System and method for toy adoption and marketing

• US 8,465,338 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US13/050,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/470, 463/42, 705/14, 705/16, 705/27, 715/706
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

A method and computer system for providing a virtual world are disclosed. First and second registration codes, which are different and are obtained from purchasing items are used to access different portions of a website. Subsequent to accessing the portions of the website using the registration codes, a first image and a second image are accessed to be viewed, each by using a user identification name and a password without reentering the first and second registration codes. A name is to be selected for each of the images after using the registration codes. After entering the user identification name, the first and second images are to be interacted with to bring about changes to the first and second images, and the changes are based on the interacting. An invitation is to be extended to at least one friend on the website, the at least one friend to view at least one of the first and second images in a virtual room owned by and customizable by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

first using a first registration code obtained from purchasing a first item, to access a portion of a website from a first computer;

second using a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second item, to access another portion of the website, where said second registration code is different than said first registration code;

using said first computer to access the website, receiving and viewing a first image on the first computer, that is received by the first computer subsequent to said using said first registration code, and receiving and viewing a second image that is received by the first computer subsequent to said using said second registration code;

subsequent to accessing said portion of said website using said first registration code, and subsequent to accessing said another portion of said website using said second registration code, accessing said first image and said second image using a user identification name and a password without reentering said first registration code and said second registration code;

selecting a first name for said first image on said website, after said first using;

selecting a second name for said second image on said website, after said second using;

after entering said user identification name, interacting with said first and second images to bring about changes to said first and second images displayed by said first computer, wherein said changes are based on said interacting;

wherein said viewing said first and second images comprises viewing said first and second names using the first computer; and

extending an invitation to at least one friend on the website using the first computer, said invitation inviting said at least one friend to view at least one of the first and second images in a virtual room owned by and customizable by said user, said friend being other than said user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said virtual room is registered to said user identification name.

3. A method as in claim 1, where said first item and said second item are each one of a plurality of different item types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific item type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific item type, different than said first specific item type, that is based on said second registration code.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising, responsive to the user inviting said at least one friend, allowing the friend to view said first and second images on the website using a different user identification name associated with the friend.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising viewing multiple images of multiple items associated with said at least one friend, said multiple images being displayed in a virtual room that is owned by and customizable by said at least one friend.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first and second items are toys.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said changes to said first and second images displayed by the first computer that are based on said interacting include changes to said item that are based on customization of said item by the interacting.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein said customization includes increasing a parameter indicative of a level of happiness of said first and second images.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein said customization causes an appearance of said item to change on the website.

10. A method as in claim 7, further comprising enabling a chat with said friend who has been invited to view the items.

11. A method as in claim 7, further comprising viewing an image associated with an item that is owned by a friend who has invited the user to view the friend'"'"'s item.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first and second registration codes are each unique codes.

13. A method comprising:

first using a first registration code obtained from purchasing a first item, to access a portion of a website from a first computer;

second using a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second item, to access another portion of the website, where said second registration code is different than said first registration code;

receiving and viewing a first image on the first computer, that is received by the first computer subsequent to said using said first registration code,

and receiving and viewing a second image that is received by the first computer subsequent to said using said second registration code;

subsequent to accessing said portion of said website using said first registration code and accessing said another portion of said website using said second registration code, accessing said first image and said second image using a user identification name and a password without reentering said first and second registration codes;

selecting a first name for said first image on said website, after said first using;

selecting a second name for said second image on said website, after said second using;

responsive to said accessing said first image and said second image using said user identification name and said password, interacting with said first and second images, wherein said interacting results in changes to said first and second images that are based on said interacting;

viewing said first and second images and viewing said name of each of said first and second images;

receiving, from another user, an invitation to become a friend to said another user and to view images on said website that are associated with said another user that are not associated with said user identification name, said friend being other than a user associated with said user identification name; and

subsequent to accepting said invitation, viewing said images on said website that are associated with said friend.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said viewing includes viewing said first and second images in a virtual room owned by and customizable by the user that is individually registered to said user identification name.

