Method and system for performing affinity transactions

• US 8,253,542 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Canora, David, Worrall, David, Schwalb, Andy, Padgett, John, Jacobson, Eric, MacPhee, Jim, Rice, Kevin, Soto, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/231,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/5.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.41, 340/323.R, 235/375, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

There is provided a physical token for use in a defined venue with a server having communication with the physical token. The physical token may comprise an identification data and a transmitter configured to transmit the identification data. The physical token is configured to transmit the identification data to the server to cause the server to initiate a sensory interaction with a user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may comprise a character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may also comprise a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may further comprise an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the physical token. The physical token may represent an affinity comprising an experience, entitlement, or characteristic of the user possessing the physical token.

Claims

1. A system for use in a defined venue, the system comprising:

a server having a database;

a first physical token including;

a first identification data;

a first transmitter configured to transmit the first identification data to the server;

a second physical token including;

a second identification data;

a second transmitter configured to transmit the second identification data to the server;

wherein, the server is configured to;

receive the first identification data from the first physical token possessed by a user;

receive the second identification data from the second physical token possessed by the user;

associate the first physical token and the second physical token in the database using the first identification data and the second identification data; and

retrieve an affinity from the database, wherein the affinity is represented by an association of the first physical token and the second physical token in the database, and wherein the affinity includes an experience of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises a movie character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the server is further configured to perform the sensory interaction utilizing a venue operator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the affinity further includes an entitlement, an accomplishment, or a characteristic of the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter comprises an RFID device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first identification data comprises a unique serial number.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second physical token is attachable to the first physical token.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first physical token is a wristband.

9. A method for use by a server for a defined venue, the method comprising:

receiving a first identification data from a first physical token possessed by a user;

receiving a second identification data from a second physical token possessed by the user;

associating the first physical token and the second physical token in the database using the first identification data and the second identification data; and

retrieving an affinity from the database, wherein the affinity is represented by an association of the first physical token and the second physical token in the database, and wherein the affinity includes an experience of the user.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising initiating a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, wherein the sensory interaction comprises a movie character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising initiating a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, wherein the sensory interaction comprises a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising initiating a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, wherein the sensory interaction comprises an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising initiating a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, the sensory interaction utilizing a venue operator.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the affinity further includes an entitlement, an accomplishment, or a characteristic of the user.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first physical token comprises an RFID device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first identification data comprises a unique serial number.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the second physical token is attachable to the first physical token.

20. A server for use in a defined venue by a user possessing a first physical token including a first identification data and a first transmitter configured to transmit the first identification data to the server and a second physical token including a second identification data and a second transmitter configured to transmit the second identification data to the server, the server comprising:

a database;

the server being configured to;

receive the first identification data from the first physical token possessed by a user;

receive the second identification data from the second physical token possessed by the user;

associate the first physical token and the second physical token in the database using the first identification data and the second identification data; and

retrieve an affinity from the database, wherein the affinity is represented by an association of the first physical token and the second physical token in the database, and wherein the affinity includes an experience of the user.

21. The server of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises a movie character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

22. The server of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

23. The server of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the sensory interaction comprises an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token.

24. The server of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to initiate a sensory interaction with the user possessing the first physical token and the second physical token, and wherein the server is further configured to perform the sensory interaction utilizing a venue operator.

25. The server of claim 20, wherein the affinity further includes an entitlement, an accomplishment, or a characteristic of the user.

26. A server for use in a defined venue by a user possessing a first physical token including a first identification data and a first transmitter configured to transmit the first identification data to the server and a second physical token including a second identification data and a second transmitter configured to transmit the second identification data to the server, the server comprising:

a database;

the server being configured to;

receive the first identification data from the first physical token possessed by a user;

create a first record for a first affinity in the database in response to receiving the first identification data;

receive the second identification data from the second physical token possessed by the user;

create a second record for a second affinity in the database in response to receiving the second identification data, wherein the first record and the second record are associated in an association record in the database;

invoke or use the first affinity, in response to the user utilizing the second physical token.

27. A method for use by a server for a defined venue, the method comprising:

receiving the first identification data from the first physical token possessed by a user;

creating a first record for a first affinity in the database in response to the receiving of the first identification data;

receiving the second identification data from the second physical token possessed by the user;

creating a second record for a second affinity in the database in response to the receiving of the second identification data, wherein the first record and the second record are associated in an association record in the database;

invoking or using the first affinity, in response to the user utilizing the second physical token.

28. The server of claim 27, further comprising invoking or using the second affinity, in response to the user utilizing the second physical token.

29. The server of claim 27, further comprising invoking or using the second affinity, in response to the user utilizing the second physical token.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first affinity further includes an experience of the user.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the first affinity further includes an entitlement, an accomplishment, or a characteristic of the user.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising invoking or using the second affinity, in response to the user utilizing the first physical token.

33. The method of claim 29 further comprising invoking or using the second affinity, in response to the user utilizing the second physical token.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the first affinity further includes an experience of the user.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the first affinity further includes an entitlement, an accomplishment, or a characteristic of the user.