Participant interaction with entertainment in real and virtual environments

• US 20060293103A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Mendelsohn, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals

Abstract

A system of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and live theme park interaction and activity earns rewards. The interaction permits for rewards earned in the electronic theme park experience to be redeemed in the live theme park experience and vice versa. The electronic theme park and live activity are interactive in real or delayed time through an Internet connection. Activities on one or both of the live and electronic formats are designed to drive increased player visiting of the live and/or electronic versions. The Virtual Magic Kingdom is a virtual version of Disney'"'"'s theme parks, specifically the “Magic Kingdom” portion of the theme parks.

Claims

1. A system of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and a live theme park experience comprising:

an interaction permitting for rewards earned in at least one of the electronic theme park experience to be redeemed in the live theme park experience or for rewards earned in at least one of the live theme park experience to be redeemed in the electronic theme park experience;

a network accessible to connect the electronic theme park and live theme park such as to be interactive in real or delayed time through the network; and

activities and rewards on one or both of the live and electronic theme parks being designed to drive increased player visiting of the live and/or electronic versions of the theme park.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 including an interactive game, the game being for operating on a computer and for being viewed on a window of a display on a screen in the live theme park and in the electronic theme park;

and wherein at least one subject of the window of the electronic version and for the live theme park includes the interactive game.

3. The system of claim 1, including the display of rewards or benefits obtainable at the live or electronic theme park, the rewards or benefits being earned in the other of the live or electronic theme park.

4. The system of claim 1, including an awards display window configured to display a plurality of awards for which a player may redeem rewards.

5. The system of claim 1 configured to increase the rewards in response to an aspect of a player'"'"'s activity in at least one of the theme park formats.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein there is provided a chat room for players to communicate with other players on-line with the electronic theme park.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each player in the electronic network selectively adopts a unique identity, the unique identity being selectively related to a character of the live theme park.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic theme park environment permits individual players to design and modify selected areas in the electronic theme park adopted by them.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein players of an electronic theme park have the ability to invite other players playing selectively in at least one of the live theme park or in the electronic theme park to enter a selected area of the theme park of the players.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic theme park environment includes a navigator, the navigator permitting players electronically to move between selected areas in the electronic theme park, the selected areas being selectively at least one of a private area of a player or a public area defined in the electronic theme park

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the network includes an internet network.

12. A system of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and a live theme park experience comprises:

a remote terminal;

a central controller in communication with the remote terminal, wherein the communication is through a network connection;

a system configured to retrieve and display a rewards of a player accessing the remote terminal; and

a rewards database accessible by the central controller and from which the rewards of the player are retrieved.

13. A method of interaction between an electronic theme park experience and a live theme park experience comprising interactively awarding rewards comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to a person;

awarding rewards being goods or services to the uniquely identified person for predetermined activities involving transactions at an electronic theme park experience or the live theme park experience; and

permitting redemption of rewards for goods or services to the uniquely identified person for predetermined activities at the other of the electronic theme park experience or live theme park from which the reward was earned.

14. A method of redeeming rewards from interaction between an electronic theme park experience and a live theme park experience comprising:

retrieving a number of rewards associated with a unique identifier;

the unique identifier relating to a person, displaying the number of rewards on a system display, the rewards being redeemable at the other of the electronic or live theme park from which the reward was earned.