15. A method as in claim 13, where said first item and said second item are each one of a plurality of different item types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific item type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific item type, different than said first specific item type, that is based on said second registration code.

16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising allowing the user to take the action to invite said at least one friend, and allowing said at least one friend to view said first and second images of said first and second items on the website using another user identification that is different than said user identification name associated with the user.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein said first and second items are toys.

18. A method as in claim 13, wherein said changes to said first and second images displayed by said first computer that are based on said interacting include changes to said item that is based on customization of said item by the interacting.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said customization includes increasing a parameter indicative of a level of a simulated happiness of said first and second images on the website.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein said customization causes an appearance of said first and second images to change on the website.

21. A method as in claim 13, further comprising initiating a chat with said friend who has invited by the user to view the items on the website associated with the friend.

22. A method as in claim 13, wherein said first and second registration codes are each unique codes.

23. A method comprising:

first accepting a first registration code obtained by a user from purchasing a first item on a server computer;

validating said first registration code on the server computer, and providing access to information on a website being served by said server computer subsequent to said validating;

responsive to said validating said first registration code, providing access to a first image that is to be viewed by a user on said website using a user computer;

second accepting a second registration code obtained from the user purchasing a second item on a server computer;

second validating said second registration code on the server computer, and allowing to access to information on a website being served by said server computer subsequent to said second validating;

subsequent to said second validating said second registration code, providing a second image that is to be viewed by the user on said website using said user computer;

first receiving a first name for said first image on said website and associating said first name with said first image;

second receiving a second name for said second image on said website and associating said second name with said second image;

receiving a user identification name and, in response to said receiving, granting access to said first and second images without requiring reentering said first and/or second registration code, said granting access to said first and second images allows interacting with said first and second images on said website by said user, said interacting comprising showing said first and second images and showing said first name and said second name, said interacting changing said first and second images;

providing information from said server computer that displays said changes to said first and second images that are based on said interacting;

subsequent to said first using and said second using, providing a control which enables the user to take an action to invite at least one friend on the website to view the first and second images within a virtual room registered to the user identification name; and

receiving a response from said at least one friend who has been invited, and allowing said at least one friend to view said first and second images on the website using a different computer in communication with said server computer over a communication network.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said virtual room is owned by and customizable by said user.

25. A method as in claim 23, where said first item and said second item are each one of a plurality of different item types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific item type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific item type, different than said first specific item type, that is based on said second registration code.

26. A method as in claim 23, further comprising allowing the registered user to view multiple images of multiple items associated with said at least one friend, said multiple images being displayed in a virtual room that is owned by and customizable by said at least one friend on the website.

27. A method as in claim 23, wherein said first and second items are toys.

28. Method as in claim 23, wherein said server computer changes said first and second images based on said interacting to include changes to said item that is based on customization of said item by the interacting.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein said customization includes increasing a parameter indicative of a level of happiness on the website.

30. A method as in claim 23, wherein said interacting causes an appearance of said first and second images to change on the website.

31. A method as in claim 29, further comprising enabling a chat with said friend who has been invited to view the first and second images.

32. A method as in claim 29, further comprising allowing the user to view an image associated with an item that is owned by another user who has invited the user to become a friend on the website.

33. A method as in claim 23, wherein said first and second registration codes are each unique codes.

34. A method comprising:

validating a first registration code on a server computer, and allowing a user access to information on a website being served by said server computer and associating said first registration code with a first user identification name;

after said validating said first registration code, providing a first image that is viewed by the user;

validating a second registration code on the server computer, and associating said second registration code with said first user identification name;

subsequent to said validating said second registration code, providing a second image that is viewed by the user;

receiving information from the user indicative of interacting with said first and second images, wherein the first and second images are accessible to the user via said first user identification name, without requiring reentering said first and/or second registration code, said interacting showing said first and second images on said website, said interacting changing an appearance of said first and second images;

providing information from said server computer that displays said changes to said first and second images that are based on said interacting;

receiving an invitation from another user to be conveyed to the user, the invitation requesting the user to view images on said website that are associated with said another user but are not associated with said first user identification name, said another user being other than said user; and

after receiving acceptance of said invitation from said user, serving content to be presented to the user to allow the user to view said images on said website that are associated with said another user.

