Real-world items unlocking virtual items online and in video games

• US 20110105220A1
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Hill, Greg, Harwood, Mark, Meyer, Stephanie
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for providing access to a virtual object corresponding to a real object. There is provided a method comprising authenticating a user account for a networked application, confirming a validity of a user provided code, wherein the code is visible on the real object or on accompanying materials of the real object, and granting the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity. As a result, users are enabled to enjoy interactions with real objects as well as corresponding virtual objects both in an offline video game context and in an online network application context.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a virtual object corresponding to a real object, the method comprising:

authenticating a user account for a networked application;

confirming a validity of a code, wherein the code is visible on the real object or on accompanying materials of the real object; and

granting the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the networked application to show the virtual object on a display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to confirming the validity of the code the method further comprises:

receiving the code from a user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual object corresponds to the real object by comprising, in the networked application, a visual replica of the real object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is visible on the real object by being printed on the real object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is visible on the accompanying materials by being printed on the accompanying materials.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accompanying materials comprise retail packaging of the real object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a string of numeric digits.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a string of alphanumeric digits.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a bar code.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the real object comprises a piece of clothing, and wherein the virtual object comprises the same piece of clothing wearable by an avatar of the user account in the networked application.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the networked application comprises a persistently online social networking application.

13. A server for providing access to a virtual object corresponding to a real object, the server comprising:

a processor configured to;

authenticate a user account for a networked application;

confirm a validity of a code, wherein the code is visible on the real object or on accompanying materials of the real object; and

grant the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein prior to confirming the validity of the code the processor is further configured to:

receive the code from a user input.

15. The server of claim 13, wherein the virtual object corresponds to the real object by comprising, in the networked application, a visual replica of the real object.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the code is visible on the real object by being printed on the real object.

17. The server of claim 13, wherein the code is visible on the accompanying materials by being printed on the accompanying materials.

18. The server of claim 13, wherein the accompanying materials comprise retail packaging of the real object.

19. The server of claim 13, wherein the real object comprises a piece of clothing, and wherein the virtual object comprises the same piece of clothing wearable by an avatar of the user account in the networked application.

20. The server of claim 13, wherein the networked application comprises a persistently online social networking application.