SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF A SIMULATED OBJECT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PHYSICAL LOCATION IN THE REAL WORLD ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100302143A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Augmented Reality Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lucid Ventures
• Inventors: Spivack, Nova T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

Systems and methods for control of a simulated object that is associated with a physical location in the real world environment are herein disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of determining whether a location data and a timing data satisfy a criterion. Responsive to determining that the location data and the timing data satisfy the criterion, the method enables access of the simulated object in a simulated environment by a user via a device. The simulated object generally includes attributes that are perceived by the user via the device. In one embodiment, the location data includes a location of the device and the timing data includes a time when the device is located at the location.

Claims

1. A method of time-based control of a simulated object that is associated with a physical location in a real world environment, comprising:

determining whether a location data and a timing data satisfy a criterion;

responsive to determining that the location data and the timing data satisfy the criterion,

enabling access of the simulated object in a simulated environment by a user via a device, the simulated object having attributes that are perceived by the user via the device;

wherein, the location data includes a location of the device and the timing data includes a time when the device is located at the location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the attributes of the simulated object include, visible characteristics of the simulated object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, the attributes of the simulated object, further include, audible characteristics of the simulated object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the access of the simulated object is enabled when in accordance with user access permissions associated with the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the access of the simulated object is enabled when in accordance with object access permissions associated with the simulated object.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object is controlled by another user located in another physical location;

and

wherein, changes to attributes of the simulated object caused by control of the another user is reflected in the simulated environment and perceived by the user via the device in real-time or near real-time.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein, the simulated object is controlled by a real musician;

wherein, the simulated environment is a virtual concert visible to the user using the device in the physical location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, the physical location that is associated with the simulated object corresponds to the location of the device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising

enabling access of a set of simulated objects in an area in the simulated environment;

wherein, the area is specified by the user using the device.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to perform a requested action on the simulated object, the requested action to be triggered using the device;

determining whether the user is permitted to perform the requested action on the simulated object according to, one or more of, user access permissions and object access permissions;

in response to determining that the user is permitted to interact with the simulated object, performing the requested action on the simulated object;

updating the attributes of the simulated object on the device according to the requested action that is performed to be perceived by the user using the device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, the access of the simulated object comprises, one or more of:

editing of the simulated object, viewing of the simulated object, and deleting of the simulated object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, the access of the simulated object comprises:

manipulation of the simulated object in the simulated environment.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, the access of the simulated object comprises:

control of the simulated object in the simulated environment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, the control of the simulated object includes control of the simulated object in interacting with other simulated objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, at least some of the other simulated objects are controlled by other users using devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein, the simulated environment corresponds to a simulation of the physical location and regions proximal to the physical location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein, the device is a location-aware device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein, the device is a mobile phone.

19. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the physical location is a tourist location;

wherein, the simulated object includes video and audio data about the tourist location.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein, other simulated objects associated with attractions in the tourist location are selectable by the user;

wherein, when selected, the other simulated objects perform playback of the other video and audio data about the attractions.

21. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object is an advertisement;

wherein, the user is a qualified user targeted by the advertisement.

22. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object represents a virtual hostage in the physical location with a simulated hostage situation in the simulated environment;

wherein, the user is a law enforcement agent in training.

23. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object represents an electronic document;

wherein, the user retrieves the electronic document using the device when the location of the device satisfies the criteria.

24. The method of claim 23,

wherein, the electronic document is a reference manual for a physical object;

wherein, the electronic document is accessible to the user when the location of the device is within a range of the physical object.

25. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object represents protected data;

wherein, the user is an authorized user to access the protected data using the device when the device is located in an authorized facility within a certain period of time.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising, enabling access to a set of simulated objects associated with physical locations that are visible through an imaging unit of the device.

27. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object represents information related to a task;

wherein, the user is presented with the simulated object through the device when the device is at the location where the task is to be performed.

28. The method of claim 27,

wherein, the task is a delivery;

wherein, location is a delivery location;

wherein, the simulated object includes information about the delivery and is presented to the user via the device when located at the delivery location.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein, the simulated object is a virtual personal assistant of the user.

30. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated environment is a virtual marketplace associated with the physical location in the real world environment;

wherein, the simulated object represents virtual goods or real goods.

31. The method of claim 30,

wherein, the user sells or purchases the virtual goods or real goods using the device when located in the physical location associated with virtual market place.

