Location-based game system

• US 20020111201A1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brook Lang
• Original Assignee: Brook Lang
• Inventors: Lang, Brook W.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/2
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A location-based game system for players over a wide region that uses location information transmitted from their wireless devices to a wide area computer network. Information from the wide area computer network can be downloaded to other players to determine the physical location of the players participating in the game. The location-based game system includes a location-based game software program preferably loaded into the memory of a central computer coupled to the wide area computer network that control the game and monitors the action and location of the players. During the game, data from each wireless device is uploaded to a player databank on the central computer. In one embodiment, each player wears a laser beam activated sensor at which their opponents shoot. Each sensor is coupled to a wireless device that uploads the number of “hits” recorded by the sensor to the wide area computer network. A central computer records the number of hits recorded by the sensor. In other embodiments, the location-based software game is loaded into the memory of the wireless device. In both embodiments, other players or authorized viewers are able to log onto the central computer to review the game status information that may include the user'"'"'s location information in his or her database.

Claims

1. A location-based game system, comprising:

a. a wireless communication network capable of transmitting digital information;

b. at least one wireless device capable of transmitting and receiving digital information from said wireless communication network, each said wireless telephone being assigned to at least one player;

c. a physical location means coupled to said wireless device used to determine and transmit the physical location of said player over said wireless communication network;

d. a wide area computer network coupled to said wireless communication network to enable the physical location of said player to be uploaded from said wireless communication network, and;

e. a location-based software game that uses the location information from each said player to achieve the object of the game.

2. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said location-based software game is located the memory of said wireless device.

3. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 1, further including a central computer connected to said wide area network.

4. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said location-based software game is located into the memory of said central computer.

5. The location-based game system as recited in claim 4, wherein said location-based software game is a laser tag game that monitors and records the number of hits of a laser beam generated by a laser been transmitter on a laser beam receiver.

6. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said central computer includes a database file for said player to record the location of said player.

7. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 5, further including a laser beam sensor coupled to said wireless device, said laser beam sensor used to detect a laser beam from a laser transmitter.

8. The location-based game system as recited in claim 7, wherein said location-based software game is a laser tag game that monitors and records the number of hits of a laser beam generated by said laser been transmitter on said laser beam receiver.

9. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 1, further including a client-side software program loaded into said wireless device and a server side software program loaded into said central computer to enable said wireless device to communicate with said central computer over said wide area network.

10. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 5, wherein the object of said location based software game is to find a selected target by said players.

11. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said target is selected by said central computer.

12. The location-based game system, as recited in claim 10, further including means to transmit clues to said player to find said target.