System and method for producing custom merchandise from a virtual environment

• US 20100287065A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integral Reality Labs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Besjon Alivandi
• Inventors: Alivandi, Besjon
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for producing merchandise for a user based upon a character within a virtual environment, on request of the user, by retrieving character data representing a player character within a game and converting the character data into merchandise characteristics. Merchandise is manufactured based, at least in part, on the merchandise characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for generating merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

receiving at least one data element from a data set by at least one processor, wherein the data set contains a plurality of data elements defining attributes of an entity within a virtual environment;

translating the at least one data element into at least one merchandise characteristic by at least one processor; and

manufacturing electronic merchandise based, at least in part, on the at least one merchandise characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic merchandise is chosen from the group consisting of:

an image file, a movie file, a Web site, a video game, a computer program, and a screensaver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity comprises a character from a game conducted in the virtual environment.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one attribute of the character changes during play of the game, resulting in at least one changed data element, the method comprising:

translating the at least one changed data element into the at least one merchandise characteristic by the at least one processor; and

receiving a request for the electronic merchandise including the at least one changed data element, from a player of the game.

5. The method of claim 3, comprising receiving a request for the electronic merchandise from a second processor, the second processor being used by a player of the game to play the game.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising receiving the request for the electronic merchandise from the second processor, via a third processor, the third processor controlling the game in the virtual environment.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic merchandise comprises an interactive website including the character.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic merchandise comprises a video including the character.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic merchandise comprises a screensaver including or related to the character.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic merchandise comprises a video game for a cell phone, including or related to the character.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic merchandise comprises a translated character record configured for use in a second game system different than the first game system, the method comprising:

receiving the data elements in a first data format;

converting the data elements from the first data format to a second data format, wherein the second data format is compatible with a second game system; and

saving the character record in the second data format.

12. A system for generating merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the system comprising:

an interface to receive at least one data element from a data set, wherein the data set contains a plurality of data elements defining a character within a virtual environment; and

a processor configured to;

translate the at least one data element into at least one merchandise characteristic; and

cause manufacture of electronic merchandise based, at least in part, on the merchandise characteristic.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to cause manufacture electronic merchandise chosen from the group consisting of:

an image file, a movie file, a web site, a video game, a computer program, and a screen saver.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the entity comprises a character from a game conducted in the virtual environment.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein:

attributes of the entity change during play of the game, resulting in at least one changed data element; and

the processor is configured to;

translate at least one changed data element into the at least one merchandise characteristic.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to cause manufacture of electronic merchandise chosen from the group consisting of:

an image file, a movie file, a web site, a video game, a computer program, and a screen saver.

17. A system for generating merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the system comprising:

means for receiving at least one data element from a data set by at least one processor, wherein the data set contains a plurality of data elements defining attributes of an entity within a virtual environment;

means for translating the at least one data element into at least one merchandise characteristic by at least one processor; and

means for causing manufacture of merchandise based, at least in part, on the at least one merchandise characteristic.

18. A system for generating merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the system comprising:

an interface to receive at least one data element from a data set, wherein the data set contains a plurality of data elements defining an entity within a virtual environment; and

a processor configured to;

translate the at least one data element into at least one merchandise characteristic; and

cause manufacture of merchandise based, at least in part, on the merchandise characteristic.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a fabrication device to manufacture the merchandise.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the fabrication device is chosen from the group consisting of:

a printer, milling machinery, laser cutting machinery, water jet machinery, sewing machinery, stitching machinery, and embroidery machinery.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to manufacture electronic merchandise.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the electronic merchandise is chosen from the group consisting of:

an image file, a movie file, a web site, a video game, a computer program, and a screen saver.

23. The system claim 18, wherein:

the at least one data element has a first resolution; and

the processor is configured to translate the at least one data element into a merchandise characteristic having a second resolution different than the first resolution.

25. The system claim 18, wherein:

the processor is configured to translate the at least one data element into a merchandise characteristic by changing the texture and/or geometry of the at least one data element.

26. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a database storing templates for at least one item of merchandise;

wherein the processor is configured to;

retrieve the template for the selected item of merchandise based, at least in part, on the selected item; and

cause manufacture the item based, at least in part, on the retrieved template.

24. The system of claim 24, wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution.

27. A method for generating merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

creating a game in a virtual environment by a first processor for participation by at least one player via at least one second processor coupled to a network;

processing instructions from the at least one second processor to control an entity in the virtual environment, by the first processor;

receiving a request for an item of manufacture from the second processor by the first processor, the item of manufacture being based, at least in part, on the entity, via a network; and

forwarding the request by the first processor via a network to a third processor separate from the first and second processors, to cause manufacture of the requested item of merchandise.

28. A method for generating customized merchandise, based upon an entity within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

playing a game in a virtual environment, by a first processor;

controlling an entity in the virtual environment by a first processor, while playing the game; and

sending a request for manufacture of an item of merchandise based, at least in part, on the entity in the virtual environment by the first processor via a network, to a second processor different from the first processor, wherein the second processor causes manufacture of the item.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising:

sending the request for the item by the first processor via a website, the website forwarding the request to the second processor.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the game is created in the virtual environment by a third processor different from the first and second processor, the method comprising:

sending the request to the third processor, for sending to the second processor.