Integrating real time data into virtual settings

• US 8,651,868 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• 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: Kuhtz, Christian, Kreiner, Barrett M., Wright, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAGE, EVAN RANDALL
• Application Number:
  US13/687,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20130084997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/69
• US Class Current: 434/69
• 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: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

Data from live events is incorporated into virtual simulations and games. The data may be obtained from various sensors and transferred over a network. However, should one of the participants be a threat, then portions of the virtual simulations and games may be disabled to protect the other participants.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing communication between a server executing a gaming simulation program and participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

establishing a single voice channel between all the participants of the simulation program;

retrieving data obtained from a sensor;

incorporating the data into the gaming simulation program;

retrieving profiles associated with the participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

retrieving an indication from one of the profiles that one participant is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel in response to the indication of the child predator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving the data comprises retrieving the data from a camera.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving the data comprises retrieving the data from a microphone.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving the data comprises retrieving the data from a temperature sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein retrieving the data comprises retrieving the data from a fuel level sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising correlating movements of an object in the gaming simulation program to the data.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

pre-programming different audio noises in the gaming simulation promgram; and

receiving a selection from one of the participant devices of one of the different audio noises.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising incorporating the selection as the data into the gaming simulation program.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

establishing communication between a server executing a gaming simulation program and participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

establishing a single voice channel between all the participant devices of the simulation program;

retrieving data obtained from a sensor;

incorporating the data into the gaming simulation program;

retrieving profiles associated with the participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

retrieving an indication from one of the profiles that one participant is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel in response to the indication of the child predator.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a camera.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a microphone.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a temperature sensor.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a fuel level sensor.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise correlating movements of an object in the gaming simulation program to the data.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

pre-programming different audio noises in the gaming simulation program; and

receiving a selection from one of the participant devices of one of the different audio noises.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise incorporating the selection as the data into the gaming simulation program.

17. A memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

establishing communication between a server executing a gaming simulation program and participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

establishing a single voice channel between all the participant devices of the simulation program;

retrieving data obtained from a sensor;

incorporating the data into the gaming simulation program;

retrieving profiles associated with the participant devices of the gaming simulation program;

retrieving an indication from one of the profiles that one participant is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel in response to the indication of the child predator.

18. The memory according to claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a camera.

19. The memory according to claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a microphone.

20. The memory according to claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the data from a temperature sensor.