Methods for providing interactive entertainment
First Claim
1. A method of providing interactive entertainment based at least in part on use of one or more interactive toys having particular application to a multi-player interactive game played by one or more game participants, the method comprising:
- providing a first multi-player interactive game played using a first interactive device comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, or internet gaming devices located in a first venue, the first interactive device further comprising program instructions to produce a first sensory response comprising visually and aurally displaying one or more computer-animated game characters as part of said first game wherein one or more game participants participate and advance in said first game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges;
providing a second multi-player interactive game played using a second interactive device comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, or internet gaming devices located in a second venue, the second interactive device further comprising program instructions to produce a second sensory response comprising visually and aurally displaying one or more computer-animated game characters as part of said second game wherein said one or more game participants participate and advance in said second game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges, wherein the second venue differs from the first venue;
providing to said one or more game participants one or more interactive toys depicting or representing a corresponding game character or object relevant to said first or second game played by said one or more game participants using said first or second interactive device, each of said one or more toys comprising a unique identification number, internal circuitry, and program instructions configured to cause said internal circuitry to i) generate a first wireless signal to interface in the first venue with the first interactive device to cause the first sensory response, and ii) generate a second wireless signal in the second venue with the second interactive device to cause the second sensory response and wherein the first and second wireless signals communicate at least said unique identification number; and
electronically tracking use of said one or more toys by said one or more game participants in the first or second venues using at least said unique identification number and electronically adjusting the game play experience accordingly by providing said one or more game participants access to at least some portion or features of said first or second interactive game based at least in part on said unique identification number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer'"'"'s use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of providing interactive entertainment based at least in part on use of one or more interactive toys having particular application to a multi-player interactive game played by one or more game participants, the method comprising:
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providing a first multi-player interactive game played using a first interactive device comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, or internet gaming devices located in a first venue, the first interactive device further comprising program instructions to produce a first sensory response comprising visually and aurally displaying one or more computer-animated game characters as part of said first game wherein one or more game participants participate and advance in said first game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges; providing a second multi-player interactive game played using a second interactive device comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, or internet gaming devices located in a second venue, the second interactive device further comprising program instructions to produce a second sensory response comprising visually and aurally displaying one or more computer-animated game characters as part of said second game wherein said one or more game participants participate and advance in said second game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges, wherein the second venue differs from the first venue; providing to said one or more game participants one or more interactive toys depicting or representing a corresponding game character or object relevant to said first or second game played by said one or more game participants using said first or second interactive device, each of said one or more toys comprising a unique identification number, internal circuitry, and program instructions configured to cause said internal circuitry to i) generate a first wireless signal to interface in the first venue with the first interactive device to cause the first sensory response, and ii) generate a second wireless signal in the second venue with the second interactive device to cause the second sensory response and wherein the first and second wireless signals communicate at least said unique identification number; and electronically tracking use of said one or more toys by said one or more game participants in the first or second venues using at least said unique identification number and electronically adjusting the game play experience accordingly by providing said one or more game participants access to at least some portion or features of said first or second interactive game based at least in part on said unique identification number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of providing interactive entertainment using a plurality of RFID-enabled toys for playing an interactive character-based game on a gaming platform comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, internet gaming devices or live-action gaming facilities, wherein one or more game characters are represented by computer animation and wherein one or more game participants advance in the game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of RFID-enabled toys each depicting or representing a particular corresponding game character or object relevant to a game configured to be played on a gaming platform using one or more of said plurality of toys, each of said plurality of toys comprising an RFID tag comprising a corresponding unique tag identification number, integrated circuitry, and program instructions comprising instructions to wirelessly transmit and receive information to and from an associated wireless reader device, and memory to selectively store game-relevant information describing certain skills, abilities or attributes associated with said corresponding game character or object; providing an RFID