System and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence

• US 6,691,032 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Alvord, Elias, Irish, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/237,292
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/209, 701/208, 701/211, 701/214, 340/323.R, 340/500, 340/286.02, 340/309.16, 340/309.8, 473/131, 473/407, 702/150, 342/357.03, 342/357.13, 342/357.01, 381/56, 381/61, 381/326, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/418, 455/419, 455/404.2, 273/459
• US Class Current: 701/213
• 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 system and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence is described. One or more zones of influence are defined. Each zone of influence is described by stored geolocational data and forms a logically enclosed physical space. One or more user-definable events are associated with each zone of influence. Each user-definable event specifies a trigger condition based on the stored geolocational data for the associated zone of influence. A location of a user device is identified based on further geolocational data and at least one user-definable event is triggered when the location of the user device substantially correlates to the stored geolocational data for the trigger condition of the at least one user-definable event.

Claims

1. A system for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence, comprising:

a cartridge defining one or more zones of influence, each zone of influence described by stored geolocational data and forming a logically enclosed physical space, the cartridge further associating one or more user-definable events with each zone of influence, each user-definable event specifying a trigger condition based on the stored geolocational data for the associated zone of influence;

a user device identifying a location based on further geolocational data and triggering at least one user-definable event when the location substantially correlates to the stored geolocational data for the trigger condition of the at least one user-definable event;

the cartridge further defining one or more timed events specified by a start time and a duration and associating one or more of the user-definable events with each timed event;

a timer measuring an elapsed time from the start time of each timed event; and

the trigger triggering at least one user-definable event when the elapsed time substantially equals the duration of one such timed event.

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

the cartridge associating one or more events with at least one of the zones of influence.

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

a validity module evaluating feasibility of the location relative to a previously-determined location.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the timed event comprises an independent condition comprising at least one of a global condition, zone condition, non-player condition, player condition, and object condition.

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

the trigger triggering at least one user-definable event upon at least one of an entry into or exit from one such zone of influence.

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

a proximity cartridge measuring a proximity relative to at least such the zone of influence; and

the trigger triggering at least one user-definable event correlating the proximity to an independent condition.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the independent condition comprises at least one of one such zone of influence, player character, non-player character, and object.

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

the cartridge defining one or more independent trigger conditions and associating one or more of the user-definable events with each independent trigger condition; and

the trigger triggering at least one user-definable event upon satisfaction of at least one independent trigger condition.

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

the cartridge specifying at least one user-initiated independent trigger condition.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the independent trigger condition comprises at least one of a global condition, zone condition, self condition, player condition, non-player condition, and object condition.

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

the cartridge specifying at least one of player independent trigger conditions and non-player independent trigger conditions.

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

an event queue temporarily storing each triggered user-definable event pending execution.

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

the cartridge specifying each zone of influence as discrete, adjoining, overlapping, and nested relative to at least one other zone of influence.

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

the cartridge specifying at least one zone of influence as inheriting at least one user-definable events from one or more other of the zones of influence.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user device provides processing, locational and output capabilities.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the processing capabilities are provided by at least one of a personal or laptop computer, either a wireless or standard personal data assistant, a programmable cellular telephone, a programmable pager, a wireless email client, a two-way radio, and a dedicated processing device, the locational capabilities are provided by at least one of a standalone GPS receiver attached via a conventional cable, GPS receiver components incorporated into the processing capable device and a receiver for receiving signals from a stationary GPS beacon, and the output capabilities are provided by at least one of the processing capable device and an augmented reality device.

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

a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver receiving global positioning satellite (GPS) signals and processing the GPS signals to determine the location.

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

the cartridge specifying the geolocational data as one or more text sentences.

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

the cartridge specifying the geolocational data as latitude and longitude values.

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

a database maintaining a user profile.

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

a database providing points of interest data.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein each user-definable event comprises at least one of a sound effect, visual effect, tactile effect, olfactory effect, and multimedia display.

23. A method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence, comprising:

defining one or more zones of influence, each zone of influence described by stored geolocational data and forming a logically enclosed physical space;

associating one or more user-definable events with each zone of influence, each user-definable event specifying a trigger condition based on the stored geolocational data for the associated zone of influence;

identifying a location of a user device based on further geolocational data and triggering at least one user-definable event when the location of the user device substantially correlates to the stored geolocational data for the trigger condition of the at least one user-definable event;

defining one or more timed events specified by a start time and a duration;

associating one or more of the user-definable events with each timed event;

measuring an elapsed time from the start time of each timed event; and

triggering at least one user-definable event when the elapsed time substantially equals the duration of one such timed event.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

receiving global positioning satellite (GPS) signals through a GPS receiver and processing the GPS signals to determine the location.

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

associating one or more events with at least one of the zones of influence.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

evaluating feasibility of the location relative to a previously-determined location.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein the timed event comprises an independent condition comprising at least one of a global condition, zone condition, non-player condition, player condition, and object condition.

28. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

triggering at least one user-definable event upon at least one of an entry into or exit from one such zone of influence.

29. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

measuring a proximity relative to at least such the zone of influence; and

triggering at least one user-definable event correlating the proximity to an independent condition.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the independent condition comprises at least one of one such zone of influence, player character, non-player character, and object.

31. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

defining one or more independent trigger conditions;

associating one or more of the user-definable events with each independent trigger condition; and

triggering at least one user-definable event upon satisfaction of at least one independent trigger condition.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

specifying at least one user-initiated independent trigger condition.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the independent trigger condition comprises at least one of a global condition, zone condition, self condition, player condition, non-player condition, and object condition.

34. A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

specifying at least one of player independent trigger conditions and non-player independent trigger conditions.

35. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining an event queue temporarily storing each triggered user-definable event pending execution.

36. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

specifying each zone of influence as discrete, adjoining, overlapping, and nested relative to at least one other zone of influence.

37. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

specifying at least one zone of influence as inheriting at least one user-definable events from one or more other of the zones of influence.

38. A method according to claim 23, wherein the user device provides processing, locational and output capabilities.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the processing capabilities are provided by at least one of a personal or laptop computer, either a wireless or standard personal data assistant, a programmable cellular telephone, a programmable pager, a wireless email client, a two-way radio, and a dedicated processing device, the locational capabilities are provided by at least one of a standalone GPS receiver attached via a conventional cable, GPS receiver components incorporated into the processing capable device and a receiver for receiving signals from a stationary GPS beacon, and the output capabilities are provided by at least one of the processing capable device and an augmented reality device.

40. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

receiving global positioning satellite (GPS) signals using a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and processing the GPS signals to determine the location.

41. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

specifying the geolocational data as one or more text sentences.

42. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

specifying the geolocational data as latitude and longitude values.

43. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining a user profile in a database.

44. A method according to claim 23, further comprising:

providing points of interest data.

45. A method according to claim 23, wherein each user-definable event comprises at least one of a sound effect, visual effect, tactile effect, olfactory effect, text effect, and multimedia display.

46. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 23.

47. A system for producing user-definable events triggerable through geolocational data describing zones of influence, comprising:

a database maintaining one or more templates, each template specifying a generic layout for a cartridge expressed in a tag-delimited page description language;

at least one such cartridge defined with the templates, comprising;

one or more zones of influence described by geolocational data and forming a logically enclosed physical space;

one or more user-definable events stored with each zone of influence, each user-definable event triggering an action when a location substantially correlates to the geolocational data describing at least one zone of influence;

one or more timed events specified by a start time and a duration; and

one or more of the user-definable events stored with each timed event, each user-definable event triggering an action when an elapsed time substantially equals the duration of one such timed event; and

a compiler compiling each cartridge into an executable script.

48. A system according to claim 47, wherein the timed event comprises an independent condition comprising at least one of a global condition, zone condition, non-player condition, player condition, and object condition.

49. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

at least one user-definable event triggered upon at least one of an entry into or exit from one such zone of influence.

50. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

at least one user-definable event triggered by correlating a proximity relative to at least one such zone of influence to an independent condition.

51. A system according to claim 50, wherein the independent condition comprises at least one of one such zone of influence, player character, non-player character, and object.

52. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

the at least one cartridge, further comprising;

one or more independent trigger conditions; and

one or more of the user-definable events stored with each independent trigger condition, each user-definable event triggering an action upon satisfaction of at least one independent trigger condition.

53. A system according to claim 52, further comprising:

at least one user-initiated independent trigger condition.

54. A system according to claim 53, wherein the independent trigger condition comprises at least one of a global condition, zone condition, self condition, player condition, non-player condition, and object condition.

55. A system according to claim 52, further comprising:

at least one of player independent trigger conditions and non-player independent trigger conditions.

56. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

each zone of influence specified as discrete, adjoining, overlapping, and nested relative to at least one other zone of influence.

57. A system according to claim 47, further comprising:

the geolocational data specified as latitude and longitude values.

58. A system according to claim 47, wherein the tag-delimited page description language comprises at least one of HTML and XML.

59. A system according to claim 47, wherein each user-definable event comprises at least one of a sound effect, visual effect, tactile effect, olfactory effect, text effect, and multimedia display.

60. A method for producing user-definable events triggerable through geolocational data describing zones of influence, comprising:

maintaining one or more templates, each template specifying a generic layout for a cartridge expressed in a tag-delimited page description language;

defining at least one such cartridge with the templates comprising;

describing one or more zones of influence by geolocational data and forming a logically enclosed physical space; and

storing one or more user-definable events with each zone of influence, each user-definable event triggering an action when a location substantially correlates to the geolocational data describing at least one zone of influence;

specifying one or more timed events by a start time and a duration; and

storing one or more of the user-definable events with each timed event, each user-definable event triggering an action when an elapsed time substantially equals the duration of one such timed event; and

compiling each cartridge into an executable script.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein the timed event comprises an independent condition comprising at least one of a global condition, zone condition, non-player condition, player condition, and object condition.

62. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

specifying at least one user-definable event triggered upon at least one of an entry into or exit from one such zone of influence.

63. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

specifying at least one user-definable event triggered by correlating a proximity relative to at least such the zone of influence to an independent condition.

64. A method according to claim 63, wherein the independent condition comprises at least one of one such zone of influence, player character, non-player character, and object.

65. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

further defining the at least one cartridge, comprising;

specifying one or more independent trigger conditions; and

storing one or more of the user-definable events with each independent trigger condition, each user-definable event triggering an action upon satisfaction of at least one independent trigger condition.

66. A method according to claim 65, further comprising:

specifying at least one user-initiated independent trigger condition.

67. A method according to claim 66, wherein the independent trigger condition comprises at least one of a global condition, zone condition, self condition, player condition, non-player condition, and object condition.

68. A method according to claim 65, further comprising:

specifying at least one of player independent trigger conditions and non-player independent trigger conditions.

69. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

specifying each zone of influence as discrete, adjoining, overlapping, and nested relative to at least one other zone of influence.

70. A method according to claim 60, further comprising:

specifying the geolocational data as latitude and longitude values.

71. A method according to claim 60, wherein the tag-delimited page description language comprises at least one of HTML and XML.

72. A method according to claim 60, wherein each user-definable event comprises at least one of a sound effect, visual effect, tactile effect, olfactory effect, and multimedia display.

73. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 60.