System and method for interactive role-play game support

• US 9,694,291 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ravenoak Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Legacy Game Systems LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, Sidney F., Ivey, Ford M., McGlauflin, Brian T., Graham, Matthew, Jain, Vipresh
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US14/456,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 463 42, 463 43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/86 Watching games played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items

Abstract

A system and method for interactive game support may be provided. A player may have a mobile device configured to run a game support application. The game support application may maintain game and player attributes and monitor interactions with game devices. In some embodiments, a command-control center server may be communicatively coupled with the at least one mobile device or game device so as to facilitate game management.

Claims

1. A system for interactive game support comprising:

at least one game device communicatively coupled to at least one player-associated mobile device running a game support application thereon, wherein the game support application is configured to maintain player attributes and game play data derived from pre-defined customizable game settings, initial player attributes, and game device interactions,

wherein player attributes comprise at least one of character type, health, and available game devices, and

wherein game settings comprise at least one of game device effects on character types and playing field boundaries; and

at least one command-control center server having a data store capable of maintaining user profile data which is communicatively coupled to at least one of the at least one mobile device or the at least one game device, and at least one network for communicatively coupling the at least one command-control center server with at least one of the at least one mobile device or the at least one game device,

wherein the at least one mobile device further comprises at least one of a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, GPS, speaker, microphone, and data store,

wherein the at least one game device is one of a weapon, protection device, or accessory and includes at least one sensor for monitoring interactions with at least one other game device, and

wherein the at least one game device further comprises at least one of fiber optic filaments or layers of conductive fabrics and the at least one sensor monitors interactions between the fiber optic filaments of different game devices or between the conductive fabrics of the at least one game device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one command-control center server is accessed through a webpage interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein game settings, player attributes, and device attributes are pre-set through a command-control center server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one game device and the at least one mobile device are communicatively coupled by UHF radio waves, and more specifically Bluetooth.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one mobile device is associated with a unique player.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile device is configured to establish playing field boundaries through its GPS capability.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker is configured to play sounds based on player attributes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data store on the at least one mobile device stores game attribute data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one game device further comprises at least one transmitter, receiver, or transceiver for communicating with the at least one mobile device or a command-center server.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor consists of a fiber optic sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one game device includes at least one transmitter for interacting with at least one other game device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one transmitter consists of a fiber optic transmitter.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a marketplace through the game support application or command-control center server interface where users can collect, trade, upgrade, or purchase items through a points system or in game currency.

14. A method of supporting a live-action role playing game comprising:

providing at least one mobile device associated with a player, wherein the at least one mobile device further comprises at least one of a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, GPS, speaker, microphone, and data store;

running a game support application on the at least one mobile device;

establishing new customizable gameplay settings or selecting pre-set gameplay settings, wherein gameplay settings comprise at least one of game device effects on character types and playing field boundaries;

creating and hosting a game;

allowing at least one player to join the game;

determining or establishing a player'"'"'s attributes, wherein player attributes comprise at least one of character type, health, and available game devices;

providing at least one game device communicatively coupled to the at least one mobile device wherein the at least one game device is one or more of a weapon, protection device, or accessory, and includes at least one sensor configured to interact with other game devices,

wherein the at least one game device further comprises at least one of fiber optic filaments or layers of conductive fabrics and the at least one sensor monitors interactions between the fiber optic filaments of different game devices or between the conductive fabrics of the at least one game device;

monitoring interactions among game devices and mobile devices through the game support application; and

updating game play data based on the interactions through the game support application;

wherein the game is hosted and the gameplay play settings are established through a command-control center server communicatively coupled with at least one of the at least one mobile device or the at least one game device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the game is hosted and the game play settings are established through the game support application.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing a playing field by using a mobile device'"'"'s GPS to set boundaries through a game support application.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a spectator mode in the game support application for expired players to observe the continued gameplay, adjust player attributes, attempt to re-spawn, or leave the game.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising awarding points to players and allowing players to collect, trade, upgrade, or purchase items with the points through the game support application or command-control center server interface.