SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION MARKETING

• US 20080040230A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• 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 includes first using a first registration code obtained from purchasing a first toy, to access a website, and second using a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second toy, to access the website. The method further includes allowing, using a first computer, viewing of a first image of the first toy on the website and viewing a second image of the second toy on the website by a user, where the first toy and the second toy are each one of a plurality of different toy types, and where the first image is an image of a first specific toy type that is based on the first registration code, and where the second image is an image of a second specific toy type, different than the first specific toy type, that is based on said second registration code. Subsequent to the first using and the second using, selection of at least one friend is allowed on the website, and responsive to the selection of the at least one friend, the at least one friend is allowed to view the first and second images of the first and second toys on the website using a different computer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

first using a first registration code obtained from purchasing a first toy, to access a website;

second using a second registration code obtained from purchasing a second toy, to access the website;

allowing, using a first computer, viewing of a first image of said first toy on said website and viewing a second image of said second toy on said website by a user, where said first toy and said second toy are each one of a plurality of different toy types, and where said first image is an image of a first specific toy type that is based on said first registration code, and where said second image is an image of a second specific toy type, different than said first specific toy type, that is based on said second registration code;

subsequent to said first using and said second using, allowing selection of at least one friend on the website; and

responsive to said selection of said at least one friend, allowing said at least one friend to view said first and second images of said first and second toys on the website using a different computer.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising, responsive to access granted by using said first registration code, selecting a user identification name, and a password, selecting a name for one of said toys on said website, responsive to said first using;

and

further interacting with the first toy and said second toy, said interacting showing said image of each said toy and showing said name.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising allowing associating an additional registration code with said user identification name, and allowing interaction with multiple toys based on a single said user id.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said allowing allows said at least one friend to view said images of multiple toys in a virtual room associated with a user associated with said user identification name.

5. A method as in claim 4, further comprising allowing the user to view multiple images of multiple toys associated with said at least one friend, said multiple images being displayed in a virtual room that is associated with said at least one friend.

6. A method comprising:

entering a registration code, obtained from purchasing a real world item, into a website;

responsive to access granted by said entering said registration code, selecting a user identification name, and a password, and selecting a name for a virtual version of the real world item on said website;

interacting with the virtual version on said website, said interacting showing said virtual version and showing said name for said virtual version, where said real world item is one of a plurality of different real world items, wherein said registration code is a unique code that is associated with one of multiple different virtual versions, and said one of said virtual versions is a virtual representation of said real world item;

subsequent to said entering, allowing selection of at least one friend on said website;

subsequent to and responsive to said selection, allowing said at least one friend to view said virtual version of said item on said website; and

allowing associating an additional registration code from another different real world item with said user identification name, and allowing interaction with both said virtual version of said real world item, and a virtual version of said different item, based on a single said user id.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said allowing allows said at least one friend to view said images of multiple items.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said allowing allows said at least one friend to view said images of multiple toys in a virtual room associated with a user associated with said user identification name, and also allowing the user to view multiple images of multiple toys associated with said at least one friend, said multiple images being displayed in a virtual room that is associated with said at least one friend.

9. A method comprising:

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

granting access to said website based on said entering;

responsive to said granting access on said website, allowing a user using a first computer to select a user name, a password, and a name for a virtual representation of said first toy;

subsequent to said entering, allowing selection by the user of at least one friend on said website;

determining whether the user has selected said at least one friend, and allowing said friend to view said virtual 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 virtual representation if said user has not selected said at least one friend;

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 interacting with both said virtual representation of said first toy and a virtual version of said second toy based on said user name.