tag reader, wherein the RFID tag reader i) wirelessly communicates with each said RFID tag when a corresponding one of said plurality of toys is presented within a readable range of said reader device, and ii) communicates with said gaming platform such that said game-relevant information is communicated to and from each said presented toy and said gaming platform and wherein said game-relevant information includes at least said unique tag identification number; determining, via one or more processors, that at least one of said plurality of RFID-enabled toys is within readable proximity of said reader device; causing said reader device to wirelessly power said corresponding RFID tag of said at least one toy and automatically read and communicate to said gaming platform certain selected information from said corresponding RFID tag comprising one or more items of said game-relevant information; using said one or more items of game-relevant information to automatically adjust the game play experience for a game participant playing said game, via one or more processors, using said at least one toy wherein said game participant is able to develop through game play progression certain skills, abilities or attributes associated with said game character or object corresponding to said at least one toy; and storing selected character or object information describing or verifying said developed skills, abilities or attributes in the memory of said at least one toy, including encryption of at least a portion of said stored character or object information using a key-based encryption algorithm; whereby when said game participant playing a first game or first game session develops skills, abilities or attributes of said particular game character or object, information representing the developed skills, abilities or attributes of said particular game character or object is securely stored on said corresponding RFID-enabled toy and subsequently retrieved and used to adjust the game play experience of said game participant playing a second game or second game session using said corresponding RFID-enabled toy. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing a multi-player interactive game configured to be played on a gaming platform by one or more game participants, said method comprising:
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providing a multi-player interactive game played using a gaming platform comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, internet gaming devices or live-action gaming facilities, wherein one or more game characters are represented by computer animation and wherein one or more game participants participate and advance in the game at least in part by finding clues, solving puzzles or completing challenges; providing a plurality of themed interactive toys each depicting or representing a particular game character or object relevant to said interactive game, each of said plurality of toys comprising a unique identification number, non-volatile memory storing game-relevant information, internal circuitry, and program instructions comprising instructions to wirelessly communicate said game-relevant information to a wireless-compatible device; providing at least one reader device, wherein the reader device wirelessly powers and communicates with one or more of said plurality of toys when said one or more of said plurality of toys is presented within a readable range of said reader device, said at least one reader device further communicates with said gaming platform such that said game-relevant information is communicated from each said presented toy to said gaming platform and wherein said game-relevant information includes at least said unique identification number of each said presented toy and a corresponding unique code configured to unlock access to at least some portion or feature of said game; causing said reader device to wirelessly power said internal circuitry of each said presented toy, to wirelessly ascertain said game-relevant information, and to communicate said game-relevant information to said gaming platform; and using said communicated game-relevant information to automatically adjust the game play experience for said one or more game participants, via one or more processors, by unlocking access to said at least some portion or feature of said game. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for providing an entertainment experience using RFID-enabled toys in a multi-player interactive game, said method comprising:
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providing a multi-player interactive game, wherein said game is used with a gaming platform comprising one or more video game consoles, home game consoles, hand-held game units, computer gaming devices, internet gaming devices or live-action gaming facilities, wherein one or more game characters are represented by computer animation and wherein said game is controlled or directed by one or more game participants at least in part using a wireless hand-held controller; providing a plurality of RFID-enabled toys each depicting or representing a particular game character or object relevant to said game, each of said plurality of toys comprising an RFID tag having a unique identification number, non-volatile memory storing game-relevant information, and internal circuitry comprising program instructions to wirelessly communicate said game-relevant information to a wireless-compatible device; providing at least one RFID reader device and configuring said reader device to i) wirelessly communicate with one or more of said plurality of toys when said one or more of said plurality of toys is presented within a readable range of said reader device, ii) ascertain said stored game-relevant information from each said presented toy and iii) communicate said game-relevant information from each said presented toy to said gaming platform; causing said reader device to wirelessly power the internal circuitry of said RFID tag of at least one of said plurality of toys, wirelessly ascertain the corresponding game-relevant information stored thereon, and communicate said corresponding game-relevant information to said gaming platform, and wherein said corresponding game-relevant information includes at least said corresponding unique identification number and a unique code configured to unlock at least some hidden portion or feature of said game; and using said communicated game-relevant information to automatically adjust the game play experience for said one or more game participants, via one or more processors, by unlocking said hidden portion or feature of said game. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification