INTERACTIVE ACTION FIGURES FOR GAMING SCHEMES
First Claim
1. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- registering a first product in response to a primary access code being entered on a computer, the primary access code being associated with the first product;
responsive to registering the first product, creating an identity for a character for use in the computer activity;
further responsive to registering the first product, providing content for displaying a visual representation of the character in the computer activity, the visual representation of the character corresponding to the first product;
registering a second product on the computer in response to a secondary access code being entered on a computer, the secondary access code being associated with the second product; and
responsive to registering the second product, providing an enhancement that is stored in association with the identity of the character for future use in the computer activity without requiring the secondary access code to be entered again.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the internet and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may “log onto” the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules. The game character'"'"'s traits, powers, and other features may be enhanced or otherwise modified by purchasing preferably-three-dimensional accessories and inputting serial numbers into the gaming system that are also supplied with the accessories.
215 Citations
395 Claims
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1. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first product in response to a primary access code being entered on a computer, the primary access code being associated with the first product; responsive to registering the first product, creating an identity for a character for use in the computer activity; further responsive to registering the first product, providing content for displaying a visual representation of the character in the computer activity, the visual representation of the character corresponding to the first product; registering a second product on the computer in response to a secondary access code being entered on a computer, the secondary access code being associated with the second product; and responsive to registering the second product, providing an enhancement that is stored in association with the identity of the character for future use in the computer activity without requiring the secondary access code to be entered again. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first product in response to a primary access code being entered on a computer, the primary access code being associated with the first product; responsive to registering the first product, associating an identity for a character with a user account for use in the computer activity; further responsive to registering the first product, providing content for displaying a visual representation of the character in the computer activity, the visual representation of the character corresponding to the first product; registering a second product on the computer in response to a secondary access code being entered on a computer, the secondary access code being associated with the second product; and responsive to registering the second product, providing an enhancement that is stored in association with the user account for future use in the computer activity without requiring the secondary access code to be entered again. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first tangible product on a computer, said registering including accepting information manually input into the computer by the user; responsive to registering the first product, providing an item for display in said computer activity, said item visually corresponding to said first product; registering a second tangible product on said computer; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first tangible product on a computer, said registering including accepting a first human readable code input into the computer by the user; responsive to registering the first product, providing an item for display in said computer activity, said item visually corresponding to said first product; registering a second product on said computer; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first product on a computer, said registering including accepting a first human readable code manually input into the computer by the user; responsive to registering the first product, providing an item for display in said computer activity, said item visually corresponding to said first product; registering a tangible product on said computer, said registering including accepting a second human readable code manually input into the computer by the user; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 212)
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56. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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accepting a first human readable access code provided with a toy and manually input by the user; registering the toy using the first access code input by the user; responsive to registering the toy, providing a character in said computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy; registering an accessory to said toy using a second access code provided with said accessory; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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accepting a first human readable access code provided with a first tangible product and manually input by the user; registering the first tangible product using the first access code input by the user; responsive to registering the first tangible product, providing an image in said computer activity, said image substantially resembling said first tangible product; registering an accessory to said first tangible product using a second access code provided with said accessory; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said image in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a toy with a unique first access code; providing an accessory with a unique second access code, wherein said accessory is an accessory to said toy; registering said toy on a server connected to a network using said first access code; responsive to registering said toy, providing a character in a computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated based on a command received by said server; registering the accessory on said server using said second access code; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81)
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82. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a tangible product with a unique first access code; providing an accessory with a unique second access code, wherein said accessory is an accessory to said product; registering said product on a server connected to a network using said first access code; responsive to registering said product, providing an image in said computer activity, said image substantially resembling said product, wherein said image is provided such that it can be animated in said computer activity based on a command received by said server; registering the accessory on said server using said second access code; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said image in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85)
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86. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a toy with a unique first access code; providing an accessory with a unique second access code, wherein said accessory is an accessory to said toy; registering said toy on a server connected to a network using said first access code; responsive to registering said toy, providing a character in said computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated based on a command received by said server; registering the accessory on said server using said second access code; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89)
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90. A method for providing a computer activity on a computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first product on a computer, wherein the first product belongs to a first class of products; responsive to registering the first product, providing a first item in said computer activity; registering a second product on said computer, wherein the second product belongs to a second class of products different than the first class of products; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said first item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A method for providing a computer activity on a computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first tangible product on a computer using a human readable code provided with said first product, wherein the first product belongs to a first class of tangible products; responsive to registering the first product, providing a first item in said computer activity; registering a second product on said computer, wherein the second product belongs to a second class of products different than the first class of products; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said first item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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108. A method for providing a computer activity on a computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a first tangible product on a computer using a human readable code provided with said first product, wherein the first product belongs to a first class of tangible products; responsive to registering the first product, providing a first item in said computer activity, said first item visually corresponding to said first tangible product; registering a second product on said computer, wherein the second product belongs to a second class of products different than the first class of products; and responsive to registering the second product, enhancing said first item in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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117. A method of providing a virtual environment including a computer activity, said method comprising:
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a server receiving a transmission of first registration information over a network to register a first product; responsive to registering the first product said server serving content to be transmitted over the network for displaying a virtual representation of the first product; said server receiving a transmission of second registration information over the network to register a second product; responsive to registering the second product, said server serving additional content for enhancing virtual representation of the first product. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124)
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125. A method of providing a virtual environment including a computer activity, said method comprising:
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a server receiving a transmission of first registration information over a network to register a tangible first product; responsive to registering the first product, said server serving content to be transmitted over the network for displaying a virtual representation of the first product; said server receiving a transmission of second registration information over the network to register a second product; responsive to registering the second product, said server serving additional content for enhancing said virtual representation of the first product. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132)
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133. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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registering a toy on said server by accepting a first unique access code provided with the toy; responsive to registering said toy, said server providing content including a character in said computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated based on a command received by the server; registering an accessory on said server using a second access code provided with the accessory, wherein said accessory is an accessory to the toy; responsive to registering the accessory, said server providing further content including an image to the computing device in said computer activity, wherein said image substantially resembles said accessory; and further responsive to registering the accessory, the server modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (134, 135, 136)
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137. A method for providing a computer activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a toy with a unique first access code that is initially hidden from view; providing an accessory with a unique second access code that is initially hidden from view, wherein said accessory is different than said toy; registering said toy on said computing device using said first access code; responsive to registering said toy, providing a character in said computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated based on a command received by said computing device; registering the accessory on said computing device using said second access code; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (138, 139)
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140. A method for providing a computer activity to a user using a computing device, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an accessory with a unique second access code that is initially hidden from view, wherein said accessory is different than said toy; registering a toy on said computing device using a unique human readable first access code provided with the toy initially hidden from view; responsive to registering said toy, providing a character in said computer activity, said character substantially resembling said toy, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated based on a command received by said computing device; registering an accessory on said computing device using a second unique human readable access code provided with the accessory initially hidden from view; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of said character in said computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (141)
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142. A method of providing a game on a computing device, said method comprising:
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providing an action figure with a unique first access code that is initially hidden from view; providing an accessory with a unique second access code that is initially hidden from view; registering said action figure on said computing device using said first access code; responsive to registering said action figure, providing a character for participating in said game, said character substantially resembling said action figure, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated by the user in said game using said computing device; registering the accessory on said computing device using said second access code; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying a characteristic of the character in said game. - View Dependent Claims (143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151)
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152. A method of providing a game on a computing device, said method comprising:
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registering a tangible action figure on said computing device using a unique human readable first access code provided with the action figure that is initially hidden from view; responsive to registering said action figure, providing a character for participating in said game, said character substantially resembling said action figure, wherein said character is provided such that it can be animated by the user in said game using said computing device and further wherein said character is provided with traits that impact a performance of the character in the game; registering an accessory on said computing device using a unique human readable second access code provided with the accessory that is initially hidden from view; and responsive to registering the accessory, modifying an appearance of said character, and also modifying at least one of said traits of said character in said game.
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153. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising:
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receiving a code corresponding to a first product responsive to said code being entered on a computer; responsive to receiving the code, causing a virtual item to be displayed in said computer activity, said virtual item corresponding to said first product; receiving another code corresponding to a second product responsive to said another code being entered into said computer; responsive to receiving the another code, affiliating enhancement information corresponding to the second product with the virtual item in the computer activity and enhancing said virtual item in said computer activity based on said enhancement information; and saving said enhancement information affiliated with said virtual item to be subsequently retrieved for future use in the computer activity. - View Dependent Claims (154, 155)
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156. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising:
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receiving a code entered into a computer, said code corresponding to a toy comprising body parts that make the toy identifiable; responsive to receiving the code, causing a virtual character that visually corresponds to the toy to be displayed in said computer activity; receiving another code entered into said computer, said another code corresponding to an accessory for the toy; and responsive to receiving the another code, affiliating enhancement information corresponding to the accessory with the virtual character in the computer activity and enhancing said virtual character in said computer activity based on said enhancement information. - View Dependent Claims (157, 158)
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159. A method for providing a computer activity to a user, said method comprising:
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receiving an access code corresponding to a toy over a communication network during registration of the toy; responsive to receiving the code, transmitting content over the communication network to display a virtual character that visually corresponds to the toy in said computer activity; receiving another access code over the communication network, said another code corresponding to an accessory for the toy; and responsive to receiving the another code, transmitting enhancement information corresponding to the accessory over the communication network to enhance said virtual character in said computer activity based on said enhancement information. - View Dependent Claims (160, 161)
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162. A system comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure associated with a first access code; a computer system, including an interface that allows entering said first access code, and responsive to receiving said first access code, providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and controlling interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and an accessory for the likeness of the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a second access code; wherein said interface of said computer system also allows entry of said second access code, and responsive to entry of said second access code, and said computer system provides information indicative of said accessory responsive to said entry of said second access code, said information indicative of said accessory being associated with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure. - View Dependent Claims (163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190)
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191. A method comprising:
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associating a three-dimensional figure with a first access code; allowing said first access code to be entered into a computer system; responsive to receiving said first access code, using the computer system for providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure on a display associated with said computer system, and interacting with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and receiving a second access code in the computer system; and responsive to receiving said second access code, providing an accessory for said likeness, associated with said likeness, in said computer system, and said likeness is modified by said accessory. - View Dependent Claims (192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211)
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213. A combination comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure associated with a first alphanumeric access code; a computer system, including an interface that allows entering said first alphanumeric access code, and responsive to receiving said first alphanumeric access code, providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and a three-dimensional accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional accessory usable with the three-dimensional figure, and said three-dimensional accessory associated with a second alphanumeric access code; wherein said computer system also allows entry of said second alphanumeric access code, and responsive to entry of said second alphanumeric access code, provides a virtual representation of said three-dimensional accessory associated with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure in a way that allows interaction with both said likeness of said three-dimensional figure and said virtual representation of said three-dimensional accessory, and where said likeness of said three dimensional figure is modified by said virtual representation of said accessory. - View Dependent Claims (214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221)
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222. A system comprising:
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a computer system, including an interface that allows entering a first access code that is associated with a three-dimensional figure, and responsive to receiving said first access code, said computer system providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and said computer system allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system, and said likeness having a first characteristic on the computer system; and said computer system accepting a second access code, different than the first access code, and responsive to said accepting, changing said first characteristic of said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236)
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237. A combination comprising:
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a computer system, including an interface that allows accepting a first access code, and responsive to receiving said first access code, providing a likeness of a three-dimensional figure, and allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system, and also accepting a second access code associated with the three-dimensional figure, said second access code changing a way that said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on said computer system reacts to said interaction; and a physically viewable item, representative of said second access code, said item representing an indication of the way in which a behavior of the likeness of the three-dimensional figure is changed. - View Dependent Claims (238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257)
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258. A combination comprising:
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a tangible figure, having a first access code physically associated with said tangible figure; a computer system, including an interface that allows entering said first access code, and responsive to receiving said first access code, providing a likeness of the tangible figure, and allowing interaction with said likeness of the tangible figure on the computer system; and a tangible accessory for the tangible figure, said tangible accessory physically associated with a second access code; wherein said computer system also allows entry of said second access code, and responsive to entry of said second access code, provides information indicative of said tangible accessory as associated with said likeness of said tangible figure. - View Dependent Claims (259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 359)
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267. A system comprising:
