Prior art — US Patent 8668592

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8668592

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8668592, I have searched the USPTO database for the specific patent number and will now examine its cited references. The listed "Citations" are typically considered the most relevant prior art by the patent examiner.

Here are the prior art references cited in US patent 8668592, along with their details and potential anticipation:

US20060105838A1: Location-based games and augmented reality systems
- Full Citation: US20060105838A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 18, 2006 / Filing: November 16, 2004
- Brief Description: This application describes systems and methods for location-based games and augmented reality systems. It focuses on using real-world location data to influence gameplay.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference appears highly relevant to Claim 1, particularly the aspects of "detecting... the first player's geographic location" and "retrieving... a storyline... related to the geographic location of the first player." Its focus on location-based games suggests it may anticipate other claims related to using location to affect game elements, such as modifying character statistics (Claim 11), tools/equipment (Claim 12), or generic/location-specific background scenes (Claims 6, 8).
US20070281766A1: Systems and methods for location based games and employment of the same on location enabled devices
- Full Citation: US20070281766A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 6, 2007 / Filing: September 2, 2003
- Brief Description: This patent application details systems and methods for location-based games that are deployed on location-enabled devices. It covers aspects of using real-world geographic data to drive game experiences.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20060105838A1, this reference is highly relevant to Claim 1's core concept of changing gameplay based on geographic location. It could also anticipate claims regarding the detection of location (Claim 17) and the use of mobile devices (Claim 25).
US7373377B2: Interactive virtual thematic environment
- Full Citation: US7373377B2
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 13, 2008 / Filing: October 16, 2002
- Brief Description: This patent describes an interactive virtual thematic environment that adapts based on user interaction. While not explicitly focused on real-world geographic location, it deals with dynamic changes within a virtual world.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent might anticipate aspects of Claim 5, which states that a storyline comprises plot, plot nodes, character interactions, encounters, settings, aesthetics, levels, premise, or theme, particularly if its "interactive virtual thematic environment" demonstrates dynamic changes to these elements, even if not tied to real-world location. It could also be relevant to the general idea of a changing storyline.
US20080280684A1: Virtual world electronic game
- Full Citation: US20080280684A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 13, 2008 / Filing: July 25, 2006
- Brief Description: This application describes a virtual world electronic game. While the abstract does not explicitly mention location-based changes, a "virtual world electronic game" itself provides a foundational context for US8668592.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference provides context for "providing a video game environment" (Claim 1). Depending on the detailed description of how the virtual world functions, it could potentially anticipate aspects of gameplay interaction and environment management, but without specific mention of location-based storyline changes, its direct anticipation of Claim 1 is less strong than the location-focused patents.
US20090017913A1: Location-based multiplayer gaming platform
- Full Citation: US20090017913A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 15, 2009 / Filing: March 16, 2007
- Brief Description: This application describes a location-based multiplayer gaming platform. This directly addresses the multiplayer aspect and the use of location in gaming.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to Claim 1, particularly the "plurality of players which have access to the video game environment, each player having a geographic location," and the core concept of a location-based game. It also directly relates to the multiplayer aspects of claims 13, 14, and 15, which discuss players co-located, new players opening storylines, and player departure closing storylines.
US20090029771A1: Interactive story builder
- Full Citation: US20090029771A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 29, 2009 / Filing: July 25, 2007
- Brief Description: This application describes an interactive story builder that allows users to create and interact with dynamic stories. While not explicitly location-based, its focus on dynamic storylines is relevant.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 5, related to the components of a storyline (plot, plot nodes, character interactions, etc.), and the general concept of a changing storyline, especially if its "interactive story builder" allows for divergence in plot based on user decisions or other dynamic factors, even if not tied to geographic location.
US20090181774A1: Video game for interactive engagement between multiple on-line participants in competition over internet websites
- Full Citation: US20090181774A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 16, 2009 / Filing: July 30, 2007
- Brief Description: This application describes a video game designed for interactive engagement between multiple online participants, particularly in a competitive setting over internet websites.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant to the "plurality of players" aspect of Claim 1 and the general concept of multiplayer interaction (Claim 13). However, it lacks the specific element of storyline change based on geographic location.
US7970749B2: Method and system for using geographic data in computer game development
- Full Citation: US7970749B2
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: June 28, 2011 / Filing: March 11, 2004
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system specifically for using geographic data in the development of computer games. This is highly pertinent to US8668592.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is extremely relevant to Claim 1 due to its explicit focus on using geographic data in game development. It likely anticipates the detection of geographic location and the use of that location to influence game elements. It could also anticipate claims related to map data (Claim 18) and other location-related modifications.
US20110319148A1: Virtual and location-based multiplayer gaming
- Full Citation: US20110319148A1
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 29, 2011 / Filing: June 24, 2010
- Brief Description: This application details systems and methods for virtual and location-based multiplayer gaming.
- Potential Anticipated Claims (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant, combining "virtual," "location-based," and "multiplayer gaming." It directly addresses the core concepts of Claim 1 and would likely anticipate many of the claims related to multiplayer interaction (Claims 13, 14, 15) and the use of location data to influence the game (Claims 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20).

Summary of Anticipation:

The prior art references, particularly US20060105838A1, US20070281766A1, US20090017913A1, US7970749B2, and US20110319148A1, appear to be highly relevant and could potentially anticipate several aspects of Claim 1 and its dependent claims. These references explicitly describe location-based gaming, often in a multiplayer context, and the use of geographic data to influence game elements. The novelty of US86685592 may lie in the specific manner in which the storyline is changed, or the explicit "opening and closing" of storylines based on player entry/exit (as detailed in the final clauses of Claim 1), beyond merely altering game elements. Further detailed analysis of the claims and the full content of each prior art reference would be needed to definitively determine anticipation.