Method and system for providing virtual throwing of objects

• US 9,289,685 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Devin C., Thompson, Wade Peebles
• Primary Examiner(s): Galka, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US13/299,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/52, 463/53, 463/57
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/70 Game security or game management aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883

Abstract

An approach for providing virtual throwing of objects is described. Execution of virtually throwing an object as represented by a first application on a first mobile device is detected. Throwing data for the object using sensor information and location information of the first mobile device is determined. A second mobile device is selected as a candidate to virtually catch the object as represented by a second application on the second mobile device based on the throwing data and location information of the second mobile device. A successful catch of the object by the second mobile device is determined based on the throwing data and the location information of the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, via a processor, execution of virtually throwing an object as represented by a first application on a first mobile device, wherein an intended recipient of the object is unknown to the first mobile device at the time of virtually throwing the object;

determining, via the processor, at the time of the virtually throwing the object, throwing data for the object using sensor information and location information of the first mobile device;

transmitting, via communication interface, the throwing data to an application platform;

selecting, via another processor at the application platform, a second mobile device as a candidate to virtually catch the object, as represented by a second application on the second mobile device, based on the throwing data and location information of the second mobile device;

determining, via the other processor, a successful catch of the object by the second mobile device based on the throwing data and the location information of the second mobile device;

tracking a number of successful catches by a plurality of mobile devices that have been selected as candidates;

comparing the number of successful catches to a maximum threshold number; and

terminating the virtually throwing the object when the maximum threshold number of successful catches is reached,

wherein the throwing data includes angle information, speed information, timing information, and acceleration information, and

wherein the application platform is remote from both the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification message for transmission to the first application, wherein the notification message specifies the successful catch, and the second application indicates the successful catch at the second mobile device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first application receives input from a user of the first mobile device to form the throwing data, and the second application receives input from a user of the second mobile device to form catching data for determining the successful catch.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the applications are gaming applications and the users are players.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

attributing a reward point to the second mobile device for the successful catch.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining trajectory data for the object using the throwing data, wherein the trajectory data is used to select the candidate.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining a catch area associated with the second mobile device and a user of the second mobile device.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detect execution of virtually throwing an object as represented by a first application on a first mobile device, wherein an intended recipient of the object is unknown to the first mobile device at the time of virtually throwing the object;

determine, at the time of the virtually throwing the object, throwing data for the object using sensor information and location information of the first mobile device;

transmit the throwing data to an application platform;

select at the application platform a second mobile device as a candidate to virtually catch the object, as represented by a second application on the second mobile device, based on the throwing data and location information of the second mobile device;

determine a successful catch of the object by the second mobile device based on the throwing data and the location information of the second mobile device;

track a number of successful catches by a plurality of mobile devices that have been selected as candidates;

compare the number of successful catches to a maximum threshold number; and

terminate the virtually throwing the object when the maximum threshold number of successful catches is reached,

wherein the throwing data includes angle information, speed information, timing information, and acceleration information, and

wherein the application platform is remote from both the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a notification message for transmission to the first application, wherein the notification message specifies the successful catch, and the second application indicates the successful catch at the second mobile device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first application receives input from a user of the first mobile device to form the throwing data, and the second application receives input from a user of the second mobile device to form catching data for determining the successful catch.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the applications are gaming applications and the users are players.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

attribute a reward point to the second mobile device for the successful catch.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine trajectory data for the object using the throwing data, wherein the trajectory data is used to select the candidate.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

define a catch area associated with the second mobile device and a user of the second mobile device.

15. A method comprising:

executing, via a processor, an application on a mobile device to virtually throw an object, wherein an intended recipient of the object is unknown to the mobile device at the time of virtually throwing the object;

generating, via the processor, at the time of virtually throwing the object, throwing data using sensor information and location information of the mobile device;

transmitting, via communication interface, the throwing data to an application platform for selecting, via another processor at the application platform, a candidate device to virtually catch the object based on the throwing data and location information of the candidate device;

tracking a number of successful catches by a plurality of mobile devices that have been selected as candidates,

comparing the number of successful catches to a maximum threshold number; and

terminating the virtually throwing the object when the maximum threshold number of successful catches is reached,

wherein the throwing data is transmitted to the application platform without any prior communication being directed from the mobile device to any other mobile device that is selected as the candidate device to virtually catch the object,

wherein the throwing data includes angle information, speed information, timing information, and acceleration information, and

wherein the application platform is remote from both the first mobile device and the candidate device.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the object is presented as an image on a display of the mobile device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

execute an application on a mobile device to virtually throw an object, wherein an intended recipient of the object is unknown to the mobile device at the time of virtually throwing the object;

generate, at the time of virtually throwing the object, throwing data using sensor information and location information of the mobile device;

transmit the throwing data to an application platform for selecting at the application platform a candidate device to virtually catch the object based on the throwing data and location information of the candidate device;

track a number of successful catches by a plurality of mobile devices that have been selected as candidates;

compare the number of successful catches to a maximum threshold number; and

terminate the virtually throwing the object when the maximum threshold number of successful catches is reached,

wherein the throwing data is transmitted to the application platform without any prior communication being directed from the mobile device to any other mobile device that is selected as the candidate device to virtually catch the object,

wherein the throwing data includes angle information, speed information, timing information, and acceleration information, and

wherein the application platform is remote from both the first mobile device and the candidate device.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the object is presented as an image on a display of the mobile device.