SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION AND MARKETING

• US 20110092128A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/72
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, system and toy that provides a product that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the product. The product has a registration code associated with it. Data associated with the product is electronically stored in the product using an electronic storage medium. A user is registered on the website by associating the user with a user ID. The user ID is associated with the virtual replica of the product by utilizing the registration code. Access is granted to one or more features on the website in connection with the virtual replica of the product subsequent to input and validation of the registration code via the user ID without requiring additional entry of the registration code.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a toy body having an appearance resembling an animate object;

an electronic storage device coupled to said toy body, said electronic storage device storing registration data that is useable for automatically registering said toy on a computer server that is separate from said toy; and

a communication part coupled to obtain data that is stored in said storage device, and operative to communicate said data over a communication network when coupled to the communication network;

said electronic storage device storing information that is communicated using said communication part, and including said registration data that is operative for connecting over the communication network and automatically registering said toy on the computer server.

2. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said communication part is a USB communication part.

3. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said registration data is a unique code that is uniquely indicative of a single toy.

4. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said communication part is coupled to said communication network via a user computer.