POPULATION OF LANDMARKS FOR USE WITH A MAP APPLICATION

• US 20090143125A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Krumm, John C., Baudisch, Patrick M., Liebling, Daniel John
• Application Number:
  US11/947,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz

Abstract

An interactive map-based game is provided for populating a landmark database with commonly known landmarks. A game session can provide a user with a number of maps that can be presented in succession. Each map presented can be a map segment that is a function of a latitude/longitude pair and a zoom level. A user can enter the names of landmarks believed to be contained in the map segment. If the name entered matches a name within a landmark database, points can be awarded. Once a threshold level of positive confirmations of a landmark name are received, the landmark can be marked as taboo and further entries of that landmark name can be disregarded or minimal points can be awarded for the entry.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates a map-based landmark identification game, comprising:

a front-end component that provides a user with a map segment and a text entry area for entry of a landmark name; and

a back-end component that compares the landmark name with a landmark database and selectively awards points based on the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a web-service component that facilitates communication between the front-end component and a database.

3. The system of claim 1, the back-end component further tracks current and previous game sessions associated with a current player and suggests a map segment that is different from previous game sessions.

4. The system of claim 3, the map segment is different from a previous game session as a function of a spatial coordinate, a zoom level, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, the back-end components awards more points for commonly-known landmarks as compared to obscure landmarks.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a web-service component that flags a location as taboo when a counter meets or exceeds a threshold level.

7. The system of claim 6, meeting or exceeding a threshold level confirms a landmark name and the web-service component assigns a familiarity value to the landmark.

8. The system of claim 6, the back-end component awards minimal points for the landmark flagged as taboo.

9. The system of claim 1, the front-end component provides a text box in which a user can enter the landmark name by clicking a location on the map segment.

10. The system of claim 1, is a game played by a single user.

11. A method for populating a map with landmark-based descriptions, comprising:

rendering a geographic area on a display;

receiving a landmark location within the geographic area and a text label associated with the landmark; and

selectively correlating the landmark location and the text label with the geographic area.

12. The method of claim 11, selectively correlating the landmark location and the text label with the geographic area, comprising:

determining if a landmark with a similar text label was previously received; and

incrementing a counter associated with the landmark if a similar text label was previously received for that landmark.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if the counter has met or exceeded a threshold level;

confirming a landmark name if the threshold level has been met or exceeded; and

assigning a familiarity value to the landmark.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if the counter has met or exceeded a threshold level;

flagging a landmark as taboo when a counter meets or exceeds a threshold level; and

awarding minimal points for the landmark flagged as taboo.

15. The method of claim 11, selectively correlating the landmark location and the text label with the geographic area, comprising:

determining if a landmark with a similar text label was previously received;

presenting a menu with a closely located landmark if a similar text label was not previously received;

soliciting feedback whether the closely located landmark is the received landmark location; and

selectively updating a text label associated with the closely located landmark if the received landmark is the received landmark location.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively awarding points based in part on the correlation between the landmark location and the text label.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising awarding more points for commonly-known landmarks as compared to obscure landmarks.

18. The method of claim 11, rendering a geographic area on a display comprises choosing a different geographic area as a function of a spatial coordinate, a zoom level, or combinations thereof.

19. A computer executable system that provides a mapped based interactive game, comprising:

means for providing a user with a map segment and a text entry area for entry of a landmark name; and

means for comparing the landmark name with a landmark database and selectively awarding points based on the comparison.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for tracking current and previous game sessions associated with a current player; and

means for suggesting a map segment that is different from previous game sessions as a function of a spatial coordinate, a zoom level or combinations thereof.