Multi-player augmented reality combat

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for performing multi-player augmented reality combat. Each player wears (or is otherwise associated with) an indicator (e.g., an object that has a designated pattern, a visual tag, etc.) that identifies the player or a team thereof. Each player has a mobile communication device that is capable of identifying the players' indicators. A user may point a camera of the user's mobile communication device at another player (e.g., an opponent). The image that is captured by the camera includes the indicator that is associated with the opponent. The user may choose to fire a virtual bullet at the opponent using an audio and/or tactile command, which is processed by the user's mobile communication device. The mobile communication device determines the time that the virtual bullet takes to travel from the mobile communication device to the opponent based on the distance between the user and the opponent.

1 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a camera configured to capture an image;   an image recognition module configured to identify a player indicator in the image, the player indicator corresponding to a player; and   an outgoing attack module configured to transmit an outgoing attack indicator in response to a user-initiated attack command that is received in response to identification of the player indicator, the outgoing attack indicator specifying that a virtual bullet is fired at the player.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile communication device;   a distance determination module configured to determine a distance between the location of the mobile communication device and a location of the player; and   a time determination module configured to determine an estimated duration of a time period for the virtual bullet to travel from the mobile communication device to the player based on the determined distance.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the time determination module is configured to determine the estimated duration of the time period based on a virtual environmental condition. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the time determination module is configured to determine the estimated duration of the time period based on a difference between an altitude of the mobile communication device and an altitude of the player indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the time determination module is configured to determine the estimated duration of the time period based on at least one of an attribute of the virtual bullet or an attribute of a virtual weapon that is used to fire the virtual bullet. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an environment module configured to modify the image to include a virtual environmental condition; and   a display configured to display the modified image.   
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an environment control module configured to control the virtual environmental condition in response to a user-initiated environment control command   
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an identification module configured to modify the image to include identification information regarding the player; and   a display configured to display the modified image.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an incoming attack module configured to determine when a virtual bullet is directed at a user of the mobile communication device; and   a sensory signal module configured to provide a sensory signal to the user in response to determination that a virtual bullet is directed at the user.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile communication device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a speed control module configured to control a speed of the virtual bullet that is directed at the user in response to a user-initiated speed control command.   
     
     
         11 . A method of performing multi-player augmented reality combat with respect to a user of a mobile communication device, comprising:
 capturing an image;   identifying a player indicator in the image, the player indicator corresponding to a player;   receiving a user-initiated attack command in response to identifying the player indicator; and   transmitting an attack indicator in response to receiving the user-initiated attack command, the attack indicator specifying that a virtual bullet is fired at the player.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a location of the mobile communication device;   receiving a player location indicator that specifies a location of the player;   determining a distance between the location of the mobile communication device and the location of the player; and   determining an estimated duration of a time period for the virtual bullet to travel from the mobile communication device to the player based on the determined distance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated duration of the time period comprises:
 determining the estimated duration of the time period based on a virtual environmental condition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated duration of the time period comprises:
 determining the estimated duration of the time period based on a difference between an altitude of the mobile communication device and an altitude of the player indicator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated duration of the time period comprises:
 determining the estimated duration of the time period based on at least one of an attribute of the virtual bullet or an attribute of a virtual weapon that is used to fire the virtual bullet.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 modifying the image to include a virtual environmental condition; and   displaying the modified image.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling the virtual environmental condition in response to a user-initiated environment control command.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 modifying the image to include identification information regarding the player; and   displaying the modified image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving an incoming attack indicator that specifies that a virtual bullet is directed at a user of the mobile communication device; and   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 controlling a speed of the virtual bullet that is directed at the user in response to a user-initiated speed control command.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 controlling a rate at which the user recovers from a virtual injury based on a distance between the location of the mobile communication device and a designated location.   
     
     
         22 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor-based system to perform multi-player augmented reality combat with respect to a user of a mobile communication device, the computer program product comprising:
 a first program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to capture an image;   a second program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to identify a player indicator in the image, the player indicator corresponding to a player; and   a third program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to transmit an outgoing attack indicator in accordance with a mobile communication protocol in response to a user-initiated attack command that is received in response to identification of the player indicator, the outgoing attack indicator specifying that a virtual bullet is fired at the player.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a fourth program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to determine a location of the mobile communication device;   a fifth program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to determine a distance between the location of the mobile communication device and a location of the player; and   a sixth program logic module for enabling the processor-based system to determine an estimated duration of a time period for the virtual bullet to travel from the mobile communication device to the player based on the determined distance.