System and method for transporting virtual objects in a parallel reality game

• US 8,968,099 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Aubin, Mark A., Kornmann, David, Hanke, John V., Milner, Marius, Golden, Keith P., Stern, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/666,045
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 463 31- 42, 273/292
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

Systems and methods of transporting virtual objects through a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game are provided. The virtual world has a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world. A method includes accessing at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of a real world carrier. The method further includes modifying game data associated with the parallel reality to transport at least one virtual object through the virtual world, such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based, at least in part, on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier. Other implementations are directed to systems, apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable media, devices, and user interfaces for transporting virtual objects in a location-based parallel reality game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of transporting virtual objects in a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game, the virtual world having a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a first request to transfer a virtual object from a first player of the parallel reality game to a virtual counterpart of a real world carrier;

in response to the first request, transferring, by the one or more computing devices, the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier;

after transferring the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier, accessing, by the one or more computing devices, at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of the real world carrier, wherein the real world carrier comprises a real world vehicle;

modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based at least in part on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier and such that the virtual object is transported through the virtual world without requiring corresponding movement through the real world by the first player of the parallel reality game;

after modifying the game date associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world, receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a second request to transfer the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to a second player of the parallel reality game; and

in response to the second request, transferring, by the one or more computing devices, the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to the second player,

whereby the first player can transfer ownership of the virtual object to the second player without requiring the first player and the second player to be in physical proximity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the location of a real world carrier comprises positional data determined by a positioning system associated with the real world carrier.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the location of a real world carrier comprises an estimated location of the real world carrier determined using a schedule or timetable associated with the real world carrier.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the location of a real world carrier comprises an estimated location of the real world carrier determined using a delivery estimate associated with the real world carrier.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the location of a real world carrier comprises data concerning average transportation times and routes associated with the real world carrier.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transferring, by the one or more computing devices, the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to the second player comprises:

modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to transfer the virtual object to the second player.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the one or more computing devices, prior to modifying game data associated with the parallel reality game to transfer the virtual object to the second player, eligibility of the second player to receive transfer of the virtual object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein eligibility of the second player to receive transfer of the virtual object is determined based upon data indicating that the second player is located within a determined distance from the real world carrier.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein eligibility of the second player to receive transfer of the virtual object is determined based upon the status of a virtual lock associated with the virtual object.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to generate the virtual object prior to modifying game data to transport the virtual object.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based at least in part on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier comprises modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to distribute the virtual object such that the position in the virtual world at which the virtual object is distributed is based at least in part on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier.

12. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first request from a user to effectuate transfer of one or more virtual objects to a virtual counter-part of a real world carrier, the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier existing in a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game, the virtual world having a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world;

sending to a host server the first request to transfer the one or more virtual objects to the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier;

receiving from the host server modified game data reflecting a first transfer of the one or more virtual objects to the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier;

presenting a modified user interface reflecting the first transfer of the one or more virtual objects to the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier;

receiving from the host server modified game data reflecting transportation of the one or more virtual objects in the virtual world based on data associated with the location of the real world carrier, wherein the transportation of the one or more virtual objects through the virtual world is based on the location of the real world carrier and not the location of the user;

presenting a modified user interface reflecting the transportation of the one or more virtual objects in the virtual world;

receiving from the host server modified game data reflecting a second transfer of the one or more virtual objects from the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier to a player of the parallel reality game, wherein the second transfer was effectuated in response to a second request from the player of the parallel reality game to effectuate transfer of the one or more virtual objects the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier to the player; and

presenting a modified user interface reflecting the second transfer of the one or more virtual objects to the player of the parallel reality game;

whereby the user can transfer ownership of the one or more virtual objects to the player of the parallel reality game without requiring the user and the player to be in physical proximity.

13. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12 wherein the operations further comprise:

sending to the host server data which indicates eligibility to request the first transfer of the one or more virtual objects to the virtual counter-part of the real world carrier.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data which indicates eligibility comprises data indicating that the machine is located with a determined distance from the real world carrier.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data which indicates eligibility comprises data indicating that the user has completed an objective.

16. A computer-based system for implementing a parallel reality game, the computer-based system comprising:

a game server operable to host a parallel reality game, the game server having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, the parallel reality game providing a virtual world having a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world;

the game server operable to provide, via a network interface, game data associated with the parallel reality game to a plurality of remote computing devices;

wherein the game server is configured to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a first request to transfer a virtual object from a first player of the parallel reality game to the virtual counterpart of a real world carrier;

in response to the first request, transferring the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier;

after transferring the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier, accessing at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of the real world carrier;

modifying game data associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world such that the virtual object is transported through the virtual world according to corresponding movement of the real world carrier through the real world and without requiring corresponding movement by the first player of the parallel reality game through the real world;

after modifying the game data to transport the virtual object through the virtual world, receiving a second request to transfer the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to a second player of the parallel reality game; and

in response to the second request, transferring the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to the second player;

whereby the first player can transfer ownership of the virtual object to the second player without requiring the first player and the second player to be in physical proximity.

17. The computer-based system for implementing a parallel reality game of claim 16, wherein the data associated with the location of a real world carrier comprises positional data determined by a positioning system associated with the real world carrier.

18. The computer-based system for implementing a parallel reality game of claim 16, wherein the game server is further configured to modify game data associated with the parallel reality game to transfer the virtual object to a recipient.

19. The computer-based system for implementing a parallel reality game of claim 16, wherein modifying game data associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world such that the virtual object is transported through the virtual world according to corresponding movement of the real world carrier through the real world and without requiring corresponding movement by the first player of the parallel reality game through the real world comprises modifying game data associated with the parallel reality game to distribute selected of a plurality of virtual objects throughout the virtual world such that the position of each of the plurality of virtual objects is based at least in part on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier.