Virtual performance system

• US 9,669,311 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Walling, Willoughby H.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, BRANDON RAMON
• Application Number:
  US13/491,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 463 29, 463 30, 463 31, 463 32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• 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 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• 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 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 : Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 : comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 : for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 : for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 : for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 : Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 : Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 : user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 : player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 : Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 : for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 : Score computation
• 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 2300/8082 : Virtual reality

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to rewarding users of an electronic game for real-world physical activity. Further aspects relate to altering virtual items based upon physical activity. An electronic game may comprise or otherwise relate to an online world (such as a “Virtual World”). Users may be represented through customized graphical representations, such as avatars. An account of a user (or entity) may be associated a “virtual region.” A threshold level of real-world physical activity may result in obtaining a reward that may be associated with a virtual item. A reward may be configured to result in: (1) altering visual appearance of a virtual item within a virtual region; (2) altering a virtual characteristic of a virtual item, such that the first user may engage in at least one additional virtual activity using that virtual item; and/or (3) acquiring a new virtual item for a virtual region.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

providing, by a processor of a computing device, a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein at least a first virtual region is associated with a first user and a second virtual region is associated with a second user;

determining, by the processor, from sensor data of at least a first sensor that the first user is performing a first real-world athletic activity;

determining, by the processor, a real-world weather condition associated with an estimated current location of the first user;

updating, by the processor, a virtual weather condition of the first virtual regions associated with the first user to correspond to the real-world weather condition;

presenting, at a display device, an avatar of the first user in the first virtual region performing a virtual activity based upon the determined real-world athletic activity;

determining, by the processor, an amount of points for awarding the first user based upon performing a first threshold level of the first real-world athletic activity; and

non-linearly adjusting, by the processor, the amount of points awarded for performing the first threshold level with a previously non-existent points reward and based on a determining that the real-world weather condition is adverse to the performance of the first real-world athletic activity;

wherein the adjusting of the amount of points awarded comprises increasing the amount of points awarded based on the determining that the real-world weather condition is adverse to performance of the first real-world athletic activity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, from sensor data from at least a second sensor that a second user is performing a second real-world athletic activity;

determining, by the processor, a second real-world weather condition associated with an estimated current location of the second user;

updating, by the processor, a second virtual weather condition of the second virtual region associated with the second user to correspond to the second real-world weather condition; and

presenting, at the display device, an avatar of the second user in the virtual world performing a virtual activity that corresponds to the second real-world athletic activity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor, that the real-world weather condition is adverse to performance of the first real-world athletic activity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the amount of points awarded on a virtual indicator associated with the first virtual region.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising adjusting, by the processor, a reward awarded based on the determining that the real-world weather condition is adverse.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising processing, by the processor, sensor data from at least the first sensor to determine that the first user has satisfied a criterion to receive the reward.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising altering, by the processor, a visual appearance of a virtual item included within the first virtual region based on determining that the first user has satisfied the criterion to receive the reward.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising altering, by the processor, a characteristic of a virtual item included within the first virtual region, such that the first user may engage in at least one additional virtual activity with the virtual item, based on determining that the first user has satisfied the criterion to receive the reward.

9. A computerized method comprising:

providing, by a processor of a computing device, a first virtual region of a virtual world in which the first virtual region is associated with a first user;

presenting, to the first user at a display device, a challenge wherein the challenge comprises changing a real-world elevation of the first user beyond an elevation change threshold;

determining, by a processor, a real-world weather condition associated with an estimated current location of the first user;

processing, by the processor, sensor data associated with a physical activity performed by the first user to determine whether the sensor data indicates that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation change threshold;

determining, by the processor, that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation threshold;

non-linearly awarding, by the processor, an amount of points to an avatar of the first user in the first virtual region based upon determining that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation change threshold; and

increasing the amount of points awarded based on determining that the real-world weather condition is adverse to performance of the challenge.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to determining that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation threshold, altering, by the processor, the first virtual region.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to determining that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation threshold, altering, by the processor, a second virtual region of the virtual world, wherein the second virtual region is associated with a second user that is different from the first user.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to determining that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation threshold, adding, by the processor, a virtual item to the first virtual region.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to determining that the real-world elevation of the first user has changed beyond the elevation threshold, causing, by the processor, a virtual team associated with the first virtual region to perform more athletically during a virtual sporting event.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, from sensor data the estimated current location of the first user; and

generating, by the processor, the challenge based on the estimated current location of the first user.

14. A computerized method comprising:

providing, by a processor of a computing device, a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein at least a first virtual region is associated with a first user and a second virtual region is associated with a second user;

determining, by the processor, from sensor data of at least a first sensor that the first user is performing a first real-world athletic activity;

determining, by the processor, a real-world weather condition associated with an estimated current location of the first user;

determining, by the processor, from sensor data of at least a second sensor that the second user is performing the first real-world athletic activity;

non-linearly awarding, by the processor, a first amount of points to the first user based upon performing a first threshold level of the first real-world athletic activity and adding the first amount of points to a first score representing the first user'"'"'s performance of the first real-world activity and increasing the first amount of points awarded based on determining that the real-world weather condition is adverse;

non-linearly awarding, by the processor, a second amount of points to the second user based upon performing the first threshold level of the first real-world activity and adding the second amount of points to a second score representing the second user'"'"'s performance of the first real-world activity;

presenting, at a display device, on a virtual scoreboard in either the first or the second virtual region, the first score and the second score; and

in response to determining that the first user did not satisfy the first threshold level of the first real-world athletic activity, presenting, at the display device, an avatar partially or completely destroying a virtual item included within the first virtual region.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

updating, by the processor, a virtual weather condition of at least one of the first virtual region or the second virtual region to correspond to the real-world weather condition; and

presenting, at a display device, an avatar of the first user in the first virtual region performing a virtual activity based upon the first real-world athletic activity.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, from sensor data from at least the second sensor that the second user is performing a second real-world athletic activity;

determining, by the processor, a second real-world weather condition associated with an estimated current location of the second user;

updating, by the processor, a second virtual weather condition of the second virtual region associated with the second user to correspond to the second real-world weather condition; and

presenting, at the display device, an avatar of the second user in the virtual world performing a virtual activity that corresponds to the second real-world athletic activity.