Multi-unit system and methods for game augmented interactive marketing

• US 20070050243A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Way Out World LLC
• Original Assignee: Way Out World LLC
• Inventors: Kralik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/209,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.370
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

The present invention provides multi-unit systems and methods for game augmented interactive marketing or information presentation. A system includes a first advertising unit includes a first processor and a second unit including a second processor both adapted to run an entertainment sequence. The user may restate information provided by the first unit or the second unit. A method for interactive advertising includes soliciting a play move with a first device. The user may respond to a second device. The response may include a product slogan. User information may be communicated between the first unit and the second unit. A method for interactive advertising includes soliciting a play move with a first device, receiving a response to a second device, and storing information on a parent processing unit. Aspects of the invention may also include delivering a token or an information key and recognizing the token or key.

Claims

1. A system for interactive information presentation comprising:

a first interactive unit, including a first processor, the first processor adapted to run an entertainment sequence, the entertainment sequence including a plurality of steps taken by a user;

a first sensor, in data communication with the first processor, the first sensor adapted to sense information concerning the user related to the entertainment sequence;

a first output device in data communication with the first processor adapted to transmit predetermined media to the user related to the entertainment sequence; and

a first input device adapted to receive information from the user related to the game sequence; and

a second interactive unit adapted to run the entertainment sequence, including a second sensor adapted to sense information concerning the user related to the entertainment sequence;

second output device adapted to transmit predetermined media to the user related to the entertainment sequence; and

a second input device adapted to receive information from the user related to the game sequence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment sequence includes a game.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the game includes a marketing message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment sequence includes a marketing message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes an infrared detector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes a pressure sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes an RFID tag sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a magnetic stripe card reader.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first output device includes a projector adapted to project an image related to the entertainment sequence.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first output device includes a visual display adapted to display information related to the entertainment sequence.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first output device includes a switch adapted to control a powered device, the switch triggerable by the processor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a speech recognition system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined media includes an information key for inputting into one of the first interactive unit and the second interactive unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the information from the user includes information from one of the first interactive unit and the second interactive unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information concerning the user includes a compilation of a position of the user in the entertainment sequence.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interactive unit includes a storage device in data communication with the first processor adapted to store information concerning the user.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the data storage device is adapted to store a voice message from the user.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the data storage device is adapted to store a compilation of user steps taken related to the entertainment sequence.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the second interactive unit includes a second processor adapted to run the entertainment sequence, the second processor being in data communication with the second output device, the second sensor, and the second input device.

21. A method for interactive communication, comprising:

detecting a user in proximity to a first interactive device;

soliciting a play move from the user with the first device, the play move including taking at least one step from a game sequence;

receiving a response by the user to a second interactive device with the play move; and

tallying the play move of the user.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the play move includes a disclosure of information by the user verifying receipt by the user of a predetermined message.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined message includes a marketing logo.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined message includes a marketing slogan.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined message includes a marketing jingle.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the predetermined message includes product data.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a response by the user to the first interactive device.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

directing the user to move to the second interactive device.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying the user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

identifying the user by the second interactive device with a user characteristic acquired by the first interactive device.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein identifying the user includes acquiring a data set including a plurality of identifying characteristics.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein identifying the user includes acquiring a name of the user.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

communicating a result of identifying the user between the first interactive device and the second interactive device.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein identifying the user includes sensing a pressure applied by the user to a pressure sensor.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

soliciting a game move from the user with the second interactive device, the second game move including at least one step from the game sequence.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

offering a reward to the user.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

compiling at least one play move of the user and a user identification characteristic into a user linked play pattern record; and

storing the user linked play pattern record.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

transmitting the play pattern record to a remote computer.

39. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

informing the user that a game sequence is available for game playing.

40. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

rewarding the user for the play move of the user.

41. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes movement to a predetermined location.

42. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes picking up a predetermined product.

43. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes answering a question.

44. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes completing a phrase.

45. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes asking a question.

46. The method of claim 21 wherein the responding by the user includes the user making a statement.

47. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

delivering a token to a user; and

recognizing the token delivered to the user.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the token includes a physical object.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the delivering the token is performed by the first interactive device.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the receiving the token is performed by the second interactive device.

51. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

delivering an information key to a user; and

recognizing the information key delivered to the user.

52. The method of claim 21 wherein the soliciting a play move and the responding by the user occur at a single store.

53. The method of claim 21 wherein the soliciting a play move and the responding by the user occur at a first premises and a second premises, respectively, the first premises and the second premises being remote from each other.

54. The method of claim 23 wherein one of the first premises and the second premises is a location of a personal computer.

55. The method of claim 23 wherein one of the first premises and the second premises is a location of a kiosk.

56. The method of claim 23 wherein one of the first premises and the second premises is a location of a portable electronic device.

