Patent ID: 8968099
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of transporting virtual objects in a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game, the virtual world having a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world, the method comprising: receiving, by one or more computing devices, a first request to transfer a virtual object from a first player of the parallel reality game to a virtual counterpart of a real world carrier; in response to the first request, transferring, by the one or more computing devices, the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier; after transferring the virtual object from the first player to the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier, accessing, by the one or more computing devices, at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of the real world carrier, wherein the real world carrier comprises a real world vehicle; modifying, by the one or more computing devices, game data associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based at least in part on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier and such that the virtual object is transported through the virtual world without requiring corresponding movement through the real world by the first player of the parallel reality game; after modifying the game date associated with the parallel reality game to transport the virtual object through the virtual world, receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a second request to transfer the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to a second player of the parallel reality game; and in response to the second request, transferring, by the one or more computing devices, the virtual object from the virtual counterpart of the real world carrier to the second player, whereby the first player can transfer ownership of the virtual object to the second player without requiring the first player and the second player to be in physical proximity.