Computer-Implemented System And Method For Triggering Events

• US 20140229098A1
• Filed: 04/21/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Irish, Jeremy A., Alvord, Elias
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/409
• 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 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for triggering events is described. A plurality of zones of influence is defined. Each zone of influence is an enclosed space defined by geolocational data. At least one of the zones of influence is associated with an event for performance by a user and a time for the event to occur. A location of the user is identified and compared with the geolocational data for each of the zones of influence. The event and the time for the event to occur for one of the zones of influence are provided to the user when the geolocational data of that zone of influence matches the location of the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for triggering events, comprising:

a plurality of zones of influence, each zone of influence comprising an enclosed space defined by geolocational data;

an event for performance by a user and a time for the event to occur both associated with at least one of the zones of influence;

a location module to identify a location of the user and to compare the location with the geolocational data for each of the zones of influence; and

an event module to provide to the user, the event and the time for the event to occur for one of the zones of influence when the geolocational data of that zone of influence matches the location of the user.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gaming module to combine two or more zones of influence as one of a story and game; and

a cartridge to store the combined zones of influence.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

an interest module to provide points of interest to the user; and

a direction module to provide directions to points of interest to the user.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a participant module to allow the user to compete against the other users by obtaining locations of the other users.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dialog presented as the user progresses through the zones of influence.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a recurring event module to provide a recurring event, wherein the recurring event occurs at predefined intervals;

a triggered event module to provide a triggered event, wherein the triggered event occurs after a predefined amount of time has passed; and

a conditional event module to provide a conditional event when a predefined action by the user occurs.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a score based on whether the time for the event was satisfied by the user.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a condition module to provide a predetermined condition to the user and to provide the event and the time for the event to occur only when the user has satisfied the predetermined condition.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time for the user to reach the zone of influence.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a location verification module to perform at least one of verifying the location of the user and rejecting the location when the location is based on improbable user movements.

11. A computer-implemented method for triggering events, comprising:

defining a plurality of zones of influence, each zone of influence comprising an enclosed space defined by geolocational data;

associating with at least one of the zones of influence, an event for performance by a user and a time for the event to occur;

identifying a location of the user and comparing the location with the geolocational data for each of the zones of influence; and

providing to the user, the event and the time for the event to occur for one of the zones of influence when the geolocational data of that zone of influence matches the location of the user.

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

combining two or more zones of influence as one of a story, game, and dialog; and

storing the combined zones of influence in a cartridge.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

providing points of interest to the user; and

providing directions to points of interest to the user.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

obtaining locations of other users; and

allowing the user to compete against the other users.

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

providing a dialog as the user progresses through the zones of influence.

16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

providing a recurring event, wherein the recurring event occurs at predefined intervals;

providing a triggered event, wherein the triggered event occurs after a predefined amount of time has passed; and

providing a conditional event when a predefined action by the user occurs.

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

providing a score based on whether the time for the event was satisfied by the user.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a predetermined condition to the user; and

providing the event and the time for the event to occur only when the user has satisfied the predetermined condition.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a time for the user to reach the zone of influence.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

verifying the location of the user; and

rejecting the location when the location is based on improbable user movements.