Method and controller for providing a location-based game associated with a plurality of mobile stations

• US 6,756,882 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gutowski, Gerald J., Benes, Stanley J., Downing, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/237,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323.R, 340/286.02, 340/568.7, 340/995.27, 340/995.28, 340/7.48, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 273/454, 273/457, 273/459, 273/460
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location

Abstract

A method (400) and a controller (210) for providing a location-based game associated with a plurality of mobile stations (170) are described herein. The controller (210) may determine a plurality of game parameters based on user input from one of a plurality of players. The plurality of game parameters may include, but is not limited to, a game area (500) having a plurality of activation locations (505). The controller (210) may determine location associated with at least one of the plurality of mobile stations (164). In response to one of the plurality of mobile stations (164) being within a proximity threshold (535) associated with one of the plurality of activation locations (530), the controller (210) may activate a game feature within one of the plurality of mobile stations (164). Accordingly, the controller (210) may provide a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, wherein each of a plurality of mobile stations corresponds to one of a plurality of players of a location-based game, a method for providing the location-based game, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of game parameters based on user input from one of the plurality of players, the plurality of game parameters including a game area having a plurality of activation locations;

determining location associated with at least one of the plurality of mobile stations;

activating a game feature within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the at least one of the plurality of mobile stations being within a proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality of activation locations; and

providing a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a plurality of game parameters based on user input within one of the plurality of mobile stations comprises determining one of a time period associated with the location-based game, a time period associated with a game feature, an end condition associated with the location-based game, a category of game questions, and the proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality of activation locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining location associated with a plurality of mobile stations comprises determining location associated with a plurality of mobile stations based on one of a global positioning system (GPS) and a forward link trilateration (FLT) system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating a game feature within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the one of the plurality of mobile stations being within a proximity threshold of one of the plurality of activation locations comprises generating a game question for a time period within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the at least one of the plurality of mobile stations being within a proximity threshold of one of the plurality of activation locations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature comprises providing a point value in response to one of a detonating event and a diffusing event, the detonating event being a player responding incorrectly to a game question, and the diffusing event being a player responding correctly to the game question.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature comprises providing a point value to a first player in response to a second player failing to respond to a game question within a time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature comprises providing a positive point value to a first player and providing a negative point value to a second player in response to the second player responding incorrectly to a game question.

8. In a wireless communication system, wherein each of a plurality of mobile stations corresponds to a player of a location-based game, a controller for providing the location based game, the controller comprising:

a memory;

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to determine a plurality of game parameters based on user input within one of the plurality of mobile stations, the plurality of game parameters including a game area having a plurality of activation locations,

the processor being programmed to determine location associated with at least one of the plurality of mobile stations,

the processor being programmed to activate a game feature within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the at least one of the plurality of mobile stations being within a proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality of activation locations, and

the processor being programmed to provide a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the plurality of game parameters is one of a time period associated with the location-based game, a time period associated with a game feature, an end condition associated with the location-based game, a category of game questions, and the proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality of activation locations.

10. The controller of claim 8, wherein the game feature is a generation of a game question within one of the plurality of mobile stations.

11. The controller of claim 8, wherein the trigger event is one of a detonating event and a diffusing event, the detonating event being a player responding incorrectly to a game question, and the diffusing event being a player responding correctly to the game question.

12. The controller of claim 8, wherein the trigger event is an expiration of a time period for responding to a game question.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein the memory includes information associated with the location-based game from a database within a communication network, the information including information associated the plurality of activation locations.

14. The controller of claim 8 is integrated into one of at least one of the plurality of mobile stations and a communication network providing communication service to the plurality of mobile stations.

15. In a wireless communication system, wherein each of a plurality of mobile stations corresponds to one of a plurality of players of a location-based game, and wherein a processor operates in accordance with a computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for providing a location based game, the computer program comprising:

a first routine that directs the processor to determine a plurality of game parameters based on user input within one of the plurality of mobile stations, the plurality of game parameters including a game area having a plurality of activation locations;

a second routine that directs the processor to determine location associated with at least one of the plurality of mobile stations;

a third routine that directs the processor to activate a game feature within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the at least one of the plurality of mobile stations being within a proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality of activation locations; and

a fourth routine that directs the processor to provide a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to a trigger event associated with the game feature.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to determine one of a time period associated with the location-based game, a time period associated with a game feature, an end condition associated with the location-based game, a category of game questions, and the proximity threshold associated with one of the plurality activation locations.

17. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the second routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to determine location associated with a plurality of mobile stations based on one of a global positioning system (GPS) and a forward link trilateration (FLT) system.

18. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the third routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to generate a game question for a time period within one of the plurality of mobile stations in response to the at least one of the plurality of mobile stations being within one of the plurality of activation locations.

19. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the fourth routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to provide a point value to one of the plurality of players in response to one of a detonating event and a diffusing event, the detonating event being a player responding incorrectly to a game question, and the diffusing event being a player responding correctly to the game question.

20. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the second routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to provide a point value to a first player in response to a second player failing to respond to a game question within a time period.

21. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the second routine comprises a routine that directs the processor to provide a positive point value to a first player and to provide a negative point value to a second player in response to the second player responding incorrectly to a game question.

22. The computer program of claim 15, wherein the medium is one of paper, a programmable gate array, application specific integrated circuit, erasable programmable read only memory, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic media, and optical media.