Simulated shooting system and method

• US 9,504,907 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactical Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tactical Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Carter, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/498,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 434 11- 26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74

Abstract

A shooting simulation system. The system includes a plurality of communication devices with each communication device associated with a separate player. In addition, each mobile phone includes an A-GPS device for determining a location indicia of the communication device and a mechanism for communicating the location indicia to a network. A game server communicates with the network for relaying the location indicia of each communication device to all of the communication devices. Each communication device includes a mechanism for determining a directional orientation of the communication device when aimed and a processor for determining if a simulated targeting of another player is a hit or miss based on the location indicia of a shooting communication device, the location indicia of a communication device of a targeted player, and the directional orientation of the shooting communication device.

Claims

1. A shooting simulation system, the system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices, each communication device associated with a separate player, wherein each communication device includes an Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) device for determining a location indicia of the communication device and a mechanism for communicating the location indicia to a network, the location indicia providing a location of the communication device;

a game server communicating with the network for relaying the location indicia of each communication device to the plurality of communication devices;

wherein each communication device includes a mechanism for determining a directional orientation of the communication device when aimed;

wherein a shooting communication device targeting a targeted player having a targeted communication device receives location indicia of the targeted communication device; and

a shooting processor within the communications device for determining if a simulated targeting of another player is a hit or miss based on the location indicia of a shooting communication device, the location indicia of the targeted communication device of the targeted player received from the game server, and the directional orientation of the shooting communication device;

the shooting processor within the shooting communication device determining a hit or miss of the targeting of another player and providing immediate feedback of a hit or miss to a shooting of the shooting communication device.

2. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device is a mobile phone.

3. The shooting simulation system according to claim 2 wherein the mobile phone includes a case for holding the mobile phone.

4. The shooting simulation system according to claim 3 wherein the case includes a pistol grip located on a lower surface of the case.

5. The shooting simulation system according to claim 4 wherein the grip includes a trigger.

6. The shooting simulation system according to claim 5 wherein the trigger is configured to indicate a trigger actuation for targeting.

7. The shooting simulation system according to claim 6 wherein the trigger is electronically coupled to the mobile phone.

8. The shooting simulation system according to claim 5 wherein the trigger passively provides a trigger actuation for targeting without an electronic connection between the trigger and the mobile phone.

9. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides aural feedback of a hit or miss of a targeting by the shooting communication device.

10. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides visual feedback of a hit or miss of a targeting by the shooting communication device.

11. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device of the targeted player provides aural feedback to the targeted player upon receiving notice of a hit of the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

12. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device of the targeted player provides visual feedback to the targeted player upon receiving notice of a hit of the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

13. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the game server provides a hit criteria for a hit or miss of a targeted player.

14. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the targeting simulates direct firing of a firearm at a target.

15. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the targeting simulates targeting by indirect fire for striking a targeted player.

16. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein each communication device includes a camera for capturing images.

17. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the indicia includes an identification of a communication device of a targeted player.

18. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein each communication device provides information of a location of a communication device of another player.

19. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the network is a telecommunications network.

20. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the network is a Wi-Fi network.

21. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the game server informs the communication device of the target player of a hit of a simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.

22. The shooting simulation system according to claim 1 wherein the shooting communication device provides a hit criteria for a hit or miss of a targeted player.

23. A method of simulating targeting a target, the method comprising the steps of:

carrying a shooting communication device by a first player and a targeted communication device by a targeted second player;

determining a geographic location of the shooting communication device;

determining a geographic location of the targeted communication device;

relaying the geographic location of the targeted communication device to the shooting communication device through a network;

aiming and targeting the second player by the shooting communication device;

determining an orientation of the aimed shooting communication device;

determining, by a shooting processor of the shooting communication device, if the targeting is a hit based on the orientation of the aimed shooting communication device and the location of the targeted communication device; and

providing immediate feedback of a hit or miss to a shooting player of the shooting communication device.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of relaying the geographic location of the targeted communication device includes relaying the geographic location to a game server communicating with the network.

25. The method according to claim 23 therein the network is a Wi-Fi network.

26. The method according to claim 23 wherein the network is a telecommunications network.

27. The method according to claim 23 wherein the shooting communication device and the targeted communication device are mobile phones.

28. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of aiming and targeting the second player includes simulating firing of a firearm at a target.

29. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of aiming and targeting the second player includes simulating targeting for a notional airborne drone to strike the second player.

30. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of informing the communication device of the targeted player of a hit from the simulated targeting by the shooting communication device.