Server-Mediated Proximity Leash for Multiplayer Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming systems do not allow for real-world interaction between multiple players, limiting the implementation of tag-based pursuit-evasion social games that involve human players interacting in the real world.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based system that uses GPS and short-range proximity systems like Bluetooth to track and display players' locations, enabling real-world interaction by calculating and reconciling distance measurements between players, and implementing a digital leash mechanism for gameplay dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPS and short-range proximity systems are used to track player locations, then real-world interaction capability is improved, but measurement precision between players deteriorates due to sensor environment differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives distance measurements from multiple mobile devices, reconciles differences between devices, and provides a unified ground truth distance measurement back to all players. This mediator resolves the measurement precision issue by centralizing the reconciliation process rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer accuracy between devices with different sensor environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple distance measurement sources (GPS and short-range proximity systems like Bluetooth) into a unified measurement system. By merging these different sensing modalities and reconciling their measurements through the server, the system achieves both real-world interaction capability and acceptable measurement precision despite individual sensor limitations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and communication systems are integrated, then gameplay functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of integrating multiple sensors and communication systems. Instead of requiring each mobile device to independently manage GPS, Bluetooth, and game logic, the server centralizes these functions, receiving data from various sensors and providing unified game state information back to devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile devices are designed with multi-functionality, using the same device for both location tracking (GPS) and short-range communication (Bluetooth). This universal approach reduces overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate specialized hardware for each function.
3Stability of the object's composition
If distance measurements are reconciled through a server, then measurement consistency is improved, but information transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial reconciliation by only processing distance measurements when players are in proximity mode, rather than continuously reconciling all measurements. This selective approach maintains measurement consistency for relevant gameplay situations while minimizing unnecessary communication overhead and time delays.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-world interaction among multiple players by accurately tracking locations and maintaining gameplay dynamics, such as tagging and evasion, through a digital leash mechanism, enhancing the gaming experience with proximity-based gameplay.
Implementation Method 1
The system may utilize GPS (global positioning system) and/or other measurements of absolute position available for the device location services
Implementation Method 2
The system may also utilize a second mode with a short-range proximity system such as Bluetooth to provide short range distance measurements between a first mobile device and a secondary mobile device
Implementation Method 3
the devices may utilize a near field communication system to enhance a leash between the players
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions, which when executed by a processor cause a first mobile device to receive a GPS location of the first mobile device. The system further receives a GPS location of one or more discoverable mobile devices. A distance is determined between the first mobile device and the one or more discoverable mobile devices based on the location information provided by a location system such as GPS or cellular triangulation. A display on the first mobile device provides the location information of the first mobile device and the one or more discoverable mobile devices. Movement of the first mobile device and the one or more discoverable devices based on location information is provided to the first mobile device. When the first mobile device is close to the one or more discoverable devices a proximity system may establish a leash. If the digital leash is maintained for a predetermined period of time, the two systems are notified.