35. A method as in claim 34, further comprising receiving a first name for said first item on said website, responsive to said first using, and associating said first name with said first image;

receiving a second name for said second item on said website, responsive to said second using, and associating said second name with said second image; and

wherein said providing a first image provides said first name associated with said first image, and wherein said providing a second image provides said second name associated with said second image.

36. A method as in claim 34, where said first item and said second item are each one of a plurality of different item types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific item type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific item type, different than said first specific item type, that is based on said second registration code.

37. A method as in claim 34, wherein said first and second items are toys.

38. A method as in claim 34, wherein said server computer changes said first and second images based on said interacting to include changes to said item that is based on customization of said item by the interacting.

39. A method as in claim 38, wherein said customization includes increasing a parameter representing a level of happiness on the website.

40. A method as in claim 34, wherein said interacting causes an appearance of said first and second images to change on the website.

41. A method as in claim 34, further comprising enabling a chat between said friend and said another user.

42. A method as in claim 34, wherein said first and second registration codes are each unique codes.

43. A server computer executing software instructions for performing a method comprising:

first validating a first registration code on the server computer, and providing access to information on a website being served by said server computer after said validating said first registration code, providing a first image that is viewed by a user after said validating said first registration code, second validating a second registration code on the server computer, and providing access to information on the website being served by said server computer after said validating said second registration code, providing a second image that is viewed by a user after said validating said second registration code, granting said user access for interacting with said first and second images via a user identification name, without requiring reentering of said first and/or second registration code, said interacting showing said first and second images and showing a first name associated with said first image and a said second name associated with said second image, said interacting resulting in a change of an appearance of said first and second images;

said server computer providing information that displays said changes in appearance of said first and second images based on said interacting;

subsequent to validating said first and said second registration codes, said server computer providing the user with the capability to extend an invitation to at least one friend on the website to view the first and second images associated with the user; and

after acceptance of said invitation by said at least one friend, said server computer serving content that allows said friend to view said first and second images of said first and second images on the website using a different computer in communication with said server computer over a communication network.

44. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said server computer receives a first name for said first image on said website and associates said first name with said first image, and receives a second name for said second image on said website and associates said second name with said second image.

45. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said server computer is programmed to allow said at least one friend to view said first and second images in a virtual room owned by and customizable by said user that is individually registered to said user identification name.

46. A server computer as in claim 43, where said first image is representative of a first item and said second image is representative of a second item, wherein said first and second items are each one of a plurality of different item types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific item type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific item type, different than said first specific item type, that is based on said second registration code and where said server computer stores information indicative of said registration codes and said item types associated with said registration codes.

47. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said first and second items are toys.

48. A Server computer as in claim 43, wherein said server computer changes said first and second images based on said interacting to include changes to said item that is based on customization of said item by the interacting.

49. A server computer as in claim 48, wherein said customization includes increasing a parameter representing a level of happiness on the website.

50. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said server computer is programmed to carry out a chat session between said user and said friend.

51. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said server computer grants the user access to view an image associated with an item that is owned by said friend who has accepted the invitation.

