COLLECTION OF MARKETING INFORMATION DEVELOPED DURING VIDEO GAME PLAY

• US 20120295714A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Reiche, Paul, Otero, Joby-Rome, Batson, Charles H. III
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data

Abstract

A system and method for collecting marketing information related to a video game including a physical object such as a toy. The system includes a game console having a processor for executing instructions to conduct video game play using the physical object. During the game play, data related to the toy may be stored for on the physical object or game console and provided to a server for use in developing a marketing strategy for promoting a product.

Claims

1. A system for collecting marketing information related to a video game, comprising:

a toy including a memory for storing marketing information related to a video game; and

a first video game system, configured for communication with the toy, for executing instructions to conduct video game play using the toy, the first video game system being configured to monitor marketing information and write the marketing information to the memory of the toy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the marketing information includes a cumulative time with which the toy has been used in connection with the video game system to conduct video game play.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the marketing information includes an identification of a type of video game system that is in communication with the toy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the marketing information includes information related to the frequency with which the toy is used in connection with the first video game system to conduct video game play.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the marketing information includes information related to a frequency with which the toy is used in connection with each of a different type of video game system of a plurality of video game system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the toy is a race car.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the toy is an action figure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the toy is a robot.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the toy is a mythical figure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the marketing information includes an identification of a type of video game system that has been in communication with the toy.

6. (canceled)

11. A system for collecting marketing information related to a video game, comprising:

a server configured to receive, from a video game system communicatively coupled with a toy, marketing information stored in a memory of the toy, and to store the marketing information in a storage unit for use in developing a marketing strategy, wherein the marketing information is developed during video game play using the toy.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the marketing information includes a cumulative time with which the toy has been used in connection with the first video game system to conduct video game play.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the marketing information includes information related to the frequency with which the toy is used in connection with the first video game system to conduct video game play.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the marketing information includes information related to a frequency with which the toy is used in connection with each of a different type of video game system of a plurality of types of video game systems.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the toy is a race car.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the toy is an action figure.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the toy is a robot.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the toy is a mythical figure.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to communicates with the video game system via a computer network.

16. (canceled)

22. A computer implemented method for collecting video game related marketing information, comprising:

storing marketing information developed during video game play;

providing the marketing information to a server for storage in a storage device; and

analyzing the marketing related information to develop a marketing strategy to promote a video game related product.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the video game related product is a video game.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the video game related product is a toy.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the video game related product is a clothing item.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the marketing information includes a cumulative time with which a physical object has been used to conduct the video game play.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the marketing information includes an identification of a type of a video game system used to conduct the video game play.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the marketing information includes information related to the frequency with which a physical object is used to conduct video game play.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the marketing information includes information related to a frequency with which a physical object is used in connection with each of a different type of video game system of a plurality of video game system.