Treasure hunt game utilizing GPS equipped wireless communications devices

• US 6,320,495 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Candy Lab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter Sporgis
• Inventors: Sporgis, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/535,371
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323, 340/286.02, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/995, 273/454, 273/459, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• 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 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• 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

Abstract

A treasure hunt type game that utilizes global positioning satellite (“GPS”) equipped wireless communications devices. Players are given clues or directions to proceed along one of many predetermined treasure hunt routes based on their location as determined by the GPS. Based on these clues or directions, players change their locations. Based on these changed locations, as determined by the GPS, additional clues or directions are given to the players until one of the players completes the treasure hunt route and arrives at the treasure to win the game. The game also incorporates other variables in determining the clues to provide to players, such as the location of other players as determined by their GPS devices, the previous locations of the player and other players and whether the player has correctly solved certain clues.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system and at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver, comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving at said wireless communications device GPS signals and processing said signals to determine a location of said wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message responsive to said determined location and also responsive to the determined location of at least one other game participant, in such a way that the game is facilitated by providing messages that are based on the relative determined location in the game of at least one other game participant, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) moving to a new location; and

(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) until arriving at an ending site.

2. A method of playing a game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system and at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver, comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving at said wireless communications device GPS signals and processing said signals to determine a location of said wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message responsive to said determined location, and also responsive to at least one previously determined location, such that said message is dependant upon at least one previous determined location as well as the game participant'"'"'s present determined location, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) moving to a new location; and

(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) until arriving at an ending site.

3. A game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system, comprising:

(a) at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver and capable of receiving GPS signals and processing said signals to determine the location of said wireless communications device;

(b) a message responsive to said determined location and also responsive to the determined location of at least one other game participant, in such a way that the game is facilitated by providing messages that are based on the relative determined location in the game of at least one other game participant, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) wherein the game is a treasure hunt and the object of the game is to utilize said messages to proceed to a particular ending site.

4. A game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system, comprising:

(a) at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver and capable of receiving GPS signals and processing said signals to determine the location of said wireless communications device;

(b) a message responsive to said determined location and also responsive to at least one previously determined location, such that said message is dependant upon at least one previous determined location as well as the game participant'"'"'s present determined location, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) wherein the game is a treasure hunt and the object of the game is to utilize said messages to proceed to a particular ending site.

5. A method of playing a game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system and at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver, comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving at said wireless communications device GPS signals and processing said signals to determine a location of said wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message responsive to said determined location, whether or not said determined location is a predetermined intermediate site, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) moving to a new location; and

(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) until arriving at an ending site.

6. A game, involving proceeding from a starting site to an ending site, using a wireless communications system, comprising:

(a) at least one wireless communications device having a global positioning satellite (“

GPS”

) receiver and capable of receiving GPS signals and processing said signals to determine the location of said wireless communications device;

(b) a message responsive to said determined location, whether or not said determined location is a predetermined intermediate site, said message including information to assist in finding a next site;

(c) wherein the game is a treasure hunt and the object of the game is to utilize said messages to proceed to a particular ending site.