32. The method of claim 1,

wherein, the simulated object represents an electronic coupon;

wherein, the user accesses the electronic coupon using the device when the device is located at the location during a certain period of time that satisfies the criteria.

33. The method of claim 31,

wherein, the electronic coupon is redeemed by the user at a business located at or near the location.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein, the simulated object represents information corresponding to the physical location.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the information is real time or near real time information that changes dynamically.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the information includes news associated with the physical location.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein, the information is static information.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein, the simulated object represents information corresponding to an entity associated with the physical location and is accessible by the user in or near the physical location.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein, the entity is a thing or a person.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein, the information corresponding to the entity includes real time or near real time information that changes dynamically.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein, the information corresponding to the entity includes static information.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein, the simulated object is an interactive puzzle or a component thereof.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein, user action with regards to the simulated object is stored.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein, the user action includes, one or more of, adding as a favorite and collecting as a bookmark.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein, the user action includes, one or more of, sharing the simulated object, flagging the simulated object, and tagging the simulated object.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein, user-generated data with regards to the simulated object is stored.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein, the user-generated data includes, one or more of, modification of the simulated object, comment on the simulated object, and rating of the simulated object.

48. A system for time-based manipulation of a simulated object that is associated with a physical location, the system, comprising:

a simulated object repository to store the simulated object;

an access permission module coupled to the simulated object repository;

the access permission module to control access to the simulated object;

a simulator module coupled to the simulated object repository;

wherein, when in operation, the access permission module determines a spatio-temporal criteria and whether a timing data and location data satisfy the spatio-temporal criteria;

wherein, when in operation, the simulator module enables access of the simulated object to a user via a device when the spatio-temporal criteria is met.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein, the device is a portable device.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein, the portable device is a cell phone or PDA.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein, the portable device is a laptop or palmtop computer.

52. The system of claim 48,

further comprising, a user repository coupled to the simulated object repository, the user repository to store user access permissions associated with the user;

wherein, the simulated object repository further stores object access permissions associated with the simulated object.

53. The system of claim 48, further comprising,

an environment simulator module coupled to the object simulator module;

wherein, the environment simulator module further renders a simulated environment in which the simulated object is located, the simulated environment to be displayed on a display of the device.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein, the access of the simulated object comprises:

manipulation of the simulated object.

55. The system of claim 48, wherein, the access of the simulated object comprises:

control of the simulated object.

56. The system of claim 48, wherein, the control of the simulated object includes control of the simulated object in interacting with other simulated objects.

57. The system of claim 48, wherein, at least some of the other simulated objects are controlled by other users using devices.

58. The system of claim 48, wherein, the user modifies the simulated object using the device.

59. The system of claim 48, wherein, the simulated device is authored by the user using the device or another device.

60. The system of claim 48, wherein, the user authors another simulated object using the device or another device.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein, the set of metadata further includes the qualifying location data that satisfies the criteria for access of the object to be enabled.

61. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed, causes a processor to perform a method of time-based manipulation of an object that is associated with a physical location, the method, comprising:

generating the object when qualifying location data and qualifying timing data is detected;

wherein, the object is implemented using a data structure having a set of metadata, the set of metadata including a computer program to control actions of the object;

wherein, the actions of the object can further be controlled by the user via the device;

wherein, the set of metadata further includes the qualifying timing data that satisfies a criteria for access of the object to be enabled;

enabling access of the object to a user via a device, in response to determining that the user has access permission of the object;

wherein, the qualifying location data includes a location of the device;

wherein, the qualifying timing data includes a time when the device is located at the location.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein, the set of metadata further includes the qualifying location data that satisfies the criteria for access of the object to be enabled.

63. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed, causes a processor to perform a method of time-based manipulation of an object that is associated with a physical location, the method, comprising:

generating the object when qualifying location data and qualifying timing data is detected;

wherein, the object is implemented using a data structure having a set of metadata, the set of metadata including a computer program to control actions of the object;

wherein, the actions of the object can further be controlled by the user via the device;

wherein, the set of metadata further includes the qualifying timing data that satisfies a criteria for access of the object to be enabled;

enabling access of the object to a user via a device, in response to determining that the user has access permission of the object;

wherein, the qualifying location data includes a location of the device;

wherein, the qualifying timing data includes a time when the device is located at the location.