57. A method for interactive communication, comprising:

detecting a user in proximity to a first interactive device;

soliciting a play move from the user with the first device, the play move including taking at least one step from a game sequence;

receiving a response by the user to the first interactive device;

identifying a user characteristic of the user by the first interactive device

transmitting data reflecting the user characteristic from the first interactive device to a second interactive device;

identifying the user by the second interactive device;

receiving a response by the user to the second interactive device with the play move; and

tendering a reward to the user.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

directing the user, as part of the game sequence, to the second interactive device at another physical location.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

tallying the play move of the user.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

compiling a set of data concerning the user from the first interactive device and the second interactive device.

61. A system for interactive entertainment comprising:

a first entertainment unit, including a first processor, the first processor adapted to run an entertainment sequence, the entertainment sequence including a plurality of steps that may be taken by a user;

at least one first sensor, in data communication with the first processor, the at least one first sensor adapted to sense information concerning the user related to the entertainment sequence;

at least one first input device adapted to receive information from the user related to the game sequence; and

a first output device in data communication with the first processor adapted to transmit a first predetermined media to the user related to the entertainment sequence;

a second entertainment unit, including a second processor, the second processor adapted to run the entertainment sequence;

at least one second sensor, in data communication with the second processor, the sensor adapted to sense information concerning the user related to the entertainment sequence; and

at least one second input device adapted to receive information from the user related to the game sequence;

a second output device in data communication with the second processor adapted to transmit a second predetermined media to the user related to the entertainment sequence; and

a parent unit, including a third processor, the parent unit having a communication link to the first and second entertainment units.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the entertainment sequence includes a game.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the parent unit further includes a data storage device arranged to store information concerning the user.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the data storage device is adapted to store a compilation of user steps taken related to the entertainment sequence.

65. The system of claim 61 wherein the parent unit further includes means for communicating user information to at least one of a product manufacturer and a product distributor.

66. The system of claim 61 wherein the at least one first sensor includes adaption to sense a proximity of the user to the first entertainment unit.

67. The system of claim 61, wherein the information from the user includes information from one of the first interactive unit and the second interactive unit.

68. The system of claim 61, wherein the predetermined media includes an information key for inputting into one of the first interactive unit and the second interactive unit.

69. The system of claim 61, wherein the parent unit includes a storage device adapted to store information concerning the user.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the information concerning the user includes a record of a position of the user in the entertainment sequence.

71. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one first sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

72. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one first sensor includes an infrared detector.

73. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one first sensor includes a pressure sensor.

74. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one sensor includes an RFID tag sensor.

75. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one first sensor includes a magnetic flux reader.

76. The system of claim 61, wherein the at least one first input device includes a speech recognition system.

77. The system of claim 61, further comprising:

a data storage device in data communication with the first processor.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the data storage device is adapted to store a voice message from the user.

79. A method for interactive information presentation, comprising:

detecting a user in proximity to a first interactive device;

soliciting a play move from the user with the first interactive device, the play move including taking at least one step from a game sequence;

receiving a response by the user with the play move; and

storing information concerning the user and information concerning the play move of the user upon a central processing unit.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

acquiring an identifying characteristic of the user.

81. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

identifying the user utilizing the identifying characteristic.

82. The method of claim 79 wherein identifying the user includes acquiring a name of the user.

83. The method of claim 79 wherein the identifying characteristic includes a pressure applied by the user to a pressure sensor.

84. The method of claim 79, wherein the receiving the response by the user is by a second interactive device.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein the second interactive device is remote from first interactive device.

86. The method of claim 79 wherein the central processing unit is remote from first interactive device.

87. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

informing the user that a game sequence is available for a game play.

88. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

rewarding the user for the play move of the user.

89. The method of claim 79 wherein storing information concerning the user includes storing a plurality of identifying characteristics of the user.

90. The method of claim 79 wherein storing information concerning the user includes storing a name of the user.

91. The method of claim 79 wherein soliciting a play move from the user includes adjusting a volume of the soliciting based upon a distance between the first interactive device and the user.

92. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

delivering a token to a user;

recognizing the token delivered to the user.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the token includes a physical object.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the delivering the token is performed by the first interactive device.

95. The method of claim 91, wherein the receiving the token is performed by a second interactive device.

96. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

delivering an information key to a user;

recognizing the information key delivered to the user.

97. The method of claim 79 wherein receiving the response by the user with the play move includes the user disclosing information verifying receipt by the user of a predetermined message.

98. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

directing the user to a second interactive device.

99. The method of claim 79 further comprising:

identifying the user.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein identifying the user includes identifying by the second interactive device utilizing an identifying characteristic of the user.

101. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

soliciting a second game move from the user with a second interactive device, the second game move including at least one step from the game sequence.

102. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

tendering a reward to the user.

103. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

transmitting the information concerning the user and information concerning the play move of the user to a remote processor.

104. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

informing the user that a game sequence is available for game playing.

105. The method of claim 79 wherein the receiving the response by the user with the play move includes recognizing the user picking up a predetermined product.

106. The method of claim 79 wherein the receiving the response by the user with the play move includes receiving an answer to a question.

107. The method of claim 79 wherein the soliciting a play move and the receiving the response by the user occur at a single location.