U.S. Pat. No. 10,076,710

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention.

Please refer toFIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic drawing of a method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the user can operate a portable apparatus20, a server10, and at least one interactive portable apparatus30to work in coordination and join an interactive game together, such as a virtual shooter game in a city. The portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30are respectively connected to the server10via the network40for transferring or receiving the game information.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30can be the common cellphone, but the present invention is not limited to that design; they can also be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a global positioning system (GPS), or a tablet computer. The method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus of the present invention can be implemented in an operating system or as an application and installed in the abovementioned electronic device, but the present invention is not limited to that design.

The portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30can communicate to the server10according to each kind of cellular communication standard and/or proprietary protocols (such as 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, CDMA, WCDMA, PDC, TDMA, and GSM/GPRS/EDGE). For example, the abovementioned network40can be a computer network or include each of the features of a computer communication network. For example, in the abovementioned setting, the network40can be any kind of computer communication network (such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a ground computer communication network, or a satellite computer communication network), or include all the features of any one kind of computer communication network. Similarly, in the abovementioned setting, the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30can use all kinds of the standard and/or lower level protocols (for example, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.4, IEEE 802.5, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20) to communicate with the network40.

Please refer toFIG. 2, which illustrates a system structure drawing of the portable apparatus and the interactive portable apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable apparatus20of the present invention includes a first signal transmitting module21, a first signal receiving module22, a second signal transmitting module23, a second signal receiving module24, a processing module25, and a displaying module26. The interactive portable apparatus30that joins the game also includes a first signal transmitting module31, a first signal receiving module32, a second signal transmitting module33, a second signal receiving module34, a processing module35, and a displaying module36. It is to be known that the abovementioned modules can be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of such; they can also be deployed via a circuit or other suitable form; in addition, each single module can be deployed, and each can also be combined with others for deployment. Please note that the embodiment described herein is only intended to show a preferred embodiment of the present invention; in order to avoid repeated descriptions, not all possible changes and combinations are described. However, persons skilled in the art should realize that the abovementioned modules and elements may be unnecessary. In order to implement the present invention, other types of modules or element of the prior art may also be employed. Each module or each element can be eliminated or changed, and other modules or other elements may be designed between any two modules.

Please refer toFIG. 3, which illustrates a flowchart of a method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; please also refer toFIG. 2,FIG. 4A, andFIG. 4Babout an embodiment of the present invention. The following description uses the portable apparatus20shown inFIG. 2to describe the method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus of the present invention. It is to be known that the method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus the present invention is not limited to the portable apparatus20shown inFIG. 2.

First are executed step S31aand step S31b: logging into the server.

Please refer toFIG. 4A. Before starting the game, the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30must be logged into the server10. After the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30are logged into the server10, an operation page400is displayed on the displaying module26. The portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30can install a game application first, then execute the application and access the server10for logging in via the network40.

After the user of the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30registers on the server10, the user will have a game account. Each game account is assigned a military rank corresponding to the level of the player. If the user wants to upgrade the level (earn a promotion), the user must accumulate points (experience); the points are obtained via a victory or completion of a mission. Different military ranks or levels affect the game parameters of the player; for example, an account with a higher military rank may have access to more kinds of weapons and ammunition, the scope of investigation may become wider, and the number of special functions may increase.

After the player logs into the server10, the player can choose to join or observe an available war; the player can choose to join an existing war or create a new war, or the player can choose to enter a browser mode. Each war is divided into two hostile camps. After the player joins one war, the player is assigned randomly to any camp or may choose a camp that the player wants to join.

Then are executed step S32aand step S32b: emitting a location signal via the portable apparatus, and emitting an interactive location signal by the interactive portable apparatus.

After the war is determined, the game starts, and the portable apparatus20emits its own location signal via the first signal transmitting module21; similarly, the interactive portable apparatus30emits an interactive location signal via the first signal transmitting module31. The location signal and the interactive location signal are used for allowing the players to find one another's positions. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the location signal and the interactive location signal can be wireless communication signals, such as laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, or infrared rays, and the first signal transmitting modules21,31can be the signal transmitting modules for emitting the abovementioned signal; however, the present invention is not limited to that design. The signal can be other wave source that can be used as a signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves.

Next is executed step S33aand S33b: receiving the interactive location signal emitted by the interactive portable apparatus via the portable apparatus, and receiving the location signal emitted by the portable apparatus via the interactive portable apparatus.

The portable apparatus20receives the interactive location signal emitted by the interactive portable apparatus30via the first signal receiving module22, and the interactive portable apparatus30receives its the location signal emitted by the portable apparatus20via the first signal receiving module32; then via the processing modules25,35, and according to its own location signal and the interactive location signal, the relative positions of the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30are determined.

