Linking virtual items to real-world items

• US 8,556,719 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahajan, Amitt, Ocko, Matthew Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US13/174,735
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/40, 463/41
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5378 for displaying an additional top view, e.g. radar screens or maps using two or more virtual cameras concurrently A63F13/5252
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A method of linking virtual items to real-world items is disclosed. A real-world item is associated with a virtual item of a virtual world of a computer-implemented game. A location-based action involving the real-world item is reflected in the virtual world of the computer implemented game.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a receipt of a first virtual ingredient of a virtual item by a user of a computer-implemented game;

identifying that a first real-world item has come within a predetermined distance of a second real-world item, the first real-world item representing the first virtual ingredient of the virtual item and the second real-world item representing a second virtual ingredient of the virtual item; and

based on the identifying, providing the user with the virtual item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to a network of the computer-implemented game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be uniquely identifiable on the network of the computer-implemented game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to the network of the computer-implemented via a wireless device integrated into the first real-world item.

5. A system comprising:

a processor-implemented game networking system configured to;

detect a receipt of a first virtual ingredient of a virtual item by a user of a computer-implemented game;

identify that a first real-world item has come within a predetermined distance of a second real-world item, the first real-world item representing the first virtual ingredient of the virtual real-world item and the second real-world item representing a second virtual ingredient of the virtual item; and

based on the identifying, providing the user with the virtual item.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to a network of the computer-implemented game.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be uniquely identifiable on the network of the computer-implemented game.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to the network of the computer-implemented via a wireless device integrated into the first real-world item.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

detecting a receipt of a first virtual ingredient of a first virtual item by a player character of a user of a computer-implemented game;

identifying that a first real-world item has come within a predetermined distance of a second real-world item, the first real-world item representing the first virtual ingredient of the virtual item and the second real-world item representing a second virtual ingredient of the virtual item; and

based on the identifying, providing the user with the virtual item.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to a network of the computer-implemented game.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be uniquely identifiable on the network of the computer-implemented game.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first real-world item is configured to be communicatively coupled to the network of the computer-implemented via a wireless device integrated into the first real-world item.