Location Validation via One-Time Passwords in Parallel Reality Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
In location-based parallel reality games, players can spoof their location, leading to unfair advantages and reduced engagement for genuine players, as well as decreased attractiveness to advertisers and sponsors, as they do not benefit from players physically visiting specific locations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where player activity within the game validates their real-world location by using proximity to virtual elements and one-time passwords, ensuring access to controlled content is granted only to players physically present at the corresponding real-world location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If location spoofing technology is used, then players can access location-specific game features without physically traveling, but this gives unfair advantages to spoofers and reduces engagement for genuine players
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation system that uses multiple data sources (GPS coordinates, Wi-Fi networks, cellular towers, IP addresses) to verify player location authenticity. This intermediary layer mediates between the player's location data and the game system's access control, preventing spoofers from gaining unfair advantages while allowing genuine players to access location-specific features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If location spoofing is permitted, then players can participate without physical travel, but advertisers and sponsors lose value as players do not visit specific physical locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously validates player location data against multiple real-world sources (GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular towers, IP addresses). This feedback loop ensures that location-specific content and advertising are only delivered to players who are genuinely present at the required physical locations, maintaining the value for advertisers and sponsors while still allowing flexible participation for verified players.
3Device complexity
If simple GPS location tracking is used, then the system is easy to implement, but players can easily spoof their location without detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite location validation approach that combines multiple data sources (GPS coordinates, Wi-Fi network identifiers, cellular tower information, IP address geolocation) into a unified location verification system. This composite method increases measurement precision and makes spoofing difficult, as all data sources must consistently indicate the same physical location, while the overall system complexity remains manageable through automated validation.
Data Source
AI summary
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.