Video game including user determined location information

• US 8,715,087 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David W Rouille
• Inventors: Rouille, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/438,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20120264518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 463/31, 345/629, 345/632
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for a video game including user determined location information is presented. Location information (e.g. GPS, Google Maps, an entered address or the like) determined by a user of a video game is acquired. Then user determined location information relating to a physical location determined by the user is mapped to a video game environment wherein the user of the video game experiences objects from the users entered location while playing the video game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving information about a real world physical location for a user of a video game;

obtaining user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user, said user determined location information comprising continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location and of an area surrounding said real world physical location; and

mapping said user determined location information into a video game environment wherein the user of said video game experiences objects from the entered real world physical location, wherein said user traverses said video game environment while playing said video game, wherein said user of said video game is stationary in said real world and wherein all images acquired from said continuous pre-recorded actual video remains exactly as presented in the real physical world into the video game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving information about a real world physical location for a user of a video game includes at least one of a group consisting of receiving an address provided by said user and receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) information relating to a physical location of said user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising saving said user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said user determined location information includes streets, buildings, and points of interest near said real world physical location used by said user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said video game is playable on at least one of a group consisting of a gaming platform, a computer, a hand-held gaming system, a cellular telephone and a tablet.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising playing said video game, wherein during said playing of said video game, said user encounters objects from said real world physical location determined by said user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said user also encounters objects that are not part of said continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for a video game including local content, the medium including instructions in which a computer system performs operations comprising:

receiving information about a real world physical location for a user of a video game;

obtaining user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user, said user determined location information comprising continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location and of an area surrounding said real world physical location; and

mapping said user determined location information into a video game environment wherein the user of said video game experiences objects from the users entered real world physical location, wherein said user traverses said video game environment while playing said video game, wherein said user of said video game is stationary in said real world, and wherein all images acquired from said continuous pre-recorded actual video remains exactly as presented in the real physical world into the video game.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein said instructions for receiving information about a real world physical location for a user of a video game includes at least one of a group consisting of receiving an address provided by said user and receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) information relating to a physical location of said user.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions for saving said user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein said user determined location information includes streets, buildings, and points of interest near said real world physical location determined by said user.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein said video game is playable on at least one of a group consisting of a gaming platform, a computer, a hand-held gaming system, a cellular telephone and a tablet.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions for playing said video game, wherein during said playing of said video game, said user encounters objects from said real world physical location determined by said user.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 further comprising instructions wherein said user also encounters objects that are not part of said continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location.

15. A computer system comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and

wherein the memory is encoded with an application providing a video game including local content, that when performed on the processor, provides a process for processing information, the process causing the computer system to perform the operations of;

receiving information about a real world physical location for a user of a video game;

obtaining user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user, said user determined location information comprising continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location and of an area surrounding said real world physical location; and

mapping said user determined location information into a video game environment wherein the user of said video game experiences objects from the users entered real world physical location, wherein said user traverses said video game environment while playing said video game, wherein said user of said video game is stationary in said real world and wherein all images acquired from said continuous pre-recorded actual video remains exactly as presented in the real physical world into the video game.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said receiving information about a location for a user of a video game includes at least one of the group consisting of receiving an address provided by said user and receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) information relating to a physical location of said user.

17. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising performing an operation of saving said user determined location information relating to said real world physical location determined by said user.

18. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said user determined location information includes streets, buildings, and points of interest near said real world physical location determined by said user.

19. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said computer system is selected from a group consisting of a gaming platform, a computer, a hand-held gaming system, a cellular telephone and a tablet.

20. The computer system of claim 15 wherein said user also encounters objects that are not part of said continuous pre-recorded actual video of said real world physical location.