SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION AND MARKETING

• US 20090131164A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, system and toy that provides a product that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the product. The product has a registration code associated with it. Data associated with the product is electronically stored in the product using an electronic storage medium. A user is registered on the website by associating the user with a user ID. The user ID is associated with the virtual replica of the product by utilizing the registration code. Access is granted to one or more features on the website in connection with the virtual replica of the product subsequent to input and validation of the registration code via the user ID without requiring additional entry of the registration code.

Claims

1. A system for providing a virtual world, comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing registration data relating to a plurality of registration codes, said plurality of registration codes uniquely corresponding to of a plurality of products;

a server subsystem for serving content, via a communication network, directed to a user computer, and for receiving one of said plurality of registration codes transmitted from the user computer via one or both of the communication network and an additional communication network;

a registration subsystem for registering a user and associating that user with a user ID, said registration subsystem also for verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes against said registration data relating to said plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering the one of said plurality of products corresponding to said one of said plurality of registration codes in said system after said verifying;

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data; and

a storage device attached to or embedded in each of said plurality of products, each said storage device electronically storing data,

wherein

said virtual world data includes information that when executed causes the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, wherein

said virtual world provided by said virtual world providing subsystem is associated with said user ID and said virtual world includes a virtual product representing said one of said plurality of products, wherein

said virtual product is based on said registration data and said registration data is of a form that distinguishes said one of said products from at least another one of said products, and wherein said data in said storage device is associated with said registration code, and wherein

subsequent to verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes, said system is adapted to provide access to said virtual world via said user ID without requiring subsequent entry of said registration code.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said content served to the user computer is served to a browser application executing on the user computer capable of displaying web pages including html code.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the communication network and the additional communication network is the Internet.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said one of said registration codes is printed on a tag associated with said one of said plurality of products at the time of sale, and wherein said registration code is entered into the user computer by a user entering said one of said plurality of registration codes into the user computer by utilizing the browser application, and then submitting said one of said plurality of registration codes to said server subsystem via the Internet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the virtual product on the user computer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of activities include playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual product representing an additional product registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of activities include one or more of the following activities:

providing a virtual medical checkup for said virtual product;

playing a game;

playing with said virtual product;

playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual toy representing an additional one of said plurality of products registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

virtually adding an additional virtual room in said virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said registration data relating to the plurality of registration codes includes said plurality of registration codes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of products is offered for sale or sold by a retail establishment and wherein said one of said plurality of registration codes is packaged with said one of said plurality of products.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein

said one of said plurality of registration codes is electronically stored in the storage device in said one of said plurality of products, and wherein

said one of said plurality of registration codes is automatically entered into the user computer by utilizing a reading device for reading said one of said plurality of registration codes from the storage device, the reading device being included in, or connected to, the user computer, and wherein

the user computer thereafter submits said one of said plurality of registration codes to said server subsystem via the communication network or the additional communication network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage device is an RF tag, a USB key, or a Bluetooth wireless device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of products comprises one or more toys.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises at least one of music, a homework assignment, a favorite website link, a photograph, online data associated with what the product has learned during online activities, user information, and product information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said data in said storage device includes said registration code.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein

said registration subsystem is further for verifying another one of said plurality of registration codes against said registration data relating to said plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering another one of said plurality of products corresponding to said another one of said plurality of registration codes in said system after said verifying, wherein

said virtual world further includes a virtual product representing said another product, and further wherein

subsequent to verifying said another one of said plurality of registration codes, said system is adapted to provide user access to said virtual world via said user ID without using said another registration code.

16. A system for providing a virtual world, comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing registration data relating to a plurality of registration codes, said plurality of registration codes corresponding to a plurality of products;

a server subsystem for serving content, via a communication network, directed to a user computer, and for receiving one of said plurality of registration codes transmitted from the user computer via one or both of the communication network and an additional communication network;

a registration subsystem for verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes against said registration data relating to said plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering one of said plurality of products corresponding to said one of said plurality of registration codes in said system after said verifying;

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data; and

a storage device attached to or embedded in each of said plurality of products that electronically stores data, wherein

said virtual world data includes information that directs the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and wherein

said virtual world provided by said virtual world providing subsystem includes a virtual product representing said one of said plurality of products, wherein said virtual product being based on said registration data and being of a form that distinguishes one of said products from another one of said products, and wherein said data in said storage device is associated with and represents, said virtual product, and further wherein

said virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the virtual product on the user computer, said plurality of activities including at least two of;

providing a virtual medical checkup for said virtual product;

playing a game;

playing with said virtual product;

playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual product representing an additional one of said plurality of products registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

virtually adding an additional virtual room in said virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of activities includes all of the following:

providing a virtual medical checkup for said virtual product;

playing a game;

playing with said virtual product;

playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual product representing an additional one of said plurality of products registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

adding an additional virtual room in said virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein each of said plurality of registration codes corresponds to one of said plurality of products.

19. A system for providing a virtual world, comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing data relating to a plurality of registration codes, said plurality of registration codes uniquely corresponding to a plurality of products;

a server subsystem for serving content, via a public communication network, directed to a user computer, said server subsystem also for receiving one of said plurality of registration codes transmitted from the user computer via one or both of the public communication network and an additional public communication network, wherein said one of said plurality of registration codes was included with the one of said plurality of products to which said one of said plurality of registration codes corresponds at the time said one of said plurality of products was purchased;

a registration subsystem for registering a user and associating that user with a user ID, said registration subsystem also for verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes against said data relating to said plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering said one of said plurality of products corresponding to said one of said plurality of registration codes in said system after said verifying;

a storage device attached to or embedded in each of said plurality of products that electronically stores data; and

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data, wherein

said virtual world data is included in said content and includes information that directs the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and wherein

said virtual world provided by said virtual world providing subsystem is associated with said user ID and said virtual world includes a virtual product representing said one of said plurality of products, and further wherein

said virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in through user interactions with the user computer over one or both of the public communication network and the additional public communication network, and still further wherein

said virtual product participates in one or more of said plurality of activities in said virtual world via said interactions; and

wherein

said data in said storage device is associated with said registration code, and further wherein

subsequent to verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes, said system is adapted to provide access to said virtual world via said user ID without requiring subsequent entry of said registration code.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said one of said plurality of registration codes is printed on a tag attached to said one of said plurality of products at the time of sale, and wherein said one of said plurality of registration codes is entered into the user computer by a user typing said one of said plurality of registration codes into the user computer, and then submitting said one of said plurality of registration codes to said server subsystem via the public communication network.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of activities include two or more of the following activities:

providing a virtual medical checkup for said virtual product;

playing a game;

playing with said virtual product;

playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual product representing an additional one of said plurality of products registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

adding an additional virtual room in said virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the data comprises at least one of music, a homework assignment, a favorite website link, a photograph, said one of said plurality of registration codes, online data associated with what the product has learned during online activities, user information, and product information.

23. A system for providing a virtual world for a user of a product, comprising:

a server subsystem for serving content, via a communication network, directed to a user computer, and for receiving one or both of data and commands from the user computer;

a registration subsystem for registering a user and associating that user with a user ID, said registration subsystem also for verifying and registering the product, wherein said verifying includes determining a validity of the product, and wherein said registering grants access to a restricted portion of the system where said restricted portion of the system cannot be accessed prior to said verifying and registering said product;

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data, wherein

said virtual world data includes information that directs the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, wherein

said virtual world is associated with said user ID and said virtual world includes a virtual product representing the product, said virtual product being of a form that distinguishes said product from another product; and

wherein

said virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the virtual product on the user computer; and

a storage device attached to or embedded in the product that electronically stores data, wherein said data in said storage device is associated with said virtual world providing subsystem providing said representing, and wherein

subsequent to verifying said one of said plurality of registration codes, said system is adapted to provide access to said virtual world via said user ID without requiring subsequent entry of said registration code.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the user computer.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said plurality of activities include two or more of the following activities:

providing a virtual medical checkup for said virtual product;

playing a game;

playing with said virtual product;

playing with said virtual product along with an additional virtual product representing an additional product registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

virtually adding an additional virtual room in said virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the data comprises at least one of music, a homework assignment, a favorite website link, a photograph, said one of said plurality of registration codes, online data associated with what the product has learned during online activities, user information, and product information.

27. A method that provides a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

representing a product on a website via a virtual replica of the product,

associating a registration code with a product, said associating comprising

electronically storing data in the product using an electronic storage medium, wherein said data in said electronic storage medium is associated with said product;

registering a user on the website by associating the user with a user ID;

associating said user ID with said virtual replica of the product by utilizing said registration code; and

granting access to one or more of a plurality of features on the website in connection with the virtual replica of the product subsequent to input and validation of the registration code via said user ID without requiring additional entry of said registration code.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

requiring a purchase of the product in order to obtain the registration code associated therewith; and

registering the product via the registration code on the website.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein registering the product via the registration code comprises automatically registering the product at a time of purchase.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein registering the product via the registration code comprises manually registering the product after purchase via a user computer connected to at least one communication network.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the registration code is automatically activated upon purchase of the product and the granting access performed automatically after the product is purchased.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the registration code is stored in the electronic storage medium.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising displaying the virtual replica of the product on a user interface.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising displaying a plurality of items available for virtual purchase on the website.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising displaying a virtual living environment on the website for the virtual replica to interact in with at least one other virtual replica.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the virtual living environment comprises one or more virtual rooms.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the one or more virtual rooms is customized by a user.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the virtual living environment comprises a virtual house and a virtual outdoor yard.