52. A server computer as in claim 43, wherein said first and second registration codes are each unique codes.

53. A method comprising:

first receiving a first registration code, obtained by a user from purchasing a first real world item, into a website;

second receiving a user identification name and a password into the website and, in response to said second receiving, granting the user access to a user account associated with the user;

associating the first registration code with said user account, responsive to said first and second receiving;

after said first receiving, providing a virtual item on said website associated with said user account;

receiving a selection of a name for said virtual item on said website;

controlling interacting with the virtual item on said website;

displaying said virtual item as an output of said website intended for a remote computer;

changing said virtual item based on said interacting, and where said displaying comprises displaying a changed appearance of said virtual item based on said interacting;

subsequent to said first receiving, providing a capability for the user to take an action to invite at least one friend on said website to view the user'"'"'s virtual item;

subsequent to the user extending an invitation, providing outputs to another remote computer presenting to said at least one friend said virtual item on said website as changed by said interacting;

receiving a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second real world item, into the website; and

associating said second registration code with said user identification name, and allowing interaction with multiple virtual items based on a single said user identification name; and

wherein said inviting said at least one friend invites said at least one friend to view said multiple virtual items of said user associated with said single user identification name.

54. A method as in claim 53, wherein said real world items are toys, and also allowing the user to view multiple images of multiple toys that are owned by said at least one friend.

55. A method comprising:

first entering a first registration code, obtained from purchasing a first real world item, into a website, from a user computer with a processor that is programmed to receive said entering;

second entering a user identification name and a password into the website, to obtain access to a user account;

obtaining access to a first virtual item on said website based on said first and second entering;

viewing said first virtual item on said user computer based on at least one of said first entering or said second entering;

entering, into the user computer, a selection of a name for said virtual item on said website;

interacting with the virtual item on said website by entering commands on said user computer for said interacting;

viewing a changed virtual item on said user computer based on said interacting;

while accessing said user account, receiving and accepting an invitation from at least one friend on said website to view a virtual item belonging to the at least one friend, an appearance of the friend'"'"'s virtual item being changeable by the friend based on said friend'"'"'s interacting with said friend'"'"'s virtual item; and

subsequent to said accepting, viewing said friend'"'"'s virtual item as changed by the friend, on said user computer.

56. A method as in claim 55, further comprising entering a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second real world item, into the website;

and thereafter obtaining access to multiple virtual items based on a single said user identification name.

57. A method as in claim 55, wherein said real world items are toys, and said viewing said friend'"'"'s virtual item as changed by the friend comprises allowing the user to view multiple images of multiple toys that are owned by said friend.

58. A method as in claim 55, wherein said interacting with the virtual item on the website causes increasing a parameter associated with said virtual item that represents a level of happiness associated with the virtual item on the website.

59. A method as in claim 55, wherein said interacting with the virtual item causes an appearance of the virtual item on the website to change.

60. A method as in claim 55, further comprising, subsequent to said accepting, chatting with said friend who extended said invitation to view the friend'"'"'s virtual item.

61. A method comprising:

entering a unique registration code obtained by a user into a website on a first computer, said unique registration code being obtained by the user from purchasing a first toy, said first toy being one of a plurality of different toys provided for sale;

receiving access to said website;

after said receiving access on said website, receiving a representation on said website of said first toy;

entering a user name and a password into the website for a user account;

during a session after said receiving access, receiving access to said representation responsive to a subsequent entry of said user name and password for said user account;

receiving an invitation from at least one friend on said website to view at least one representation associated with said at least one friend on said website; and

subsequent to accepting said invitation, viewing said at least one representation associated with said at least one friend on said website.

62. A method as in claim 61, further comprising allowing the user to select at least one friend, and allowing said friend to view said representation of said first toy on said website using a different computer than said first computer if said user has selected said at least one friend, and preventing said at least one friend from viewing said representation of said first toy if said user has not selected said at least one friend.

63. A method as in claim 61, further comprising associating an additional registration code from a second toy with said user name, said second toy being a different one of said plurality of different toys;

and obtaining a second representation of said second toy based on associating said second registration code with said user name.

64. A method as in claim 63, further comprising interacting with both said representation and said second representation, thereby allowing interaction with multiple toys based on a single said user name.