Location-based games and augmented reality systems

• US 9,744,448 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey David Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US15/168,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20160271492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1, 463 31, 463 32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• 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 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• 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 2300/50 : characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 : player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• 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

Handheld location based games are provided in which a user'"'"'s physical location correlates to the virtual location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Augmented Reality (AR) systems are provided in which video game indicia are overlaid onto a user'"'"'s physical environment. A landscape detector is provided that may obtain information about a user'"'"'s landscape, in addition to the user'"'"'s location, in order to provide overlaying information to an AR head-mounted display and control information to non-user controlled video game characters.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display of a head-mounted device, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game;

a detector of said head-mounted device operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes said landscape characteristics in providing said video game;

a locating device of said head-mounted device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes the physical location of said locating device in providing said video game; and

a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display and a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transparency of said first virtual character is based on a distance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein an event envelope is provided and an event is operable to occur upon entry of said first virtual character into said event envelop.

9. A system comprising:

a head-mounted display, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game;

a detector operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes said landscape characteristics;

a locating device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic utilizes the physical location of said locating device; and

a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display and a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the transparency of said first virtual character is based on a distance.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object.

16. A system comprising:

a head-mounted display, wherein 3-D video game indicia is operable to be provided to said display to with respect to a physical playfield based on video game logic associated with a video game;

a detector operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic is operable to utilize said landscape characteristics;

a locating device operable to determine the physical location of said locating device on said physical playfield, wherein said video game logic is operable to utilize the physical location of said locating device; and

a processor, wherein a first virtual object is operable to be provided to said display, a first virtual character is operable to be provided to said display, the transparency of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled, and the contrast of said first virtual object is operable to be manually controlled.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first virtual object is a virtual barrier provided at a first proximity.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said first virtual object is a pre-defined virtual barrier.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said first virtual character has a weapon for providing an interactive object.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein an event envelope is provided and an event is operable to occur upon entry of said first virtual character into said event envelop.