SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOY ADOPTION AND MARKETING

• US 20110161093A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• 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 computer system provides a virtual world. The computer system includes a server subsystem serving virtual world data, via a communication network, and receives data and/or commands. A registration subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, verifies information from a toy, and registers the toy. The verifying includes determining the validity of the information. A virtual world providing subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, provides the virtual world data, which produces data that presents the virtual world. The virtual world data includes a virtual toy representing the toy and a reward provided to the user for registering the toy.

Claims

1. A method that provides a virtual presentation on a computer comprising:

associating a first set of features comprising at least one feature of a website with a first code;

providing to a first user a first product including a first toy having the first code associated therewith;

validating the first code;

granting access to the first set of features of the website in response to the validating of the first code, said first set of features including a feature that controls interacting with a first virtual replica of the first product;

associating at least a second set of features of the website with a second code;

offering to a second user a second product having the second code associated therewith;

validating the second code;

granting access to said at least the second set of features of the website in response to validating the second code, wherein at least a subset of the second set of features is different from the first set of features;

displaying on said website, for viewing by said second user, a second virtual replica of the second product on the website in response to the validating the second code;

displaying the first virtual replica and the second virtual replica together in a virtual room, wherein the first virtual replica interacts with the second virtual replica in the virtual room;

providing a chat function in the virtual room that comprises receiving from the first user a selection from a displayed set that includes pre-scripted phrases, and transmitting to the second user a chat message comprising only a phrase corresponding to the selection, said chat message comprising displaying both said first virtual replica and said second virtual replica; and

providing, for access by said first user, additional content beyond said chat function, for said first product when an additional registration code is registered on the website by said first user who registered said first registration code, wherein the additional content comprises access to additional resources of the website beyond the resources provided by said registration of said first registration code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said chat message also includes a symbol chat with preset icons, that is other than general text chat.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of features comprises a virtual room designated for the first virtual replica of the first product and an amount of virtual currency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of features of the website comprises bonuses including at least one of additional games and additional virtual rooms.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing content on the website for access by said first user for adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product presented in the virtual presentation, wherein adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product comprises maintaining at least one of a health and happiness of the first virtual replica of the first product via at least one maintenance activity which includes feeding the first virtual replica of the first product, shopping for the first virtual replica of the first product, and playing with the first virtual replica of the first product.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing periodic rewards that facilitate encouraging users to visit the website.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the periodic rewards comprise at least one of virtual currency and a piece of a puzzle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing a bonus environment upon completing a series of adventures or challenges, wherein the bonus environment comprises at least one of the following:

multi-user activities, multi-user adventures or challenges, multi-user games, and a user-chat interface.

9. A method that provides a virtual presentation comprising:

associating a first set of features comprising at least one feature of a website with a first code that is associated with a first product;

validating the first code on the website using a computer on the website;

granting access to the first set of features of the website in response to the validating of the first code, the first set of features including displaying and interacting with a first virtual replica of the first product;

associating at least a second set of features of the website with a second code that is associated with a second product;

validating the second code on the website using the computer on the website;

granting access to said at least the second set of features of the website in response to the validating the second code, said second set of features including viewing a second virtual replica of the second product on the website, wherein the first and second virtual replicas interact with each other in a virtual room on the website, wherein the first and second virtual replicas are both visible while both are in the virtual room;

providing a chat function in said virtual room that receives from a first user a selection from a displayed set that includes pre-scripted phrases, and transmitting to a second user message content that includes only a phrase corresponding to the selection; and

providing, for access by said first user, additional content beyond said chat function, for said first product when said second code is registered on the website by said first user who registered said first registration code, wherein the additional content comprises access to additional resources of the website beyond the resources provided by said registration of said first registration code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of features comprises a virtual room designated for the first virtual replica of the first product and an amount of virtual currency and wherein the second set of features of the website comprises bonuses including at least one of an additional game, an additional virtual room, and additional virtual currency.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing periodic rewards that facilitate encouraging users to visit the website.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the periodic rewards comprise at least one of virtual currency and a piece of a puzzle.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising accessing a bonus environment upon completing a series of adventures or challenges, wherein the bonus environment comprises at least one of the following:

multi-user activities, multi-user adventures or challenges, multi-user games, and a user-chat interface.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing content on the website for access by said first user for adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product presented in the virtual presentation, wherein adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product comprises maintaining at least one of a health and happiness of the first virtual replica of the first product via at least one maintenance activity which includes feeding the first virtual replica of the first product, shopping for the first virtual replica of the first product, and playing with the first virtual replica of the first product.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second set of features of the website comprises bonuses including at least one of additional games and additional virtual rooms.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the chat function is provided when the first and second virtual replicas are visible to each other while both are in the virtual room belonging to either the first or the second virtual replica.

17. A method as in claim 9, wherein the virtual room belongs to one of the virtual replicas.

18. A method that provides a virtual presentation comprising:

submitting a first code for validation on a website using a computer on the website, the first code being associated with a first product and with a first set of features comprising at least one feature of the website;

receiving access to the first set of features of the website in response to validation of the first code, the first set of features including displaying and interacting with a first virtual replica of the first product;

submitting a second code for validation on the website using the computer on the website, the second code being associated with a second product and with a second set of features of the website;

receiving access to said at least the second set of features of the website in response to validation the second code, said second set of features including viewing a second virtual replica of the second product on the website, wherein the first and second virtual replicas interact with each other in a virtual room on the website, wherein the first and second virtual replicas are both visible while both are in the virtual room;

receiving access to a chat function in said virtual room that receives from a first user a selection from a displayed set that includes pre-scripted phrases, and transmitting to a second user message content that includes only a phrase corresponding to the selection; and

receiving access to additional content beyond said chat function, for said first product when said second code is registered on the website by a same user who registered said first registration code, wherein the additional content comprises access to additional resources of the website beyond the resources provided by said registration of said first registration code.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first set of features comprises a virtual room designated for the first virtual replica of the first product and an amount of virtual currency and wherein the second set of features of the website comprises bonuses including at least one of an additional game, an additional virtual room, and additional virtual currency.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising receiving periodic rewards that facilitate encouraging users to visit the website.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the periodic rewards comprise at least one of virtual currency and a piece of a puzzle.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising receiving access to a bonus environment upon completing a series of adventures or challenges, wherein the bonus environment comprises at least one of the following:

multi-user activities, multi-user adventures or challenges, multi-user games, and a user-chat interface.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising receiving access to content on the website for access for adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product presented in the virtual presentation, wherein adopting and caring for the first virtual replica of the first product comprises maintaining at least one of a health and happiness of the first virtual replica of the first product via at least one maintenance activity which includes feeding the first virtual replica of the first product, shopping for the first virtual replica of the first product, and playing with the first virtual replica of the first product.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the second set of features of the website comprises bonuses including at least one of additional games and additional virtual rooms.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the chat function is accessible when the first and second virtual replicas are visible to each other while both are in the virtual room belonging to either the first or the second virtual replica.

26. A method as in claim 18, wherein the virtual room belongs to one of the virtual replicas.