Location-based mobile gaming application and method for implementing the same using a scalable tiered geocast protocol

• US 8,355,410 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• 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: Hall, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, ANH VU H
• Application Number:
  US12/835,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/432
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location

Abstract

A method is disclosed for initiating real-time geo-game using geocast messaging according to a scalable tiered geocast protocol. The method includes a first wireless terminal (WT), programmed with a geo-gaming application and the scalable tiered geocast protocol, geocasting a game declaration to a destination geocast region containing potential participants. The method also includes a second WT, of one of the potential participants, and programmed with the geo-gaming application and the scalable tiered geocast protocol, receiving the game declaration in the destination geocast region and responding by geocasting a response message indicating interest in participating in the real-time geo-game.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a virtual game object from a first player to a second player of a real-time geo-game using geocast messaging according to a scalable tiered geocast protocol, the method comprising:

a first processor of a first wireless terminal (WT) receiving a first action input from a first user and, in response to receiving the first action input;

generating a first geocast data packet for sending the virtual game object toward a second WT, the first geocast data packet including;

a first destination geocast region including the second WT; and

first movement information indicating first movement characteristics of the virtual game object; and

geocasting the first geocast data packet to the first destination geocast region according to transmission heuristics of the scalable tiered geocast protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate WT receiving and, according to the transmission heuristics of the tiered geocast protocol, retransmitting the first geocast data packet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the first processor causing a display of the first WT to show a representation of at least one virtual game characteristic selected from a group of virtual game characteristics consisting of:

(i) a portion of a first playing field associated with the first WT;

(ii) a portion of a second playing field associated with the second WT;

(iii) the first player moving with respect to the first playing field, and

(iv) the second player moving with respect to the second playing field.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first processor, in causing the display of the first WT to show the representation of at least one virtual game characteristic, shows the characteristics with representation of an actual environment in which the first WT is being operated to create an augmented reality experience for the first user using the first WT.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second processor, of the second WT:

receiving the first geocast data packet; and

determining if a present geographic location of the second WT bears a predetermined relationship to a first impact location provided in the first movement information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the second WT includes a second memory; and

the method further comprises the second processor, if the second processor determines that the present geographic location of the second WT does not bear the predetermined relationship to the first impact location, performing at least one step of;

(i) recording a score for the first WT in the second memory; and

(ii) the second processor including, in a subsequent data packet, indication of the score for the first WT, and geocasting the subsequent data packet to the first WT according to transmission heuristics of the scalable tiered geocast protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second processor, in including, in the subsequent data packet, indication of the score for the first WT, and geocasting the subsequent data packet to the first WT according to transmission heuristics of the tiered geocast protocol, determines whether to transmit on a first tier network or a second tier network, and the method further comprises:

the first processor receiving the subsequent data packet from the second WT, and the first processor recording the score for the first WT in a first memory of the first WT.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the second WT, in response to the second processor determining that the present geographic location of the second WT bears the predetermined relationship to the first impact location, returning the virtual game object toward the first WT, including the second processor;

generating a second geocast data packet for returning the virtual game object toward the first WT, the second geocast data packet including;

a second destination geocast region including the first WT; and

second movement information indicating second movement characteristics of the virtual game object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the second processor, in returning the game object toward the first WT;

receives input corresponding to a second action input from a second user, using the second WT, the input from the second user determining at least one of a trajectory and a pace at which the game object will virtually translate toward a second impact location; and

the second processor, in generating the second geocast data packet, includes in the second geocast data packet information indicating at least one of the trajectory and the pace.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second WT includes an inertial measurement unit sensing motion of the second WT, and the second processor, in receiving input corresponding to the second action, receives input from the inertial measurement unit corresponding to a movement of the second WT caused by the second user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the input from the second user causes the second processor to include in the second data packet trajectory information representing one of:

a laterally-curving trajectory for the game object toward a second impact location; and

a substantially straight trajectory for the game object toward the second impact location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the first processor causing a display of the first WT to show a representation of the virtual game object moving according to the trajectory information toward the second impact location.

13. The method of claim 1, further including:

the first processor receiving a second action input from the first user and, in response to receiving the second action input;

generating a second geocast data packet for sending the virtual game object toward a third WT, the second geocast data packet including;

a third destination geocast region including the third WT and differing from the first destination geocast region and the second geocast region; and

third movement information indicating third movement characteristics of the virtual game object; and

geocasting the third geocast data packet according to transmission heuristics of the tiered geocast protocol, including determining on which network tier to transmit.

14. A wireless terminal comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a first action input from a first user of the wireless terminal and, in response to receiving the first action input;

generating a first geocast data packet for sending a virtual game object toward a second wireless terminal, the first geocast data packet including;

a first destination geocast region including the second wireless terminal; and

first movement information indicating first movement characteristics of the virtual game object; and

geocasting the first geocast data packet to the first destination geocast region according to transmission heuristics of a scalable tiered geocast protocol.

15. The wireless terminal of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

causing a display of the wireless terminal to show a representation of at least one virtual game characteristic comprising at least one of;

a portion of a first playing field associated with the wireless terminal;

a portion of a second playing field associated with a second wireless terminal;

a first player moving with respect to a first playing field, or

a second player moving with respect to a second playing field.

16. The wireless terminal of claim 15, wherein causing the display of the wireless terminal to show the representation of at least one virtual game characteristic, shows a representation of an actual environment in which the wireless terminal is being operated to create an augmented reality experience for the first user using the wireless terminal.

17. A memory having executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving a first action input from a first user of a first wireless terminal and, in response to receiving the first action input;

generating a first geocast data packet for sending a virtual game object toward a second wireless terminal, the first geocast data packet including;

a first destination geocast region including the second wireless terminal; and

first movement information indicating first movement characteristics of the virtual game object; and

geocasting the first geocast data packet to the first destination geocast region according to transmission heuristics of a scalable tiered geocast protocol.

18. The memory of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

causing a display of the first wireless terminal to show a representation of at least one virtual game characteristic comprising at least one of;

a portion of a first playing field associated with the first wireless terminal;

a portion of a second playing field associated with the second wireless terminal;

a first player moving with respect to a first playing field, or

a second player moving with respect to a second playing field.

19. The memory of claim 18, wherein causing the display of the first wireless terminal to show the representation of at least one virtual game characteristic, shows a representation of an actual environment in which the first wireless terminal is being operated to create an augmented reality experience for the first user using the first wireless terminal.