Geographic area templates for computer games

• US 20050202862A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Christopher, Shuman, Michael V., Uhlir, Kurt Brooks
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• 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 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating development of computer games that depict or represent actual, real world geographic areas as part of the play scenarios of the games. A source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region. The data in the source database includes attributes suitable for use for providing navigation-related functions. In addition to providing data from the source database for navigation-related functions, data from the source database are also used to form a template database, wherein the template database represents an imaginary locale. The template database is provided for computer game development.

Claims

1. A method of using a source database for forming derived products, wherein the source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region, the method comprising:

providing a first set of data from the source database, wherein the first set of data represents at least some of the geographic features in the region and further wherein the first set of data includes attributes suitable for use for providing navigation-related functions; and

using data from the source database to form a template database, wherein the template database represents an imaginary locale.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the template database includes data that provides a level of accuracy similar to a level of accuracy provided by the first set of data used for navigation-related functions

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the template database includes data that provides a level of detail similar to a level of detail provided by the first set of data used for navigation-related functions

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using data from the source database to form a template database further comprises the steps of:

selecting a real world locale;

obtaining data that represents the real world locale, wherein the data that represents the real world locale is obtained from or derived from the source database;

using the data that represents the real world locale to determine at least one parameter of geographic features represented thereby; and

forming the template database using the parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes an overall size of the locale.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road densities.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road shapes.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road widths.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes expressway density.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes roadway orientation.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road alignment.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes altitude changes.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes geographic features selected from a group consisting of:

lakes, rivers, and mountains.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes open spaces in a locale selected from a group consisting of:

parks and golf courses.

15. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes points of interest.

16. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes buildings located in a locale.

17. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes signs.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with road model data to provide a realistic visual appearance of roads in the imaginary locale.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with road model data to provide a realistic visual appearance of roads in the region, wherein the road model data includes as road pavement colors, lane stripe markings, curbs, sidewalks, signs, lampposts, lane dividers, traffic signals, speed bumps, and crosswalks.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of polygon shaped features in the region.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of cityscape and landscape features in the region.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of one of a group consisting of:

buildings, fences, trees, shrubbery, lawns, fences, and clouds in the region.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the data in the template database is combined with other game-related components to form the computer games.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the data in the template database is combined with other game-related components to form the computer games, wherein the other game-related components include at least one of a group consisting of:

characters, game logic, vehicles, game rules and programs for rendering and graphics.

25. A method of developing a computer game comprising:

acquiring a template database from another party, wherein the template database contains data that represents a geographic locale;

incorporating data from the template geographic database, along with other computer game components, to form a computer game product; and

selling the computer game product.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the geographic locale is an imaginary locale.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the geographic locale is an actual locale.

28. A method of developing a computer game comprising:

providing template geographic databases to end users, wherein the template databases contain data that represents geographic locales; and

providing programming tools to the end user that allow the end users to incorporate data from the template geographic database into computer games, wherein the computer games include playing scenarios that include representations of the geographic locales.