CHARACTER TRADING METHOD

• US 20080275789A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GANZ An Ontario Partnership Consisting of SH GANZ Holdings Incorporated and 816877 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: GANZ An Ontario Partnership Consisting of SH GANZ Holdings Incorporated and 816877 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard, Borst, Karl Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of the character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by user preferences. The characters can be manipulated within the virtual environment. In particular, the characters can be trained in order to improve their skills, to add new skills, and to increase their overall value and worth in the virtual environment. In addition, the characters can be traded among users for a price based on their skills. Fees can be charged for each trade. Traded characters are given a new code to transfer all control of the character to the new owner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

allowing a first user to register a character using registration information;

based on said registration information, allowing access to information indicative of the character on a website, which information represents said character, said character having plural initial attributes based on said allowing, each of said initial attributes can be changed by the first user through interaction with the character on the website to form a personalized version of the character that has different attributes than said initial attributes; and

using said website, allowing the first user to transfer the character including all of its changed characteristics, from the first user to a second user, while allowing the first user to continue to access said website but preventing said first user from interacting with said character after said transfer.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said transfer includes listing the character for sale, and responsive to said listing, preventing changes to the character by the first user.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said transfer includes listing the character for sale, and responsive to said listing, preventing access to the character by the first user.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising maintaining a database of characteristics of characters on the website, and providing an estimated value of the character to the first user.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said registration information comprises a unique code, and further comprising deactivating the unique code after the character is transferred to said second user, and providing a second new unique code to the second user.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said interacting comprises training the character to increase values of said attributes.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said initial attributes are levels and are represented by numerical values that can be increased by certain actions that the user takes with the character.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising allowing the first user to register certain auxiliary items that are associated with the character, wherein said transferring comprises transferring both the character and said auxiliary items.

9. A method as in claim 6, wherein different ones of attribute levels have different rates of increase.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising requiring at least the first user to pay a fee for said transfer.

11. A method, comprising:

first allowing a first user to access a website and to interact with at least one character on said website;

second allowing the first user to register a second character using a unique code that is associated with the second character, where the unique code is uniquely identified with a specific character, and where use of the unique code causes information indicative of the second character to be obtained from a database, and associated with a registration, and allows the first user to interact with said second character on the website, and to customize said second character by interacting with the second character; and

third allowing the first user to transfer the second character to a second user, where said transfer comprises deactivating the unique code to prevent the first user from accessing the second character, providing a new unique code to the second user which allows the second user to access the second character as customized by the first user on the website, and allowing the first user to continue to access said at least one character on said website.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising, charging a fee for said third allowing.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said third allowing comprises listing the character for sale, and responsive to said listing, preventing the first user from interacting with the second character.

14. A method as in claim 11, further comprising maintaining a database of characteristics of characters on the website, and providing an estimated value of the second character as customized, to the first user.

15. A method as in claim 11, wherein said interacting comprises training the character to increase values associated with said character, said values each associated with an attribute of said character.

16. A method as in claim 11, wherein said information includes initial attributes associated with said second character, said initial attributes including levels that are represented by numerical values that can be increased by certain actions that the user takes to interact with the second character.

17. A method as in claim 11, further comprising allowing the first user to register certain auxiliary items that are associated with the second character, wherein said transferring comprises transferring both the second character and said auxiliary items.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein different ones of attribute levels have different rates of increase.

19. A method, comprising:

on a website, allowing a user access to features of the website, and allowing the user to access specified characters on the website;

accepting registration information for an additional specified character on the website, and responsive to said additional registration information, allowing the user to access said additional specified character on said website, said additional registration information causing the website to access personalization information about the additional specified character, including initial attributes possessed by the additional specified character;

allowing the user to personalize the additional specified character, by changing plural of said attributes through interaction with the additional specified character on the website; and

using a function on the website, allowing the user to sell a personalized version of the additional specified character as personalized via said changing of said plural attributes, to another user.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein said function includes listing the character for sale, and responsive to said listing, preventing changes to the character by the user.

21. A method as in claim 19, further comprising maintaining a database of characteristics and selling prices for characters on the website, and providing an estimated value of the character to the user based on said database.

22. A method as in claim 19, wherein said registration information comprises a unique code, and further comprising deactivating the unique code after the character is transferred to said another user, and providing a second new unique code to said another user.

23. A method as in claim 19, wherein said interacting comprises training the character to increase values of said attributes.

24. A method as in claim 19, wherein said initial attributes are levels are represented by numerical values that can be increased by certain actions that the user takes with the character.

25. A method as in claim 19, further comprising allowing the first user to register certain auxiliary items that are associated with the character, wherein said transferring comprises transferring both the character and said auxiliary items.

26. A method as in claim 23, wherein different attribute levels have different rates of increase.

27. A method, comprising:

accepting registration information for a character to be accessed on a website, said registration information identifying the character to be accessed;

reading from a database, information about each of a plurality of different attributes that are associated with the character to be accessed and a total number of points to be used in associating with said attributes;

allowing a user to allocate said plurality of total points between the different attributes, so that a total of the number of different attributes does not exceed said total points, wherein each of the different attributes are allocated a same or different amount of points; and

allowing the user to interact with the character on the website, based on said attributes.