Proximity tag race system and method

• US 8,574,049 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jake Ackerman
• Original Assignee: Jake Ackerman
• Inventors: Ackerman, Jake
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Application Number:
  US13/946,861
• Time in Patent Office: 109 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/4, 463/7, 463/29, 463 40- 43, 463/53, 473/415, 473/451, 473/459, 473/465, 473/468, 473/469, 273/447, 340/323, 455/456.2, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/00 Sporting games or accessories therefor, not provided for in groups A63B1/00 - A63B65/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/143 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A method for playing a game comprises outfitting at least two runners each with a locator device, accruing a number of running points to each runner for covering a predetermined distance within a game playing boundary and depleting a predetermined number of points from a runner who is ‘tagged’ by another runner in his/her proximity based on the locator device. The method also comprises awarding the depleted points to the other runner tagging the runner, wherein the number of points awarded for tagging a runner are greater than the number of points accrued for covering the predetermined distance to encourage tagging. The method additionally comprises awarding a predetermined number of points to a tagging runner who'"'"'s rate of change in at least one of velocity and direction toward another runner in his/her proximity is greater than the other runner'"'"'s respective rate of change in velocity and direction.

Claims

1. A method for playing a race game, comprising:

designating a starting line, a finishing line, and a set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

outfitting each of at least two runners with a locator device, wherein the at least two runners include one or more runners of a first type and one or more runners of a second type, and wherein the locator device is configured to determine its physical location within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

for each of the one or more runners of the first type or of the second type, accruing, by at least one processor, a first predetermined number of points for covering a predetermined distance within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line, the predetermined distance determined by the locator device; and

depleting, by the at least one processor, a second predetermined number of points from a first runner of the first type or of the second type when tagged by a second runner of the first type or a third runner of the second type, wherein the first runner is tagged by the second runner or the third runner based on;

(i) a proximity between the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, determined by the locator devices of the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, without the second runner or the third runner physically contacting the first runner, and (ii) a rate of change in at least one of a velocity and a direction of the second or third runners toward the first runner being greater than a respective rate of change in velocity and direction of the first runner in proximity to the second or third runners.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding the depleted second predetermined number of points to the second or third runner who tagged the first runner, wherein the second predetermined number of points is greater than the first predetermined number of points to encourage tagging.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

growing a team of runners of the second type via the one or more runners of the second type tagging the one or more runners of the first type who have not crossed a running threshold, wherein the tagged runners of the first type are converted and join the team of runners of the second type thereby becoming runners of the second type; and

visually indicating the team of runners of the second type by a visual indicator on a display device coupled to the locator device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding a third predetermined number of points to one of the at least two runners who'"'"'s rate of change in at least one of a velocity and a direction toward another one of the at least two runners is greater than a respective rate of change in velocity and direction of the another one of the at least two runners in proximity to the one of the at least two runners.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a three-dimensional virtual proximity shell around each of the at least two runners of a predetermined radius; and

determining a proximity of between two of the at least two runners based on an overlap of the two runners'"'"' three-dimensional virtual proximity shells by at least a predetermined distance, wherein the three-dimensional virtual proximity shells are extendable through any animate or inanimate things or objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the locator device comprises any one or more of an electronic device including a global positioning system (GPS), an electronic processor, a memory device storing an application program for playing the race game, and a display device configured to access an online common database that tracks each of the at least two runners'"'"' locations, points, and the set of physical game boundaries.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the locator device comprises any one or more of a global positioning system (GPS) chip and an indicator configured to indicate accrued and/or depleted points by one of sound, vibration, and sensation stimulation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining an online database accessible by the locator device of each of the at least two runners, the database tracking accrued and/or depleted points for each of the at least two runners and a plurality of resting station boundaries.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding a third predetermined number of points to one of the at least two runners who crosses the finish line first.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance between any two points within the set of physical game boundaries.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of physical game boundaries is displayable as one or more virtual components on a display device coupled to the locator device, the set of physical game boundaries including one or more of a street, a walkway, a path, a stream, a building, a structure, a barrier, a wall, an embankment, a slope, a drop-off, a cliff, a fence, a hedge, and a tree.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two runners are participants of at least one of an athletic race, a sporting event, a corporate event, a scholastic sporting event, and any participant within a vehicle configured to transport the runner including any one of a bike, a motorcycle, a car, a truck, a boat, a plane, a scooter, a skateboard, a pair of roller blades, a pair of roller skates, a pair of roller shoes, a pair of skis, a go-cart, and a golf cart.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting a points value and a type of a runner from a second type to a first type for a consideration fee or a second points value within a virtual charging station boundary or a resting station boundary for a predetermined period of time during the race game.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing refuge to at least one of the at least two runners when within a virtual resting station boundary for a predetermined period of time during the race game, wherein the predetermined period of time is based on the distance between the virtual resting station boundary and the starting line.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disqualifying, for a predetermined time, any runner of the at least two runners who initiates physical contact with any other runner of the at least two runners.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

counting a period of time from a start of playing the race game, the counting displayable on a display device coupled to the locator device, the counting comprising a period of minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years without any predetermined end.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating predetermined team boundaries for each a plurality of teams, wherein the runners of the first type comprise a first team and the runners of the second type comprise a second team, and wherein a runner from the second team is enabled to tag a runner from the first team only where the respective team boundaries overlap.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations for playing a race game, comprising:

designating a starting line, a finishing line, and a set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

associating each of at least two runners with a locator device, wherein the at least two runners include one or more runners of a first type and one or more runners of a second type, and wherein the locator device is configured to determine its physical location within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

for each of the one or more runners of the first type or of the second type, accruing, by the least one processor, a first predetermined number of points for covering a predetermined distance within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line, the predetermined distance determined by the locator device; and

depleting, by the at least one processor, a second predetermined number of points from a first runner of the first type or of the second type when tagged by a second runner of the first type or a third runner of the second type, wherein the first runner is tagged by the second runner or the third runner based on;

(i) a proximity between the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, determined by the locator devices of the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, without the second runner or the third runner physically contacting the first runner, and (ii) a rate of change in at least one of a velocity and a direction of the second or third runners toward the first runner being greater than a respective rate of change in velocity and direction of the first runner in proximity to the second or third runners.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein a runner of the at least two runners is a virtual construct, of the computer-readable instructions, configured to have its virtual location digitally generated and displayable via a display device coupled to the locator device.

20. A system for playing a race game, comprising:

a plurality of locator devices; and

a processor configured to;

designate a starting line, a finishing line, and a set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

associate each of at least two runners with a respective one of the plurality of locator devices, wherein the at least two runners include one or more runners of a first type and one or more runners of a second type, and wherein each of the locator devices are configured to determine their physical location within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line;

for each of the one or more runners of the first type or of the second type, accrue a first predetermined number of points for covering a predetermined distance within the set of physical game play boundaries between the starting line and the finishing line, the predetermined distance determined by the locator device; and

deplete a second predetermined number of points from a first runner of the first type or of the second type when tagged by a second runner of the first type or a third runner of the second type, wherein the first runner is tagged by the second runner or the third runner based on;

(i) a proximity between the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, determined by the locator devices of the first runner and the second runner or the third runner, without the second runner or the third runner physically contacting the first runner, and (ii) a rate of change in at least one of a velocity and a direction of the second or third runners toward the first runner being greater than a respective rate of change in velocity and direction of the first runner in proximity to the second or third runners.