Method and system for using geographic data in computer game development

• US 20050203922A1
• 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: Navteq North America LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Christopher, Shuman, Michael V., Uhlir, Kurt Brooks, Casino, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• 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: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/919 Geographic

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 provided for computer game development. An application programming interface, as well as other tools for handling geographic data, is provided for accessing and processing of the geographic data.

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;

providing a first database product that includes the first set of data, wherein the first database product is used in navigation systems; and

providing a second set of data from the source database and a geographic data tool set, wherein the second set of data represents at least some of the geographic features in the region and wherein the tool set is used with the second set of data for developing computer games that represent at least some of the geographic features in the region as part of play scenarios of the computer games.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data is combined with road model data to provide a realistic visual appearance of roads in the region.

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

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

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

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data 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.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing the second set of data using an application programming interface.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing the second set of data using a spatial query.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

extracting data from the second set of data using spatial criteria.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

filtering data from the second set of data to provide a desired level of accuracy.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data is provided directly from the source database for developing the computer games.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forming a compiled database of geographic data from the source database; and

providing the second set of data from the compiled database for developing the computer games.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data is provided to a plurality of end users computing platforms where the second set is used by computer games installed on the end users computing platforms to represent at least some of the geographic features in the region as part of play scenarios of the computer games.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data is combined with other game-related components to form the computer games.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data 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.