System And Method For Providing Player Interfacing Layouts For Geolocational Activities

• US 20080319656A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Irish, Jeremy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/142,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319656A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• 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 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A system and method for providing player interfacing layouts for geolocational activities is provided. A plurality of cartridges is maintained. Each cartridge includes events for a geolocational activity. Each event is associated with a zone that includes stored geolocational data defining points interconnected to form a logically enclosed space. One of the cartridges is transferred to a wireless computing device maintained by a user. A location of the wireless computing device is determined by processing geolocational data. One of the events is provided on one or more player interfacing layouts when the stored geolocational data for the zone associated with that event matches the location of the wireless computing device. A list of actions is displayed on the one or more player interfacing layouts. User input is processed by selecting one of the actions based on a request from the user. Output is presented in response to the user input.

Claims

1. A wireless computing device, comprising:

memory configured to maintain a plurality of cartridges, which each comprise a script for a geolocational activity comprising events associated with stored geolocational data;

storage configured to maintain a plurality of player interfacing layouts;

a script engine configured to select one of the cartridges based on a request from a user;

a receiver configured to collect geolocational data and further configured to determine a location for a current physical position by processing the geolocational data;

a processor configured to trigger one of the events for the geolocational activity associated with the selected cartridge when the location of the current physical position matches the stored geolocational data for that event; and

a display configured to present the event for the geolocational activity to the user via one or more of the player interfacing layouts.

2. A wireless computing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

user controls configured to receive user input for the event by processing an action selected by the user.

3. A wireless computing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an output module configured to provide output to the user in response to the user input.

4. A wireless computing device according to claim 1, wherein the player interfacing layouts comprise one or more of a zone guide page, a display page, an inventory page, an event page, a character page, and a navigation page.

5. A wireless computing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a compass configured to determine a direction of the current physical location; and

a map configured to display the direction and the location for the current physical location.

6. A method for presenting geolocational activities through player interfacing layouts, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of cartridges, which each comprise a script for a geolocational activity comprising events associated with stored geolocational data;

maintaining a plurality of player interfacing layouts on a wireless computing device;

selecting one of the cartridges based on a request from a user to the wireless computing device;

executing the script for the selected cartridge on the wireless computing device, comprising;

collecting geolocational data via the wireless computing device and determining a location of the wireless computing device by processing the geolocational data; and

triggering one of the events for the geolocational activity associated with the selected cartridge when the location of the wireless computing device matches the stored geolocational data for that event; and

displaying the event for the geolocational activity to the user via one or more of the player interfacing layouts.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving user input for the event by processing an action selected by the user.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing output to the user that is responsive to the user input.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the player interfacing layouts comprise one or more of a zone guide page, a display page, an inventory page, an event page, a character page, and a navigation page.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining a direction of the wireless computing device using a compass; and

displaying the direction and the location of the wireless computing device on a map.

11. A system for providing player interfacing layouts for geolocational activities, comprising:

a database configured to maintain a plurality of cartridges, which each comprise events for a geolocational activity, wherein each event is associated with a zone comprising stored geolocational data defining points interconnected to form a logically enclosed space;

a cartridge module to transfer one of the cartridges to a wireless computing device maintained by a user;

a location module configured to determine a location of the wireless computing device by obtaining and processing geolocational data,

an event module configured to provide one of the events on one or more player interfacing layouts when the stored geolocational data for the zone associated with that event matches the location of the wireless computing device;

a display module configured to display a list of actions on the one or more player interfacing layouts;

an input module configured to process user input by selecting one of the actions based on a request from the user; and

an output module configured to present output in response to the user input.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a cartridge module configured to maintain a list of the cartridges; and

a cartridge display module configured to display only those cartridges that have a starting location near the location of the wireless computing device.

13. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

an event module configured to maintain an event list, comprising;

an event list module configured to list the events; and

an event status module configured to assign a status to each event comprising one of complete, incomplete, and pending.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the wireless computing device interacts with one or more other wireless computing devices.

15. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a map module configured to provide a map of the zones for the events of the geolocational activity; and

a map location module configured to identify the location of the wireless computing device on the map.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein the output is provided to the user as one or more of text, image, and sound data.

17. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

an object module configured to display geolocational objects comprising one or more of items, goods, and characters;

an object selection module configured to select at least one of the geolocational objects by performing one of the actions based on a user request; and

an inventory module configured to store the selected geolocational object on an inventory list.

18. A method for providing player interfacing layouts for geolocational activities, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of cartridges, which each comprise events for a geolocational activity, wherein each event is associated with a zone comprising stored geolocational data defining points interconnected to form a logically enclosed space;

transferring one of the cartridges to a wireless computing device maintained by a user;

determining a location of the wireless computing device by obtaining and processing geolocational data;

providing one of the events on one or more player interfacing layouts when the stored geolocational data for the zone associated with that event matches the location of the wireless computing device;

displaying a list of actions on the one or more player interfacing layouts;

processing user input by selecting one of the actions based on a request from the user; and

presenting output in response to the user input.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining a list of the cartridges; and

displaying only those cartridges that have a starting location near the location of the wireless computing device.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining an event list, comprising;

listing the events; and

assigning a status to each event comprising one of complete, incomplete, and pending.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the wireless computing device interacts with one or more other wireless computing devices.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

providing a map of the zones for the events of the geolocational activity; and

identifying the location of the wireless computing device on the map.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein the output is provided to the user as one or more of text, image, and sound data.

24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

displaying geolocational objects comprising one or more of items, goods, and characters;

selecting at least one of the geolocational objects by performing one of the actions based on a user request; and

storing the selected geolocational object on an inventory list.