System and method for toy adoption and marketing

• US 8,317,566 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/428,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 446/175
• 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 for providing a virtual world presentation includes registering a first product on a computer system; registering a user on the computer system and associating that user with a user ID; responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on the computer system; associating the virtual representation of the first product with the user ID; registering a second product on the computer system; and responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on the computer system. The specialized content is also associated with the user ID and may include a virtual representation of the second product. Accessing the computer system using the user ID provides access to both the virtual representation of the first product and the specialized content on the computer system.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website;

associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

registering a second product on said website; and

responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on said website, said specialized content also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, wherein

accessing said website using said user ID provides access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said specialized content on said website.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specialized content is a virtual representation of the second product.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said virtual representation of the first product is a virtual image of the first product.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said specialized content is a virtual image of the second product, and wherein the first product is of a different type than the second product, and further wherein said virtual image of the first product has a different appearance than the virtual image of the second product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first product is registered using a first registration code associated with the first product, and wherein the second product is registered using a second registration code associated with the second product, said first registration code being unique from said second registration code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first product is of a different type than the second product.

3. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website, said registering of the first product associating the virtual representation of the first product with a user ID;

registering a second product on said website; and

responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on said website;

associating said specialized content with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, wherein accessing said website using said user ID provides

access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said specialized content on said website, wherein said specialized content includes a virtual representation of the second product,

said method further comprising the step of, further responsive to said registering of one of the first product and the second product, granting access to a subset of restricted content on said website, wherein said subset of restricted content of said website interacts with one or both said virtual representation of the first product and said virtual representation of the second product via interactions with a user controlling an action of said one or both of said virtual representation of the first product and said virtual representation of the second product.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of, further responsive to said registering of the other of the first product and the second product, granting access to an additional subset of restricted content on said website, wherein said additional subset restricted content of said website interacts with one or both of said virtual representation of the first product and said virtual representation of the second product.

9. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website, and associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

registering a second product on said website; and

responsive to registering the second product, granting access to a subset of restricted content on said website, and associating said subset of restricted content with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product, which is also associated with said user id, such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said subset of restricted content, wherein

prior to registering the second product, accessing said website using said user ID does not provide access to said restricted content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said virtual representation of the first product and said subset of restricted content interact with each other.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of, further responsive to said registering of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said first subset of restricted content interacting with said virtual representation of the first product, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first product is registered using a first registration code, and wherein the second product is registered using a second registration code different from said first registration code.

12. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website;

associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

registering a second product on said website;

responsive to registering the second product, granting access to a subset of restricted content on said website, and associating said subset of restricted content with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id;

after said registering said second product, subsequent accessing said website using said user ID and automatically obtaining access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said subset of restricted content based on said access using said user ID, wherein

prior to registering the second product, access to said website using said user ID does not provide access to said restricted content,

further responsive to said registering of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said virtual representation of the first product interacting with said first subset of restricted content, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting; and

further responsive to said registering of the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on said website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID, said virtual representation of the second product also interacting with said first subset of restricted content, such that access to said website using said user ID provides access to all of said first subset of restricted content, said virtual representation of the first product, and said virtual representation of the second product to allow said interactings.

14. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website,

associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

further responsive to said registering of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said virtual representation of the first product interacting with said first subset of restricted content, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting;

registering a second product on said website;

responsive to registering the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on said website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, said first subset of restricted content also interacting with said virtual representation of the second product, such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to all of said first subset of restricted content, said virtual representation of the first product, and said virtual representation of the second product to allow said interactings.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of, further responsive to said registering of the second product, granting access to a second subset of restricted content on said website, said second subset of restricted content being in addition to said first subset of restricted content.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second subset of restricted content interacts with one or both of said virtual representation of the first product and said virtual representation of the second product.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first product is registered using a first registration code, and wherein the second product is registered using a second registration code different from said first registration code.

18. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

registering a first product on said website by accepting a first registration code, wherein, during said registering of the first product, a successful registration verifies said first registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website, said virtual representation of the first product being associated with said user ID;

further responsive to said successful registration of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said first subset of restricted content interacting with said virtual representation of the first product, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting without requiring subsequent acceptance of said first registration code;

registering a second product on said website using a second registration code provided with the second product, wherein a successful registering of the second product verifies said second registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on the website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, and

further responsive to said successful registration of the second product, granting access to a second subset of restricted content on said website, said second subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to all of said first subset of restricted content, said second subset of restricted content, said virtual representation of the first product, and said virtual representation of the second product, all of said access to said first subset of restricted content, said access to said second subset of restricted content, said access to said virtual representation of the first product, and said access to said virtual representation of the second product being without requiring subsequent acceptance of said first or second registration codes, wherein

prior to registering the second product, access to said website using said user ID does not provide access to said second subset of restricted content.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said virtual representation of the second product interacts with one or both of said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product such that a user access to said website using said user ID obtains access to all of said first subset of restricted content along with said virtual representation of the first product and said virtual representation of the second product to allow said interactings.

20. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

registering a first product on a website using a first registration code provided with the first product, wherein, during said registering of the first product, a successful registration verifies said first registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website, said virtual representation of the first product being associated with a user ID;

further responsive to said successful registration of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said first subset of restricted content interacting with said virtual representation of the first product, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting without requiring another use of said first registration code subsequent to said successful registering of the first product;

registering a second product on said website using a second registration code provided with the second product, wherein a successful registering of the second product verifies said second registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on the website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id,

further responsive to said successful registration of the second product, granting access to a second subset of restricted content on said website, said second subset of restricted content interacting with one or more of said virtual representation of the first product, said virtual representation of the second product, and said first subset of restricted content, said second subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to all of said first subset of restricted content, said second subset of restricted content, said virtual representation of the first product, and said virtual representation of the second product to allow said interactings without requiring another use of said first or second registration codes subsequent to said successful registering of the first and second product.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first product is a toy, and wherein said virtual representation of the toy is a virtual image of the toy that can be animated by a user of the website who logged in using said user ID.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first subset of restricted content includes a room for providing an environment for said virtual image.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said second subset of restricted content includes a game that can be played by the user of said website.

24. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website using a first registration code provided with the first product, wherein, during said registering of the first product, a successful registration verifies said first registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website,

associating said virtual representation of the first product with a user ID;

further responsive to said successful registration of the first product, granting access to a first subset of restricted content on said website, said first subset of restricted content interacting with said virtual representation of the first product, with said first subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that access to said website using said user ID provides access to said first subset of restricted content and said virtual representation of the first product to allow said interacting;

registering a second product on said website using a second registration code provided with the second product, wherein a successful registering of the second product verifies said second registration code;

responsive to said successful registration of the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on the website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id,

further responsive to said successful registration of the second product, granting access to a second subset of restricted content on said website, said second subset of restricted content interacting with one or more of said virtual representation of the first product, said virtual representation of the second product, and said first subset of restricted content, said second subset of restricted content also being associated with said user ID such that subsequent access to said website using said user ID provides access to all of said first subset of restricted content, said second subset of restricted content, said virtual representation of the first product, and said virtual representation of the second product to allow said interactings, wherein

the first product is a toy, and wherein said virtual representation of the toy is a virtual image of the toy that can be animated by a user of the website who logged in using said user ID, and wherein

the second product is an additional toy, and wherein said virtual representation of the additional toy is a virtual image of the additional toy that can also be animated by a user of the website who logged in using said user ID.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said first subset of restricted content includes a room for providing an environment for said virtual image.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said second subset of restricted content includes a game that can be played by the user of said website.

27. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a website;

registering a user on the website and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said website, said virtual representation of the first product being associated with said user ID;

registering a second product on said website;

responsive to registering the second product, displaying a virtual representation of the second product on said website, said virtual representation of the second product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id; and

registering at least one additional product on said website; and

responsive to registering the at least one additional product, displaying a virtual representation of the additional product on said website, said virtual representation of the at least one additional product also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representations said first and second products, wherein

said first, second, and said at least one additional products are all members of a collectable group of products, and wherein

when logged in with the user ID on said website, the user can select among any of said virtual representations of said first, second, and said at least one additional products.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein after said selecting, said user can manipulate said selected virtual representation in said website.

29. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

registering a first product on a computer system;

registering a user on the computer system and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said computer system;

associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

registering a second product on said computer system; and

responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on said computer system, said specialized content also being associated with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, wherein

accessing said computer system using said user ID provides access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said specialized content on said computer system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said specialized content includes virtual representation of the second product.

31. A method for providing a virtual world presentation comprising the steps of:

providing a first product that is tangible, said first product being associated with a first access code that is human readable;

accepting a manual entry of said first access code into a computer system;

registering the first product on the computer system utilizing said first access code;

registering a user on the computer system and associating that user with a user ID;

responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on said computer system;

associating said virtual representation of the first product with said user ID;

registering a second product on said computer system;

responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on said computer system; and

associating said specialized content with said user ID together with said virtual representation of the first product which is also associated with said user id, wherein

accessing said computer system using said user ID provides access to both said virtual representation of the first product and said specialized content on said computer system.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

providing the second product associated with said second access code that is human readable; and

accepting a manual entry of said second access code into a computer system prior to the step of registering the second product.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said second product is a tangible product.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said specialized content includes virtual representation of the second product.