Augmented reality gaming system

Abstract

An augmented reality gaming system uses a gameplay device to removably secure a mobile device. The gameplay device has at least one user interface and a wireless transceiver for communicating with the mobile device. An augmented reality gaming app stored in the memory of the mobile device utilizes an image sensor of the mobile device to display a live image on a screen of the mobile device, and causes graphics corresponding to one or more virtual targets to be overlaid on the live image. Using information from a location sensor and an orientation sensor of the mobile device, together with information about a virtual location of the virtual target, the mobile device determines whether a virtual shot triggered by the at least one user interface causes virtual damage to the virtual target.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A gaming system, comprising:
 a gameplay device comprising:   a mount;   a power source;   a first wireless transceiver; and   a plurality of triggers,   wherein the gameplay device does not include an infrared transmitter and does not include an infrared receiver; and   a mobile device secured to the mount, the mobile device comprising:
 a second wireless transceiver; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by a processor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 display, on a screen, a live image received from an image sensor; 
 display, on the screen and based on the location information, a graphical depiction of at least one target as an overlay on the live image; 
 receive, via the second wireless transceiver and from the first wireless transceiver, an indication of activation of one of the plurality of triggers, wherein activation of the one of the plurality of triggers corresponds to firing a virtual weapon corresponding to the one of the plurality of triggers; and 
 display an animation on the screen in response to the indication. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 generate target information about the at least one target.   
     
     
         23 . The gaming system of  claim 22 , wherein the target information comprises target location information and target size information. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device further comprises a location sensor, and further wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive location information from the location sensor.   
     
     
         25 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 obtain, via the second wireless transceiver, real-time weather data from an online weather database.   
     
     
         26 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 determine whether the firing of the virtual weapon caused virtual damage to the target.   
     
     
         27 . The gaming system of  claim 26 , wherein the mobile device further comprises an orientation sensor, and the determination is based at least in part on information received by the processor from the orientation sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming system of  claim 26 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 calculate points awarded based on an amount of virtual damage caused to the target.   
     
     
         29 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive a user selection for one of a single-player and a multiplayer game; and   receive a user selection of a difficulty level.   
     
     
         30 . The gaming system of  claim 29 , wherein the user selection corresponds to a multiplayer game, and further wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive, via the second wireless transceiver, location information about a location of a second mobile device.   
     
     
         31 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive audio communications via the second wireless transceiver.   
     
     
         32 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming device that does not include an infrared transmitter and does not include an infrared receiver, comprising:
 a mount; 
 a plurality of user interfaces; 
 a power source; and 
 a secondary wireless transceiver; and 
   a first mobile device removably secured to the mount, the first mobile device comprising:
 a processor; 
 a location sensor; 
 an image sensor; 
 a primary wireless transceiver; 
 a screen; and 
 a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive location information about the first mobile device from the location sensor; 
 transmit, via the primary wireless transceiver, the location information; 
 display, on a screen, a live image based on data received from the image sensor; 
 generate target information about a plurality of virtual targets; 
 transmit the target information via the primary wireless transceiver; and 
 selectively display on the screen a virtual image representing one of the plurality of targets, the virtual image overlaid on the live image. 
 
   
     
     
         33 . The gaming system of  claim 32 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive location information about a second mobile device via the primary wireless transceiver.   
     
     
         34 . The gaming system of  claim 32 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 receive, from the secondary wireless transceiver and via the primary wireless transceiver, a signal indicating user interaction with one of the plurality of user interfaces;   display, on the screen and based on the signal, an image sequence; and   transmit, via the primary wireless transceiver, information corresponding to the signal.   
     
     
         35 . The gaming system of  claim 34 , wherein each of the plurality of user interfaces corresponds to a virtual weapon, and the signal corresponds to the firing of the virtual weapon corresponding to the one of the plurality of user interfaces. 
     
     
         36 . The gaming system of  claim 31 , wherein the mobile device further comprises an orientation sensor, and further wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 receive orientation information from the orientation sensor; and   adjust the virtual image based on the orientation information.   
     
     
         37 . A gaming system comprising:
 a glove without an infrared transmitter or infrared receiver, the glove comprising:
 a power source; 
 a first wireless transceiver; and 
 a plurality of sensors located on a palm portion of the glove, with the sensors positioned to detect an indication from a user's fingertip, the indication comprising a touch, a tap, a near touch, or a near tap, wherein each of the plurality of sensors corresponds to a separate gameplay function; and 
   a mobile device comprising:
 a second wireless transceiver; 
 a screen; 
 an image sensor; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 display a live image on the screen based on a signal from the image sensor; 
 generate target information about at least one target; 
 overlay a graphic on the live image based on the target information, the graphic corresponding to the at least one target; 
 receive a signal from one of the plurality of sensors, the signal corresponding to the indication; and 
 execute the gameplay function corresponding to the one of the plurality of sensors. 
 
   
     
     
         38 . The gaming system of  claim 37 , wherein the gameplay function corresponds to firing a virtual weapon. 
     
     
         39 . The gaming system of  claim 37 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 transmit the target information via the second wireless transceiver; and   receive, via the second wireless transceiver, information about a location of a second mobile device.   
     
     
         40 . The gaming system of  claim 37 , wherein the power source comprises one or more replaceable or rechargeable energy storage devices.