Systems and methods for location based games and employment of the same on location enabled devices

• US 9,662,582 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/842,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20070281766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,571 Days
• Field of Search: 463 2, 463 7, 463 31, 463 40
• 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 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/408 Peer to peer connection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

A location-based game system is provided. Such a system may take the form of any device (e.g., a wireless telephone) that includes a locating device (e.g., a GPS system).

One such location-based game may operate such that the actual, physical location of a user on a physical playfield corresponds to the location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Such location based games are referred to herein as actuality games.

In one multiplayer actuality embodiment, two game devices may communicate location, and other, information to a remote database such that the two user'"'"'s may interact on different physical playfields, but play on the same virtual playfield.

A number of wireless communications protocols, self-configuration, and auto-download software applications are also provided to optimize integration with, for example, a wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program logic provided thereon for providing a location-based game comprising:

a virtual playfield;

a first character, wherein the location of said first character in said virtual playfield is displayed on a display and is determined utilizing a first control signal from a first locating device that is based, at least in part, on a physical location determined by said first locating device; and

a second character, wherein said second character is computer controlled via artificial intelligence and said artificial intelligence utilizes said first control signal from said first locating device for controlling, at least in part, said second character; and

an impenetrable object, wherein said first locating device is operable to travel through a physical location that correlates to a virtual location of said impenetrable object on said virtual playfield, and said first character is impacted when said first character contacts said impenetrable object.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising program logic for providing a third character, wherein said third character is manually controlled.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said first locating device comprises an accelerometer.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said first locating device comprises a global positioning system.

2. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program logic provided thereon for providing a location-based game comprising:

a virtual playfield;

a first character, wherein the location of said first character in said virtual playfield is displayed on a display of a portable device and is determined utilizing a first control signal from a first locating device of said portable device that is based, at least in part, on a physical location determined by said first locating device;

a second character, wherein said second character is computer controlled via artificial intelligence and said artificial intelligence utilizes said first control signal from said first locating device for controlling, at least in part, said second character;

a virtual object, wherein said virtual object is operable of being picked up by said first character; and

an impenetrable object, wherein said first locating device is operable to travel through a physical location that correlates to a virtual location of said impenetrable object on said virtual playfield, and said first character is impacted when said first character contacts said impenetrable object.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, further comprising program logic for providing a third character, wherein said third character is manually controlled.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein said first locating device comprises an accelerometer.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein said first locating device comprises a global positioning system.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program logic provided thereon for providing a location-based game comprising:

a virtual playfield;

a first character, wherein the location of said first character in said virtual playfield is displayed on a display of a portable device and is determined utilizing a first control signal from a first locating device of said portable device that is based, at least in part, on a physical location determined by said first locating device; and

an impenetrable object, wherein said first locating device is operable to travel through a physical location that correlates to a virtual location of said impenetrable object on said virtual playfield, and said first character is stunned for a period of time when said first character contacts said impenetrable object.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, further comprising program logic for providing a second character, wherein said second character is manually controlled.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein said first locating device comprises an accelerometer.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein said first locating device comprises a global positioning system.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program logic provided thereon for providing a location-based game comprising:

a virtual playfield;

a first character, wherein the location of said first character in said virtual playfield is displayed on a display of a portable device and is determined utilizing a first control signal from a first locating device of said portable device that is based, at least in part, on a physical location determined by said first locating device; and

an impenetrable object, wherein said first locating device is operable to travel through a physical location that correlates to a virtual location of said impenetrable object on said virtual playfield, and the lives of said first game character is reduced when said first game character contacts said impenetrable object.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, further comprising program logic for providing a second character, wherein said second character is manually controlled.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said first locating device comprises an accelerometer.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein said first locating device comprises a global positioning system.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program logic provided thereon for providing a location-based game comprising:

a virtual playfield;

a first character, wherein the location of said first character in said virtual playfield is displayed on a display of said portable device and is determined utilizing a first control signal from a first locating device of said portable device that is based, at least in part, on a physical location determined by said first locating device; and

an impenetrable object, said first locating device is operable to travel through a physical location that correlates to a virtual location of said impenetrable object on said virtual playfield, and wherein a number of points is deducted when said first game character contacts said impenetrable object.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising program logic for providing a second character, wherein said second character is manually controlled.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein said first locating device comprises an accelerometer.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein said first locating device comprises a global positioning system.