Augmented reality gaming via geographic messaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675882-B2
Application number	US-201615014797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2016
Priority date	Nov 4, 2009
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Geographic gaming via a scalable, wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer gaming between communication devices without relying on traditional network elements. Games can be fully distributed over an ad hoc network of mobile communications devices. The scalable nature of the wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer games to function equally well in both remote areas with no or little network service and in crowded areas containing both game players and other users of mobile communications devices. Wireless geographic broadcast messages distributed among multiplayer game participants can be used to control gameplay features and/or game elements of multiplayer games. Embodiments include simulated artillery battles, simulated throw and catch games, and simulated reconnaissance elements.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method comprising:
invoking, based on a first movement of a first mobile communications device, a reconnaissance element of a geogame, the reconnaissance element used for creating a representation of a geographic region of a virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame;
based on a second movement of the first mobile communications device, providing, by the first mobile communications device to a second mobile communications device, an element information portion of a geogaming message associated with a virtual element of the geogame, the element information portion of a geogaming message of a geogaming message comprising an indication of a location of arrival of the virtual element; and
displaying, on the representation of the geographic region of the virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame, an indication of arrival of the virtual element at the indicated location of arrival in relation to the second mobile communications device on a display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual element is indicative of a virtual ball or virtual artillery.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an indication of a catch of the virtual element when the first mobile communications device is located approximately at the same location of the virtual element at a time of arrival.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a flight path of the virtual element.

5. A mobile communications device comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
invoking, based on a first movement of a first mobile communications device, a reconnaissance element of a geogame, the reconnaissance element used for creating a representation of a geographic region of a virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame;
based on a second movement of the first mobile communications device, providing an element information portion of a geogaming message associated with a virtual element of the geogame, the element information portion of a geogaming message of a geogaming message comprising an indication of a location of arrival of the virtual element; and
displaying, on the representation of the geographic region of the virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame, an indication of arrival of the virtual element at the indicated location of arrival in relation to the second mobile communications device on a display.

6. The mobile communications device of claim 5 , wherein the virtual element is indicative of a virtual ball.

7. The mobile communications device of claim 5 , the operations further comprising displaying an indication of a catch of the virtual element when the mobile communications device is located approximately at the same location of the virtual element at a time of arrival.

8. The mobile communications device of claim 5 , the operations further comprising displaying a flight path of the virtual element.

9. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a transient signal, comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause said computing device to effectuate operations comprising:
invoking, based on a first movement of a first mobile communications device, a reconnaissance element of a geogame, the reconnaissance element used for creating a representation of a geographic region of a virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame;
based on a second movement of the first mobile communications device, providing, by the first mobile communications device to a second mobile communications device, an element information portion of a geogaming message associated with a virtual element of the geogame, the element information portion comprising an indication of a location of arrival of the virtual element; and
displaying, on the representation of the geographic region of the virtual or real-world playing field associated with the geogame, an indication of arrival of the virtual element at the indicated location of arrival in relation to the second mobile communications device on a display.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the virtual element is indicative of a virtual ball.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising displaying an indication of a catch of the virtual element when the first mobile communications device is located approximately at the same location of the virtual element at a time of arrival.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Hall Robert J

Classifications

• A63F13/211

  using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• H04L12/1845

  broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast (protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02) · CPC title

• A63F13/31 Primary

  Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range · CPC title

• H04W4/50

  Service provisioning or reconfiguring · CPC title

• H04L12/189

  in combination with wireless systems (selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06) · CPC title