Jeffrey D. Mullen
`
`Docket No.
`
`JDM/005
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION BASED GAMES
`AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME ON LOCATION
`ENABLED DEVICES
`
`16800U.S.PTO10/932536
`
`z
`
`X .»:
`
`vOLOGOMII
`
`QldSN19812 For A Small Entity
`
`Applicant
`
`:
`
`For
`
`2
`
`"Express Mail" mailing label number
`
`EXPRESS MAIL CERTIFICATION
`
`EV371754078uUS
`
`Date of Deposit
`
`September 1, 2004
`
`I hereby certify that this transmittal letter and the
`other papers and fees identified in this transmittal letter as
`being transmitted herewith are being deposited with the United
`States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee"
`service under 37 C.F.R.
`§ 1.10 on the date indicated above and
`are addressed to the Hon. Commissioner fo
`J
`P.O. Box
`
`1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`
`
`
` "Claire J. Saintil-van Goodman
`
`
`
`Mail Stop: PATENT APPLICATION
`Hon. Commissioner for Patent
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`- TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR
`ORIGINAL PATENT APPLICATION
`
`Sir:
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing are the
`bd specification; fx] claims;
`Ex] abstract;
`executed declaration;
`and
`PrintEFS for the above-identified patent application.
`
`Also transmitted herewith are:
`
`Fourteen (14) sheets of:
`
`[] Formal drawings.
`
`1
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 001
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 001
`
`
`
`Docket No.
`
`JDM/005
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION BASED GAMES
`AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME ON LOCATION
`ENABLED DEVICES
`
`16800U.S.PTO10/932536
`
`z
`
`X .»:
`
`vOLOGOMII
`
`QldSN19812 For A Small Entity
`
`Applicant
`
`:
`
`For
`
`2
`
`"Express Mail" mailing label number
`
`EXPRESS MAIL CERTIFICATION
`
`EV371754078uUS
`
`Date of Deposit
`
`September 1, 2004
`
`I hereby certify that this transmittal letter and the
`other papers and fees identified in this transmittal letter as
`being transmitted herewith are being deposited with the United
`States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee"
`service under 37 C.F.R.
`§ 1.10 on the date indicated above and
`are addressed to the Hon. Commissioner fo
`J
`P.O. Box
`
`1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`
`
`
` "Claire J. Saintil-van Goodman
`
`
`
`Mail Stop: PATENT APPLICATION
`Hon. Commissioner for Patent
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`- TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR
`ORIGINAL PATENT APPLICATION
`
`Sir:
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing are the
`bd specification; fx] claims;
`Ex] abstract;
`executed declaration;
`and
`PrintEFS for the above-identified patent application.
`
`Also transmitted herewith are:
`
`Fourteen (14) sheets of:
`
`[] Formal drawings.
`
`1
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 001
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 001
`
`
`
`Formal drawings will be filed
`Informal drawings.
`Quring the pendency of this application.
`
`[] An assignment of the invention to
`[] A check in the amount of $40.00 to cover the
`recording fee.
`
`Small Entity Status is requested.
`
`[0 A certified copy of the priority document,
`application, No.
`, filed
`
`The filing fee has been calculated as shown below:
`
`
`FOR
`FILED
`EXTRA
`RATE
`=
`FRE
`
`
`NUMBER
`
`NUMBER
`
`BASIC FEE
`=
`$385.00
`
`
`TOTAL CLAIMS
`20
`- 18 =
`0
`x
`S$
`9
`=
`$
`0.00
`
`
`INDEPENDENT
`CLAIMS
`3
`-
`3
`=
`0
`x
`§ 43
`=
`$
`0.00
`
`
`O A MULTIPLE DEPENDENT CLAIM
`+
`$145
`=
`$
`0.00
`
`
`A check in the amount of $385.00 in payment of the filing
`fee is transmitted herewith. A duplicate copy of this
`transmittal letter is
`transmitted herewith.
