Treasure hunt game utilizing wireless communications devices and location positioning technology

• US 6,932,698 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Candy Lab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peter Sprogis
• Inventors: Sprogis, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/059,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463 40- 42, 463/47, 273/254, 273/148.B, 273429-432, 273/445, 273/459, 273/460, 434/128, 434/130, 434/139, 434/141, 434/147, 434/150, 434/322, 434/433, 340/323.R, 340/286.02, 3409951-99528, 342/357.1, 342/357.12, 342/357.13, 34235706-35709
• US Class Current: 463/9
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

A treasure hunt type game that utilizes location positioning technology equipped wireless communications devices. Players are given clues or directions to proceed along one of many predetermined treasure hunt routes based on their location. Based on these clues or directions, players change their locations. Based on these changed locations, as determined by the location positioning devices, 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, 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 location positioning technology, comprising the step of:

(a) utilizing said location positioning technology to determine a location of a game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message for display on the game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device responsive to said determined location of said wireless communications device and also responsive to a determined location of at least one other game participant'"'"'s wireless communication device, in such a way that the game is facilitated by providing messages to game participants that are based on a relative determined location in the game of at least one other game participant'"'"'s wireless communication device, 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. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network over said wireless communications system, said computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said computer network utilizes the infrastructure of the Internet and said location and message are transmitted over the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.

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 location positioning technology, comprising the steps of.

(a) utilizing said location positioning technology to determine a location of said wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message for display on the game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device responsive to said determined location of said wireless communications device, and also responsive to at least one previously determined location, where said at least one previously determined location is not a predetermined intermediate site, such that said message is dependant upon said at least one previous determined location as well as a present determined location of the game participant'"'"'s said wireless communications device, 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. The method of claim 5, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network over said wireless communications system, said computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said computer network is the internet and said location and message are transmitted over the internet.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.

9. 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 utilizing location positioning technology for determining a location of a game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device;

(b) a message displayed on said wireless communications device responsive to said determined location of said wireless communications device and also responsive to a determined location of at least one other game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device, in such a way that the game is facilitated by providing messages that are based on a relative determined location in the game of at least one other game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device, 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.

10. The game of claim 9, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

11. The game of claim 10, wherein said computer network utilizes the infrastructure of the Internet and said location and message are transmitted over the Internet.

12. The game of claim 9, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.

13. 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 utilizing location positioning technology for determining the location of said wireless communications device;

(b) a message displayed on said wireless communications device responsive to said determined location of said wireless communications device and also responsive to at least one previously determined location, where said at least one previously determined location is not a predetermined intermediate site, such that said message is dependant upon said at least one previous determined location as well as a present determined location of the game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device, 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.

14. The game of claim 13, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network over said wireless communications system, said computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

15. The game of claim 14, wherein said computer network utilizes the infrastructure of the Internet and said location and message are transmitted over the Internet.

16. The game of claim 13, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.

17. 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 location positioning technology, comprising the steps of:

(a) utilizing said location positioning technology to determine a location of said wireless communications device;

(b) generating a message for display on the game participant'"'"'s wireless communications device responsive to said determined location, where said determined location of said wireless communications device is not 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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network over said wireless communications system, said computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said computer network utilizes the infrastructure of the Internet and said location and message are transmitted over the Internet.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.

21. 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 utilizing location positioning technology for determining the location of said wireless communications device;

(b) a message displayed on said wireless communications device responsive to said determined location of said wireless communications device, where said determined location is not 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.

22. The game of claim 21, wherein said wireless communications device includes a transceiver for wireless communication with a computer network over said wireless communications systems, said computer network having a set of data and further comprising transmitting location information from said wireless communications device to said computer network and transmitting said message from said computer network to said device.

23. The game of claim 22, wherein said computer network utilizes the infrastructure of the Internet and said location and message are transmitted over the Internet.

24. The game of claim 21, wherein said message responsive to said determined location is a clue that must be solved.