# US 10,369,474 B2 · Virtual performance system

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- Number: US 10,369,474 B2
- Document ID: US10369474B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/591,271
- Filed: 2017-05-10
- Published: 2017-08-24
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-07
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Willoughby H. Walling
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369474B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/65: automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
- A63F 13/20: Input arrangements for video game devices
- A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
- A63F 13/212: using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
- A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence)
- A63F 13/215: comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
- A63F 13/216: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
- A63F 13/25: Output arrangements for video game devices
- A63F 13/32: using local area network [LAN] connections
- A63F 13/332: using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
- A63F 13/335: using Internet
- A63F 13/35: Details of game servers
- A63F 13/46: Computing the game score
- A63F 13/537: using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
- A63F 13/69: by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
- A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
- A63F 13/85: Providing additional services to players
- A63F 13/87: Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
- A63F 2300/1012: involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
- A63F 2300/105: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
- A63F 2300/1081: Input via voice recognition
- A63F 2300/1087: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
- A63F 2300/205: for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
- A63F 2300/208: for storing personal settings or data of the player
- A63F 2300/303: for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
- A63F 2300/406: Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
- A63F 2300/407: Data transfer via internet
- A63F 2300/5553: user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
- A63F 2300/5573: player location
- A63F 2300/572: Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
- A63F 2300/609: for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
- A63F 2300/61: Score computation
- A63F 2300/69: Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
- A63F 2300/8082: Virtual reality
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to rewarding users of an electronic game for real-world physical activity. Further aspects relate to altering virtual items based upon physical activity. An electronic game may comprise or otherwise relate to an online world (such as a “Virtual World”). Users may be represented through customized graphical representations, such as avatars. An account of a user (or entity) may be associated a “virtual region.” A threshold level of real-world physical activity may result in obtaining a reward that may be associated with a virtual item. A reward may be configured to result in: (1) altering visual appearance of a virtual item within a virtual region; (2) altering a virtual characteristic of a virtual item, such that the first user may engage in at least one additional virtual activity using that virtual item; and/or (3) acquiring a new virtual item for a virtual region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a virtual world server comprising one or more processors and memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the virtual world server to:
provide a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,
prompt a user of the plurality of users to perform a real-world physical activity,
reward the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on sensor data characterizing movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity, and
penalize the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity;
a client computing device in signal communication with the virtual world server and operated by the user to access the virtual world; and
a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
determine an environmental condition of the geographic location, and
select a reward based on the environmental condition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
visually represent the environmental condition of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the threshold level of the real-world physical activity comprises:
a threshold quantity of time the user spends conducting the real-world physical activity,
a threshold value of a physiological or biological parameter of the user, or
a threshold distance traveled by the user within a predetermined window of time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
present, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
visually represent an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
determine a real-world feature of the geographic location, and
visually represent the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,
wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the instructions, when executed by the virtual world server, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
select the real-world physical activity the user is prompted to perform based on the geographic location of the user.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
by a virtual world server comprising one or more processors, memory, and a communication interface:
providing a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,
providing, to a client computing device operated by a user of the plurality of users, access to the virtual world via the communication interface,
prompting the user to perform a real-world physical activity,
receiving sensor data characterizing movement of the user from a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user, and
either (i) rewarding the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity, or (b) penalizing the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user, that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
by the virtual world server:
determining a geographic location of the user,
determining an environmental condition of the geographic location, and
selecting a reward based on the environmental condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein:
the threshold level of the real-world physical activity comprises:
a threshold quantity of time the user spends conducting the real-world physical activity,
a threshold value of a physiological or biological parameter of the user, or
a threshold distance traveled by the user within a predetermined window of time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
by the virtual world server:
presenting, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
by the virtual world server:
visually representing an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
by the virtual world server:
determining a geographic location of the user,
determining a real-world feature of the geographic location, and
visually representing the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,
wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

### Claim 15

Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a virtual world server, cause the virtual world server to:
provide a virtual world comprising a plurality of virtual regions, wherein each virtual region is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each user is represented in the virtual world by one of a plurality of avatars, and wherein individual virtual regions of the plurality of virtual regions are traversable by individual avatars of the plurality of avatars,
provide, to a client computing device operated by a user of the plurality of users, access to the virtual world via a communication interface of the virtual world server,
prompt the user to perform a real-world physical activity,
receive sensor data characterizing movement of the user from a monitoring device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of the user and obtain at least a portion of the sensor data, wherein the monitoring device is configured to detect the movement of the user at a location from which the client computing device is not accessible to the user,
reward the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user and a calculation of completeness modifiers that weight exercises completed recently more heavily than less recent exercises, that the user performed a threshold level of the real-world physical activity,
penalize the user in the virtual world in response to determining, based on the sensor data characterizing the movement of the user that the user did not perform the threshold level of the real-world physical activity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
determine an environmental condition of the geographic location, and
select a reward based on the environmental condition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:
present, in the virtual world, live data characterizing performance of the real-world physical activity being performed by the user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:
visually represent an avatar of the plurality of avatars performing the real-world physical activity in the virtual world either during or after performance of the real-world physical activity by the user, the avatar being associated with the user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
determine a real-world feature of the geographic location, and
visually represent the real-world feature of the geographic location of the user in the virtual world at a virtual region of the plurality of virtual regions that is associated with the user,
wherein the real-world feature comprises a man-made object or a natural object located proximate to the geographic location of the user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual world server to:
determine a geographic location of the user,
select the real-world physical activity the user is prompted to perform based on the geographic location of the user.