Video game including user determined location information

• US 9,802,127 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Inventors: Rouille, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/217,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20140200078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 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 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for a video game including user determined location information is presented. Location information (e.g. GPS, Google Maps, an entered address or the like) determined by a user of a video game is acquired. Then user determined location information relating to a physical location determined by the user is mapped to a video game environment wherein the user of the video game experiences objects from the users entered location while playing the video game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first position indicator representing a first current physical location for a user of a video game, wherein said first position indicator is determined at least in part by taking a global navigation satellite system reading of said first current physical location;

obtaining image data relating to said first current physical location, said image data comprising two or more camera images of said first current physical location;

mapping said image data into a virtual environment of said video game by displaying said image data as a video, wherein said user experiences within said virtual environment real life objects from said first current physical location, and said user simultaneously encounters within said virtual environment virtual objects that are not physically present in said first current physical location;

receiving a second position indicator representing a second current physical location for said user as said user navigates a geographic area surrounding said first current physical location;

saving at least said second position indicator to a memory; and

storing at least said second position indicator in said memory when said video game is not executing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said global navigation satellite system reading comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) reading.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said video game comprises a genre selected from the group consisting of a racing game, a sports game, a war game, and a fantasy game.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving map information for said geographic area surrounding said first current physical location, wherein said map information is received at least in part by loading said map information over a network from a map database located remotely from said user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said map information represents at least streets, buildings, and points of interest near said first current physical location.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying said map information.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said map database is Google Maps.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving said second position indicator from said memory when said video game starts executing.

9. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for a video game including local content, the computer program comprising a set instructions for causing a machine to perform the steps of:

receiving a first position indicator representing a first current physical location for a user of a video game, wherein said first position indicator is determined at least in part by taking a global navigation satellite system reading of said first current physical location;

obtaining image data relating to said first current physical location, said image data comprising two or more camera images of said first current physical location;

mapping said image data into a virtual environment of said video game by displaying said image data as a video, wherein said user experiences within said virtual environment real life objects from said first current physical location, and said user simultaneously encounters within said virtual environment virtual objects that are not physically present in said first current physical location;

receiving a second position indicator representing a second current physical location for said user as said user navigates a geographic area surrounding said first current physical location;

saving at least said second position indicator to a memory; and

storing at least said second position indicator in said memory when said video game is not executing.

10. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said global navigation satellite system reading comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) reading.

11. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said computer program further comprises instructions for causing the machine to receive map information for said geographic area surrounding said first current physical location, wherein said map information is received at least in part by loading said map information over a network from a map database located remotely from said user.

12. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said map information represents at least streets, buildings, and points of interest near said first current physical location.

13. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said computer program further comprises instructions for causing the machine to display said map information.

14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said map database is Google Maps.

15. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said computer program further comprises instructions for causing the machine to retrieve said second position indicator from said memory when said video game starts executing.

16. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein said machine comprises a cellular telephone.

17. A computer system comprising:

a non-transitory memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

a global navigation satellite system reader;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the non-volatile memory, the processor, the communications interface, and the global navigation satellite system reader;

wherein the non-volatile memory stores instructions that are executable on the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first position indicator representing a first current physical location for a user of a video game, wherein said first position indicator is determined at least in part by using said global navigation satellite system reader to take a global navigation satellite system reading of said first current physical location;

obtaining image data relating to said first current physical location, said image data comprising two or more camera images of said first current physical location;

mapping said image data into a virtual environment of said video game by displaying said image data as a video, wherein said user experiences within said virtual environment real life objects from said first current physical location, and said user simultaneously encounters within said virtual environment virtual objects that are not physically present in said first current physical location;

receiving a second position indicator representing a second current physical location for said user as said user navigates a geographic area surrounding said first current physical location;

saving at least said second position indicator to a memory; and

storing at least said second position indicator in said memory when said video game is not executing.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said global navigation satellite system reader comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) reader.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the non-volatile memory further comprises instructions that are executable to perform an operation of receiving map information for said geographic area surrounding said first current physical location, wherein said map information is received at least in part by loading said map information over a network from a map database located remotely from said user.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said map information represents at least streets, buildings, and points of interest near said first current physical location.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the non-volatile memory further comprises instructions that are executable to perform an operation of displaying said map information.

22. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said map database is Google Maps.

23. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the non-volatile memory further comprises instructions that are executable to perform an operation of retrieving said second position indicator from said memory when said video game starts executing.

24. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said computer system comprises a cellular telephone.