Managing virtual content based on information associated with toy objects

• US 9,011,194 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Colbert, Tyler James
• Primary Examiner(s): Liddle, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US13/842,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20140273729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Abstract

The system described in this disclosure may be configured to read information stored on toy objects that indicates whether the toy objects have been used and/or are being used with other toy objects, gaming systems, and/or other devices. The system described in this disclosure may be configured to facilitate an association of the information stored on the toy objects with virtual entities in a virtual space, update virtual content associated with the virtual entities, determine relationships between users, and/or other perform other functions based on the information stored on the toy objects. The information stored on the toy objects may be updated responsive to the toy objects being used by users with other toy objects, gaming systems, and/or other devices. The use of the toy objects by users may include two or more users playing together with toy objects and/or playing with gaming systems associated with the toy objects.

Claims

1. A system configured to manage virtual content within a virtual space, the system comprising:

a first toy object, the first toy object being a standalone physical object, the first toy object being associated with a first virtual entity in the virtual space, the first toy object comprising;

a transponder configured to receive play information from toy objects used with the first toy object during previous physical play in the real world, the play information indicating which toy objects are used with the first toy object during previous play such that the transponder receives first play information from a second toy object responsive to the second toy object being used with the first toy object during a first previous physical play session in the real world and the transponder receives second play information from a third toy object responsive to the third toy object being used with the first toy object during a second previous physical play session in the real world;

a power source configured to portably power the transponder; and

electronic storage configured to electronically store the first play information subsequent to the first previous physical play session in the real world being stopped and the second play information subsequent to the second previous physical play session in the real world being stopped; and

a reader configured to detect the first toy object responsive to the first toy object being in proximity to the reader, read the information stored on the first toy object including the first and second play information received from the second and third toy objects used with the first toy object during previous physical play in the real world, and to convey the information read from the first toy object to a gaming system to facilitate an association of content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with the first virtual entity in the virtual space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic storage is configured to store an identifier for the first toy object that identifies the first toy object responsive to the first toy object being detected by the reader.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic storage is configured to store information related to the first virtual entity associated with the first toy object, wherein the reader is configured to read the information related to the first virtual entity, and wherein the reader is configured to convey the information related to the first virtual entity to the gaming system to facilitate the association of the content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with the first virtual entity in the virtual space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:

a communication module configured to receive the information conveyed by the reader; and

an update module configured to, responsive to the communication module receiving the information conveyed by the reader, associate the content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with the first virtual entity in the virtual space.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder is configured such that the play information includes information related to toy objects currently used with the first toy object during physical play in the real world.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder is configured such that the play information includes identification information identifying the toy objects used with the first toy object during physical play in the real world.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second toy object is not powered.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second toy object is associated with a second virtual entity in the virtual space, and wherein the second toy object comprises:

a second transponder configured to receive third play information from the first toy object responsive to the first toy object being used with the second toy object during the first previous physical play session in the real world;

a second power source configured to portably power the second transponder; and

second electronic storage configured to electronically store the third play information subsequent to the first physical play session in the real world being stopped; and

wherein the reader is configured to detect the second toy object responsive to the second toy object being in proximity to the reader, read the information stored on the second toy object including the third play information received from the first toy object used with the second toy object during first previous physical play session in the real world, and to convey the information read from the second toy object to the gaming system to facilitate an association of content corresponding to the information read from the second toy object with the second virtual entity in the virtual space.

9. A method for managing virtual content within a virtual space, the method comprising:

receiving play information with a transponder of a first toy object from toy objects used with the first toy object during previous physical play in the real world, the first toy object being a standalone physical object, the play information indicating which toy objects are used with the first toy object during previous play such that first play information is received from a second toy object responsive to the second toy object being used with the first toy object during a first previous physical play session in the real world and second play information is received from a third toy object responsive to the third toy object being used with the first toy object during a second previous physical play session in the real world;

portably powering the transponder of the first toy object;

electronically storing the first play information in electronic storage of the first toy object subsequent to the first previous physical play session in the real world being stopped and electronically storing the second play information in the electronic storage of the first toy object subsequent to the second previous physical play session in the real world being stopped;

detecting the first toy object responsive to the first toy object being in proximity to a reader;

reading the information stored on the first toy object including the first and second play information received from the second and third toy objects used with the first toy object during the previous physical play in the real world; and

conveying the information read from the first toy object to a gaming system to facilitate an association of content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with a first virtual entity in the virtual space, the first virtual entity in the virtual space being associated with the first toy object.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing an identifier for the first toy object in the electronic storage of the first toy object that identifies the first toy object responsive to the first toy object being detected.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing information related to the first virtual entity associated with the first toy object in the electronic storage of the first toy object,

reading the information related to the first virtual entity, and

conveying the information related to the first virtual entity to the gaming system to facilitate the association of the content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with the first virtual entity in the virtual space.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the information read from the first toy object, and responsive to receiving the information read from the first toy object, associate the content corresponding to the information read from the first toy object with the first virtual entity in the virtual space.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the play information includes information related to toy objects currently used with the first toy object during physical play in the real world.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the play information includes identification information identifying the toy objects used with the first toy object during physical play in the real world.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second toy object is not powered.