Validating a player's real-world location using activity within a parallel reality game

US10717005B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Niantic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Kornmann · Tucson, US
• Bill Kilday · Austin, US
• Michael Steranka · San Francisco, US
• Edward Wu · Redwood City, US
• John V. Hanke · Piedmont, US
• Phillip Craig Keslin · San Jose, US
• Tatsuo Nomura · Kyoto, JP
• Raza Ahmad · Los Angeles, US
• Kento Suga · Tokyo, JP
• Mike Quigley · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 2018
• Grant date: Jul 21, 2020
• Expiry date: Oct 26, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W4/80
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for linking real world activity, such as real world commercial activity or real world data collection activity, with a location-based parallel reality game are provided. In particular, a game server hosting a parallel reality game can modify, update, or add to game data stored in a game database associated with the parallel reality game to include certain game features in the parallel reality game linked with real world activity in the real world. The game features can be linked with activities in the real world such that player actions associated with the game features in the virtual world can lead to or encourage activity in the real world, such as commercial activity and/or data collection activity in the real world. A one-time password may be used to validate a player's location in the real world and to enable controlled access to game features in the virtual world.