Interactive tracking virtual world system

• US 8,825,087 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kristan Lisa Hamill
• Original Assignee: Kristan Lisa Hamill
• Inventors: Hamill, Kristan Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US14/174,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/566, 455/414.1, 705/14, 463/31, 463/39, 715/757
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An Interactive Tracking Virtual World (ITVW) system, may be utilized with other systems accessible through the Internet and/or a communications network. The ITVW system may be operable as an online game and/or to provide a virtual environment. ITVW system users (i.e., ITVW users) may be individuals or groups, such as parents and/or their children, which utilize the ITVW system for tracking an identity within the ITVW system. The ITVW system may also include ITVW system participants (i.e., ITVW participants), such as commercial business establishments, individuals and/or other entities associated with the ITVW system. The ITVW system collects an ITVW user'"'"'s location information and location history.

Claims

1. A system configured to trigger events in a virtual space, the system comprising:

a server comprising one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a location module configured to obtain real-world location information indicating a real-world location of the first user;

a space trigger module configured to obtain event information specifying real-world location criteria that will trigger an event within a shared, interactive virtual space hosted over the internet, to compare the real-world location information for the first user with the real-world location criteria for the event, and, responsive to the real-world location information indicating the first user has satisfied the real-world location criteria for the event, triggering the event for the first user in the virtual space,

wherein the space trigger module is configured to obtain the event information for the event triggered for the first user via a graphical user interface configured to receive entry or selection of the event information from a second user that is different from the first user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program modules further comprise a notification module configured to obtain notification information specifying real-world location criteria that will trigger a notification within the virtual space, to compare the real-world location information for the first user with the real-world location criteria for the notification, and, responsive to the real-world location information indicating the first user has satisfied the real-world location criteria for the notification, transmitting a notification transmission to an observer of the first user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the real-world location criteria for the notification is different from the real-world location criteria for the event.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the real-world criteria for the notification is the same as the real-world criteria for the event.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the notification module is configured to obtain the notification information via a graphical user interface configured to receive entry or selection of the notification information from the observer.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the notification transmission includes one or more of an email, a message in a social networking platform, a message in a micro-blogging service, a text message, a phone call, or a virtual space message.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the space trigger module is configured such that the one or more impacts are only apparent in views of the virtual space provided to the first user.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the space trigger module is configured such that the one or more impacts are apparent in views of the virtual space provided to a third user.

7. A system configured to trigger events in a virtual space, the system comprising:

a server comprising one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a location module configured to obtain real-world location information indicating a real-world location of a first user;

a space trigger module configured to obtain event information specifying real-world location criteria that will trigger an event within a shared, interactive virtual space hosted over the internet, to compare the real-world location information for the first user with the real-world location criteria for the event, and, responsive to the real-world location information indicating the first user has satisfied the real-world location criteria for the event, triggering the event for the first user in the virtual space, wherein the triggering of the event results in manifestation of one or more impacts associated with the event in the virtual space for the first user, and,

wherein the space trigger module is configured to obtain the one or more impacts associated with the event for the first user within the virtual space via a graphical user interface configured to receive entry or selection of the one or more impacts from a second user.

10. A computer-implemented method of triggering events a virtual space, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

obtaining real-world location information indicating a real-world location of a first user;

obtaining event information specifying real-world location criteria that will trigger an event within a shared, interactive virtual space hosted over the internet;

comparing the real-world location information for the first user with the real-world location criteria for the event; and

responsive to the real-world location information indicating the first user has satisfied the real-world location criteria for the event, triggering the event for the first user in the virtual space, wherein the event information for the event triggered for the first user is obtained via a graphical user interface configured to receive entry or selection of the event information from the a second user that is different from the first user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining notification information specifying real-world location criteria that will trigger a notification within the virtual space;

comparing the real-world location information for the first user with the real-world location criteria for the notification; and

responsive to the real-world location information indicating the first user has satisfied the real-world location criteria for the notification, transmitting a notification transmission to an observer of the first user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the real-world location criteria for the notification is different from the real-world location criteria for the event.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the real-world criteria for the notification is the same as the real-world criteria for the event.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification information is obtained via a graphical user interface configured to receive entry or selection of the notification information from the observer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification transmission includes one or more of an email, a message in a social networking platform, a message in a micro-blogging service, a text message, a phone call, or a virtual space message.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the observer is the second user.