System and method for interactive, multimedia entertainment, education or other experience, and revenue generation therefrom

• US 7,225,233 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James R. Fenton
• Original Assignee: James R. Fenton
• Inventors: Fenton, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Paul H.
• Application Number:
  US09/677,936
• Time in Patent Office: 2,429 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/205, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/207, 709/217, 709/227, 706/46, 706/11, 463/42, 707/8, 705/35, 345/473
• US Class Current: 709/207
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/537 for exchanging game data using a messaging service, e.g. e-mail, SMS, MMS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A system and method provide a story line with which a participant may interact using various forms of media. Mechanisms to generate revenue in connection with the participating with the story line are also provided.

Claims

1. A system wherein a participant interacts with an evolving story line that evolves through firing a series of story line triggers and that includes at least one virtual character, comprising:

a system manager including memory and a processing unit, the system manager containing information about the firing of story line triggers and about at least one virtual character in the evolving story line, and being connected to at least one form of media and at least one participant;

a message from a virtual character in the evolving story line sent by the system manager to the participant that conveys information of the story line;

a timer that;

defines an amount of time for the participant to open the message after which a story line trigger fires,

defines an amount of time for the participant to reply to the message after the message has been opened, after which a story line trigger fires,

defines an amount of time after a story line trigger is fired for a subsequent message from the same or a different virtual character to be sent to the participant;

wherein at least some story line triggers are fired based on a participant opening a message or on a response received by the system manager from the participant and wherein the story line evolves based on the firing of story line triggers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the message is an e-mail.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the message includes a hyperlink that reflects a possible response by the participant.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the participant is directed to the web page by clicking on the hyperlink.

5. A system for providing an interactive story line that evolves through firing a series of story line triggers and having a plurality of routes, wherein a participant assumes the role of a character in the story line, interacts with one or more virtual characters that are part of the story line and affects the progress of the story line, the system comprising:

a system manager that stores information about the about story line, including information about the firing of story line triggers and about the one or more virtual characters;

a message from a virtual character sent by the system manager to the participant that seeks a response by the participant; and

a timer that;

defines an amount of time for the participant to open the message after which a story line trigger fires,

defines an amount of time for the participant to reply to the message after the message has been opened, after which a story line trigger fires,

defines an amount of time after a story line trigger is fired for a subsequent message from the same or a different virtual character to be sent to the participant;

wherein at least some story line triggers are fired based on a participant opening a message or on a response received by the system manager from the participant and wherein the story line evolves based on the firing of story line triggers.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a subsequent message from the same or a different virtual character sent by the system manager to the participant that has content depending on the participant'"'"'s response and that seeks a subsequent response by the participant; and

wherein the system manager further progresses the story line along a route based on the participant'"'"'s subsequent response.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

additional subsequent messages from the one or more virtual characters sent by the system manager to the participant that have content depending on the participant'"'"'s prior responses and that seek subsequent responses by the participant; and

wherein the system manager further progresses the story line along a route to the story line'"'"'s interim or final conclusion based on the participant'"'"'s additional subsequent responses.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the message is in the form of an e-mail, video mail, voice mail, instant message, fax or phone message.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the message is in the form of an e-mail containing a hyperlink to a web page, and the participant visits the web page to obtain information about the story line.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the web page includes a textual, video, graphical or audio description of another character in the story line.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the web page contains information regarding actual events occurring in reality and fictional information that describes the story line.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the message is personalized by indicating the participant'"'"'s real-life name or the participant'"'"'s real-life address.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the system administrator includes a server.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the message and response between the system manager and participant are exchanged over the Internet.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the message and response between the system manager and participant are exchanged using wireless communication.

16. The system of claim 5 wherein the story line is educational, erotic, historical or involves espionage.

17. The system of claim 5 wherein the role of the character in the story line assumed by the participant is the participant'"'"'s real-life identity.

18. A method for providing an interactive story line that progresses through firing a series of story line triggers and having a plurality of routes and one or more virtual characters, wherein a participant assumes the role of a character in the story line, interacts with one or more virtual characters in the story line and affects the progress of the story line, the method comprising:

storing information about the story line, including information about the firing of story line triggers and about one or more virtual characters;

sending a message from a virtual character to the participant that seeks a response by the participant;

defining an amount of time for the participant to open the message after which a story line trigger fires,

defining an amount of time for the participant to reply to the message after the message has been opened, after which a story line trigger fires,

defining an amount of time after a story line trigger is fired for a subsequent message from the same or a different virtual character to be sent to the participant;

wherein at least some story line triggers are fired based on a participant opening a message or on a response received by the system manager from the participant and wherein the story line is progressed along a route based on the firing of story line triggers.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending a subsequent message from the same or a different virtual character to the participant that contains content depending on the participant'"'"'s response and that seeks a subsequent response by the participant;

receiving a subsequent response by the participant that represents how the participant'"'"'s character interacts with the content contained in the subsequent message; and

further progressing the story line along a route based on the participant'"'"'s subsequent response.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sending the message comprises sending an e-mail, video mail, voice mail, instant message, fax or phone message.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is in the form of an e-mail containing a hyperlink to a web page, and the participant visits the web page to obtain information about the story line.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the web page includes a textual, video, graphical or audio description of another character in the story line.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the web page contains information regarding actual events occurring in reality and fictional information that describes the story line.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is personalized by indicating the participant'"'"'s real-life name or the participant'"'"'s real-life address.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the information about the story line is stored on a server.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the message and response are exchanged over the Internet.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the message and response are exchanged using wireless communication.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the story line is educational, erotic, historical or involves espionage.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the role of the character in the story line assumed by the participant is the participant'"'"'s real-life identity.