`
`TOTAL =
`
`$385.00
`
` Applicant
`
`Customer No. 32733
`1 Mercer Court
`Scarsdale, New York 10583
`Home
`:
`(914) 723-4093
`Mobile:
`(914) 837-7741
`
`2
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 002
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 002
`
`
`
`SMALL ENTITY
`
`JDM/005
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION BASED GAMES AND
`EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAME ON LOCATION ENABLED DEVICES
`
`Cross-Reference to Related Application
`
`>
`
`[0001]
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S.
`
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/499,810 filed on
`
`September 2, 2003 which is hereby incorporated by
`
`reference herein in its entirety.
`
`[0002]
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S.
`
`Provisional Patent Application No. --/---,--~- filed on
`
`10
`
`August, 20, 2004 titled "Wireless Devices With Flexible
`
`Monitors and Keyboards"
`
`(Docket No.
`
`JDM/007) which is
`
`hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
`
`entirety.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`15
`
`[0003]
`
`This invention relates to video games and
`
`video game systems.
`
`[0004]
`
`Virtual reality games have been developed
`
`where a user places a helmet on his/her head and is
`
`ammersed into an alternate reality via a display
`
`20
`
`located in the helmet. This user is then allowed to
`
`move through an alternate reality by means of a
`
`joystick.
`
`The user is displayed the alternate reality
`
`Express Mail No.
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`54078US
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 003
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`Meta v. Mullen - Page 003
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`
`
`from a first person perspective.
`
`A user is limited in
`
`actual physical movement by means of a very small
`
`{e.g., 48 inches) enclosed virtual reality platform.
`
`Such traditional virtual reality systems are deficient
`
`because of the need for additional, unneeded manual
`
`actions to be made to move a joystick in order to move
`
`the user through the alternate reality.
`
`It is
`
`therefore desirable to provide a game system with
`
`improved user controls.
`
`10
`
`[0005]
`
`Traditional virtual reality systems are also
`
`unsafe because a user cannot visually see his/her
`
`physical environment. Guard rails are typically
`
`provided such that a user cannot stray from the virtual
`
`reality platform. Yet, a user may become distorted in
`
`15
`
`the alternate reality and lose a sense of direction as
`to where such rails are located. Thus, a user may
`
`dangerously contact such guard rails or foreign objects
`
`introduced onto a virtual reality platform.
`
`It is
`
`therefore desirable to provide safer game systems.
`
`20
`
`[0006]
`
`Traditionally heavy computer hardware,
`
`multiple platforms,
`
`large interconnection wires, and
`
`numerous manual control devices are required to immerse
`
`more than one user in the same alternate reality.
`
`Such
`
`virtual reality systems typically cost
`
`in the tens of
`
`25
`
`thousands,
`
`to hundreds of thousands, of dollars.
`
`It is
`
`therefore desirable provide an economical video game
`
`system with improved functionality.
`
`It is also
`
`desirable to provide software that can realize improved
`
`gaming systems in traditional devices such as wireless
`
`30
`
`telephones.
`
`[0007]
`
`Zingy.com offers wireless telephone ringers
`
`for sale and download.
`
`Zingy.com allows a user to
`
`enter in a wireless telephone number anda
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 004
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`
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 004
`
`
`
`corresponding wireless telephone model a website.
`user, however, must set up a user profile through a
`user identification process that includes sending a
`
`The
`
`text message containing a confirmation code to the
`
`wireless telephone number.
`
`A user must enter in this
`
`confirmation code on the website to confirm that the
`
`user is in possession of the wireless telephone.
`
`Desired ringers must be paid for, and downloaded, one
`
`at a time. After a particular ringer has been
`
`10
`
`purchased,
`
`that user is sent, via a text message, a
`
`Wireless Access Protocol
`
`(WAP) address.
`
`Such an
`
`address must be manually extracted from the text
`
`message, or entered directly into a browser,
`
`in order
`
`to be directed to the location of the desired ringer.
`
`15
`
`The user's wireless telephone will then ask the user if
`
`the material is OK to download. Only one ringer may be
`
`downloaded to a wireless device at a time.
`
`It is
`
`therefore desirable to provide improved jdata
`interchange capabilities for a wireless device.
`
`20
`
`[0008]
`
`Sprint offers a VISION PCS service in which
`
`the internet location of a Global Content Descriptor
`
`file (.GCD file) must be sent, via text messaging, toa
`
`Sprint VISION PCS wireless telephone in order to
`
`download a file (e.g., a ringer)
`
`from a website (e.g.,
`
`25
`
`Zingy.com). This .GCD file contains a variety of data
`
`fields that tell the wireless telephone,
`
`the size of
`
`the file,
`
`the title of the file,
`
`the creator of the
`
`the file type, and file's internet storage
`file,
`location. Traditional wireless telephones contain
`
`30
`
`programs that use the information of the .GCD file.
`
`For example,
`
`if the size of the file, as described by
`
`the .GCD file,
`
`is too large then the wireless telephone
`
`will prompt the user that the file is too large to
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 005
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 005
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`
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`download.
`
`Such systems are deficient because two files
`
`must be transferred in order to manually obtain a
`
`download of a single file.
`
`It is therefore desirable
`
`to provide a wireless telephone that does not need to
`
`download a .GCD file, or a similar file,
`
`in order to
`
`download content.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`[0009]
`The present invention provides an actual,
`
`10
`
`reality-based video game in which a user's physical
`
`(actual)
`
`location on a playfield, reflects a virtual
`
`game character's virtual location in a video game
`
`environment.
`
`In this manner, an actual-reality
`
`(hereinafter "actuality") video game system may be
`
`15
`
`provided. Generally, an actuality game is a location-
`
`based game where a user's location on a physical
`
`playfield corresponds to a video game character's
`
`location on a virtual video game playfield. Multiple
`
`types of other location-based games are also provided.
`
`20
`
`{0010]
`
`Multiple type of displays are provided that
`
`realize a variety of different types of location-based
`
`games.
`
`For example, a gaming system is provided in
`
`which a user's actual environment is completely visible
`
`to a user.
`
`In this manner, a game system that provides
`
`25
`
`a visible physical playfield may be provided.
`
`A
`
`display (e.g., a monitor) may be provided to display
`
`the video game to a user.
`
`A location device may be
`
`included in the video game system such that the actual
`
`location of the video game system may be obtained and
`
`30
`
`utilized,
`
`for example,
`
`to control the location of a
`
`virtual video game character on a virtual playfield.
`
`In this manner,
`
`the user is provided as choice wether
`
`Express Mail No.
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 006
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`ome
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 006
`
`
`
`or not
`
`to view either the physical playing field or the
`
`game system display while operating the game.
`
`[0011]
`
`As per another example, a game system is
`
`provided with a transparent display such that virtual
`
`indicial may be presented on portions of the display.
`
`Such virtual indicia may be configured to block,
`
`Manipulate, or overlay a portion of a user's actual,
`
`physical environment.
`
`In this manner, a game system
`
`that provides a semi-visible physical playfield may be
`
`10
`
`provided.
`
`Such displays may be,
`
`for example, flexible,
`
`transparent, and head-mounted display. Alternatively,
`
`such virtual indicia may be displayed directly on the
`
`retina through the use of light emitting elements. One
`
`advantage of a semi-visible environment game system is
`
`15
`
`that the system allows a user to travel safely at fast
`
`speeds through a physical environment.
`
`The is because
`
`the user may be able to’ see all of, or part of, his/her
`
`physical environment.
`
`[0012]
`
`In such a game system that provides a semi-
`
`20
`
`visible environment, a user may go to a soccer field,
`
`mount a semi-visible environment gaming system display
`over his/her field-of-view, download a "goalie" video
`
`game, and practice blocking penalty kicks that are
`
`shown through the display. Expanding this example, as
`
`25
`
`a virtual ball is virtually kicked on the head-set,
`
`the
`
`user may change locations to try and block the ball.
`
`In this manner,
`
`the gaming system may use the user's
`
`location to render the next frame of images display on
`
`the user's display. Thus, if a user moves one foot to
`
`30
`
`the left towards the ball,
`
`the video game system may
`
`render the ball to be one foot closer to the user in
`
`the next frame.
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 007
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 007
`
`
`
`[0013]
`
`Yet another game system is provided in which
`
`the video game display completely immerses a user into
`
`a virtual reality so that a user cannot see his/her
`
`physical environment.
`
`.
