Coexistent interaction between a virtual character and the real world

• US 20020090985A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EarthLink Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EarthLink Incorporated
• Inventors: Anders, Robert, Tochner, Ilan, Gottesman, Ari, Kagan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/946,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• 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 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• 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 2300/636 : involving process of starting or resuming a game
• 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 2300/695 : Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 : Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 : Virtual reality

Abstract

A game system, incorporating co-existent interaction between a virtual character 20 and a user 10 in the real world, comprising a virtual character 20 in a computer sub-system 12,14 including a computer device 12 and means 38,40,42 for inputting real-world actions of a user in the real world into said sub-system 12,14, whereby actions of a user in the real world, at a pre-chosen real world location 36, other than correlative movements, are recorded and inputted into the computer sub-system and influence the character 20 in the virtual world 16.

Claims

1. A game system, incorporating co-existent interaction between a virtual character and a user in the real world, comprising a virtual character in a computer sub-system including a computer device and means for inputting real-world actions of a user in the real world into said sub-system, whereby actions of a user in the real world, at a pre-chosen real world location, other than correlative movements, are recorded and inputted into the computer sub-system and influence the character in the virtual world.

2. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said system incorporates at least one locator device for noting the presence of the user at a pre-chosen location.

3. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein the real-world actions of more than one user are inputted into the device.

4. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said computer device is a mobile-device.

5. A game system, according to claim 4, wherein said mobile-device is a digital mobile computer.

6. A game system, according to claim 4, wherein said computer device is Web-enabled.

7. A game system, according to claim 4, wherein mobile-device is provided with Bluetooth technology.

8. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said inputting into said device is effected by means selected from the group consisting of IR transmission, rf transmission, wired synching, scanning and manual input.

9. A game system, according to claim 2, wherein said locator device includes means selected from a global positioning system, a differential global positioning system, server-side referencing, time of arrival detectors, enhanced observed time difference detectors, cell of origin detectors, IR transmitters, hard-wire synchronization means, manual entry of location means, manual code entry means and a Bluetooth personal access network and combinations thereof.

10. A game system, according to claim 9, wherein said at least one locator device includes a combination of a global positioning system and Bluetooth transmitters/receivers.

11. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said computer device is a fixed-point PC with the virtual character resident locally in the PC.

12. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said computer sub-system further comprises a server containing at least part of the logic of said game system.

13. A game system, according to claim 12, wherein said computer device is a mobile hand-held device and the interface between the virtual character and the real world is resident in said server whereby actions of the user in the real world are inputtable into at least one of said server and said computer device, with intercommunication between said hand-held device and said server.

14. A game system, according to claim 12, wherein said computer device is a desk-top PC and the interface between the virtual character and the real world is resident in said server whereby actions of the user in the real world are inputtable into at least one of said server and said computer device, with intercommunication between said desk-top PC and said server.

15. A game system, according to claim 12, wherein said computer device is a mobile hand-held device and the interface between the virtual character and the real world is resident in said mobile device whereby actions of the user in the real world are inputtable into at least one of said server and said computer device, with intercommunication between said desk-top PC and said server.

16. A game system, according to claim 12, wherein said computer device is a desk-top PC and the interface between the virtual character and the real world is resident in said desk-top PC whereby actions of the user in the real world are inputtable into at least one of said server and said computer device, with intercommunication between said desk-top PC and said server.

17. A game system according to claim 12 wherein said computer sub-system comprises a desk-top PC and a hand-held device.

18. A game system according to claim 17 wherein said desk-top PC and hand-held device are both provided with Bluetooth technology.

19. A game system, according to claim 1, wherein said influence of the user in the real world on the virtual character in the virtual world is expressed as an image of the user in the scenario of the virtual world.