METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR UTILIZING GLOBAL POSITIONING INFORMATION WITH AN ONLINE GAME

• US 20120244945A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aaron Winters, Brian Kolo
• Original Assignee: Aaron Winters, Brian Kolo
• Inventors: Kolo, Brian, Winters, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US13/069,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20120244945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• 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 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

We present a system and method for incorporating geolocation information into an online game to enhance the enjoyment of the online game. The geolocation of a player is communicated to the online game servers which modify the gaming environment of the player based on the player'"'"'s current geolocation. If the player changes geolocation, the online game may modify the player'"'"'s gaming experience as the player'"'"'s geolocation changes.

Claims

1. An Online Game comprising:

a. A Central Server capable of interacting with a plurality of Local Devices wherein the Central Server utilizes software for the purpose of providing an Online Game;

b. At least one Avatar that is played by a Player using a Local Device;

c. Where the Central Server software administrates the Online Game and determines the outcome of competitions between Avatars;

d. Where the Central Server software determines that an Avatar is eligible to receive a Virtual item based in part on the Avatar successfully completing one or more in-game tasks;

e. A method of determining the Geolocation of at least one of the Local Devices;

f. Wherein the Virtual item eligible to an Avatar is determined by the Central Server software in part based on the Geolocation of the Local Device played by the Player associated with the Avatar;

g. Wherein the Virtual item is associated with a graphical model so that when an Avatar is using the Virtual item the associated graphical model is presented in visual form to other Players in Virtual Proximity to the Avatar;

h. And where the graphical model is associated with a Physical corporation in such a manner as to advertise the corporation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on the IP address of the Local Device.

3. The method of claim 1 where the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on a Geolocation provided by the Player of the Local Device.

4. The method of claim 1 where the graphical model that advertises the corporation comprises a registered trademark associated with the corporation.

5. The method of claim 4 where the association between the graphical model and the Physical corporation comprises applying a texture map to the model where the texture map comprises the registered trademark.

6. An Online Game comprising:

a. A Central Server capable of interacting with a plurality of Local Devices wherein the Central Server utilizes software for the purpose of providing an Online Game;

b. At least one Avatar that is played by a Player using a Local Device;

c. Where the Central Server software administrates the Online Game and determines the outcome of competitions between Avatars;

d. A method of determining the Geolocation of at least one of the Local Devices;

e. Where the Central Server utilizes at least one database wherein the database contains one or more graphical models that may be presented to Players as part of the in-game environment for the Online Game;

f. Where the Avatar is associated with one or more graphical models from the database;

g. Wherein a Virtual item is associated with an Avatar;

h. Wherein the Virtual item is associated with at least one graphical model;

i. Wherein the graphical model is selected from the database or modified in part based on the Geolocation of the Player associated with the Avatar;

j. And wherein the selection or modification of the graphical model incorporates one or more features for the purpose of advertising a Physical corporation.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on the IP address of the Local Device.

8. The method of claim 6 where the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on a Geolocation provided by the Player of the Local Device.

9. The method of claim 6 where the graphical model that advertises the corporation comprises a registered trademark associated with the corporation.

10. The method of claim 9 where the association between the graphical model and the Physical corporation comprises applying a texture map to the model where the texture map comprises the registered trademark.

11. An Online Game comprising:

a. A Central Server capable of interacting with a plurality of Local Devices wherein the Central Server utilizes software for the purpose of providing an Online Game;

b. At least one Avatar that is played by a Player using a Local Device;

c. Where the Central Server software administrates the Online Game and determines the outcome of competitions between Avatars;

d. Where the Central Server software determines that an Avatar is eligible to receive a Virtual item based in part on the outcome of a competition between Avatars;

e. A method of determining the Geolocation of at least one of the Local Devices;

f. Where the Central Server provides one or more benefits to at least one Player or Player controlled Avatar wherein the benefits are determined in part based on the Player'"'"'s Geoproximity to a predetermined Geolocation;

g. And where the predetermined Geolocation is associated with a Physical corporation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on the IP address of the Local Device.

13. The method of claim 11 where the method of determining the Geolocation is based in part on a Geolocation provided by the Player of the Local Device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the Online Game comprises a health associated with at least one Avatar.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the health associated with the Avatar increases at a faster rate when the Player is in Geoproximity to a franchise of the Physical corporation.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined Geolocation comprises a space-time Geolocation comprising a beginning and ending time interval.

17. The method of claim 16 where the benefits comprises a store coupon to a store associated with the Physical corporation, and is provided to the Player when the Player is in Geoproximity to the predetermined Geolocation and when the Player is located in this Geoproximity during the time interval.

18. The method of claim 17 where the online game is a massively multiplayer online role playing game.