U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,704

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a geographic area100. The geographic area100may be a portion of a city, state or country. The geographic area100may include roads104and buildings108. Located in the geographic area100are a plurality of users of portable electronic devices112. The portable electronic devices112can be used for playing games. The portable electronic devices112may be implemented on various different hardware and/or software platforms. For example, the different types of portable electronic devices112may include conventional mobile phones, general purpose personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), portable media players, portable navigation systems, digital cameras, and dedicated game playing devices. Other types of portable electronic devices may also be used.

A game services server116supports the users of the portable electronic devices112located in the area100. The game services server116may be located in the geographic area100or may be located remotely from the geographic area100. The users of the portable electronic devices112communicate with the game services server116over a network118, at least a part of which includes a wireless network. The wireless portion of the network may be implemented using any technology or combination of technologies, including cellular, satellite, PCS, Bluetooth, WiFi, or any other type of wireless communication.

The network118provides for the exchange of data between the users of the portable electronic devices112and the game services server116.

FIG. 2is a diagram that shows components of one of the portable electronic devices112and the game services server116inFIG. 1. The portable electronic device112and the game services server116shown inFIG. 2are representative examples and are intended to depict only some of the components thereof. It is recognized that there may be various different types of devices and servers with different kinds of components.

The exemplary portable electronic device112inFIG. 2includes hardware and software128for exchanging data over the network118with the remotely located game services server116. In addition, the portable electronic device112inFIG. 2includes a user interface134for conveying information to and receiving information from the user. The user interface134may include a display screen, a keypad, a speaker, a microphone, and so on. Further, the portable electronic device112includes a game application138. The game application138may be installed locally on the device112, remotely on a server (such as the game services server116), or partly locally and partly remotely. The game application138is a software program that supports participation in a computer game.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the portable electronic device112also includes a positioning system148. The positioning system148is a combination of hardware and software components that allows the position of the portable electronic device112to be determined. The positioning system148may be a GPS unit. In another alternative, the position of the portable electronic device112may be determined remotely, e.g., using signal time-of-arrival, signal triangulation, or another technology. In still another alternative, the position of the portable electronic device112may be determined by having the user input known current position information into the device, e.g., by speaking or using the keypad.

InFIG. 2, the game services server116includes the hardware and software suitable for supporting online computer games with multiple, remotely located users. The game services server116includes a communications and data exchange system and applications150. The communications and data exchange system and applications150are operable to communicate and exchange data with the multiple portable electronic devices112over the network118. The game services server116includes a game management application154. The game management application154supports one or more online computer games played by the remotely located users of portable electronic devices112. For example, the game management application154may provide the game scenario, keep track of players, scores, and so on. In addition, as explained in more detail below, the game management application154is capable of modifying aspects of computer games being played by users on their portable electronic devices112, including the game scenario, scoring, rewards, hints, and so on.

In one embodiment, the game services server116also includes a player position monitoring application160. The player position monitoring application160receives and updates information that indicates the positions of each of the portable electronic devices112located in the geographic area100. The player position monitoring application160also receives data from the game server application154to keep track of which users (i.e., which portable electronic devices) are playing each supported game.

The player position monitoring application160uses a geographic database184. The geographic database184includes information about the locations of roads, address ranges along roads, buildings, points of interest, businesses, and so on, in the geographic area (100inFIG. 1). The player position monitoring application160receives data indicative of a user's position and matches the position to a map position, using the geographic database184. For example, the player position monitoring application160may receive data generated by the positioning system148in a user's portable electronic device112that indicates the user's latitude, longitude, and altitude. Using this information, the player position monitoring application160accesses the geographic database184to determine the corresponding street or building location of the user. The player position monitoring application160may also accept data indicating a user's position in different formats. For example, if the user indicates his/her own position audibly or through manual input into a keypad, the player position monitoring application160interprets this input and converts it to a compatible format.

The game services server116also includes a geographic data collection application176. The geographic data collection application176includes several component applications or routines. More specifically, the geographic data collection application176includes an application180for identifying needed data182. The component application180for identifying needed data is responsive to the geographic database184. The geographic data collection application176also includes a component application188for collecting player position data from the player position monitoring application160, a component application190that verifies and performs quality control processes on the collected data, and a component application194that updates the geographic database184with the collected data. Operation of these component applications is described in more detail below.

