Health based internet game for children

• US 20040180708A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barbara Helen Southard, Douglas Ralph Southard
• Original Assignee: Barbara Helen Southard, Douglas Ralph Southard
• Inventors: Southard, Barbara Helen, Southard, Douglas Ralph
• Application Number:
  US10/390,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20040180708A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/005 characterised by the type of game, e.g. ball games, fighting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

An Internet-based program for children from nine to eleven years old which has as its goal the prevention and/or treatment of childhood obesity from an early age. The program can take the form of an adventure game in which the player must distinguish him or herself from the other lethargic humans by gaining energy units from a physical activity sensor, by answering questions correctly and/or by parental I input.

Claims

1. A method of teaching/reinforcing good health habits using an interactive, Internet based adventure game program, said method comprising

a) Setting the interactive game objective in said program database,

b) Inputting information relative to said player into the database,

c) Providing information to said database related to physical and health activity of said player, said information being provided by a person other than the player of the game,

d) Providing said player with playing units to enable him or her to play the game and continue so as to complete the game successfully.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said player is a child and said other person is an adult responsible for said child.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said information provided to said program database is related to said player'"'"'s health behavior in terms of ingested food, activity levels, exercise periods and other health information over a predetermined period of time.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said player is provided with playing units by visiting a source of such units and successfully answering questions related to health issues.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said challenges are represented by a story line and allow the player to gain either items or energy units or “

ergs”

to complete the game by overcoming each challenge.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said story line presents the player with the task of reaching a final objective related to health by overcoming each of said challenges and gaining additional units to move forward in the game, complete the game and/or win the game,

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein each challenge is a separate game which he or she is required to complete in order to obtain items needed to achieve the overall game goal.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein one such challenge is a Library where the player is required to answer multiple questions on nutrition and exercise to gain units as opposed to items.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein one such challenge is a Restaurant where the player is required to choose the healthiest options from the menu and is rewarded with an item needed to complete the game.

10. A method as in claim 7 wherein one such challenge is an underground system where the player is required to neutralize creatures therein and collect a code key which can be used in the final step of the game.

11. A method as in claim 7 wherein one such challenge is a transportation scenario where the player is required to fix train components and is rewarded with an implement which can be used to achieve the final game goal.

12. A method as in claim 7 wherein one challenge is a location wherein the player is required to deal with material found there and is rewarded for successful play by receipt of a second implement.

13. A method as in claim 7 wherein one challenge is an Accident challenge wherein the player is required to move vehicles out of the way of an ambulance and is rewarded by receipt of an item used in the final game play.

14. A method as in claim 7 wherein the second to last challenge involves a Ladder challenge wherein the player repairs a ladder using playing units he or she has obtained through previous successful challenge play.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein the last challenge involves the player performing a task which ends the game.

16. A method as in claim 1 wherein the other person inputting data into the program database has a checklist provided thereto from which he or she is required to provide daily information thereto relating to the player'"'"'s behavior related to diet and exercise.

17. A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of providing the player with player units includes having the player exercise during the day while wearing an activity sensor or pedometer in order to acquire playing units.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein the player exercises with a pedometer to provide playing units based on the amount of exercise the player has performed.

19. A method as in claim 17 wherein said other person provides information relating to the player'"'"'s level of activity and this information relates to the energy units which are directly proportional to a certain predetermined amount of playing units the player receives at any time during the game.

20. An Internet based game program for children having the goal of preventing and or treating childhood obesity in child players of the game, said program requiring a predetermined amount of playing units, said program comprising

a) An Internet server for providing the game to multiple users,

b) A first interface whereby the child can play the game and obtain playing units to play the game and achieve the end goal,

c) A second interface to allow a parent or responsible adult to input information to said database which relates to the child'"'"'s recent health related activity and which provides additional playing units directly related to the correctness of said child'"'"'s activity,

21. A program as in claim 20 wherein the player is connected to an exercise monitoring device which inputs directly into the program database and provides the player with playing units in an amount directly proportional to the amount of exercise being performed by the player, said input occurring while the player is using or wearing the device, not necessarily while playing the game.

22. A program as in claim 20 wherein said program has a database relating health information, and the program is automatically updated as play proceeds.

23. A program as in claim 20 wherein the player can select a character to represent himself or herself during the program play.

24. A program as in claim 23 wherein the program has a storyline and the game has a series of successive challenges, the object of the game being to successfully meet each challenge, collect items needed to complete the game, gather additional playing units and to reach the end of the game and achieve the ultimate goal of the game.

25. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is a Subway challenge wherein the player'"'"'s character has to repair certain items connected with the train to obtain an item to allow him or her to progress with following challenges.

26. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is a Library challenge and the player may obtain additional playing units by answering questions correctly.

27. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is an Accident challenge wherein the player is required to move vehicles out of the way of an ambulance to obtain additional playing units.

28. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is an underground challenge wherein the player is required to combat characters therein to obtain an item useful in later challenges in the game.

29. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is a Restaurant challenge wherein the user is required to choose healthy options from a menu and is rewarded when he or she selects the correct option with an item needed to complete the final challenge.

30. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is an Alley challenge wherein the player is required to deal with garbage in a correct manner to acquire an item needed to complete the final challenge.

31. A program as in claim 24 wherein one of the challenges is an Antique shop challenge wherein the player must fight off a Doggie Attack to achieve successful play.

32. A program as in claim 24 wherein the second to last challenge is a Ladder challenge where the player must repair the ladder by employing tools received in previous challenge successful play.

33. A program as in claim 24 wherein the number of playing units is adjusted for each player depending on the target set for that player.