`
`In this manner, a game system
`
`that provides a non-visible physical playfield may be
`
`provided. Location information may be utilized,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`to determine a virtual character's location
`
`(e.g., a particular first-person perspective)
`
`in the
`
`virtual realm.
`
`10
`
`[0014]
`
`At any time during gameplay, a user's
`
`location may be used as a reference by the video game
`
`or another user's video game.
`
`For example, a child in
`
`his/her backyard in the U.S. may play a game of virtual
`
`PACMAN with his/her father that is located in a park in
`
`15
`
`Japan. At the beginning of such a multiplayer game,
`
`information about the starting location of each user
`
`may be utilized as a points of reference for the game.
`
`Accordingly,
`
`the game system may transmit the child's
`
`location with respect to the child's starting location
`
`20
`
`to his/her father's game system.
`
`The father's game
`
`system may then utilize this information to determine
`
`where the child would be if the two user's were playing
`
`on the same physical playfield. Accordingly,
`
`the
`
`father and child may play the same actuality game
`
`25
`
`together even though the father and the child are on
`
`opposite sides of the world.
`
`[0015]
`
`A visor may be provided that includes a
`
`transparent display such that virtual objects can be
`
`overlayed/placed onto the user's actual, physical
`
`30
`
`environment.
`
`If the game is a reincarnation of the
`
`classic game of PACMAN, maze walls may be provided to a
`
`transparent display.
`
`Thus, a user may see the actual
`
`environment that the user is running through (e.g.,
`
`the
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 008
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 008
`
`
`
`actual, physical playfield) and also see the maze walls
`
`that he/she has to follow (e.g.,
`
`the virtual
`
`playfield).
`
`[0016]
`
`Any device with a locating device anda
`
`display may be programmed to be at least a visible
`
`environment game system.
`
`For example, a wireless
`
`telephone with a Global Positioning System (GPS) system
`
`may be utilized as a visible environment game system
`
`that plays,
`
`for example, actuality games. As
`
`10
`
`introduced above, one actuality game may be a
`
`reincarnation of the classic game of PACMAN.
`
`Such a
`
`game may include a multiplayer mode where multiple
`
`players may simultaneously play the game. Control of,
`
`for example,
`
`PACMAN may be provided by changing the
`
`15
`
`location of the wireless telephone.
`
`A different player
`
`could use a different game system (e.g., a different
`
`wireless telephone)
`
`to control a ghost in the same
`
`game.
`
`Such a different user may be located on a remote
`
`playfield (e.g.,
`
`in a park in Japan).
`
`Thus, a user may
`
`20
`
`look down at a display screen, see his/her character,
`
`and run around his/her physical environment in order to
`
`Similary run his/her virtual character through a
`
`virtual maze. Communication devices may be included in
`
`such multiplayer game systems such that individual
`
`25
`
`gaming systems may communicate location information to
`
`each other or a remote storage device.
`
`Such a remote
`
`storage device (e.g., a remote database) may be
`
`periodically updated with each user's location
`
`information and periodically accessed by each user's
`
`30
`
`device to obtain, for example,
`
`the other user's
`
`location. Accordingly,
`
`the ability of a wireless
`
`telephone to transmit/receive data may be utilized to
`
`realize multiplayer actuality games or other location-
`
`Express Mail No.
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 009
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 009
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`
`
`based games. Alternatively,
`
`the devices may establish
`
`a direct communications link with each other.
`
`[0017]
`
`Additional locating devices, or directional
`
`devices, may be placed on a user to obtain additional
`
`transparent controls (e.g., controls where a user does
`
`not have to perform an unnatural action).
`
`For example,
`
`a GPS device (or any type of locating device) may be
`
`placed on a user's hand.
`
`A hand-word locating device
`
`may be used to obtain the location of a user's hand in
`
`10
`
`a three-dimensional field. Therefore,
`
`the height,
`
`latitude, and longitude of the user's hand may control
`
`the height and position of a virtual game character's
`
`hand (or other movement).
`
`[0018]
`
`As per another example, a locating device may
`
`15
`
`be provided on a head-mounted display that determines
`
`how the head-mounted display moves with respect to a
`
`reference point.
