U.S. patent application number 12/585814 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for system and method of dispatching task commands of running in game.
This patent application is currently assigned to INVENTEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Chaucer Chiu, Hui Fang.
Application Number | 20110003663 12/585814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43412979 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110003663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiu; Chaucer ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
System and method of dispatching task commands of running in
game
Abstract
This specification discloses system and method of dispatching
task commands of running in a game. A fitness server accumulates
the exercising mileages of various users to obtain a total mileage.
When the total mileage meets a predetermined value, the server
dispatches task commands of exploring a virtual map to users. The
users actually jog to execute the task commands. The users thus
complete the goal of the game together. During the game, task
commands are dispatched to users to increase the fun of
exercising.
Inventors: |
Chiu; Chaucer; (Taipei,
TW) ; Fang; Hui; (Shanghai, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
INVENTEC CORPORATION
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
43412979 |
Appl. No.: |
12/585814 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2071/0691 20130101;
A63F 13/67 20140902; A63F 13/35 20140902; A63F 13/798 20140902;
A63B 2225/20 20130101; A63B 24/0084 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101;
A63F 13/80 20140902; A63F 13/816 20140902; A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 24/0075 20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/8 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 2, 2009 |
TW |
098122404 |
Claims
1. A system of dispatching task commands of running in a game,
comprising: at least one fitness user end for connecting to a
network, wherein the fitness user end further comprises: a
transmitting module for transmitting user information, an
exercising mileage, and a designated mileage with a difficulty; a
first receiving module for receiving a task command of a virtual
map exploration game; and an executing module for executing the
designated mileage corresponding to the task command; and a fitness
server end for connecting to the fitness user ends via the network,
wherein the fitness server end further comprises: a second
receiving module for receiving the user information, the exercising
mileages and the designated mileages transmitted from the fitness
user ends; a statistics module for accumulating the exercising
mileages or the designated mileages from the individual fitness
user ends to obtain a total mileage; and a dispatching module for
dispatching the task commands to the fitness user ends according to
a dispatching rule when the total mileage reaches a predetermined
value.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fitness user end is a
treadmill.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispatching rule is random
dispatching or orderly dispatching to one of the fitness user
ends.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the task command is a climbing
task of some slope or a resistance task on some road in the virtual
map.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user information includes a
user account and a task command record.
6. A method of dispatching task commands of running in a game,
comprising the steps of: connecting at least one fitness user end
to a fitness server end via a network and transmitting user
information and an exercising mileage to the fitness server end;
accumulating the exercising mileages from the individual fitness
user ends by the fitness server end to obtain a total mileage;
dispatching task commands to the fitness user ends according to a
dispatching rule by the fitness server end when the total mileage
reaches a predetermined value; executing a designated mileage with
a difficulty level according to the task command at the fitness
user end and transmitting the designated mileage to the fitness
server end; and accumulating the designated mileage to the total
mileage by the fitness server end and re-dispatching a
corresponding task command in the virtual map exploration game.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fitness user end is a
treadmill.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the dispatching rule is random
dispatching or orderly dispatching to one of the fitness user
ends.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the task command is a climbing
task of some slope or a resistance task on some road in the virtual
map.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the user information includes a
user account and a task command record.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a fitness game system and the
method thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a system
that dispatches task commands of exploring a virtual map for the
users to actually exercise their bodies and the method thereof.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] In recent years, the rapid economic development elevates
life standards. Modern people have more amusements. As exercises
become popular, fitness centers have evolved into a symbol of life
quality. Many people start to value exercises. In addition to using
the fitness equipment provided by the fitness center, many users
also buy fitness devices and exercise at home.
[0005] Most fitness devices are for indoor uses. For example, users
simply jog on a treadmill by repeating same action, without any
goal or motivation. Such a way of exercising bodies is very boring.
The net result is that a lot of users eventually give up using the
treadmill to exercise. Besides, most treadmills have the function
of collecting exercising data of the user, such as the mileage.
