GEOGAME FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120157210A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US12/969,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

In a geographic location based game (geogame), players (actual persons) utilize mobile communications devices to play a game in which players catch virtual “good” objects and/or avoid virtual “bad” objects. Virtual objects can be stationary, move in accordance with deterministic pattern, move in accordance with non-predetermined patterns, and/or move randomly. Players acquire points by capturing a virtual good object. Players capture virtual good objects by physically moving to the geographic location of a virtual object. If a player comes in contact with a “bad” virtual object, the player loses points. Captured virtual objects can be used to attack other players and/or virtual objects.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a processor portion configured to;

determine a boundary of each virtual object in a geogame based on a received event information;

determine a current location of the device;

determine if the current location of the device intersects a boundary of a virtual object;

an input/output portion configured to;

geocast an indication of an event; and

receive respective geocasts from other devices participating in the geogame; and

a user interface portion configured to;

render a representation of at least one virtual object in the geogame based on the received event information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

if it is determined that the current location of the device intersects a boundary of a virtual object, determine a type of virtual object whose boundary the device intersects, wherein the type is one of a first type, a second type, or a third type;

the processor portion further is configured to;

if the type is determined to be a first type;

determine that the virtual object whose boundary the device intersects is a captured virtual object; and

reward a player utilizing the device to capture the virtual object;

if the type is determined to be a second type, penalize the player utilizing the device whose boundary intersects the boundary of the virtual object; and

if the type is determined to be a third type;

determine if the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object; and

if the boundary of the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has not previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object, penalize the player utilizing the device to participate in the geogame;

the input/output portion further is configured to;

geocast an indication that a player is rewarded; and

geocast an indication that a player is penalized; and

the user interface portion further configured to;

render an indication that a player is rewarded; and

render an indication that a player is penalized.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor portion is configured to remove a captured virtual object from geogame play.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor portion is configured to convert a captured virtual object to the third type virtual object that moves toward a current location of a device participating in the geogame other than a current location of the device whose boundary intersected with the boundary of the virtual object.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual object is stationary.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual object moves in a predetermined pattern.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual object moves in a non-predetermined pattern.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual object moves toward a location of the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual object moves away from a location of the device.

10. A method of playing a geogame, the method comprising:

determining a boundary of each virtual object in a geogame based on a received event information;

determining a current location of the device;

geocasting an indication of the current location of the device;

determining if the current location of the device intersects with a boundary of a virtual object; and

rendering a representation of at least one virtual object in the geogame based on the received event information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

if it is determined that the current location of the device intersects with a boundary of a virtual object, determining a type of virtual object whose boundary the device intersects, wherein the type is one of a first type, a second type, or a third type;

if the type is determined to be a first type;

determining that the virtual object whose boundary the device intersects is a captured virtual object;

rewarding a player utilizing the device to capture the virtual object; and

geocasting an indication that the player is rewarded; and

if the type is determined to be a third type;

determining if the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object;

if the boundary of the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has not previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object, penalizing the player utilizing the device to participate in the geogame; and

geocasting an indication that a player is penalized.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a captured virtual object is removed from geogame play.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a captured virtual object is converted to the third type virtual object that moves toward a current location of a device participating in the geogame other than a current location of the device whose boundary intersected with the boundary of the virtual object.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one virtual object is stationary.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one virtual object moves in a predetermined pattern.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one virtual object moves in a non-predetermined pattern.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one virtual object moves toward a location of the device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one virtual object moves away from a location of the device.

19. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions for causing a processor to perform the steps of:

determining a boundary of each virtual object in a geogame based on a received indication of location of each virtual object;

determining a current location of the device;

geocasting an indication of the current location of the device;

determining if the current location of the device intersects with a boundary of a virtual object;

if it is determined that the current location of the device intersects with a boundary of a virtual object, determining a type of virtual object whose boundary the device intersects, wherein the type is one of a first type, a second type, or a third type;

rendering a representation of a each virtual object in the geogame based on the received indication of a location of each virtual object in the geogame;

rendering a representation of the current location of the device; and

rendering a representation of a current location of each other device participating in the geogame based on the received geocasts from other devices participating in the geogame.

20. The medium of claim 19, the instructions further for causing the processor to:

if the type is determined to be a first type;

determine that the virtual object whose boundary the device intersects is a captured virtual object;

reward a player utilizing the device to capture the virtual object; and

geocasting an indication that the player is rewarded; and

if the type is determined to be a third type;

determine if the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object;

if the boundary of the device whose current location intersects with the boundary of the virtual object has not previously intersected a boundary of the virtual object, penalize the player utilizing the device to participate in the geogame; and

geocast an indication that a player is penalized.