Game system based on real time and location of user

Abstract

A gaming system is described in which a game mode, format, or other aspect(s) vary depending upon the current time and location of the user. The gaming system synchronizes the time and location of a user to the time and location of a character or environment generated by the system.

1 . A gaming system that synchronizes the time and location of a user to the time and location of a character or environment generated by the system, the system comprising:
 time provisions for providing the current time to the system;   location provisions for performing at least one of (i) determining a location of the user and providing the location to the system, and (ii) storing information associated with the location of the user for subsequent use by the system; and   event provisions for identifying and reporting events to the system.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the location provisions determine the location of the user by use of information provided by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the location provisions determine the location of the user from information provided to the system by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the location provisions perform both (i) determining the location of the user, and (ii) storing information associated with the location of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the event provisions identify events associated with at least one of (i) the user's location and (ii) the current time. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the event provisions identify events by use of information provided by the location provisions. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the event provisions identify events previously defined by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 period of days provisions for simulating at least one characteristic of the user's environment. 
 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8  wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of (i) an observable physical aspect of the current time, (ii) a religious aspect of the current time, (iii) a cultural aspect of the current time, (iv) a weather-based aspect of the current time, and (v) combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9  wherein the characteristic is an observable physical aspect of the current time selected from the group consisting of daytime, nighttime, dawn, twilight, sunrise, morning, noon, afternoon, evening, sunset, night, and midnight. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 9  wherein the characteristic is a religious aspect of the current time. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 9  wherein the characteristic is a cultural aspect of the current time selected from the group consisting of typical school time periods, typical work time periods, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 9  wherein the characteristic is a weather-based aspect of the current time. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 user rule provisions for determining aspects of at least one of the user's character and the environment generated by the system. 
 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 14  wherein the user rule provisions include parental controls that prevent at least one otherwise possible action by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 15  wherein the user rule provisions include generating at least one on-screen reminder and halting further operation of the system. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the location provisions use information associated with the location of the user and obtain information concerning geological aspects of the location of the user for use by the system. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system that synchronizes the time and location of a user to the time and location of a character or environment generated by the system, the system comprising:
 time provisions for providing the current time to the system;   location provisions for performing at least one of (i) determining a location of the user and providing the location to the system, and (ii) storing information associated with the location of the user for subsequent use by the system; and   period of days provisions for simulating at least one characteristic of the user's environment, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of (i) an observable physical aspect of the current time, (ii) a religious aspect of the current time, (iii) a cultural aspect of the current time, (iv) a weather-based aspect of the current time, and (v) combinations thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 18  further comprising:
 user rule provisions for determining aspects of at least one of the user's character and the environment generated by the system. 
 
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the location provisions use information associated with the location of the user and obtain information concerning geological aspects of the location of the user for use by the system, and the period of days provisions simulate a weather characteristic based upon the current time and the location of the user for use by the system. 
     
     
         21 . An interactive play system apparatus comprising:
 a computing means for executing program instructions relating to the play of a game;   a display means illustrating graphic images relating to the play of the game during the play of the game;   player input control means;   wherein the interactive play system includes (i) location provisions for performing at least one of determining a location of the user and storing information associated with the location of the user, and (ii) event provisions for identifying and reporting events.   
     
     
         22 . The interactive play system apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the interactive play system further includes (iii) period of days provisions for simulating at least one characteristic of the user's environment.