a computer system, including an interface that allows accepting a first alphanumeric access code and responsive to receiving said first alphanumeric access code, providing a likeness of a three-dimensional figure prior to an expiration, and allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system prior to said expiration and preventing said interaction after said expiration, and also accepting a second alphanumeric access code associated with the three-dimensional figure, said second alphanumeric access code extending said expiration. - View Dependent Claims (268, 269)
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270. A method comprising:
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selling a three-dimensional figure associated with a first alphanumeric access code; accepting entry of said first alphanumeric access code, and responsive to receiving said first alphanumeric access code, providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure on a computer system, and allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer-based system; selling an accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory usable with the three-dimensional figure, and said accessory associated with a second alphanumeric access code; and accepting entry of said second alphanumeric access code, and responsive to entry of said second alphanumeric access code, providing a virtual representation of said accessory associated with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure in a way that allows interaction with both said likeness of said three-dimensional figure and said accessory. - View Dependent Claims (271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277)
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278. A method comprising:
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accepting entry of a first access code on a computer system, where said first access code is associated with a three-dimensional figure; responsive to receiving said first access code, providing a likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; using the computer system for allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system, where said likeness has a first characteristic on the computer system; accepting a second access code on the computer system, different than the first access code; and responsive to said accepting the second access code, changing said first characteristic of said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285)
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286. A method comprising:
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accepting a first access code on a computer system; providing a likeness of a three-dimensional figure on the computer system responsive to accepting the first access code on the computer system; allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; accepting a second access code associated with the likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system, said second access code changing a way that said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on said computer system reacts to said interaction; and using an item for representing an indication of the way in which a behavior of the three-dimensional figure is changed by said second access code. - View Dependent Claims (287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300)
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301. A method comprising:
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accepting a first alphanumeric access code; taking an action based on said first alphanumeric access code, said action having an expiration; responsive to receiving said first alphanumeric access code and prior to said expiration, providing a likeness of a three-dimensional figure, on a computer system; allowing interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system prior to said expiration and preventing said interaction after said expiration; and accepting a second alphanumeric access code associated with the three-dimensional figure, and extending said expiration based on said second alphanumeric access code. - View Dependent Claims (302, 303)
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304. A system comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure associated with a first access code; a computer system, including an interface that accepts said first access code, and responsive to receiving said first access code, producing an output that displays a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and controlling interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system, where the computer system prevents said interaction with said likeness on said computer system by the user prior to said first access code being entered; and an accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a second access code; wherein said computer system also accepts entry of said second access code, and responsive to entry of said second access code provides information indicative of said accessory that modifies the interaction with said likeness of said three dimensional figure. - View Dependent Claims (305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330)
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331. A system comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure associated with a first access code; a computer system, including an interface that allows a user taking an action to enter said first access code, and recognizes said access responsive to receiving said first access code, producing an output that displays a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and controlling interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and a first accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a second access code; a second accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a third access code; wherein said computer system also allows entry of said second and third access codes, and responsive to entry of said second and third access codes, provides information indicative of said first and second accessories, said information being viewed as connected with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure but said information of said first accessory not being connected to information indicative of said second accessory. - View Dependent Claims (332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342)
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343. A system comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure having a physical packaging that includes a first access code; a computer system, including an interface that allows a user taking an action to enter said first access code, and recognizes said access responsive to receiving said first access code, producing an output that displays a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and controlling interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and an accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a second access code; wherein said computer system also allows entry of said second access code, and responsive to entry of said second access code, provides information indicative of said accessory, said information being associated with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure. - View Dependent Claims (344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368)
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369. A system comprising:
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a three-dimensional figure, said three-dimensional figure associated with a first access code; a computer system, including an interface that allows a receiving said first access code, and recognizes said access responsive to receiving said first access code, producing an output that displays a likeness of the three-dimensional figure, and controlling interaction with said likeness of the three-dimensional figure on the computer system; and an accessory for the three-dimensional figure, said accessory associated with a second access code; wherein said computer system also allows entry of said second access code, and responsive to entry of said second access code, provides information indicative of said accessory, said information being associated with said likeness of said three-dimensional figure; and wherein at least one of said first and second access codes is stored by said computer system in a user account. - View Dependent Claims (370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395)
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Specification