39. The method of claim 33 further comprising providing a plurality of games for a user to play.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of games are at least one of single player games and multi-player games.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the registration code is unique to the product.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein the virtual world presentation further comprises at least one of the following:

graphic images, animation, sound, recorded images, and live images.

43. A toy and system for providing a virtual world for a user of said toy, said toy comprising:

a toy body;

an electronic storage device associated with said toy body that stores data associated with the toy; and

a registration code that is included in said data that is stored in the storage device, wherein said registration code is electronically transmitted from the storage device to a user computer, and wherein said user computer electronically submits the registration code to the system via the Internet,

said system comprising;

a server subsystem for serving virtual world data to the user computer for presenting the virtual world, and for electronically receiving said registration code transmitted from the user computer via the Internet;

a storage subsystem for storing data relating to a plurality of registration codes, each of the registration codes corresponding to one of a plurality of toys, wherein said toy is one of the plurality of toys;

a registration subsystem for verifying said registration code against the data relating to the plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering said toy in the system after the verifying,

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing the virtual world data to the user via a user computer connected to the Internet in response to registration of said registration code that was electronically received, wherein

the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing said toy, wherein

the virtual world data provided to the user computer is provided to a browser application executing on the user computer and capable of displaying web pages using html, wherein

the virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user and the virtual toy to participate in via interactions with the user computer, the plurality of activities including all of virtually feeding the virtual toy, playing with the virtual toy, virtually purchasing virtual furnishings for a virtual room in the virtual world using virtual cash, and virtually purchasing virtual food for the virtual toy using the virtual cash for virtually feeding to the virtual toy in the virtual world.

44. A toy for utilizing a system for providing a virtual world for a user of said toy, said toy comprising:

a toy body;

an electronic storage device associated with said toy body that stores data associated with the toy; and

a registration code stored in said electronic storage device,

wherein the system reads said registration code from said storage device to register and verify said toy,

wherein the system presents a virtual world directed to the user via a user computer connected to a communication network in response to registration of said registration code, and

wherein the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing said toy.

45. The toy of claim 44, wherein said registration code is included in said data that is stored in the storage device, and wherein said registration code is electronically transmitted from the storage device to the user computer, and then said user computer submits the registration code to the system via one or both of the communication network and an additional communication network.

46. The toy of claim 44, wherein the system comprises:

a server subsystem for serving virtual world data to the user computer for presenting the virtual world, and for receiving said registration code transmitted from the user computer via one or both of the communication network and an additional communication network;

a storage subsystem for storing data relating to a plurality of registration codes, each of the registration codes corresponding to one of a plurality of toys, wherein said toy is one of the plurality of toys;

a registration subsystem for verifying said registration code against the data relating to the plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering said toy in the system after the verifying; and

a virtual world providing subsystem for providing the virtual world data.

47. The toy of claim 46, wherein said data relating to a plurality of registration codes includes said plurality of registration codes.

48. The toy of claim 44, wherein the virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the user computer.

49. The toy of claim 48, wherein the plurality of activities include one or more of the following activities:

providing a virtual medical checkup for the virtual toy;

playing a game;

virtually purchasing virtual furnishings for a virtual room in the virtual world using virtual cash;

virtually furnishing the virtual room in the virtual world;

virtually purchasing virtual food for the virtual toy using the virtual cash;

virtually feeding the virtual toy;

playing with the virtual toy;

playing with the virtual toy along with an additional virtual toy representing an additional toy registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

virtually adding an additional virtual room in the virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

50. The toy of claim 49, wherein the plurality of activities include all of:

providing a virtual medical checkup for the virtual toy;

playing a game;

virtually purchasing virtual furnishings for a virtual room in the virtual world using virtual cash;

virtually furnishing the virtual room in the virtual world;

virtually purchasing virtual food for the virtual toy using the virtual cash;

virtually feeding the virtual toy;

playing with the virtual toy;

playing with the virtual toy along with an additional virtual toy representing an additional toy registered by an additional user via interactions by the additional user with an additional user computer;

virtually adding an additional virtual room in the virtual world; and

chatting with the additional user using the user computer and the additional user computer.

51. The toy of claim 49, wherein the virtual toy virtually participates in one or more of the plurality of activities in the virtual world via the interactions.

52. The toy of claim 44, wherein

said registration code is electronically stored in said storage device, and wherein

said registration code is automatically entered into the user computer by utilizing a reading device for reading the electronically stored registration code from the storage device, the reading device being included in, or connected to, the user computer, and wherein

the user computer thereafter submits said registration code to the system.

53. The toy of claim 52, wherein the storage device is at least one of an RF tag, a USB key, and a Bluetooth wireless device.