`
`In this manner,
`
`the video game may be
`
`provided with signals representative of the direction
`
`that the user's head is pointed towards.
`
`A directional
`
`20
`
`electronic compass is also provided through the
`
`configuration of two location devices (e.g.,
`
`two GPS
`
`devices).
`
`If,
`
`for example, one location device is
`
`placed in one location of a portable gaming system
`
`the front of a visor) and a second location
`(e.g.,
`device placed ina second location of the portable
`
`25
`
`gaming system (e.g.,
`
`the back of a visor) then the
`
`direction the visor is pointing may be determined be
`
`determining the location of these two location devices.
`
`[0019]
`
`Additional locating and/or directional
`
`30
`
`devices may be provided on other actual objects (e.g.,
`
`a sword, gun, baseball bat) such that the location of
`
`these objects may also be utilized to provide input to
`
`the location-based video game.
`
`For example, multiple
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0010
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0010
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`
`
`locating devices may be provided in a baseball bat such
`
`that a user may play an actuality game of baseball.
`
`[0020]
`
`Simplistic examples of a location-based game
`
`system are provided (e.g., a dedicated non-
`
`communicating one-player game system).
`
`Such systems
`
`may be constructed and marketed for considerably less
`
`than conventional hardware (e.g.,
`
`less than the cost of
`
`a wireless telephone).
`
`[0021]
`
`Additional manual controls may be provided to
`
`10
`
`increase the functionality of a game system of the
`
`present invention.
`
`Such manual controls may be,
`
`for
`
`example, buttons and/or joysticks.
`
`[0022]
`
`A data interchange may also be provided.
`
`Users may upload content from a wireless telephone and
`
`15
`
`allow different users (e.g., selected users)
`
`to
`
`download content to their different wireless devices
`
`(e.g., a wireless Personal Electronic Device).
`
`Interactive games are provided to wireless telephones
`
`by,
`
`for example,
`
`including a database that can store a
`
`20
`
`player's progress in the game.
`
`[0023]
`
`An automatic content update, or an automatic
`
`content download, may be provided to a wireless
`
`telephone user.
`
`Such an update may be the result of a
`
`paid subscription for such periodic updates.
`
`A
`
`25
`
`wireless telephone is provided that includes the
`ability to have non-service provider automatic updates
`
`without the consent of the wireless telephone's user
`
`every time data is downloaded.
`
`A wireless telephone is
`
`also provided that is operable to download a file
`
`30
`
`directly without a .GCD, or similar, file.
`
`[0024]
`
`Conversion components are also provided that
`
`may provide a location-based game functionality toa
`non-located enabled device.
`For example, a peripheral
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0011
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`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0011
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`
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`- 10 -
`
`with a game, a locating device, and a wireless
`
`transmitter/receiver, may is provided that may
`
`interface with a particular non-location enabled
`
`device.
`
`Such a peripheral may be operable to interface
`
`with PCMCIA slots or USB ports.
`
`In this manner, a
`
`laptop user may purchase a conversion component so that
`
`the laptop is operable to play a particular location-
`
`based game or take on the attributed of a location-
`
`based gaming system.
`
`10
`
`[0025]
`
`A stationary game system is provided that
`
`interacts with an actual-location based video game
`
`system of the present invention.
`
`In this manner, a
`
`user of a stationary gaming system (e.g., a home
`
`Personal Computer) may play a game against the user of
`
`15
`
`an actuality gaming system. Using PACMAN as an
`
`example,
`
`the stationary user may control a ghost with a
`
`joystick while the location-based user controls PACMAN
`
`with his/her physical location on a physical playfield.
`
`A handicap may be given to the stationary user such
`
`20
`
`that the actual-location based user is provided with an
`
`advantage (e.g.,
`
`the handicap's player may move
`
`slower).
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`25
`
`[0026]
`The above and other features of the present
`invention, its nature and various advantages will be
`more apparent upon consideration of the following
`
`detailed description,
`
`taken in conjunction with the
`
`accompanying drawings,
`
`in which like reference
`
`30
`
`characters refer to like parts throughout, and in
`
`which:
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0012
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0012
`
`
`
`-~11-
`
`[0027]
`
`FIG.
