Entertainment platform

• US 20020072413A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eduardo Arias, Isaac Arias, Ricardo Arias
• Original Assignee: Eduardo Arias, Isaac Arias, Ricardo Arias
• Inventors: Arias, Ricardo, Arias, Eduardo, Arias, Isaac
• Application Number:
  US09/860,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and apparatus of collecting and trading items provides for receiving collectible items on a file server, trading the items with other collectors and interacting with the items on the server. The items can typically be representative of trading cards including, for example, baseball cards, movie scenes, or in other instances, currencies. Various games can be built around the method including providing that the first player to collect all of the trading cards or Token instances will receive a reward. Multiple players can engage in the game using, for example, the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for collecting items comprising:

receiving collectible items on a system;

trading the items with other collectors; and

interacting with the items on the system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system is a file server.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the collectible items include electronic information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the collectible items include:

a Token code;

a unique serial number; and

an attribute that determines how the information will be displayed.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the collectible items are Token instances.

6. The method of claim 2 including communicating with the file server over a network.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the network is the Internet.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein collectible items are assigned to Zones.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a collector can only collect and trade collectible items for Zones assigned to the collector.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein trading with other collectors comprises:

obtaining information from the server about what items the other collectors have and lack;

offering to trade items with other collectors; and

enabling the other collectors to accept, reject or counter the offer.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein a collector who collects a complete set of collectible items receives a reward.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first collector to collect a complete set of collectible items is declared the winner of the game.

13. The method of claim 2 further comprising distributing the collectible items based on a random method.

14. The method of claim 2 further comprising distributing the collectible items based on a set of assignment rules.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the set of assignment rules is an automatic deposit method applied on a time interval schedule.

16. The method of claim 2 further comprising distributing the collectible items based on a combination of a random method and a set of assignment rules.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the collectible items comprise electronic information.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the network is the Internet.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising

communications components whereby players can trade collectible items with each other.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising

elements for enabling players to obtain listings of what items other players have and need to facilitate trading.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein players trade collectible items with each other by building an offer of collectible items to exchange.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein obtaining listings of what items other players have and need comprises

searching through each Zone in common between collectors;

determining whether or not a collectible item in a common Zone is owned by both collectors; and

displaying the collectible items not commonly owned by both collectors.

24. The system of claim 17 further comprising elements whereby players can make, accept, reject and counter offers to trade items with other players.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein collectible items are distributed based on a random method.

26. The system of claim 17 further comprising elements for distributing collectible items based on a set of assignment rules.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the set of assignment rules is an automatic deposit method applied on a time interval schedule.

28. The system of claim 17 further comprising elements for distributing collectible items based on a combination of a random method and a set of assignment rules.

30. The article of claim 29 wherein the collectors interact with the server through a network connection.

17. A system for collecting items comprising:

a file server;

collectible items stored on the server; and

a network connection allowing players to interact with the collectible items.

29. An article comprising a computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

create and store collectible items on a system; and

allow collectors to obtain, trade and interact with the items stored on the system.

31. An apparatus for collecting items comprising:

means for receiving collectible items on a file server;

means for trading items with other collectors; and

means for interacting with the items on the server.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein trading with other collectors comprises

means for obtaining information from the system about what items the other collectors have and lack;

means for offering to trade items with them; and

means for enabling the other collectors to accept, reject or counter the offer.

33. A computer readable storage medium for storing program code for, when executed, causing a computer to perform a computerized method for collecting items comprising:

receiving collectible items on a system;

trading the items with other collectors, wherein trading with other collectors includes obtaining information from the system about what items the other collectors have and lack;

offering to trade with collectors, and enabling the other collectors to accept, reject or counter the offer; and

interacting with the items on the system.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for distributing collectible items to collectors.

35. A graphic interface for use with a system for collecting items comprising:

means for selecting a Zone;

means for viewing the collectible items of a Zone;

means for viewing the collectible items owned by other collectors; and

means for building an offer to trade collectible items with other collectors.