Such exercising data are often only for the user to record and
understand his exercise conditions without further applications,
such as increasing the user's exercising motivation.
[0006] In summary, the prior art always has the problems that the
running mileage does not have further applications and it is
difficult to increase the user's motivation to run on the
treadmill. It is necessary to provide a solution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the foregoing, the invention discloses a system
of dispatching task commands of running in a game and the method
thereof.
[0008] The disclosed system includes a fitness user end and a
fitness server end. Both the fitness user end and the fitness
server end connect to a network. The fitness user end includes a
transmitting module, a first receiving module, and an executing
module. The transmitting module transmits user information,
exercising mileage, and designated mileage with difficulty level.
The first receiving module receives a task command of exploring a
virtual map. The exercising module executes the designated mileage
of the task command. The fitness server end includes a second
receiving module, a statistics module, and a dispatching module.
The second receiving module receives the user information,
exercising mileage, and designated mileage transmitted from
different fitness user ends. The statistics module accumulates the
exercising mileage or designated mileage of the fitness user ends
to obtain a total mileage. When the total mileage reaches a
predetermined value, the dispatching module dispatches task
commands of exploring a virtual map to the fitness user ends
according to dispatching rules.
[0009] The disclosed method includes the steps of: connecting at
least one fitness user end to a fitness server end via a network
and transmitting user information and exercising mileage to the
fitness server end; accumulating the exercising mileages of
individual fitness user ends at the fitness server end to obtain a
total mileage; when the total mileage reaches a predetermined
value, dispatching task commands or exploring a virtual map to the
fitness user ends according to dispatching rules by the fitness
server end; executing the designated mileage with difficulty level
at the fitness user end and transmitting the designated mileage to
the fitness server end; accumulating the designated mileages to the
total mileage at the fitness server end and re-dispatching the task
commands of exploring the virtual map.
[0010] As described above, the invention differs from the prior art
in that it uses the fitness server end to accumulate the mileages
of individual fitness user ends to obtain the total mileage. When
the total mileage reaches a predetermined value, the dispatching
module dispatches task commands of exploring a virtual map to the
fitness user ends according to dispatching rules. The fitness user
ends actually run to execute the task commands. The users exercise
together to achieve the goal of exploring the virtual map. During
the game, different task commands are dispatched to the users to
challenge them and increase the fun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus
is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows the structure of the disclosed system of
dispatching task commands of running in a game;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the disclosed system of
dispatching task commands of running in a game;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the disclosed method of dispatching
task commands of running in a game;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the disclosed method of
dispatching task commands of running in a game; and
[0016] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the disclosed method of
dispatching task commands of running in a game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the
same elements.
[0018] Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows the structure of the
system of dispatching task commands of running in a game. The
disclosed system 100 includes at least one fitness user end 110 and
one fitness server end 120. Each of the fitness user ends 110
connects to the fitness server end 120 through a network
connection. That is, each fitness user end 110 is a fitness device
with Internet connection capability. They connect to the fitness
server end 120 via the Internet. The fitness user end 110 is a
fitness device for the user to explore a virtual map. It should be
noted that the fitness user end 110 can be a treadmill. The fitness
server end 120 can be a server of a virtual map exploration game.
Through the network connection, the fitness user end 110 can
explore the virtual map. Therefore, after the user connects the
treadmill, which is regarded as the fitness user end 110, to the
fitness server end 120 of the virtual map exploration game, the
user actually run to play the game.
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a detailed block diagram of
the disclosed system. Each fitness user end 110 includes a
transmission module 111, a first receiving module 112, and an
executing module 113. The transmission module 111 transmits user
information, exercising mileage, and designated mileage with
difficulty level. The user information includes a user account and
a task command record. Examples of the user account include
"john2563" and "mary3418." The task command record stores the task
command that have been executed by the user. Examples of the task
command record include "not finishing climbing task 35 (difficulty
level 3--designated mileage 0.5 km)" and "finished resistance task
26 (difficulty level 5--designated mileage 0.1 km)". The exercising
mileage referred herein is the distance that the user on the
fitness user end 110 has finished with actually run, such as "1.3
km." The designated mileage with difficulty level referred herein
is the mileage designated by the task command in the virtual map
exploration game. The task command and the designated mileage with
difficulty level are not further described here. The explicit
implementation will be described later. Therefore, the transmission
module 111 transmits the user information, exercising mileage, and
designated mileage with difficulty level to the fitness server end
120 through the network connection.
[0020] The first receiving module 112 receives the task command of
the virtual map exploration game. The executing module 113 executes
the designated mileage with difficulty level of the task command.
Further details of the first receiving module 112 and the executing
module 113 of the fitness user end 110 will be explained later.
[0021] The fitness server end 120 includes a second receiving
module 121, a statistics module 122, and a dispatching module 123.
The second receiving module 121 receives the user information,
exercising mileage and the designated mileage with difficulty level
sent from individual fitness user ends 110. That is, when each
fitness user end 110 transmits its user information, exercising
mileage, and designated mileage with difficulty level to the
fitness server end 120, the second receiving module 121 of the
fitness server end 120 receives them.
[0022] The statistics module 122 accumulates the exercising mileage
or designated mileage of the fitness user ends 110 to obtain the
total mileage. When the second receiving module 121 receives the
exercising mileage of the fitness user ends 110, the statistics
module 122 accumulates the received exercising mileage to obtain
the total mileage. Besides, when the second receiving module 121
receives the designated mileage of individual fitness user end, the
statistics module 122 accumulates them to the total mileage,
obtaining an updated total mileage.
[0023] For example, suppose the fitness user end 110 "A" transmits
an exercising mileage "1.8 km" and the fitness user end 110 "B"
transmits an exercising mileage "2.2 km." The statistics module 122
of the fitness server end 120 adds the exercising mileage "1.8 km"
and the exercising mileage "2.2 km" up to obtain the total mileage
"4 km." If the fitness user end 110 "A" transmits the designated
mileage "0.2 km" and the fitness user end 110 "B" transmits the
designated mileage "0.3 km," then the statistic module 122 of the
fitness server end 120 adds the designated mileage "0.2 km" and the
designated mileage "0.3 km" up to obtain the total mileage "4 km."
Thus, the updated total mileage is "4.5 km."
[0024] When the total mileage reaches a predetermined value, the
dispatching module 123 dispatches task commands of the virtual map
exploration map to the fitness user end 110 according to
dispatching rules. It is worth emphasizing that the task commands
referred herein are the task commands that the users have to
complete during the game or exploring the virtual map. The task
command can be a climbing task of some slope in the map or a
resistance task on some different road in the map. The task command
includes the designated mileage with difficulty level. For example,
the task command is "climbing task: difficulty level 3--designated
mileage 0.5 km" or "resistance task: difficulty level 5--designated
mileage 0.2 km." The predetermined value is set by the system in
advance. Each predetermined value is for a task command in the
virtual map exploration game. The predetermined value can be a
definite value such as "4 km" or a range such as "2.about.4 km." If
the predetermine value is a definite value, the system can preset
any possible value for the task commands in the game. For example,
the predetermined value "4 km" corresponds to the task command
"climbing task 4: difficulty level 2--designated mileage 1 km" and
the predetermined value "20 km" corresponds to the task command
"resistance task 20: difficulty level 4--designated mileage 0.3
km." These are examples when the predetermined value is a definite
value. The invention is not limited to these examples. Other
embodiments should be included in the invention.
[0025] It should be noted that the dispatching rules are
predetermined by the system. A task command can be dispatched to
one of the fitness user end 110 randomly or according to a specific
order. If the dispatching rule is random dispatching, then the
dispatching module 123 randomly dispatches a task command to one of
the fitness user end 110 connected with the fitness server end 120.
If the dispatching rule is orderly dispatching, then the
dispatching module 123 follows a task command dispatching record of
the fitness server end 120 to some fitness user end 110 who does
not receive any task command. The task command record can be
included in the user information.
[0026] When the total mileage obtained by the statistics module 122
reaches the predetermined value, the dispatching module 123
dispatches the task commands in the virtual map exploration game to
the fitness user ends 110 according to the dispatching rules.
Following the above example, suppose the statistics module 122
obtains the total mileage "4 km." Since the predetermined value "4
km" corresponds to the task command of the virtual map exploration
game "climbing task 4: difficulty level 2--designated mileage 1
km," the dispatching module 123 randomly dispatches the task
command "climbing task 4: difficulty level 2--designated mileage 1
km" to one of the fitness user ends 110.
[0027] After the dispatching module 123 of the fitness server end
120 dispatches the task command in the virtual map exploration game
to the fitness user end 110, the first receiving module 112 of the
fitness user end 110 receives the corresponding task command.
Afterwards, the executing module 113 executes the designated
mileage with difficulty level of the task command. When the user on
the fitness user end 110 wants to complete the task command, the
executing module 113 adjusts the difficulty level of the treadmill
on the fitness user end 110 according to the difficulty level of
the task command. The user then actually runs to complete the
designated mileage with difficulty level in the task command.
Afterwards, the transmission module 111 sends the designated
mileage with difficulty level to the fitness server end 120.
[0028] Following the above example, suppose the dispatching module
123 of the fitness server end 120 dispatches the task command
"climbing task 4: difficulty level 2--designated mileage 1 km" to a
fitness user end 110. The first receiving module 112 of the fitness
user end 110 receives the task command "climbing task 4: difficulty
level 2--designated mileage 1 km" of the virtual map exploration
game. The executing module 113 of the fitness user end 110 executes
the designated 1 km of difficulty level 2 in the task command
"climbing task 4: difficulty level 2--designated mileage 1 km".
That is, the user on the fitness user end 110 uses the treadmill to
run 1 km at the difficulty level 2 to achieve the task. Once the
task is achieved, the transmitting module 111 of the fitness user
end 110 transmits the designated mileage "1 km" of the difficulty
level 2.
[0029] Once the transmitting module 111 of the fitness user end 110
transmits the designated mileage, the second receiving module 121
of the fitness server end 120 receives the designated mileage of
the difficulty level. Afterwards, the statistics module 122 of the
fitness server end 120 accumulates the designated mileage to the
total mileage to obtain an updated total mileage. The dispatching
module 123 of the fitness server end 120 then re-dispatch task
commands according to the updated total mileage.
[0030] It should be noted that the fitness server end 120 records
the fitness user ends 110. A fitness user end 110 has to connect to
the fitness server end 120 in order to play the virtual map
exploration game. The fitness user end 110 can disconnect from the
fitness server end 120 after receiving the assigned task command
and re-connect to the fitness server end 120 later for completing
the task command. This is not restricted by the invention. Other
embodiments should be included in the invention too.
[0031] The invention dispatches task commands in a game for users
to run. By accumulating the mileage of individual users to a total
mileage and dispatching new task commands to the users when the
total mileage reaches a predetermined value, the users on the
fitness user ends have more motivations to run than in the prior
art.
[0032] The following paragraphs describe the disclosed method and
use an explicit embodiment to explain the invention. A skilled
person can readily make modifications without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the disclosed method of dispatching
task commands of running in a game. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of
the disclosed system of dispatching task commands of running in a
game. FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of an embodiment of the
invention. Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 6 in the following
description.
