Niantic, Inc.

Google Inc.

Mark A Aubin

Phillip Craig Keslin

Charles Spirakis

John V Hanke

Keith Patrick Golden

James Dinkelacker

David Kornmann

Chikai J Ohazama

Alexander Vladimirov

Chris Hibbert

Alejandro Nijamkin

Yennie Solheim

Lior Stern

William J Kilday

Marius C Milner

Leor Stern

Philip C Keslin

Computer-implemented methods and systems for locating virtual elements that can be used or collected by players of a parallel reality game having a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world are provided. In particular, the location of virtual elements in the virtual world is determined based on data associated with one or more real world conditions. Virtual elements can be located in the virtual world at locations corresponding to locations in the real world that encourage safe and effective game play. Locating virtual elements in the virtual world based on data associated with real world conditions improves the link between the parallel virtual world and the real world, enhancing the illusion that the virtual world is another dimension of the real world that the player can interact with through the parallel reality game.

Placement of virtual elements in a virtual world associated with a location-based parallel reality game

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.

Linking real world activities with a 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

Computer-implemented methods and systems for mapping real world actions to a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game are provided. The virtual world has experiences that relate to real world actions. The method includes accessing a data source associated with one or more real world actions; and modifying game data associated with the parallel reality game to generate experiences in the virtual world based at least in part on the data associated with the one or more real world actions. Generating experiences in the virtual world based on data associated with real world actions improves the link between the parallel virtual world and the real world, enhancing illusion that the virtual world is another dimension of the real world that the player can interact with through the parallel reality game.

Mapping real world actions to a virtual world associated with a location-based game

A flat file data organization technique is used for storing and retrieving geospatially organized data. The invention reduces transfer time by transferring a few large files in lieu of a large number of small files. It also moves the process of locating a given data file away from the file system to a proprietary code base. Additionally, the invention simplifies database management by having quadtree packets generated on demand.

Server geospatially organized flat file data

Systems and methods of transporting virtual objects through a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game are provided. The virtual world has a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world. A method includes accessing at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of a real world carrier. The method further includes modifying game data associated with the parallel reality to transport at least one virtual object through the virtual world, such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based, at least in part, on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier. Other implementations are directed to systems, apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable media, devices, and user interfaces for transporting virtual objects in a location-based parallel reality game.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Mark A Aubin