Virtual battlefield simulator system and method

• US 6,561,809 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Battlepaint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Battlepaint, Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Randall G., Lynch, Christie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US09/907,404
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 273/311, 273/313, 434/16, 434/20, 434/21, 434/22, 434/27, 463/1
• US Class Current: 434/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74

Abstract

A computer controlled virtual battlefield simulator system that calculates virtual strikes on a playing field, such as a paintball playing field, that can eliminate players of the game by informing them via wireless communications that they have been eliminated from play. The system also tracks player movements on the field, the amount of virtual supplies and virtual support services the players and teams have in their possession. A player'"'"'s equipment may include a wireless Tracking and Elimination Device that is carried on the person and is used to communicate with the computer system. Portable Arming Devices are located on the objectives for the players to arm, disarm, or repair the objective using their Tracking and Elimination Devices.

Claims

1. A virtual battlefield simulator system for simulating a game with a plurality of players, the virtual battlefield simulator system comprising:

a wireless communications link;

a plurality of mobile communications devices;

a plurality of objective communications devices; and

a virtual battlefield simulator application server in communication with the plurality of mobile communications devices and the plurality of objective communications devices through the wireless communications link and operable to track the score of the battlefield game, to track and display the location of the plurality of mobile communications devices, to track the number of lives associated with the plurality of mobile communications devices, to track a virtual supply arsenal inventory, to receive a request for a virtual support service, and to execute the requested virtual support service.

2. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 1, wherein the virtual battlefield simulator application server initiates a special effect in response to a communication from one of the plurality of objective communications devices, and further comprising:

a special effect generator communicating with the virtual battlefield simulator application server and displaying the special effect.

3. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 2, wherein the special effect generator is a speaker.

4. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 2, wherein the special effect generator includes pyrotechnics.

5. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a special effects server communicating with the plurality of objective communications devices through the wireless communications link and initiating a special effect; and

a special effect generator communicating with the special effects server and displaying the special effect.

6. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of objective communications devices are portable arming devices.

7. The virtual battlefield simulator system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mobile communications devices are tracking and elimination devices.

8. A virtual battlefield simulator application comprising:

a database storing score information, objective communications device information, location information, mobile communications device information, lives information, virtual supply arsenal inventory information, and virtual support services information;

a score module calculating and tracking the score of the battlefield game and storing the score of the battlefield game using the score information of the database;

an objectives module exchanging information with a plurality of objective communications devices, maintaining the status of the plurality of objective communications devices, and storing the objective communications device information of the database;

a location module receiving location information that indicates the location of a plurality of mobile communications devices, displaying the location information, and storing the location information of the database;

a lives module communicating with the plurality of mobile communications devices, tracking the number of lives associated with the plurality of mobile communications devices, and storing the lives information of the database;

a virtual supply arsenal module tracking a virtual supply arsenal inventory and storing the virtual supply arsenal inventory information of the database; and

a virtual support services module receiving a request from a mobile communications device for a virtual support service, verifying that an adequate virtual supply arsenal inventory exists for the requesting mobile communications device to execute the requested virtual support service, updating the virtual supply arsenal inventory, executing the requested virtual support service, determining the effect of the virtual support service on the lives of the plurality of mobile communications devices and the status of the plurality of objective communications devices, and storing the virtual support services information of the database.

9. The virtual battlefield simulator application of claim 8, wherein the virtual support services module tracks virtual support services information by player.

10. The virtual battlefield simulator application of claim 8, wherein the plurality of players are grouped into teams and the virtual support services module tracks virtual support services information by teams.

11. The virtual battlefield simulator application of claim 8, wherein the virtual supply arsenal module tracks virtual supply arsenal inventory information by player.

12. The virtual battlefield simulator application of claim 8, wherein the plurality of players are grouped into teams and the virtual supply arsenal module tracks virtual supply arsenal inventory information by teams.

13. A tracking and elimination device comprising:

a location receiver determining the current position of the tracking and elimination device;

a wireless transceiver communicating with a wireless communications link to receive and transmit information;

a status indicator communicating tracking and elimination device status information; and

a manual switch indicating the a life has been lost and updating the lives information accordingly.

14. The tracking and elimination device of claim 13 further comprising a display displaying the current position of the tracking and elimination device as determined by the location receiver and to display lives information.

15. The tracking and elimination device of claim 13 wherein the current position of the tracking and elimination device is one of two or more field sectors.

16. A portable arming device for use as an objective communications device in a battlefield game that includes a wireless communications link, the portable arming device comprising:

a location receiver determining the current position of the portable arming device;

a wireless transceiver communicating with a wireless communications link to receive and transmit information;

an input device arming the portable arming device for detonation and disarming the portable arming device for detonation; and

a status indicator indicating that the portable arming device is armed for detonation.

17. The portable arming device of claim 16 wherein the status indicator further indicates that the portable arming device is not armed for detonation and that the portable arming device has been destroyed.

18. The portable arming device of claim 16 wherein the status indicator further comprises a special effects server.

19. The portable arming device of claim 16 wherein the status indicator further indicates that the portable arming device is being repaired and that the portable arming device has been repaired.

20. The portable arming device of claim 16 wherein the current position is one of two or more field sectors.