Location-based games and augmented reality systems
Handheld location based games are provided in which a user's physical location correlates to the virtual location of a virtual character on a virtual playfield. Augmented Reality (AR) systems are provided in which video game indicia are overlaid onto a user's physical environment. A landscape detector is provided that may obtain information about the user's landscape, in addition to the user's location, in order to provide overlaying information to an AR head-mounted display and control information to non-user controlled video game characters.
1 . A wearable apparatus comprising:
a camera;
a head-mounted display operable to display virtual indicia overlaid onto a physical space;
a processor coupled to said head-mounted display, the processor operable to provide said virtual indicia to said head-mounted display;
a detector operable to determine landscape characteristics of said physical space;
memory operable to store said landscape characteristics; and
at least one locating device operable to determine a physical location of said head-mounted display in said physical space and an orientation of said head-mounted display in said physical space.
2 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said virtual indicial comprises location-based game indicia for a location-based game.
3 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector is operable to detect data representing a distance to a physical object in said physical space, the data representing the distance is stored in the memory.
4 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector is operable to detect additional data representing a shape of a physical object in said physical space, the additional data representing the shape is stored in the memory.
5 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said virtual indicia is augmented over a physical structure in said physical space.
6 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said virtual indicia is a 3-D object.
7 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to control, based at least in part on input from a user, a contrast of the virtual indicia.
8 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to control, based at least in part on input from a user, a transparency of said virtual indicia.
9 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said virtual indicia is a game character having a functionality envelope.
10 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said virtual indicia is a game character with a sight based functionality envelope.
11 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to scan said physical space before a beginning of a gameplay of a video game.
12 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of WiFi, blue tooth, and infrared.
13 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processor is operable to provide a second virtual indicia to said head-mounted display.
14 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said head-mounted display is operable for displaying a virtual advertisement.
15 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an ON/OFF switch.
16 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a history of locations over a time frame is stored in said memory.
17 . The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to provide a second virtual indicia to said head-mounted display.
18 . A wearable apparatus comprising:
a camera;
a head-mounted display operable to display virtual indicia overlaid onto a physical space;
a processor coupled to said head-mounted display, the processor operable to provide said virtual indicia to said head-mounted display;
a device operable to determine information of said physical space;
memory operable to store said information; and
at least one system operable to determine a physical location of said head-mounted display in said physical space and an orientation of said head-mounted display in said physical space, wherein additional information is operable to be communicated to a remote system.
19 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said virtual indicia comprises location-based game indicia for a location-based game.
20 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the device is operable to detect data representing a distance to a physical object in said physical space, the data representing the distance is stored in the memory.
21 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the device is operable to detect additional data representing a shape of a physical object in said physical space, the additional data representing the shape is stored in the memory.
22 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said virtual indicia is augmented over a physical structure in said physical space.
23 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said virtual indicia is a 3-D object.
24 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is operable to control, based at least in part on input from a user, a contrast of the virtual indicia.
25 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is operable to control, based at least in part on input from a user, a transparency of said virtual indicia.
26 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said virtual indicia is a game character having a functionality envelope.
27 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said virtual indicia is a game character with a sight based functionality envelope.
28 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is operable to scan said physical space before a beginning of a gameplay of a video game.
29 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising one or more of WiFi, blue tooth, and infrared.
30 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said processor is operable to provide a second virtual indicia to said head-mounted display.
31 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said head-mounted display is operable for displaying a virtual advertisement.
32 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising an ON/OFF switch.
33 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a history of locations over a time frame is stored in said memory.
34 . The wearable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is operable to provide a second virtual indicia to said head-mounted display.