System and method for providing games based on locations on an identified commuting route

• US 8,279,090 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Becker, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/799,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.24, 340/539.13, 340/996, 340/995.19, 701/211, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/995.24
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for providing location-based entertainment. In one embodiment, a device capable of providing location-based entertainment comprises a navigational interface module configured to receive navigational data, an entertainment selection module configured to utilize the navigational data to generate location-based entertainment content for a user, and a presentation module configured to present the location-based content to the user. The system may also include a position finding module and a routing module. In one embodiment, a method for providing location-based entertainment comprises identifying a present location of a mobile user, identifying a destination of the mobile user, determining a travel route of the mobile user based on the present location and the destination of the mobile user, providing navigational data according to the travel route, generating a location-based entertainment content for a user utilizing the navigational data, and presenting the location-based content to the user.

Claims

1. An entertainment system for providing location-based entertainment in an identified commuting route, the entertainment system comprising:

a navigational interface module configured to obtain navigational data from a user;

an entertainment selection module configured to utilize the navigational data received from the user, including a plurality of locations on the identified commuting route, to generate a location-based entertainment content including a story or an interactive game having a subject matter for the user while in commute from a past location to a future location on the identified commuting route, the location-based entertainment content including an entertainment specific to the plurality of locations on the identified commuting route determined based on the navigational data, wherein the plurality of locations include the past location and the future location on the identified commuting route, and wherein the entertainment selection module is further configured such that a user selected location from the plurality of locations is used to select the location-based entertainment content, including the story or the interactive game having a subject matter uniquely associated with the user selected location or a point of interest proximate the user selected location, from a plurality of location-based entertainment contents in a database, and wherein the entertainment selection module is further configured to provide the selected location-based entertainment content using one or more animated characters, which are uniquely associated with the user selected location or the point of interest proximate the user selected location; and

a presentation module configured to present the location-based entertainment content to the user.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the navigational data is provided by a vehicle navigation system.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment system is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable gaming console, a digital media player, or a portable computer.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising a virtual steering accessory for an interactive use of the location-based entertainment content.

5. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising a position finding module configured to provide the navigational data.

6. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the position finding module comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

7. The entertainment system of claim 1 further comprising a routing module configured to determine the identified commuting route.

8. A method for use by an entertainment system for providing location-based entertainment in an identified commuting route, the method comprising:

obtaining navigational data from a user using the entertainment system having a controller;

utilizing, using the entertainment system having the controller, the navigational data received from the user, including a plurality of locations on the identified commuting route, to generate a location-based entertainment content including a story or an interactive game having a subject matter for the user while in commute from a past location to a future location on the identified commuting route, the location-based entertainment content including an entertainment specific to the plurality of locations on the identified commuting route determined based on the navigational data, wherein the plurality of locations include the past location and the future location on the identified commuting route, and wherein the entertainment selection module uses a user selected location from the plurality of locations to select the location-based entertainment content, including the story or the interactive game having a subject matter uniquely associated with the user selected location or a point of interest proximate the user selected location, from a plurality of location-based entertainment contents in a database and provides the selected location-based entertainment content using one or more animated characters, which are uniquely associated with the user selected location or the point of interest proximate the user selected location; and

presenting, using the entertainment system having the controller, the location-based entertainment content to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the navigational data is provided by a vehicle navigation system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the entertainment system is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable gaming console, a digital media player, or a portable computer.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising utilizing a virtual steering accessory for an interactive use of the location-based entertainment content.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising utilizing a position finding module of the entertainment system configured to provide the navigational data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the position finding module comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising utilizing a routing module configured of the entertainment system to determine the identified commuting route.