APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR EFFECTUATING MODIFICATIONS TO CHARACTERS AND/OR VIRTUAL ITEMS WITHIN A VIRTUAL SPACE RESPONSIVE TO TOKEN DETECTION

• US 20140179444A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Vignocchi, John G., Mkrtchyan, Armen, Thurman, Tracy, Yazdian, Afsoun, Kim, Jieun, Bunker, Jeffrey, Blackburn, John, Nelson, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/758,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges

Abstract

Exemplary implementations may facilitate modifications to characters and/or virtual items within a virtual space, or to the virtual space itself, made responsive to detection of a token. In some implementations, a physical accessory may depict a character in the virtual space. By way of non-limiting example, the physical accessory may include a toy figurine resembling the character. A detectable token (i.e., a physical object) may be removably attached to the physical accessory. According to some implementations, responsive to the physical accessory being detected along with the removably attached token, a modification within the virtual space may be made to the character and/or a virtual item associated with the character. In some implementations, detection of the token alone may effectuate such a modification.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to be detected using a token reader to effectuate modifications to characters within a virtual space, the apparatus comprising:

a token configured to be detected using a token reader;

wherein;

the token is detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the token;

the token is a standalone physical object;

detection of the token effectuates a modification to a first character present within the virtual space, the first character being preexisting in the virtual space prior to being modified;

the modification to the first character includes a modification to one or both of a behavior of the first character or a relationship of the first character, the modification to the behavior of the first character including a modification to how the first character acts when idle, the modification to the relationship of the character including a change in a relationship status between the first character and another character in the virtual space;

the virtual space is provided by a virtual space platform in communication with the token reader; and

virtual space content associated with the modification to the first character is stored at a location other than the token.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modification to the first character further includes a modification to an appearance of the first character.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the token is configured to be removably attached to a first physical accessory, the first physical accessory being configured to depict the first character.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the token must be attached to the first physical accessory for the modification to the first character to be effectuated in the virtual space.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the token is configured to be removably attached to a surface of the token reader.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the token has a first overall shape, the first overall shape being different from the overall shapes of other tokens configured to be detected to effectuate modifications within the virtual space that are different from the modification to the first character.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein detection of the token in combination with detection of one or more other tokens effectuates one or both of (1) another modification to the first character or (2) a modification to one or more aspects of the virtual space.

3. (canceled)

9. A system configured to detect a token to effectuate modifications to characters within a virtual space, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a space module configured to implement the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space;

a token detection module configured to detect tokens based on signals received from a token reader, a given token being a standalone physical object, the tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token; and

a virtual space modification module configured to, responsive to detection of the first token, effectuate a modification to a first character present within the virtual space, the first character being preexisting in the virtual space prior to being modified;

wherein;

the modification to the first character includes a modification to one or both of a behavior of the first character or a relationship of the first character, the modification to the behavior of the first character including a modification to how the first character acts when idle, the modification to the relationship of the character including a change in a relationship status between the first character and another character in the virtual space;

and

virtual space content associated with the modification to the first character is stored at a location other than the first token.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the modification to the first character further includes a modification to an appearance of the first character.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a virtual item repository module configured to provide a virtual item repository within the virtual space, the virtual item repository being configured to provide access by a plurality of characters to a plurality of virtual items.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first token is configured to be removably attached to a first physical accessory, the first physical accessory being configured to depict the first character, and wherein the first token must be attached to the first physical accessory for the modification to the first character to be effectuated in the virtual space.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein detection of the first token in combination with detection of one or more other tokens effectuates one or both of (1) another modification to the first character or (2) a modification to one or more aspects of the virtual space.

11. (canceled)

15. A computer-implemented method to effectuate modifications to characters within a virtual space responsive to token detection, the method being performed by one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

implementing the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space;

detecting tokens based on signals received from a token reader, a given token being a standalone physical object, the tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token; and

responsive to detection of the first token, effectuating a modification to a first character present within the virtual space, the first character being preexisting in the virtual space prior to being modified;

wherein;

the modification to the first character includes a modification to one or both of a behavior of the first character or a relationship of the first character, the modification to the behavior of the first character including a modification to how the first character acts when idle, the modification to the relationship of the character including a change in a relationship status between the first character and another character in the virtual space;

and

virtual space content associated with the modification to the first character is stored at a location other than the first token.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the modification to the first character further includes a modification to an appearance of the first character.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a virtual item repository within the virtual space, the virtual item repository being configured to provide access by a plurality of characters to a plurality of virtual items.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first token is configured to be removably attached to a first physical accessory, the first physical accessory being configured to depict the first character, and wherein the first token must be attached to the first physical accessory for the modification to the first character to be effectuated in the virtual space.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting one or more other tokens; and

responsive to detection of the first token in combination with detection of the one or more other tokens, effectuating one or both of (1) another modification to the first character or (2) a modification to one or more aspects of the virtual space.

17. (canceled)