Validating a player's real-world location using activity within a parallel reality game

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10717005-B2
Application number	US-201816041707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Jul 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods for linking real world activity, such as real world commercial activity or real world data collection activity, with a location-based parallel reality game are provided. In particular, a game server hosting a parallel reality game can modify, update, or add to game data stored in a game database associated with the parallel reality game to include certain game features in the parallel reality game linked with real world activity in the real world. The game features can be linked with activities in the real world such that player actions associated with the game features in the virtual world can lead to or encourage activity in the real world, such as commercial activity and/or data collection activity in the real world. A one-time password may be used to validate a player's location in the real world and to enable controlled access to game features in the virtual world.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for providing access-controlled content in a parallel reality game, the method comprising:
providing game data to a first client device, the game data including a virtual-world location of an access point, the virtual-world location corresponding to a real-world location;
receiving a request to access the controlled content at the first client device available during a specified time range as part of an event, the request indicating the first client device is in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point and including a one-time password;
validating the request to access the controlled content based on the one-time password;
providing, in response to validating the request, access-controlled content to the first client device during the specified time range of the event; and
providing a reduced amount of content to a second client device located at the real-world location during the specified time range of the event, for which an access request has not been validated, the reduced amount of content including less content than would be regularly provided to the second client device at the real-world location outside of the specified time range.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one-time password was obtained by scanning, by the first client device, a 2D barcode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is generated by a scanning device responsive to the first client device presenting a representation of the one-time password to the first client device, and the scanning device sends the request to a game server.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein validating the request comprises:
identifying a player associated with the first client device;
querying a database to determine whether the one-time password is valid for the player; and
validating the request responsive to the one-time password being valid for the player.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein validating the request further comprises:
receiving an indication that the player has participated in a specified commercial activity; and
storing, in response to the indication that the player has participated in the specified commercial activity, an association in the database between the player and the one-time password, wherein the association indicates the one-time password is valid for the player.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on a wireless connection of the first client device, whether the first client device is currently in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point, wherein the request is validated only if the first client device is currently in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access-controlled content is provided in conjunction with default content, the default content being content that is available to all players at the location in the virtual world.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for providing access-controlled content in a parallel reality game, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to perform operations including:
providing game data to a first client device, the game data including a virtual-world location of an access point, the virtual-world location corresponding to a real-world location;
receiving a request to access the controlled content at the first client device available during a specified time range as part of an event, the request indicating the first client device is in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point and including a one-time password;
validating the request to access the controlled content based on the one-time password;
providing, in response to validating the request, access-controlled content to the first client device during the specified time range of the event; and
providing a reduced amount of content to a second client device located at the real-world location during the specified time range of the event, for which an access request has not been validated, the reduced amount of content including less content than would be regularly provided to the second client device at the real-world location outside of the specified time range.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the one-time password was obtained by scanning, by the first client device, a 2D barcode.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein validating the request comprises:
identifying a player associated with the first client device;
querying a database to determine whether the one-time password is valid for the player; and
validating the request responsive to the one-time password being valid for the player.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein validating the request further comprises:
receiving an indication that the player has participated in a specified commercial activity; and
storing, in response to the indication that the player has participated in the specified commercial activity, an association in the database between the player and the one-time password, wherein the association indicates the one-time password is valid for the player.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the operations further include determining, based on a wireless connection of the first client device, whether the first client device is currently in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point, wherein the request is validated only if the first client device is currently in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the access-controlled content is provided in conjunction with default content, the default content being content that is available to all players at the location in the virtual world.

14. A system for providing access-controlled content in a parallel reality game, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform operations including:
providing game data to a first client device, the game data including a virtual-world location of an access point, the virtual-world location corresponding to a real-world location;
receiving a request to access the controlled content at the first client device available during a specified time range as part of an event, the request indicating the first client device is in proximity to the real-world location corresponding to the access point and including a one-time password;
validating the request to access the controlled content based on the one-time password;
providing, in response to validating the request, access-controlled content to the first client device during the specified time range of the event; and
providing a reduced amount of content to a second client device located at the real-world location during the specified time range of the event, for which an access request has not been validated, the reduced amount of content including less content than would be regularly provided to the second client device at the real-world location outside of the specified time range.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein validating the request comprises:
receiving an indication that a player has participated in a specified commercial activity;
storing, in response to the indication that the player has participated in the specified commercial activity, an association in

Assignees

• Niantic Inc

Inventors

• Kornmann David
• Kilday Bill
• Steranka Michael
• Wu Edward
• Hanke John
• Keslin Phillip Craig
• Nomura Tatsuo
• Ahmad Raza
• Suga Kento
• Quigley Mike

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• A63F2300/8082

  Virtual reality · CPC title

• A63F2300/5573

  player location · CPC title

• A63F13/73

  Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity · CPC title

• A63F13/71 Primary

  using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players · CPC title