Customizable in-vehicle gaming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9266018-B2
Application number	US-201313752233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2013
Priority date	Nov 8, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

An in-vehicle gaming system may be played by a driver alone, or simultaneously or individually by a driver and/or one or more other users. The in-vehicle gaming system may be activated or controlled by, for example, touch, voice, or gesture. Gameplay is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental factors such that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle. Game content is generated based at least in part on environmental factors and user data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for in-vehicle gaming comprising:
an electronic data store configured to store items of gameplay content;
a sensor of a vehicle, the sensor configured to obtain data related to each user of a plurality of users in the vehicle;
a user input device of the vehicle, the user input device configured to receive user input; and
a computing device in communication with the sensor, the user input device, and the electronic data store, the computing device configured to:
identify each user, of the plurality of users in the vehicle, from data obtained from the sensor that is related to the user;
determine, for each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle, at least one item of information related to consumable content previously acquired by the user;
detect, from among the items of information, at least one common item of information common to at least two of the plurality of users;
determine an item of gameplay content to retrieve from the electronic data store based at least in part on the at least one common item of information;
retrieve the item of gameplay content;
cause presentation, to the plurality of users, of the item of gameplay content; and
receive, via the user input device, input from at least one user of the plurality of users in response to the item of gameplay content being presented.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is embedded in the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to determine an item of gameplay content to retrieve by:
determining the item of gameplay content to retrieve further based at least in part on the at least one common item of information and a characteristic common to the at least two of the plurality of users, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of: an age, an education level, an interest, a language, a location, an other item of content acquired, an item of consumed content, an item acquired, or a theme.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
modify the item of gameplay content based at least in part on at least one of: a theme related to the at least one common item of information, a fact related to the at least one common item of information, a difficulty level, a presentation format, a genre, or a gameplay type.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data related to the user is detected by at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors of the vehicle, the first sensor configured to detect at least one of:
a position of the user in the vehicle,
an adjustment of a seat of the user in the vehicle, or
a mobile device carried by the user in the vehicle.

6. A computer-implemented method for modifying an in-vehicle game, the computer-implemented method comprising:
under control of one or more computing devices configured with specific computer executable instructions,
causing presentation of a game to a plurality of users in a vehicle;
receiving, from a sensor of a vehicle, data related to each user of a plurality of users in the vehicle, wherein the sensor is configured to obtain data related to each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle;
identifying each user, of the plurality of users in the vehicle, from data that is related to the user and received from the sensor;
determining, for each user of the plurality of users in the vehicle, at least one item of information related to consumable content previously acquired by the user;
detecting, from among the items of information, at least one common item of information common to at least two of the plurality of users;
modifying the game presented in the vehicle based at least in part on the at least one common item of information for continued gameplay; and
receiving, via a user input device of the vehicle, input from at least one user of the plurality of users in response to the game being presented.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of users comprises at least one of: all of the plurality of users, a majority of the plurality of users, a minority of the plurality of users, users of the plurality of users of a particular age, or users of the plurality of users of a particular age group.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein modifying the game presented in the vehicle further comprises:
modifying the game presented in the vehicle further based at least in part on the at least one common item of information and a characteristic common to the at least two of the plurality of users, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of: an age, an education level, an interest, a language, a location, an other item of content acquired, an item of consumed content, an item acquired, or a theme.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein modifying the game presented in the vehicle further comprises:
selecting a gameplay feature including at least one of: a theme related to the at least one common item of information, a fact related to the at least one common item of information, a difficulty level, a presentation format, a genre, or a gameplay type;
updating the game so as to implement the gameplay feature into the gameplay; and
causing presentation of the updated game to the plurality of users in the vehicle.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the game is presented in the vehicle in at least one of an aural presentation format, a visual presentation format, or a tactile presentation format.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the input received from the at least one user of the plurality of users is at least one of voice, touch, or gesture.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the data related to the user is detected by at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors of the vehicle, the first sensor configured to detect at least one of:
a position of the user in the vehicle,
an adjustment of a seat of the user in the vehicle, or
a mobile device carried by the user in the vehicle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the consumable content includes at least one of: a book, an e-book, an audiobook, a movie, a television program, an item of music, or a video game.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein at least a first user of the plurality of users is operating the vehicle.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:
under control of the one or more computing devices configured with specific computer executable instructions,
monitoring one or more environmental factors related to the vehicle while the vehicle is in operation and as the game is presented to the first user operating the vehicle; and
further modifying the game presented in the vehicle based at least in part on the one more environmental factors while the vehicle is in operation.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more environmental factors includes a driving history of the first user operating the vehicle.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein further modifying the game further comprises:
determining a distraction index indicative of a distraction level of the first user operating the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more environmental factors; and
updating the game based at least in part on the distraction index so as to improve the distraction index.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the first use

Assignees

• Audible Inc

Inventors

• Story Jr Guy Ashley
• Bavitz Graham James
• Goldsmid Aaron Payne
• Goldstein Douglas Scott
• Hwang Douglas Cho
• Spector Pamela R

Classifications

• A63F13/48

  Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session · CPC title

• A63F13/217

  using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity · CPC title

• A63F13/67

  adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use · CPC title

• A63F9/24

  Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title