# US 9,873,054 B2 · Systems and methods for fitness and video games > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,873,054 B2 - Document ID: US9873054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/159,664 - Filed: 2016-05-19 - Published: 2016-09-15 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-28 - Applicants: Brian M. Dugan - Inventors: Brian M. Dugan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873054B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/816: Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports - A63F 13/216: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS - A63F 13/31: Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range - A63F 13/332: using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks - A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/428: involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories - A63F 13/812: Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball - A63F 13/87: Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat - A63F 2300/204: the platform being a handheld device - A63F 2300/5553: user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar - A63F 2300/5573: player location - A63F 2300/8005: Athletics - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In some aspects, a system is provided that includes a plurality of mobile devices and an application on at least a first mobile device. The application is adapted to track position information regarding the first mobile device, communicate the position information to a web server, receive position information from the web server regarding other mobile devices within a predetermined distance of the first mobile device, and use the position information regarding the other mobile devices to affect one or more characteristics of a video game executed on the first mobile device. Numerous other aspects are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system to motivate a user to exercise harder comprising: a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being with a different user; and an application executing on each mobile device, the application including: a position tracking function operable to employ GPS features of the mobile device to track positions of the user of the mobile device; a communication transmission function operable to employ communication facilities of the mobile device to communicate position of the user of the mobile device to a web server; a communication reception function operable to employ the communication facilities of the mobile device to receive the positions of the users from the web server; a monitor function operable to employ the positions of the users from the web server to identify users within a predetermined distance of a first user and operable to employ information from one or more sensors in communication with the first user's mobile device to determine a level of exercise of the first user; and a video game executing on the mobile device, operable to employ the positions of the users, wherein a game level of the video game is set based upon both the level of exercise of the first user and a number of users identified within a predetermined distance of the first user wherein setting the game level includes providing movement capabilities to a video game avatar of the first user, wherein the movement capabilities of the first user's video game avatar are improved for playing the video game. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile devices are mobile telephones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first user may select one or more of how the positions of users affects the video game and the predetermined distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the web server may select one or more of how the positions of users affects the video game and the predetermined distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor function is further operable to determine a number of users within the predetermined distance from the first user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the web server is operable to provide incentives if a predetermined number of users are within the predetermined distance of the first user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein a third party in communication with the web server can set at least one of a value for the predetermined number of users and the predetermined distance required before the incentives are transmitted to the first user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first user may select how position information of users affects a number of background characters present in the video game. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the web server may select how position information of users affects a number of background characters present in the video game. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first user may select how position information of users affects a number of background characters present in the video game based on a number of users within the predetermined distance. ### Claim 11 A system to motivate a user to exercise harder comprising: a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device being with a different user; and an application executing on each mobile device, the application including: a position tracking function operable to employ GPS features of the mobile device to track positions of the user of the mobile device; a communication transmission function operable to employ communication facilities of the mobile device to communicate position of the user of the mobile device to a web server; a communication reception function operable to employ the communication facilities of the mobile device to receive the position information for the users from the web server; a monitor function operable to employ the position information for the users from the web server to identify users within a predetermined distance of a first user and operable to employ information from one or more sensors in communication with the first user's mobile device to determine a level of exercise of the first user; and a video game executing on the mobile device, operable to employ the positions of the users, wherein a game level of the video game is set based upon both the level of exercise of the first user and a number of users identified within a predetermined distance of the first user wherein setting the game level includes providing movement capabilities to a video game avatar of the first user, wherein the movement capabilities of the first user's video game avatar are improved for playing the video game. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the mobile devices are mobile telephones. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the first user may select one or more of how the positions of users affects the video game and the predetermined distance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the web server may select one or more of how the positions of users affects the video game and the predetermined distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the monitor function is further operable to determine a number of users within the predetermined distance from the first user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the web server is operable to provide incentives if a predetermined number of users are within the predetermined distance of the first user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein a third party in communication with the web server can set at least one of a value for the predetermined number of users and the predetermined distance required before the incentives are transmitted to the first user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the first user may select how position information of users affects a number of background characters present in the video game. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the first user may select how position information of users affects a density of background characters present in the video game. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein the first user may select how position information of users affects a number of background characters present in the video game based on a number of users within the predetermined distance.