Toy with memory and USB Ports

• US 20090137323A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tools Inc.
• Original Assignee: John D. Fiegener
• Inventors: Lohring, Chris, Tinstman, Michael David, Fiegener, John Darin, Armstrong, Daniel Richard, Liteplo, William Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

A system and method for a toy with memory (flash memory) storage capabilities and a method for the toy to connect to other like toys and to a computer and he internet for online virtual play and simulation. Connection to a computer system allows the user the ability connect to the internet and register the toy allowing the user access to interact with a virtual activities and scenarios including a virtual computer image and animation of the toy connected to a computer which is connected to the Internet. User may also purchase or win a USB (Universal Serial Bus) node or dongle with codes that attach to the USB connection on the toy to allow access to special rooms and events in the virtual world on the website. The status of the game is saved back to the memory storage in the toy.

Claims

1. A system and device comprising:

a toy with memory storage capabilities and a connection means for the toy to connect to other like toys and to a user computer and the internet for online virtual play and simulation with nodes and dongles that connect to the toy for access to special environments in the virtual world or unlock special traits in the characters with allowing advertising and promotional activity stored inside of the memory, with the linking of characters to increase capabilities by pairing traits of the characters, and interacting with virtual marketplace and virtual travel.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the virtual world data served to the user computer is served through a browser application being executing on the user computer and capable of displaying web pages using html when the toy is connected to the user'"'"'s computer.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein one the communication network is the Internet.

4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the user computer.

5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the plurality of activities include game play, content creation, virtually role playing with the virtual toy and participating in the virtual society with the virtual toy;

including content creation, currency acquisition, virtual home and furniture purchase, virtual travel, virtual store for selling virtual content created.

6. The toy of claim 4, wherein the plurality of activities include playing with the virtual toy along with additional virtual toys registered by other users in the virtual world. Interacting with other like user'"'"'s that would include game play and virtual social activities such as selling of content in virtual stores, currency exchange.

7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the plurality of activities include playing with the virtual toy along with an additional virtual toys representing additional toys registered by the additional users.

8. The toy of claim 4, wherein the plurality of activities include one or more of the following activities:

Selecting a virtual location for the toy to live, in the virtual world;

Playing of virtual games;

Virtually purchasing virtual homes and virtual furnishings;

Using virtual currency to purchase items in the virtual world;

Playing games with multiple toys connected to allow enhanced play by combining characteristics of each toy;

Virtually purchasing virtual food for the virtual toy using the virtual currency;

Virtually feeding the virtual toy;

Playing with the virtual toy;

Playing with the virtual toy along with additional users in the virtual world who are represented as virtual toys;

or

Communicating with the additional user using the user computer to communicate to others in the virtual world.

9. The toy of claim 6, wherein the virtual toy virtually participates in one or more of the activities in the virtual world via the interactions.

10. The toy of claim 8, wherein the plurality of activities include multiple toy game play by connecting two or more twos for combined characteristics and combined traits for grouped play.

11. The toy of claim 8, wherein the plurality of activities include virtually purchasing virtual furnishings for a virtual home in the virtual world using virtual currency.

12. The toy of claim 11, wherein the plurality of activities include virtually furnishing the virtual home in the virtual world using the virtual furnishings.

13. The toy of claim 9 includes choosing a virtual location in the virtual world in which the virtual avatar of the toy would live.

14. The toy of claim 8, wherein the plurality of activities includes caring for and maintaining the users toy avatar or multiple avatars.

15. The toy of claim 8, wherein the plurality of activities can be performed by linking two or more toys together to create a group of toys for such activities.

16. The toy of claim 1, wherein said toy has pre programmed characteristics loaded into a mass storage device located in the toy.

23. The toy of claim 1 where the node is electronically activated and the electronic key can be read when connected to the USB appendage on the toy and the other appendage USB port is connected to the user computer.

24. The toy of claim 23 where the key registers with the web location when connected to the toy that is connected to the user computer that is connected to the internet.

25. The toy of claim 24 when connected would allow access to special virtual locations, rooms, events or promotions inside the virtual location.

26. The toy of claim 25 where said node would be purchased separately by the user at retail locations or distributed as promotional accessories.

17. The toy as in 15 where toys are linked together by USB connection located at the end of an appendage.

18. The toy as in 17 where the USB port located at the appendage is either male or female.

19. The toy of claim 18 where a single toy will have both male and female USB connections to allow the linking of multiple toys and to link to the user computer.

20. The toy as in 19 where nodes can be attached to the USB located at the end of the appendage that would allow for static electronic key to be stored.

21. The node of claim 20 is a static electronic key that stores a simple electronic code that is activated when the node is connected to the toy appendage and the toy is connected to the user computer.

22. A toy as in 1 where the toy receives electrical current when plugged into the user computer.

27. A device comprising a mass storage (memory) device in the shape of a plush toy.

28. The toy of claim 27, wherein having a registration code that is pre loaded in the memory of the mass storage in said toy, and wherein said registration code is registered when the user connects the USB connector on the toy to a user computer, said registration code is read into the user'"'"'s computer, and then said user computer submits the registration code to the internet location via the communication network.

29. The toy of claim 27, wherein the virtual location comprises:

of a server subsystem for serving virtual world data to the user computer for presenting the virtual world, and for receiving said registration code transmitted from the toy through the user'"'"'s computer via the communication network,

a storage subsystem for storing data relating to the content creation and or user generated content a storage subsystem for storing a data backup of the data located on the mass storage device located in the toy, and

a registration subsystem for reading registration located in the mass storage device in the toy when the toy is connected to the user'"'"'s computer and therefore to the internet and the virtual location.

30. The toy of claim 27, wherein the virtual toy avatar participates in one or more of the plurality of activities in the virtual world via the interactions.

31. A toy for utilizing an entertainment system for providing a virtual world for entertainment of a user of said toy, said toy comprising:

a toy body having a plush soft exterior with hard plastic components, having electronic housings and USB connection located inside of the plush body, having both male and female USB connections located at the end of an appendage on the toy with a mass storage (memory) device inside of the toy with a mass storage (memory) device with a registration code stored within the memory to allow for connection the entertainment system that uses said registration code to register and verify said toy, and wherein a toy with USB connections for connecting to a computer and therefore connecting to the internet and a mass storage to allow for storage of content that is created with entertainment system, with content being the creation of virtual objects;

such as artwork, music, pictures, saved games and game positions, digital books and stories, avatar locations, avatar clothing, avatar currency;

with a virtual world to the user via a user computer connected to a the internet, and further wherein the virtual world includes a virtual toy avatar representing the said toy; and

nodes that connect to the USB connections on the toy to allow digital keys for access in to special areas in the virtual world.