Portfolio of 7 issued patents that covers multiple new and growing uses for Augmented Reality (AR) gaming where geolocation is a key part of the gameplay. In popular use cases, mobile game players activate their cameras, to engage gameplay where their characters can see and interact with the world around them. The player’s location is detected -- and this is key -- the gameplay and storyline options will change depending on the player’s actual locations. As players interact with the game and other players, both at their current locations and as they move to other locations over time, the patented systems and methods change the storyline.
Patent US Patent No. 10,997,761
The present invention relates to systems and methods suitable for creating and delivering augmented reality (AR) content. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods to create portable AR content to be downloaded, rendered, and displayed on a display device in real-time.
Patent US 10,946,284
A method of enabling virtual gameplay on a computing device in communication with a storage means and a location sensor, the method comprising the steps of: providing access to a video game having a virtual character with a virtual character statistic in which a player in a real world player geographic location interacts with the video game and with other players in other real world player geographic locations playing other virtual characters; detecting with the location sensor the real world player geographic location of the player and storing the real world player geographic location in the storage means; creating in a database a local element script associated with the real world player geographic location, the local element script actuatable in the video game to modify one or more of the virtual character statistic and a plot node; and retrieving from the database mapping information related to the real world player geographic location of the player and actuating the corresponding local element script in the video game while the player is interacting with the video game and the player's real world player geographic location is not represented by another player and not actuating the corresponding local element script when the player's real world player geographic location is represented by another player, wherein actuating the local element script comprises modifying the virtual character statistic of the player's virtual character and modifying one or more of a virtual character statistic and a plot node of at least one of the other players' virtual characters.
Patent US 8,777,746
A method for enabling gameplay with a character in a game environment on a mobile device. In the game environment, a player can play a game via a character. When there is an expectation of action from the character in the game, a touch gesture input is received on the mobile device. The fidelity of the touch gesture input is calculated with reference to an optimal gesture in a reference gesture table. If the fidelity is within a predefined range associated with the optimal gesture, the touch gesture input is matched to the optimal gesture and an associated game script is called wherein the character would be shown as having successfully completed the expectation.
Patent US 8,903,132
A method for detecting a body part in a video stream from a mobile device. A video stream of a human subject is received from a camera connected to a mobile device. The video stream has frames. A first frame of the video stream is identified for processing. This first frame is then partitioned into observation windows, each observation window having pixels. In each observation window, non-skin-toned pixels are eliminated; and the remaining pixels are compared to determine a degree of entropy of the pixels in the observation window. In any observation window having a degree of entropy above a predetermined threshold, a bounded area is made around the region of high entropy pixels. The consistency of the entropy is analyzed in the bounded area. If the bounded area has inconsistently high entropy, a body part is determined to be detected at that bounded area.
Patent US 8,882,595
A method for enabling virtual gameplay. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. When the player scans a barcode from a real-world object, a virtual object is retrieved based on the barcode input. The player's character can then own or interact with the virtual object in the game environment.
Patent US 8,579,710
A method for trading virtual goods. A game environment is provided in which a first player can acquire or develop a virtual good. This virtual good has a starting value. At least one rating of the virtual good is received from a second player via the game environment. The starting value is automatically increased or decreased as a function of the at least one rating of the virtual good. The virtual good is then made available for purchase at the new value. A system for trading virtual goods is also provided.
Patent US 8,668,592
A method for enabling virtual gameplay with a character in a game environment. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. The player's geographic location is detected and stored. In response to the detected geographic location, a storyline is retrieved for the character to interact with. The retrieved storyline is related to the geographic location of the player.