[0034] Please first refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. The disclosed system
400 of dispatching task commands of running in a game include
treadmill A 411, treadmill B 412, treadmill C 413, and a virtual
map exploration game server 420. The treadmill A 411, treadmill B
412, and treadmill C 413 are fitness devices with Internet
connection capability. The treadmill A 411, treadmill B 412, and
treadmill C 413A connect to the virtual map exploration game server
420 via network connections. Suppose the treadmill A 411 transmits
the user information such as a user account 510 "Mary" and an
exercising mileage 520 "2.3 km" to the virtual map exploration game
server 420. The treadmill B 412 transmits the user account 510
"John" and the exercising mileage 520 "3.1 km" to the virtual map
exploration game server 420. The treadmill C 413 transmits the user
account 510 "Sun" and the exercising mileage 520 "6.2 km" to the
virtual map exploration game server 420. (Step 301)
[0035] After receiving the exercising mileage 520 "2.3 km" from
treadmill A 411, the exercising mileage 520 "3.1 km" from treadmill
B 412, and the exercising mileage 520 "6.2 km" from treadmill C
413, the virtual map exploration game server 420 accumulates the
exercising mileage 520 "2.3 km", the exercising mileage 520 "3.1
km", and the exercising mileage 520 "6.2 km" to obtain the total
mileage "11.6 km". (Step 302)
[0036] Please refer to FIG. 6. Different predetermined mileage
values 610 are set to correspond to different task commands 620.
For example, the predetermined value 610 "1.6 km" corresponds to
the task command 620 "climbing task 1.6: difficulty level
2--designated mileage 1 km". The predetermined value 610 "11.6 km"
corresponds to the task command 620 "resistance task 11.6:
difficulty level 5--designated mileage 0.1 km". The predetermined
value 610 "11.7 km" corresponds to the task command 620 "climbing
task 11.7: difficulty level 3--designated mileage 0.5 km", and so
on. Therefore, when the total mileage "11.6 km" registered by the
virtual map exploration game server 420 agrees with the
predetermined value "11.6 km", it dispatches the task command 620
"resistance task 11.6: difficulty level 5--designated mileage 0.1
km" to treadmill A 411 according to the random dispatching rule.
(Step 303)
[0037] After the treadmill A 411 receives the task command 620
"resistance task 11.6: difficulty level 5--designated mileage 0.1
km", the treadmill A 411 executes the task command 620 "resistance
task 11.6: difficulty level 5--designated mileage 0.1 km". The user
of treadmill A 411 actually run on the treadmill at the difficulty
level of 5 for the designated mileage "0.1 km". The designated
mileage "0.1 km" is then transmitted to the virtual map exploration
game server 420. (Step 304)
[0038] After the virtual map exploration game server 420 receives
the designated mileage "0.1 km", it adds the designated mileage
"0.1 km" to the current total mileage "11.6 km" and obtains the
updated total mileage "11.7 km". It then re-dispatches the
corresponding task command 620 "climbing task 11.7: difficulty
level 3--designated mileage 0.5 km" to treadmill B 412. (Step
305)
[0039] After receiving the task command 620 "climbing task 11.7:
difficulty level 3--designated mileage 0.5 km", treadmill B 412
executes the task command 620 "climbing task 11.7: difficulty level
3--designated mileage 0.5 km". The user of treadmill B 412 actually
run on the treadmill at the difficulty level of 3 for the
designated mileage "0.5 km". The designated mileage "0.5 km" is
then transmitted to the virtual map exploration game server 420.
(Step 304)
[0040] After the virtual map exploration game server 420 receives
the designated mileage "0.5 km", it adds the designated mileage
"0.5 km" to the current total mileage "11.7 km" and obtains the
updated total mileage "12.2 km". It then re-dispatches the
corresponding task command 620 in the virtual map exploration game.
(Step 305)
[0041] In summary, the invention differs form the prior art in that
there is a fitness server end that accumulates the mileages of
individual fitness user ends to obtain a total mileage. When the
total mileage reaches a predetermined value, the fitness server end
dispatches task commands to the fitness user ends for the fitness
user ends to run to accomplish the tasks. This solves the problem
in the prior art that users do not have sufficient motivations to
exercise by running. Moreover, users achieve some goal together in
a virtual map exploration game. The task command dispatching in the
game increases the fun of exercising.
[0042] Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed
in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed
embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent
to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that
the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within
the true scope of the invention.
* * * * *