent the environmental condition of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the threshold level of the real-world physical activity comprises;

a threshold quantity of time the user spends conducting the real-world physical activity,

a threshold value of a physiological or biological parameter of the user, or

a threshold distance traveled by the user within a predetermined window of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

present, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

visually represent an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

determine a geographic location of the user,

determine a real-world feature of the geographic location, and

visually represent the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,

wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to;

determine a geographic location of the user,

select the real-world physical activity the user is prompted to perform based on the geographic location of the user.

9. A method comprising:

by a virtual world server comprising one or more processors, memory, and a communication interface;

providing a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,

providing, to a client computing device operated by a user of the plurality of users, access to the virtual world via the communication interface,

prompting the user to perform a real-world physical activity,

receiving sensor data characterizing movement of the user from a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user, and

either (i) rewarding the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity, or (b) penalizing the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

by the virtual world server;

determining a geographic location of the user,

determining an environmental condition of the geographic location, and

selecting a reward based on the environmental condition.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the threshold level of the real-world physical activity comprises;

a threshold quantity of time the user spends conducting the real-world physical activity,

a threshold value of a physiological or biological parameter of the user, or

a threshold distance traveled by the user within a predetermined window of time.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

by the virtual world server;

presenting, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

by the virtual world server;

visually representing an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

by the virtual world server;

determining a geographic location of the user,

determining a real-world feature of the geographic location, and

visually representing the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,

wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

15. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a virtual world server, cause the virtual world server to:

provide a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,

provide, to a client computing device operated by a user of the plurality of users, access to the virtual world via a communication interface of the virtual world server,

prompt the user to perform a real-world physical activity,

receive sensor data characterizing movement of the user from a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user,

reward the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity,

penalize the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:

determine a geographic location of the user,

determine an environmental condition of the geographic location, and

select a reward based on the environmental condition.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:

present, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:

visually represent an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:

determine a geographic location of the user,

determine a real-world feature of the geographic location, and

visually represent the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,

wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:

determine a geographic location of the user,

select the real-world physical activity the user is prompted to perform based on the geographic location of the user.