Operation

FIG. 3shows a process200performed by the game services server116ofFIG. 2. The steps in the process200may be performed by one or more of the applications on the game services server116.

In an initial step, the data identification application (180inFIG. 2, which may be a component part of the geographic data collection application176) identifies needed data to be collected (Step220inFIG. 3). The data identification application180may use the geographic database184for this purpose. There are various different kinds of needed data that may be collected by the data collection application176and identified by the data identification application180. For example, the data identification application180may search for gaps in coverage or may identify data that may need to be updated or confirmed.

Some of the different kinds of needed data that may be collected by the data collection application176include the following:geographic positions of roads, intersections, sidewalks, pedestrian paths, and points of interest,routes,traffic control (e.g., stop signs, stop lights, etc.),traffic conditions (including highway and public transportation),street or business names or addresses, andweather conditions.

The above list is not intended to be exclusive and additional kinds of data may be collected by the data collection application176.

The game management application154uses the identified needed data182to generate an appropriate computer game scenario (Step230). For example, the computer game scenario may be modified in such a manner so as to cause the game player to take an action within the context of the game scenario from which geographic data can be collected. The manner in which the game management application154generates or modifies the game scenario depends on the kind of geographic data to be collected, as well as the type of game the player is playing. As an example, if the needed data is the location of or route to a coffee shop, the online computer game scenario may be generated or modified in such a manner that the game player is provided an incentive (e.g., reward) for traveling to the coffee shop. According to another example, if the needed data includes the traffic conditions along a road, the online computer game scenario is generated or modified so that the game player is provided an incentive (e.g., reward) for traveling along the road and indicating specific intersections along the way. Different types of needed data may require different kinds of game scenarios and modifications thereto.

The following list identifies some of the different kinds of needed data that may be collected by the data collection application176and the kinds of activities that the game management application154may generate or modify a game scenario to include:geographic positions of roads, intersections, sidewalks, pedestrian paths, points of interest (e.g., indicated by the geographic position of the portable electronic device)routes (e.g., indicated by the sequence of positions of the portable electronic device)traffic control (e.g., indicated by the density of positions of the portable electronic device at the locations of intersections)traffic conditions (e.g., indicated by the density of positions of the portable electronic device along a route or the velocities of portable electronic devices)street or business names or addresses (e.g., reported by the game player via the portable electronic device user interface)weather conditions (e.g., reported by the game player via the portable electronic device user interface).

The above list is not intended to be exclusive and additional kinds of game scenarios may be developed and used to collect the needed data.

As stated above, the game management application154generates the game scenario to provide an action or activity for the game player to perform so that data generated during performance of the desired action or activity can be collected and used for the purpose of adding to or enhancing a geographic database. The game management application may provide the game player with an incentive to perform the action or activity. In one embodiment, the incentive is a non-monetary incentive, such as game points, game enhancements (e.g., additional game attributes or features), game clues, and so on. Alternatively, the incentive may have minimal or nominal value, e.g., extra game play. In still another alternative, the incentive may have actual monetary value, e.g., money, coupons, discounts, etc. The incentive may be a reward that the game player may be able to trade or sell within the game environment for other items, assets, or service, or for real world items of value, including currency. In yet another alternative, the incentive may not be a reward as such, but may consist of the actual act of performing the activity within the continuing context of the game. These various incentives may be combined.

Once the game management application154determines the appropriate game scenario, the game services server116transmits the game scenario to the portable electronic device112(Step236). The communications and data exchange application (150inFIG. 2) may be used for this purpose. After the game scenario is transmitted to the portable electronic device112, the game is played by the game player, e.g., using the portable electronic device112. In one embodiment, the player monitoring application160on the game services server116acquires data from the portable electronic device112(Step240) that indicates the player's activity while playing the modified game. The type of data acquired by the player monitoring application160may vary depending on the type of data needed and the type of game scenario that was prepared by the game management application154. For example, if the kind of needed data is the location of a coffee shop and the game scenario included a reward for traveling to the coffee shop and indicating arrival at the coffee shop using the keypad of the portable electronic device112, the player monitoring application160acquires data that indicates the position of the portable electronic device112when the appropriate key is activated. The player's position may be obtained from the positioning system148in the portable electronic device112. According to another example, if the kind of needed data is the name of a business at a specific location and the game scenario included a reward for traveling to the location and indicating the name of the business via the user interface134of the portable electronic device112, the player monitoring application160acquires the data that indicates the position of the portable electronic device112when the name is entered.