Using the portable apparatus20as an example, please refer toFIG. 4B; after receiving the interactive location signal emitted by the interactive portable apparatus30, the processing module25allows the relative positions of the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30to be displayed on the displaying module26. The first signal receiving modules22,32must be signal receiving modules for receiving the interactive location signal; the interactive location signal can be laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, or infrared rays, but the present invention is not limited to that design; the interactive location signal can be any type of wave that can be used as a signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the processing module25determines to display all relative positions of the interactive portable apparatuses30on the displaying module26according to the military rank of the player. For example, if the military rank of the player is equal to or higher than the rank of colonel, all relative positions of the interactive portable apparatuses30corresponding to the receiving interactive location signals will be displayed. If the military rank of the player is below the rank of colonel, only some of the relative positions of the interactive portable apparatuses30will be displayed.

Next is executed step S34: emitting the interactive shooting signal via the interactive portable apparatus.

In the game, if the player with the interactive portable apparatus30discovers the position of the player with the portable apparatus20, the player with the interactive portable apparatus30can use the second signal transmitting module33to emit an interactive shooting signal to represent that the player with the interactive portable apparatus30shoots the player with the portable apparatus20. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the interactive shooting signal is selected from one of the group of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, and infrared rays. The second signal transmitting module33can be a signal transmitting module of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, or infrared rays, but the present invention is not limited to that design; the signal can be any available wave that can be used as a signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a directional antenna can be installed on the interactive portable apparatus30to enhance the directivity of the interactive shooting signal.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the player wants to use the interactive portable apparatus30to emit the interactive shooting signal, the player can aim first. For example, a video module (such as a camera) installed on the interactive portable apparatus30or the built-in video module of the portable apparatus30can be used for capturing the image; then via the program operation, the image can be simulated into a shooting area of a gun sight and displayed on the displaying module36. The player with the interactive portable apparatus30can change the aiming direction of the video module to aim at the target, and the player can touch the displaying module36to represent the act of pulling the trigger of the weapon.

Then is executed step S35: receiving the interactive shooting signal via the portable apparatus.

The portable apparatus20can receive the interactive shooting signal via the second signal receiving module24. As in the abovementioned description, the second signal receiving module24must be a signal receiving module which can receive the interactive shooting signal, such as a signal receiving module of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, or infrared rays, but the present invention is not limited to that design; it can be a signal receiving module of any kind of wave that can be used as a signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves.

Next is executed step S36: emitting a shooting signal via the portable apparatus.

Similarly, when the player of the portable apparatus20finds the position of the player with the interactive portable apparatus30, the player of the portable apparatus20can use the second signal transmitting module23to emit a shooting signal to represent shooting at the player with the interactive portable apparatus30. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the shooting signal can be selected from one of the group of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, and infrared rays; the second signal transmitting module23can be a signal transmitting module of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, infrared rays, but the present invention is not limited to that design; it can be the signal transmitting module of any kind of wave that can be used as a signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a directional antenna can be installed on the portable apparatus20to enhance the directivity of the shooting signal. As in the abovementioned description, a video module installed on the portable apparatus20or a built-in video module of the portable apparatus20can be used for aiming at the target.

Next is executed step S37: receiving the shooting signal via the interactive portable apparatus.

Similarly, the interactive portable apparatus30can receive the shooting signal via the second signal receiving module34. As in the abovementioned description, the second signal receiving module must be a signal receiving module that can receive the shooting signal, such as a signal receiving module of laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, WiMAX, RFID, LTE, microwaves, or infrared rays, but the present invention is not limited to that design; it can be a signal receiving module of any kind of wave that can be used as the signal source, such as electromagnetic waves, light waves, or sound waves.

Next is executed step S38: determining the game status via the portable apparatus and reporting the game status to the server.

After the portable apparatus20receives the interactive shooting signal, the game status of the portable apparatus20must be determined via the processing module25according to the interactive shooting signal, and the game status will be reported to the server10via the network40. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable apparatus20uses the first signal transmitting module21to emit the signal (such as laser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, or LTE), allowing the game status to be reported to the server10.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the game status can be the game information, such as: whether the portable apparatus20is shot; after being shot, how many life points must be deducted, and how many life points are left after the deduction; and if the portable apparatus20is eliminated from the game; however, the present invention is not limited to that design. For example, in the game, the strength of the received interactive shooting signal or the shooting signal can be used as a reference for determining if the player is shot when the strength exceeds a threshold value.

Finally is executed step S39: receiving the game status via the server and updating the game status to the interactive portable apparatus.

After the server10receives the game status, the game status is transferred to the portable apparatus20and the interactive portable apparatus30for updating via the network40.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first signal receiving module22and the second signal receiving module24can be combined into a single receiving module. Please refer toFIG. 5; according to one embodiment of the present invention, the portable apparatus20aof the present invention includes a first signal transmitting module21a, a signal receiving module22a, a second signal transmitting module23a, a processing module24a, and a displaying module25a. If the first signal transmitting module21aand the second signal transmitting module23ause the same signal source (such as infrared rays), via a single signal receiving module22a, when a signal with distinguishing information (for example, a signal that begins with001represents that the signal was emitted by the first signal transmitting module21a, and a signal which begins with002represents that it was emitted by the second signal transmitting module23a) is emitted, the signal receiving module22acan receive the signal to decode the signal in order to determine the location signal or the shooting signal.

It is to be known that the method for playing interactive games via a portable apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the abovementioned order of steps, and the order of steps can be changed as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

It is noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are only for illustration. It is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.