`
`1 is an illustration of one embodiment
`
`of a gaming system topology constructed in accordance
`
`with the principles of the present invention;
`
`[0028]
`
`FIG.
`
`2 is a flow chart for a variety of
`
`functionalities that may be included in a gaming system
`
`constructed in accordance with the principles of the
`
`present invention;
`
`[0029]
`
`FIG.
`
`3 is an illustration of a wireless
`
`telephone for use as a gaming system constructed in
`
`10
`
`accordance with the principles of the present
`
`invention;
`
`[0030]
`
`FIGS. 4-5 are illustrations of user
`
`interfaces, and accompanying functionality, constructed
`
`in accordance with principles of the present invention;
`
`15
`
`[0031]
`
`FIG.
`
`6 is an illustration of one embodiment
`
`of a gaming system constructed in accordance with the
`
`principles of the present invention;
`[0032]
`FIG.
`7 is an illustration of one embodiment
`
`of a gaming system constructed in accordance with the
`
`20
`
`principles of the present invention;
`
`[0033]
`
`FIG.
`
`8 is an illustration of a game system
`
`architecture constructed in accordance with the
`
`principles of the present invention;
`
`[0034]
`
`FIG.
`
`9 are illustrations of multiple game
`
`25
`
`system configurations constructed in accordance with
`
`the principles of the present invention;
`
`[0035]
`
`FIG. 10 is an illustration of a gaming system
`
`constructed in accordance with the principles of the
`
`present invention;
`
`30
`
`[0036]
`
`FIG. 11 are illustrations of gaming system
`
`peripherals constructed in accordance with the
`
`principles of the present invention;
`
`Express Mail No.
`E371AOBSbit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0013
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0013
`
`
`
`~ 12 -
`
`[0037]
`
`FIG. 12 is an illustration of a gaming system
`
`network constructed in accordance with the principles
`
`of the present invention;
`
`[0038]
`
`FIG. 13 is an illustration of a gaming system
`
`constructed in accordance with the principles of the
`
`present invention; and
`
`[0039]
`
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of a flow chart of
`
`a multiplayer game that shares location information
`
`constructed in accordance with the principles of the
`
`10
`
`present invention.
`
`Detailed Description of the Drawings
`
`[0040]
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 10/400,296 filed
`
`on March 25, 2003 titled "Systems and Methods for
`
`15
`
`Locating Wireless Telephones and Security Measures for
`
`the Same"
`
`(Docket No.
`
`JDM/002)
`
`is hereby incorporated
`
`by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`[0041]
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 10/797,801 filed
`
`on March 9, 2004 titled "Systems and Methods for
`
`20
`
`Providing Remote Incoming Call Notification for
`
`Wireless Telephones"
`
`(Docket No. JDM/004)
`
`is hereby
`
`incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
`
`[0042]
`
`FIG.
`
`1 shows gaming system 100 in which
`
`locating device 131 receives location signals from
`
`25
`
`satellites 111-113.
`
`Persons skilled in the art will
`
`appreciate that satellites 111-113 may be transmitters
`
`placed around a physical playfield (e.g., may be placed
`
`around/suspend above the perimeter of a physical
`
`playfield). Wireless telephone 130 may house locating
`
`30
`
`device 131 and may provide a location-based game on
`
`display 140.
`
`[0043]
`
`To initiate a location-based game, a user may
`
`be prompted to set an origin for the game trough a
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0014
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0014
`
`
`
`- 13 -
`
`Graphical User Interface (GUI). Alternatively, an
`
`origin may be set automatically.
`
`Furthermore, a GUI
`
`may be provided that prompts a user on how much free
`
`physical space is needed on all sides of the origin for
`
`gameplay.
`
`Such a functionality may allow a user to
`
`locate a proper spot on an actual, physical playfield
`
`before gameplay begins or to allow a video game to
`
`establish a reference location.
`
`The dimensions of the
`
`physical playfield may be operable to be changed by a
`
`10
`
`user.
`
`For example, a user may be provided with a
`
`number of physical playfield dimensions to choose from
`
`as shown in GUI 411.
`
`[0044]
`
`In multiplayer embodiments,
`
`for example, a
`
`user may determine playfield dimensions and an opponent
`
`15
`
`may be,
`
`for example, requested to confirm that user's
`
`selected dimensions (or display that user's selected
`
`dimensions). Alternatively, each user may select
`
`different dimensions for their local, physical
`
`playfield and control signals may be appropriately
`
`20
`
`scaled as will be discussed below. Default dimensions
`
`for the physical playfield may be utilized by a video
`
`game and displayed to a user.
`
`Such dimensions may be
`
`changed during operation of the video game (e.g., a
`
`game may be PAUSED,
`
`taken to a different physical,
`
`25
`
`playfield, and the physical playfield dimensions may be
`
`changed before the game is RESTARTED).
`
`[0045]
`
`Persons skilled in the art will appreciate
`
`that location-based video games may be initially
`
`configured in a variety of ways by a user.
`
`For
`
`30
`
`example, a user may be provided with a GUI that
`
`includes a number of choices as to the shape of an
`
`physical playfield (e.g., a circle, square, or
`
`rectangle).
`
`AS per another example, GUI 412 may be
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0015
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0015
`
`
`
`- 14 -
`
`provided in which a user may go to a physical playfield
`
`boundary that the user desires and establish that
`
`location as a location boundary for a game. Dimensions
`
`information may be utilized by a video game system to
`
`determine how to scale location-based inputs.
`
`For
`
`example, if a user is playing an actualty game of
`PACMAN then a user movement in a 10 ft. x 10 ft.
`
`physical playfield may result in PACMAN moving faster
`
`than that same user movement in a 100 ft. x 100 ft.
`
`10
`
`foot physical playfield. Accordingly, a video game
`
`system may scale location inputs such that a person
`
`playing on a 10 ft. x 10 ft. playfield may play in the
`
`same virtual playfield (although multiple displays may
`
`display the virtual playfield) as a user playing ona
`
`15
`
`100 ft. x 100 ft. playfield.
`
`A program may scale user
`
`inputs based on,
`
`for example,
`
`the dimensions (e.g.,
`
`size) of both user's playfield or scale to a user
`
`defined or default playfield. Control signals may be
`
`transmitted to other game systems such that scaling is
`
`20
`
`taken into account.
`
`For example,
`
`transmitted control
`
`Signals may represent the direction and magnitude that
`
`a current player's location is away from that user's
`
`origin. Dimension information for a user's physical
`
`playfield may also be transmitted to other user's game
`
`25
`
`system. Using any one of a number of scaling methods,
`
`a user's movement North of his/her physical playfield
`
`origin by 10% may cause an opponent to view, on the
`
`opponent's display, movement of the user's video game
`character toa location 10% North of the opponent's
`
`30
`
`origin.
`
`[0046]
`
`Persons skilled in the art will appreciate
`
`that a variety of locating devices may be utilized.
`
`For example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) may be
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0016
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0016
`
`
`
`-~ 15 -
`
`utilized. Alternatively, a Local Positioning System
`
`(hereafter "LPS") may be utilized. Additionally,
`
`the
`
`difference in two locations provided by a locating
`
`device (e.g.,
`
`the magnitude and direction of a location
`
`to an origin) may be utilized to move a character ina
`
`video game playfield (or provide other control signals
`
`to the video game system). Similarly, devices that
`
`measure movement (e.g., an accelerometer) may be
`
`utilized as a locating device. Accordingly,
`
`10
`
`acceleration information may be translated into
`
`location information and this location information may
`
`be utilized as a control signal (e.g.,
`
`for changing the
`
`location of a video game character).
`
`[0047]
`
`Person skilled in the art will also
`
`15
`
`appreciate that any type of device may be configured
`
`into a gaming system of the present invention.
`
`In
`
`addition to wireless telephones (e.g., cellular or PCS
`
`wireless telephones),
`
`laptops, Personal Digital
`
`Assistants (e.g., PDAs), Blackberries, Personal
`
`20
`
`Electronic Device (PED),
`
`iPODs, or any other portable
`
`electronic device may be utilized.
`
`[0048]
`
`Multiple portable gaming systems may be
`
`operable to directly communicate with each other (e.g.,
`
`Cellular, PCS, WiFi, radio, satellite, or infrared
`
`25
`
`communications)
`
`in order to achieve a variety of
`
`functionality.
