Method for using unique codes to trade virtual characters

• US 8,401,912 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard, Borst, Karl Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US13/104,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20110213682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/26.5, 705/26.61, 705/27.1, 705/50, 705/58, 705/56
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• 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 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code. Once registered, a set of attributes can be assigned to the character based on the type and class of the character. Attribute values can be assigned to the attributes by default or by user preferences. The characters can be manipulated within the virtual environment. In particular, the characters can be trained in order to improve their skills, to add new skills, and to increase their overall value and worth in the virtual environment. In addition, the characters can be traded among users for a price based on their skills. Fees can be charged for each trade. Traded characters are given a new code to transfer all control of the character to the new owner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

registering, using a computer system, a character associated with a first user, said registering using registration information, wherein said registration information comprises a first unique code that is received by said computer system, and is entered into said computer system and, responsive to being entered, automatically registers a character associated with said registration information;

based on said registration information, providing access to information indicative of the character on a website associated with said computer system, which information represents said character, said character having plural initial attributes based on said information, each of said initial attributes are changed by the first user through interaction with the character on the website to form a personalized version of the character that has different attributes than said initial attributes; and

using said computer system, transferring the character including all of its changed characteristics from the first user to a second user and, continuing to grant the first user access to said website but preventing said first user from controlling said character after said transferring, and deactivating the first unique code after the character is transferred to said second user, and creating and providing a second unique code to the second user, where the second unique code is subsequently received from said second user and used to register and associate the character with the second user, and wherein the first unique code is no longer usable to be received to register the character after receiving the second unique code from the second user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said interacting with said character comprises training the character to increase values of said attributes.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said initial attributes are levels and are represented by numerical values that can be increased by certain actions that the user takes with the character.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising registering certain auxiliary items that are associated with the character, wherein said transferring comprises automatically transferring both the character and said auxiliary items.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein different ones of attribute levels have different rates of increase.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising requiring at least the first user to pay a fee for said transferring.

7. A method, comprising:

accepting, using a computer, interaction from a first user to access a website and to interact with at least a first character on said website;

subsequent to said accepting interaction from the first user, registering, using the computer, a second character by said first user on said website by receiving entry of a unique code that is associated with the second character and is entered into the computer, where the unique code as entered is uniquely identified with the second character, and wherein the unique code when entered causes information indicative of the second character to be obtained from a database of characteristics and associated with the second character during registration, and grants the first user access to a portion of the website for interacting with said second character, wherein said interacting customizes said second character; and

subsequent to said grant of access to the portion of the website for interacting with the second character, transferring the second character from the first user to a second user, where said transfer comprises deactivating the unique code to prevent using the unique code to access the second character by entering the unique code, creating and providing a new unique code to the second user, wherein the new unique code is subsequently received from the second user and used to register and associate the character as customized by the first user with the second user, and granting the first user continued access to said first character on said website.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising, charging a fee for said transferring.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein said transferring comprises listing the character for sale, and responsive to said listing, preventing the first user from interacting with the second character.

10. A method as in claim 7, further comprising maintaining the database of characteristics of characters on the website, and providing an estimated value of the second character as customized, to the first user, said database including other values being based on previous completed transfers of similar characters which are customized in similar ways to said second character.

11. A method as in claim 7, wherein said interacting comprises training the character to increase values associated with said second character, said values each associated with an attribute of said second character.

12. A method as in claim 7, wherein said information includes initial attributes associated with said second character, said initial attributes including levels that are represented by numerical values that can be increased by certain actions that the user takes to interact with the second character.

13. A method as in claim 7, further comprising registering certain auxiliary items that are associated with the second character, wherein said transferring comprises automatically transferring both the second character and said auxiliary items using the new unique code.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein different ones of attribute levels have different rates of increase.