INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer'"'"'s use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
29 Citations
21 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A wireless toy and associated reader for enabling a game participant to access and play selected portions of an interactive game on a compatible home game console, personal computer, or hand-held game unit, said wireless toy and associated reader comprising:
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a first wireless toy configured to be used by said game participant to access and play a first portion of said interactive game, said first wireless toy comprising a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having non-volatile programmable memory storing a first selection of game-relevant information; a second wireless toy configured to be used by said game participant to access and play a second portion of said interactive game that cannot otherwise be accessed by said game participant using only said first wireless toy, said second wireless toy comprising a second RFID tag having non-volatile memory storing a second selection of game-relevant information and an encryption key and wherein said second selection of game-relevant information is different than said first selection of game-relevant information; an RFID reader comprising;
i) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with each said first and second RFID tags over a wireless communication range of less than 60 cm and to thereby ascertain said first and second selections of game-relevant information and said encryption key; and
ii) a communication interface configured to enable said RFID reader to communicate with said compatible home game console, personal computer, or hand-held game unit; andwherein said second selection of game-relevant information comprises at least one access code comprising encrypted information configured to be decrypted or authenticated using said encryption key and wherein said access code is configured, when decrypted or authenticated, to enable said game participant to access and play said second portion of said interactive game. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method utilizing one or more wireless toys for controlling access to selected portions or features of an interactive game played by a game participant on a compatible gaming device, said method comprising:
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configuring said compatible gaming device to carry out said interactive game, wherein said interactive game comprises a main game portion configured to be accessed and played by said game participant using said compatible gaming device, and one or more additional game portions or features configured to be accessed by said game participant using said compatible gaming device in combination with said one or more wireless toys; providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more compatible RFID tags over a wireless communication range of less than 60 cm; configuring said RFID reader to communicate to said compatible gaming device selected game-relevant information configured to be used by said compatible gaming device to control access to said one or more additional game portions or features; providing a first RFID-tagged toy comprising a first RFID tag having non-volatile memory storing a first selection of game-relevant information, said first selection of game-relevant information comprising an encryption-protected first access code configured to be decrypted or authenticated using a first encryption key uniquely associated with said first RFID-tagged toy, and wherein said first access code is configured, when decrypted or authenticated, to enable said game participant to access a first one of said additional game portions or features of said interactive game; and using said first RFID-tagged toy to access said first additional game portion or feature by bringing said first RFID-tagged toy within said wireless communication range of said RFID reader and thereby causing or allowing said first access code to be ascertained and communicated to said compatible gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless toy configured to be used by a game participant in combination with a wireless-compatible gaming platform for selectively accessing one or more portions or features of an interactive game, said wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to wirelessly power and provide two-way wireless communications with one or more compatible RFID tags over a limited wireless communication range of less than 60 cm, said wireless toy comprising:
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a first portable body configured to be selectively positioned by said game participant within said limited wireless communication range of said RFID tag reader, said first portable body comprising an internal cavity; a first RFID tag disposed within said internal cavity, said first RFID tag comprising;
i) an antenna configured to be wirelessly energized by said RFID tag reader by inductive coupling for wirelessly powering said first RFID tag, and ii) non-volatile memory storing a first selection of game-relevant information configured to enable said game participant to access a first one of said one or more portions or features of said interactive game;said first selection of game-relevant information comprising a first encryption-protected item of information configured to be decrypted or authenticated using an encryption key, and wherein said first encryption-protected item of information is configured, when decrypted or authenticated, to enable said game participant to access said first portion or feature of said interactive game; and said first selection of game-relevant information further comprising a first encryption key, said first encryption key configured to enable said wireless-compatible gaming platform to decrypt or authenticate said first encryption-protected item of information and to control access to said first portion or feature of said interactive game based at least in part on said first encryption-protected item of information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification