Google Inc.

Niantic, Inc.

David Kornmann

John V Hanke

Mark A Aubin

Phillip Craig Keslin

Charles Spirakis

Alexander Vladimirov

Chris Hibbert

Julien Charles Mercay

Edward Wu

Jim Wang

Neal Kanodia

Tatsuo Nomura

Alejandro Nijamkin

Raza Ahmad

Kento Suga

Mike Quigley

Peter Birch

Bill Kilday

Michael Steranka

John H Rohlf

Keith Patrick Golden

Marius C Milner

Lior Stern

Julian Charles Mercay

Bill J Kilday

This invention relates to panning in a three dimensional environment on a mobile device. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for navigating a virtual camera in a three dimensional environment on a mobile device having a touch screen. A user input is received indicating that an object has touched a first point on a touch screen of the mobile device and the object has been dragged to a second point on the touch screen. A first target location in the three dimensional environment is determined based on the first point on the touch screen. A second target location in the three dimensional environment is determined based on the second point on the touch screen. Finally, a three dimensional model is moved in the three dimensional environment relative to the virtual camera according to the first and second target locations.

Panning in a three dimensional environment on a mobile device

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.

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

A layer control tool for controlling the display of geographic data layers in a geographic information system is provided. The layer control tool can be presented in overlaying the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can include a plurality of identifiers associated with a set of geographic data layers that can be displayed in conjunction with the geographic imagery. A user can adjust or control the display of geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery by interacting with the floating layer control tool. For instance, a user can interact with the floating layer control tool, for instance by tapping a touch screen, to identify a selected geographic data layer in the set of geographic data layers. Responsive to this user interaction, the geographic information system can display the geographic data layer in conjunction with the geographic imagery and hide other previous displayed geographic data layers.

System and method for geographic data layer management in a geographic information system

Systems and methods for detecting and preventing cheating in a location-based game are provided. In particular, a server-side statistical cheat detection algorithm can be implemented upon receiving a player request to perform a game action. A given dataset describing the respective times and locations of previous game events performed by the player can be analyzed to determine a probability that such game events represent legitimate gameplay. The determined probability can affect whether the player-requested game action is effectuated or can influence a number of points awarded for completion of the game action. An example system includes a host server and a client device in communication over a network.

Detecting and preventing cheating in a location-based game

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

A parallel reality game has a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world. A captured region is identified within the virtual world that is associated with a team within the parallel reality game. A geographic region is identified within the real world corresponding to the captured region within the virtual world. Data associated with population density for at least a portion of the geographic region is accessed. A score is assigned for the captured region based on the population density.

Regulating and scoring player interactions within a virtual world associated with a location-based parallel reality game

Systems and methods for filtering communication within a location-based game are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of filtering communication for a location-based game is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a computing device, communication data for a plurality of players associated with the location based-game. The method further includes filtering the communication data for each player based on one or more signals associated with the respective player.

Systems and methods for filtering communication within a location-based game

Methods and systems for verifying and/or modifying game data for a location-based game, such as a parallel reality game, are provided. Game data for the location-based game can be verified and/or modified by establishing one or more mini-games to be played within the location-based game. Players can be encouraged to play the mini-game by providing a reward, such as a virtual reward that can be used in the location-based game or by providing another suitable reward. Mini-game data received from a plurality of players of the mini-game can be aggregated and used to update game data for the location-based game. In this manner, game elements, game objectives, and/or game play for all players in the location-based game (even players that do not play in the mini-game) can be adjusted based on the aggregated responses to the mini-game.

Game data validation

Systems and methods for management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system are provided. A layer control tool can be presented in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can provide a control interface to allow the user to manage the display of various geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can include a dynamic control list of geographic data layers. Geographic data layers can be identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layers. In a particular implementation, the geographic data layers are identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on a layer score associated with each geographic data layer.

Management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

David Kornmann