Customizable in-vehicle gaming system

• US 9,266,018 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Story, Guy Ashley Jr., Bavitz, Graham James, Goldsmid, Aaron Payne, Goldstein, Douglas Scott, Hwang, Douglas Cho, Spector, Pamela R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Application Number:
  US13/752,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/23, 434/322, 434/350, 434/362, 273429-432
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• 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 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• 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

Abstract

An in-vehicle gaming system may be played by a driver alone, or simultaneously or individually by a driver and/or one or more other users. The in-vehicle gaming system may be activated or controlled by, for example, touch, voice, or gesture. Gameplay is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental factors such that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle. Game content is generated based at least in part on environmental factors and user data.

Claims

1. A system for in-vehicle gaming comprising:

an electronic data store configured to store items of gameplay content;

a sensor of a vehicle, the sensor configured to obtain data related to each user of a plurality of users in the vehicle;

a user input device of the vehicle, the user input device configured to receive user input; and

a computing device in communication with the sensor, the user input device, and the electronic data store, the computing device configured to;

identify each user, of the plurality of users in the vehicle, from data obtained from the sensor that is related to the user;

determine, for each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle, at least one item of information related to consumable content previously acquired by the user;

detect, from among the items of information, at least one common item of information common to at least two of the plurality of users;

determine an item of gameplay content to retrieve from the electronic data store based at least in part on the at least one common item of information;

retrieve the item of gameplay content;

cause presentation, to the plurality of users, of the item of gameplay content; and

receive, via the user input device, input from at least one user of the plurality of users in response to the item of gameplay content being presented.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is embedded in the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine an item of gameplay content to retrieve by:

determining the item of gameplay content to retrieve further based at least in part on the at least one common item of information and a characteristic common to the at least two of the plurality of users, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of;

an age, an education level, an interest, a language, a location, an other item of content acquired, an item of consumed content, an item acquired, or a theme.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

modify the item of gameplay content based at least in part on at least one of;

a theme related to the at least one common item of information, a fact related to the at least one common item of information, a difficulty level, a presentation format, a genre, or a gameplay type.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data related to the user is detected by at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors of the vehicle, the first sensor configured to detect at least one of:

a position of the user in the vehicle,

an adjustment of a seat of the user in the vehicle, or

a mobile device carried by the user in the vehicle.

6. A computer-implemented method for modifying an in-vehicle game, the computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific computer executable instructions,

causing presentation of a game to a plurality of users in a vehicle;

receiving, from a sensor of a vehicle, data related to each user of a plurality of users in the vehicle, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain data related to each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle;

identifying each user, of the plurality of users in the vehicle, from data that is related to the user and received from the sensor;

determining, for each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle, at least one item of information related to consumable content previously acquired by the user;

detecting, from among the items of information, at least one common item of information common to at least two of the plurality of users;

modifying the game presented in the vehicle based at least in part on the at least one common item of information for continued gameplay; and

receiving, via a user input device of the vehicle, input from at least one user of the plurality of users in response to the game being presented.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the at least two of the plurality of users comprises at least one of:

all of the plurality of users, a majority of the plurality of users, a minority of the plurality of users, users of the plurality of users of a particular age, or users of the plurality of users of a particular age group.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein modifying the game presented in the vehicle further comprises:

modifying the game presented in the vehicle further based at least in part on the at least one common item of information and a characteristic common to the at least two of the plurality of users, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of;

an age, an education level, an interest, a language, a location, an other item of content acquired, an item of consumed content, an item acquired, or a theme.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein modifying the game presented in the vehicle further comprises:

selecting a gameplay feature including at least one of;

a theme related to the at least one common item of information, a fact related to the at least one common item of information, a difficulty level, a presentation format, a genre, or a gameplay type;

updating the game so as to implement the gameplay feature into the gameplay; and

causing presentation of the updated game to the plurality of users in the vehicle.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the game is presented in the vehicle in at least one of an aural presentation format, a visual presentation format, or a tactile presentation format.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the input received from the at least one user of the plurality of users is at least one of voice, touch, or gesture.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the data related to the user is detected by at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors of the vehicle, the first sensor configured to detect at least one of:

a position of the user in the vehicle,

an adjustment of a seat of the user in the vehicle, or

a mobile device carried by the user in the vehicle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the consumable content includes at least one of:

a book, an e-book, an audiobook, a movie, a television program, an item of music, or a video game.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein at least a first user of the plurality of users is operating the vehicle.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:

under control of the one or more computing devices configured with specific computer executable instructions,

monitoring one or more environmental factors related to the vehicle while the vehicle is in operation and as the game is presented to the first user operating the vehicle; and

further modifying the game presented in the vehicle based at least in part on the one more environmental factors while the vehicle is in operation.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the one or more environmental factors includes a driving history of the first user operating the vehicle.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein further modifying the game further comprises:

determining a distraction index indicative of a distraction level of the first user operating the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more environmental factors; and

updating the game based at least in part on the distraction index so as to improve the distraction index.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first user operating the vehicle is interacting with the game presented in the vehicle as the vehicle is in operation.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer-executable module for retrieving items of gameplay content associated with an in-vehicle game, the computer-executable module being configured to:

receive, from a sensor of a vehicle, data related to each user of a plurality of users in the vehicle, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain data related to each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle;

identify each user, of a lithe plurality of users in the vehicle, from data that is related to the user and received from the sensor;

determine, for each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle, at least one item of information related to consumable content previously acquired by the user;

detect, from among the items of information, at least one common item of information common to at least two of the plurality of users;

determine an item of gameplay content to retrieve from an electronic data store based at least in part on the at least one common item of information;

retrieve the item of gameplay content;

cause presentation, to the plurality of users, of the item of gameplay content; and

receive, via a user input device of the vehicle, input from at least one user of the plurality of users in response to the item of gameplay content being presented.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the item of gameplay content is presented to at least one of the plurality of users via a computing device associated with the at least one of the plurality of users.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the input received from the at least one user of the plurality of users is at least one of voice, touch, or gesture.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein determining the item of gameplay content to retrieve is further based at least in part on the at least one common item of information and a characteristic common to the at least two of the plurality of users, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of:

an age, an education level, an interest, a language, a location, an other item of content acquired, an item of consumed content, an item acquired, or a theme.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer-executable module is further configured to:

select a gameplay feature including at least one of;

a theme related to the at least one common item of information, a fact related to the at least one common item of information, a difficulty level, a presentation format, a genre, or a gameplay type;

update the item of gameplay content so as to implement the gameplay feature into the item of gameplay content; and

cause presentation of the updated item of gameplay content to the plurality of users in the vehicle.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the data related to the user is detected by at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors of the vehicle, the first sensor configured to detect at least one of:

a position of the user in the vehicle,

an adjustment of a seat of the user in the vehicle, or

a mobile device carried by the user in the vehicle.