Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing information related to virtual environments to wireless devices

• US 8,200,261 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cavanaugh, Craig Michael, Balsley, Jacob Benjamin IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROD, YOUSEF R
• Application Number:
  US13/156,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 370/352, 709/224, 709/206
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• 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 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing information related to virtual environments. One such method includes receiving user input identifying an event related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device. User input is also received identifying an output to be provided by the mobile wireless communication device in response to receipt of the notification. A determination is then made that the event related to the virtual environment has occurred. In response to determining that the event occurred, the mobile wireless communication device is provided with the notification, and the output identified by the user input is provided by the mobile wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing information related to a virtual environment, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving first input identifying a condition related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device;

determining that the condition is occurring;

determining whether the condition is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device;

responsive to determining that the condition is within the predetermined distance, providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device of the condition;

receiving second input instructing that the notification corresponding to the condition related to the virtual environment be sent to the mobile wireless communication device of a user and that a further notification corresponding to the condition related to a further virtual environment be sent to a further mobile wireless communication device of the user;

upon determining that the condition is related to the virtual environment, then providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device; and

upon determining that the condition is related to the further virtual environment, then providing the further notification to the further mobile wireless communication device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the condition is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device comprises:

determining a location of the mobile wireless communication device;

determining a location of the condition; and

comparing the location of the mobile wireless communication device with the location of the condition.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification identifies the virtual environment for which the condition is related, describes what the condition is, and provides a location of the condition.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a further mobile wireless communication device associated with the virtual environment is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device; and

if the further mobile wireless communication device is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device, then providing information regarding the further mobile wireless communication device to the mobile wireless communication device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining that the condition is occurring is based on information received from a remote source.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining that the condition is occurring comprises:

receiving information about occurrences of a plurality of conditions; and

determining whether one of the plurality of conditions matches the condition identified by the first input.

7. A system for providing information related to a virtual environment, comprising:

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving first input identifying a condition related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device,

determining that the condition is occurring,

determining whether the condition is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device,

responsive to determining that the condition is within the predetermined distance, providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device of the condition,

receiving second input instructing that the notification corresponding to the condition related to the virtual environment be sent to the mobile wireless communication device of a user and that a further notification corresponding to the condition related to a further virtual environment be sent to a further mobile wireless communication device of the user,

upon determining that the condition is related to the virtual environment, then providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device, and

upon determining that the condition is related to the further virtual environment, then providing the further notification to the further mobile wireless communication device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein determining whether the condition is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device comprises:

determining a location of the mobile wireless communication device;

determining a location of the condition; and

comparing the location of the mobile wireless communication device with the location of the condition.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the notification identifies the virtual environment for which the condition is related, describes what the condition is, and provides a location of the condition.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform a method further comprising:

determining whether a further mobile wireless communication device associated with the virtual environment is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device; and

if the further mobile wireless communication device is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device, then providing information regarding the another mobile wireless communication device to the mobile wireless communication device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein determining that the condition is occurring is based on information received from a remote source.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein determining that the condition is occurring comprises:

receiving information about occurrences of a plurality of conditions; and

determining whether one of the plurality of conditions matches the condition identified by the first input.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving first input identifying a condition related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device;

determining that the condition is occurring;

determining whether the condition is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device;

responsive to determining that the condition is within the predetermined distance, providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device of the condition;

receiving second input instructing that the notification corresponding to the condition related to the virtual environment be sent to the mobile wireless communication device of a user and that a further notification corresponding to the condition related to a further virtual environment be sent to a further mobile wireless communication device of the user;

upon determining that the condition is related to the virtual environment, then providing the notification to the mobile wireless communication device; and

upon determining that the condition is related to the further virtual environment, then providing the further notification to the further mobile wireless communication device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein determining whether the condition is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device comprises:

determining a location of the mobile wireless communication device;

determining a location of the condition; and

comparing the location of the mobile wireless communication device with the location of the condition.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the notification identifies the virtual environment for which the condition is related, describes what the condition is, and provides a location of the condition.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, having further computer-executable instructions stored thereon which cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

determining whether a further mobile wireless communication device associated with the virtual environment is within a predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device; and

if the further mobile wireless communication device is within the predetermined distance of the mobile wireless communication device, then providing information regarding the another mobile wireless communication device to the mobile wireless communication device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein determining that the condition is occurring comprises:

receiving information about occurrences of a plurality of conditions; and

determining whether one of the plurality of conditions matches the condition identified by the first input.