US 11,229,846 B2Granted

Providing a shared virtual experience in a location-based game

AssigneeNiantic, Inc.

InventorsTatsuo Nomura, Dennis Hwang, Edward Wu, Kevin Doo, Naoyuki Ishitsuka, Calin Matney, David Hollin

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A shared virtual experience is provided to players of a location-based game. The virtual location of a player in the game is based on the real world location of the player's client device. If a player's location in the game is within an interaction distance of a virtual element, in indication that a shared virtual experience is available may be provided. Player input is received requesting participation in the shared virtual experience and the player is added to a lobby including a specified start time. At the specified time, the shared virtual experience begins and includes interaction with other players who were in the lobby. An update to game data is sent based on an outcome of the shared virtual experience.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for providing a shared virtual experience in a location-based game, the shared virtual experience associated with a real-world location, the method comprising:

receiving, from a client device of a user, user input requesting participation in the shared virtual experience;
determining whether a location of the client device is within an interaction range of the real-world location associated with the shared virtual experience;
assigning the user to a lobby for the shared virtual experience based on determining that the location of the client device is within the interaction range;
providing the shared virtual experience to the client device, the shared virtual experience including:
a collaborative portion with a mutual objective achieved through interactions between users in the lobby including the user;
and
an individual portion subsequent to the collaborative portion with an individual objective achieved through actions by the user, wherein gameplay content of the individual portion is determined by an outcome of the collaborative portion;
and
updating a game database of the location-based game based on an outcome of the shared virtual experience including the outcome of the collaborative portion and an outcome of the individual portion.

6 more elements

A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable computer program code for providing a shared virtual experience in a location-based game, the shared virtual experience associated with a real-world location, the computer program code when executed causing the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving, from a client device of a user, user input requesting participation in the shared virtual experience associated with the real-world location;
determining whether a location of the client device is within an interaction range of the real-world location associated with the shared virtual experience;
assigning the user to a lobby for the shared virtual experience based on determining that the location of the client device is within the interaction range;
providing the shared virtual experience to the client device, the shared virtual experience including:
a collaborative portion with a mutual objective achieved through interactions between users in the lobby including the user;
and
an individual portion subsequent to the collaborative portion with an individual objective achieved through actions by the user, wherein gameplay content of the individual portion is determined by an outcome of the collaborative portion;
and
updating a game database of the location-based game based on an outcome of the shared virtual experience including the outcome of the collaborative portion and an outcome of the individual portion.

9 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for providing a shared virtual experience in a location-based game, the instructions, when executed by a computing device, causing the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a client device of a user, user input requesting participation in the shared virtual experience;
determining whether a location of the client device is within an interaction range of a real-world location associated with the shared virtual experience;
assigning the user to a lobby for the shared virtual experience based on determining that the location of the client device is within the interaction range;
providing the shared virtual experience to the client device, the shared virtual experience including:
a collaborative portion with a mutual objective achieved through interactions between users in the lobby including the user;
and
an individual portion subsequent to the collaborative portion with an individual objective achieved through actions by the user, wherein gameplay content of the individual portion is determined by an outcome of the collaborative portion;
and
updating a game database of the location-based game based on an outcome of the shared virtual experience including the outcome of the collaborative portion and an outcome of the individual portion.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/918,332Filed 1 Jul 2020 · continuation
Priority: 19 Jun 2017
Published: US 2020/0330874 A122 Oct 2020
Granted: 25 Jan 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A63F 13/65
Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or…:…
A63F 13/216
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
A63F 13/35
Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection…: details…
A63F 13/48
Controlling the progress of the video game: starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session

Family

Application62/522,023Us provisional application · filed 19 Jun 2017
Application16/012,714Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jun 2018
US 2020/0330874 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Oct 2020
US 10,737,178 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0361248 A1Published application
US 11,229,846 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.