`
`For example, portable gaming systems
`
`May communicate location information directly with one
`
`another in order to increase the speed in transferring
`
`location information. Alternatively, one or more
`
`30
`
`remote storage devices (e.g., a database or memory) may
`
`be provided that stores location information for one or
`
`more users. Portable gaming devices may routinely
`
`retrieve other user's location information from such a
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0017
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0017
`
`
`
`- 16 -
`
`remote storage device. Portable gaming devices may
`
`also routinely write location information for a
`
`particular user to such a remote storage device either
`
`periodically, continually, or as soon as a new location
`
`reading has been completed.
`[0049]
`To decrease the weight of a portable gaming
`
`device, a base station (e.g., base station 170) may be
`
`provided that includes components that may otherwise be
`
`included in a portable gaming system.
`
`For example, a
`
`10
`
`satellite communications device may weigh more than a
`
`WiFi device.
`
`In this manner, a WiFi
`
`transmitter/receiver may be included in the portable
`
`gaming device to relay the portable devices location
`
`information to the base station.
`
`The base station may
`
`15
`
`then use,
`
`for example,
`
`the satellite communications
`
`transmitter/receiver to update location information on
`
`a remote storage device. Alternatively,
`
`the base
`
`station may include,
`
`for example,
`
`the remote storage
`
`device for one or more portable devices.
`
`20
`
`[0050]
`
`Base stations (e.g., base station 170) may
`
`also include a majority of the processing circuitry for
`
`a gaming system.
`
`For example, a portable gaming device
`
`may be provided with a display, a locating device, and
`
`a transmitter/receiver. This portable gaming device
`
`25
`
`may periodically transmit location information to a
`
`base station.
`
`The base station may use this
`
`information as an input to a video game being played,
`
`render a new frame for the portable display, and
`
`forward this newly rendered frame (that takes into
`
`30
`
`account
`
`the impact of the new location-based control
`
`Signal)
`
`to the portable gaming device. Multiple
`
`portable devices may utilize one base station.
`
`Similarly, one portable device may utilize multiple
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0018
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0018
`
`
`
`-17 -
`
`base stations. Base stations may also communicate
`
`information between each other.
`
`[0051]
`
`FIG.
`
`2 shows flow chart 200 that includes a
`
`variety of different functionalities that may be
`
`included in a location-based gaming system.
`
`Persons
`
`skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of
`
`steps may be added to, or removed from,
`
`flow chart 200.
`
`Generally,
`
`flow chart 200 may be utilized ina
`
`location-based game where the location of a user on a
`
`10
`
`defined physical playfield, or that user's
`
`latitude/longitude information in the world,
`
`is
`
`utilized as a control signal to a location-based game.
`In one embodiment, such control Signals may, for
`
`example, replace a tradition joystick such that a
`
`15
`
`user's physical location is utilized as the main
`
`control device for a game (e.g., control a character's
`
`location in a video game's virtual playfield).
`
`[0052]
`
`Step 201 occurs when a request fora
`
`location-based game is received. This may be simply a
`
`20
`
`user turning ON a location-based gaming system (e.g.,
`
`turning ON a dedicated PACMAN location-based system) or
`
`a user selecting a location-based game froma list of
`
`location-based games.
`
`If a list of games is provided
`
`such games may be stored locally (e.g., on the gaming
`
`25
`
`system). Alternatively,
`
`the list may be stored
`
`remotely, or locally, and a selected game may be
`downloaded from a remote location (e.g., wirelessly
`from a remote database).
`A cost may be associated with
`
`such location-based games and a user may be required to
`
`30
`
`agree to purchase the game or rent the game for a
`
`period of time.
`
`Such game downloads may be free of
`
`charge.
`
`A subscription (e.g., an yearly or monthly
`
`billed subscription) may be purchased by the user such
`
`Express Mail No.
`EV371754078US
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0019
`
`Meta Exhibit 1007
`Meta v. Mullen - Page 0019
`
`
`
`- 18 -
`
`that all location based games are free to download
`while the subscription lasts (e.g., has not expired).
`Alternatively, an amount of time
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