Patents by Inventor Robert Frederick Ford

Robert Frederick Ford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Internet of things based video game play
    Patent number: 12337238
    Abstract: A virtual game world may have game locations based on electronic devices with communications capabilities. In some embodiments electronic devices with communications capabilities are identified to a server, which forms a game location for the identified devices, or at least some of them. The game locations may have non-player controlled game characters as inhabitants of the game locations. One or more characteristics of the inhabitants of a game location may be based on an aspect relating to the electronic device with communication capability with which the game location is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frederick Ford, Paul Reiche, III
  • INTERNET OF THINGS BASED VIDEO GAME PLAY
    Publication number: 20240181346
    Abstract: A virtual game world may have game locations based on electronic devices with communications capabilities. In some embodiments electronic devices with communications capabilities are identified to a server, which forms a game location for the identified devices, or at least some of them. The game locations may have non-player controlled game characters as inhabitants of the game locations. One or more characteristics of the inhabitants of a game location may be based on an aspect relating to the electronic device with communication capability with which the game location is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frederick Ford, Paul Reiche, III
  • Location-based video gaming with anchor points
    Patent number: 11241624
    Abstract: A mobile video game uses real world anchor points in providing for video game play which includes virtual elements. The real world anchor points may be specified in terms of a geographic coordinate system, and game play may be based on mobile device presence at or about the anchor points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Alexander Bridge, Robert Frederick Ford, Eunice Lee, Nathan Lutz, Michal Tadeusz Madej, Paul Reiche, III
  • INTERNET OF THINGS BASED VIDEO GAME PLAY
    Publication number: 20210086078
    Abstract: A virtual game world may have game locations based on electronic devices with communications capabilities. In some embodiments electronic devices with communications capabilities are identified to a server, which forms a game location for the identified devices, or at least some of them. The game locations may have non-player controlled game characters as inhabitants of the game locations. One or more characteristics of the inhabitants of a game location may be based on an aspect relating to the electronic device with communication capability with which the game location is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Frederick Ford, Paul Reiche
  • LOCATION-BASED VIDEO GAMING WITH ANCHOR POINTS
    Publication number: 20200206629
    Abstract: A mobile video game uses real world anchor points in providing for video game play which includes virtual elements. The real world anchor points may be specified in terms of a geographic coordinate system, and game play may be based on mobile device presence at or about the anchor points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua Alexander Bridge, Robert Frederick Ford, Eunice Lee, Nathan Lutz, Michal Tadeusz Madej, Paul Reiche, III