# US 8,751,159 B2 · Augmented reality gaming via geographic messaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,159 B2 - Document ID: US8751159B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/644,293 - Filed: 2009-12-22 - Published: 2011-05-05 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-04 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: Robert J Hall - Inventors: Robert J Hall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751159B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/31: Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - A63F 13/10 - A63F 13/12 - A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/216: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS - A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers - A63F 13/40: Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment - A63F 13/45: Controlling the progress of the video game - A63F 13/812: Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball - A63F 13/95: Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges - G06Q 30/0261: {based on user location} - H04H 20/59: for emergency or urgency - H04L 12/1845: {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)} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/50: Service provisioning or reconfiguring - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] - A63F 2300/1093: using visible light - A63F 2300/406: Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM - A63F 2300/66: for rendering three dimensional images - A63F 2300/69: Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video - H04L 12/189: {in combination with wireless systems (selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06)} - H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information} - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, by an apparatus, a request to initiate a scan, via a virtual reconnaissance element having simulated movement, of a geographic region; responsive to receiving the request, transmitting, by the apparatus, to the geographic region, a query signal corresponding to a simulated location of the virtual reconnaissance element, the query signal formatted in accordance with a scalable geographic broadcast protocol comprising a geographic query address portion corresponding to the geographic region; receiving, by the apparatus, a query response signal from a sending device within the geographic region; determining, based on the received query response signal, a location of the sending device; and providing, by the apparatus, a designation of the location of the sending device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: characterizing the sending device as one of a friend or a foe; and providing the designation in accordance with the characterization. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a designation of a waypoint; determining a current location of the virtual reconnaissance element; determining a distance between the waypoint and the current location; calculating a travel time between the current location and the waypoint based upon the distance and virtual reconnaissance element characteristics; and transmitting, at the elapse of the travel time, a second query signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the query signal comprises an indication of an intended recipient of the query signal; and the query signal comprises an indication of a response to the query signal be one of mandatory or voluntary. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering an indication of the location of the sending device on the apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the designation is visually rendered as an overlay on a map of the geographic region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering the location of the sending device on the apparatus based on the sending device being designated as friend or foe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the designation of friend or foe is rendered as an overlay on a map of the geographic region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a second query signal is transmitted in accordance with a rescan time. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising: receiving a request to initiate a scan, via a virtual reconnaissance element having simulated movement, of a geographic region; responsive to receiving the request, transmitting to the geographic region, a query signal corresponding to a simulated location of the virtual reconnaissance element, the query signal formatted in accordance with a scalable geographic broadcast protocol comprising a geographic query address portion corresponding to the geographic region; receiving, via an ad hoc network, a query response signal from a sending device within the geographic region; determining, based on the received query response signal, a location of the sending device; and providing a designation of the location of the sending device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, the operations further comprising: characterizing the sending device as one of a friend or a foe; and providing the designation in accordance with the characterization. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, the operations further comprising: receiving a designation of a waypoint; determining a current location of the virtual reconnaissance element; determining a distance between the waypoint and the current location; calculating a travel time between the current location and the waypoint based upon the distance and virtual reconnaissance element characteristics; and transmitting, at the elapse of the travel time, a second query signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the query signal comprises an indication of an intended recipient of the query signal; and the query signal comprises an indication of a response to the query signal be one of mandatory or voluntary. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, the operations further comprising rendering an indication of the location of the sending device on the apparatus. ### Claim 15 A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising: receiving, by an apparatus, a request to initiate a scan, via a virtual reconnaissance element having simulated movement, of a geographic region; responsive to receiving the request, transmitting, by the apparatus, to the geographic region, a query signal corresponding to a simulated location of the virtual reconnaissance element, the query signal formatted in accordance with a scalable geographic broadcast protocol comprising a geographic query address portion corresponding to the geographic region; receiving, via an ad hoc network, a query response signal from a sending device within the geographic region; determining, based on the received query response signal, a location of the sending device; and providing a designation of the location of the sending device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising: characterizing the sending device as one of a friend or a foe; and providing the designation in accordance with the characterization. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising: receiving a designation of a waypoint; determining a current location of the virtual reconnaissance element; determining a distance between the waypoint and the current location; calculating a travel time between the current location and the waypoint based upon the distance and virtual reconnaissance element characteristics; and transmitting, at the elapse of the travel time, a second query signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein: the query signal comprises an indication of an intended recipient of the query signal; and the query signal comprises an indication of a response to the query signal be one of mandatory or voluntary. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising rendering an indication of the location of the sending device on the apparatus.