Systems and methods for filtering communication within a location-based game

• US 9,226,106 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Niantic, Inc.
• Inventors: Kornmann, David, Aubin, Mark A., Nijamkin, Alejandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US13/955,171
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-4221, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/457, 463/1, 463 42- 43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• 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

Systems and methods for filtering communication within a location-based game are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtering communication for a location-based game is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a computing device, communication data for a plurality of players associated with the location based-game. The method further includes filtering the communication data for each player based on one or more signals associated with the respective player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of filtering communication for a location-based game, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, communication data for a plurality of players associated with the location based-game, the location based game comprising a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world such that the plurality of players continuously navigate the virtual world as the players continuously navigate the real world; and

filtering, by the one or more computing devices, the communication data for each player based on one or more signals associated with the respective player, the communication data comprising one or more messages between the plurality of players associated with the location-based game; and

adjusting, by the one or more computing devices, the filtered communication data for each player based on one or more constraints associated with each respective player;

wherein the one or more signals associated with the respective player comprise one or more of location data, player level data, real world contacts data, custom team data, game social graph data, potential portal capture team members data, portal subscription data, following a player data, game mode data, game territory data, portal linking data, distress data, game actions data, target acquisition call data, game entity message data, game character message data, spy mode data, stealth mode data, view zoom level data, or combinations thereof.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more signals comprise one or more of a player'"'"'s location, a player'"'"'s affinity for certain game elements, a player'"'"'s context within which the game is being played, or combinations thereof.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more constraints comprises continuation of a communication from a player for which a communication is ongoing.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more signals associated with each respective player are ranked based on a profile associated with the player.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein one or more players have two or more different profiles.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the communication data is filtered for each player based on two or more signals associated with the respective player.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for execution by one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to perform operations for providing a parallel reality game, the operations comprising:

receiving communication data for a plurality of players associated with the location based-game, the location based game comprising a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world such that the plurality of players continuously navigate the virtual world as the players continuously navigate the real world; and

filtering the communication data for each player based on one or more signals associated with the respective player, the communication data comprising one or more messages between the plurality of players associated with the location-based game;

adjusting the filtered communication data for each player based on one or more constraints associated with each respective player;

wherein the one or more signals associated with the respective player comprise one or more of location data, player level data, real world contacts data, custom team data, game social graph data, potential portal capture team members data, portal subscription data, following a player data, game mode data, game territory data, portal linking data, distress data, game actions data, target acquisition call data, game entity message data, game character message data, spy mode data, stealth mode data, view zoom level data, or combinations thereof.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more signals comprise a player'"'"'s location, a player'"'"'s affinity for certain game elements, a player'"'"'s context within which the game is being played, or combinations thereof.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more constraints comprise continuation of a communication from a player for which a communication is ongoing.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein one or more players have two or more different profiles.

11. A computer-based system for filtering communication for a location-based game, the system comprising:

a game server operable to host a location-based game, the game server having one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, one or more processors, and a network interface, the game server in communication with a game database storing game data associated with one or more landmarks, the one or more landmarks linked to virtual elements in the location-based game, the game server operable to;

receive, via the network interface, communication data for a plurality of players associated with the location based-game, the location based game comprising a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world such that the plurality of players continuously navigate the virtual world as the players continuously navigate the real world; and

filter the communication data for each player based on one or more signals associated with the respective player, the communication data comprising one or more messages between the plurality of players associated with the location-based game;

adjust the filtered communication data for each player based on one or more constraints associated with each respective player;

wherein the one or more signals associated with the respective player comprise one or more of location data, player level data, real world contacts data, custom team data, game social graph data, potential portal capture team members data, portal subscription data, following a player data, game mode data, game territory data, portal linking data, distress data, game actions data, target acquisition call data, game entity message data, game character message data, spy mode data, stealth mode data, view zoom level data, or combinations thereof.

12. The computer-based system of claim 11, wherein the communication data is filtered for each player based on two or more signals associated with the respective player.