On the game services server116, the data acquired from the portable electronic device112may be processed (Step250). For example, the data acquired from the portable electronic device112may be aggregated with data collected from other portable electronic devices. This aggregated data may be subjected to statistical analysis. Also, the data acquired from the portable electronic device112may be subjected to verification and other quality control procedures.

Once the data acquired from the portable electronic device112is processed, the data is added to or used to update or modify the geographic database184(Step260). For example, the data may be used to update existing data in the geographic database184. Alternatively, the data may be used to expand coverage of the geographic database184, e.g., by adding data about new roads, walkways, points of interest, etc. Alternatively, the data may be used to confirm or verify data already in the geographic database, e.g., confirming that a business is still in operation at a certain location. In another alternative, the data may be used to supplement the data in the geographic database184, e.g., by adding current traffic or weather conditions.

Advantages

One of the advantages of the embodiments described above is that the game player can be directed to collect specific data that might otherwise be difficult to obtain with passive probe data collection systems. With passive probe data collections systems, data is collected from users who are engaged in activities entirely unrelated to data collection. Thus, with passive systems, there is no guarantee that any probe data vehicle or device will travel to a specific location or collect certain data. By comparison, with the disclosed embodiments, a game player can be directed to proceed to a specific location as part of a game scenario.

Another advantage of the disclosed embodiments is that specific kinds of data can be collected with relatively little expense. i.e., because a game player can be provided a non-monetary incentive to perform a certain activity needed to collect the data.

Additional Features and Alternatives

The embodiments described herein are not limited to only games played by players with portable electronic devices. Depending on the type of data needed to be collected to update the geographic database, embodiments may include games played by users with non-mobile (including non-portable) electronic devices, or a combination of users with mobile electronic devices and users with non-mobile (including non-portable) electronic devices.

The disclosed embodiments are not limited to using portable electronic devices that have wireless communication capability. Portable electronic devices that do not have a wireless communications capability but instead have the ability to connect to a network (e.g., via a USB cable or other physical connector) to download new scenarios, game information and to upload information may be used.

The kind of geographic data collected by the disclosed embodiments may also include data for game development purposes. As an example, a game developer first creates a game that has geographic aspects (e.g., is set in a real city). Then, the game developer sends players out to play the game and have them collect geographic data (e.g., street layouts, pictures of building, etc.) as part of the game scenario. The game developer then uses the data to make the game more realistic, and may modify the game play itself based on the new geographical information. This new geographic data may also be used for computer game development purposes, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/798,459, 10/798,531, 10/798,632, and 10/798,703, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In another alternative, an online computer game may use vehicles and drivers as game pieces, controlled by players in a multi-player online game, such as a fantasy commuter league game where players select participating commuters and follow their progress each day as they commute to and from work. Game players would receive points for the fastest commute times (while complying with applicable legal restrictions). The routes taken by the frequent winners and worst losers would be collected and analyzed for developing routes for other drivers.

Another feature that may be incorporated in the disclosed embodiments is to provide incentives to game players to interact with other game players (or non-game players). For example, the disclosed embodiments may provide incentives to game players to interact with or recruit others into the game, e.g., to collect spatial data. Another feature that may be incorporated into the disclosed embodiments is to provide incentives to game players to coordinate teams or groups (e.g., hierarchical groups) of players (or non-game players) within the game environment to collect certain types of data.

The data collected with the disclosed embodiments may not used itself for purposes of adding to a geographic database, but instead may be used for quality control purposes, e.g., to confirm geographic data collected by other means.

According to yet another alternative, the game may be a non-computer game that uses a phone or other electronic device only for positioning and/or conveying game instructions/activities.

In the above embodiments, it was disclosed that the portable electronic device included a positioning system, such as a GPS unit. Alternatively, the portable electronic device may not have a positioning system. Instead, the portable electronic device may have only communications capability and the game scenario may direct the game player to a stationary location zone, such as within broadcast range of WiFi, SSID, or visual sight of a landmark.

The disclosed embodiments may be used for determining whether public transportation is on schedule, e.g., by monitoring the positions of game players who are traveling on public transportation.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is understood that the following claims including all equivalents are intended to define the scope of the invention.