System and method for toy adoption and marketing

• US 9,238,171 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard Ganz
• Original Assignee: Howard Ganz
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Anil N
• Application Number:
  US13/183,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 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

Provided are a method and computer system that provide a virtual world. A server of the computer system includes a storage subsystem that stores two or more items of different personalized information about multiple different users, including different user identifications and passwords associated with the user identifications respectively representing the users. The server computer system is programmed to accept login credentials including a user identification and password and validate the login credentials. The server computer system is also programmed to control formation of a first user account and storage of the first user identification and first password. The storage subsystem stores information about registration codes that have not yet been entered. Further, the server computer system is programmed to accept entry of one or more of the registration codes that have not yet been entered and, based on entry of the registration codes, to associate stored information indicative of the one registration code with the first user identification.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a computer based server to operate a website that displays a number of different virtual items,

where said computer based server maintains information about a plurality of different user accounts,

and where each of said different user accounts includes information indicative of a number of virtual items associated therewith, and also includes individualization information for said virtual items, and includes accessory information for said virtual items,

where said individualization information is used by the computer based server to provides a benefit to a virtual item on the website,

and wherein said computer based server runs said website to host hosts a plurality of different activities which control interacting with said virtual items on said website, and based on said interacting with said virtual items, earning virtual cash that does not represent legal tender for use on said website to purchase said virtual items;

said website comprising an E store function which controls purchasing said virtual items, said E store function accepting said virtual cash and also accepting credit cards indicative of real cash that represents legal tender for purchases of said virtual items,

and said E store function controlling purchasing virtual items and receiving other items that affect said benefit of said virtual items based on said purchasing, where each said virtual item has a profile that effects how the benefit effects the each said virtual item,

said virtual accounts in said user account stores parameters that represent well-being of each virtual item, and where a value of said parameters are tracked and displayed to the user, and where said profile sets an amount by which said benefit affects the each said virtual item, where a virtual item with a first profile receives a first increase to its well-being based on said benefit and a second virtual item with a second profile receives a second increase less than said first increase to its well-being based on said benefit, wherein said other items are credited to said user account, and wherein said E store function also controls purchasing real items which are to be sent to a user by physical delivery in response to being purchased via said E store function, wherein said other items that benefit to said virtual item include virtual accessories for a virtual room where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases a well-being value of said parameters indicative of well-being, and where is a said parameters indicative of well-being include separate parameters indicative of first, second and third well being parameters on the website, where each of the first, second and third well being parameters are different and separate parameters on the website.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first, second and third well-being parameters include separate parameters indicative of all of health, happiness and hunger on the website.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said controlling purchasing real items comprises authorizing distribution of a physical product embodying the real item to the user, said physical product including a registration code associated therewith, accepting entry of said registration code entered by said user on said website, storing an indication that said real item has been purchased by said user in one of the plurality of different user accounts belonging to said user, associating a virtual representation of said physical product in said one of the plurality of different user accounts, and based on said storing, displaying on said website said virtual representation which substantially resembles said real product.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein accepting said registration code comprises receiving said registration code over the Internet.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased include virtual food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said information indicative of hunger.

6. A method as in claim 2, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased include a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health.

7. A method as in claim 2, wherein said virtual cash is used for shopping for said other items for said virtual item, wherein providing said other items to said virtual item changes said information indicative of happiness.

8. A method as in claim 2, wherein said other items also include all of virtual food, a virtual medical checkup and at least one additional item, and said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual food to feed the virtual item and change said information indicative of hunger;

said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual medical checkup to be given to said virtual item and change said information indicative of health; and

said virtual cash is used for shopping for the at least one additional item for said virtual item to be provided to said virtual item and change said information indicative of happiness.

9. A method, comprising:

using a computer based server to operate a website that displays a number of different virtual items, where said computer based server maintains information about a plurality of different user accounts, and where each of said different user accounts includes information indicative of a number of virtual items associated therewith with a user associated with the user account, and also includes individualization information for said virtual items, and includes accessory information for said virtual items,

where said individualization information includes a first parameter representing health of the virtual item, a second parameter representing, happiness of the virtual item and a third parameter representing hunger of said virtual items,

and wherein said website hosts a plurality of different activities which allow interacting with said virtual items on said website, and based on said interacting with said virtual items, earning virtual cash that does not represent legal tender for use on said website to purchase said virtual items;

on said website,

adding information indicative of a product to said website as part of a registration process, said product being one that was purchased outside of the website;

and said website comprising a E store function which controls purchasing said virtual items, said E store function controlling purchasing said virtual items and receiving other items that provide a benefit to a virtual item on the website based on said purchasing, wherein said other items are credited to said user account, wherein at least one of said virtual items and/or other items bought and/or received from said E store are automatically registered and information indicative of registration is automatically associated with the user'"'"'s account, and where the information indicative of the registration includes information of an individual virtual item, and information about a profile for said individual virtual item that affects how the first, second and third parameters are affected by actions on the website, where a profile for a first virtual item is different than a profile for a second virtual item, wherein said other items that benefit to said virtual item include virtual accessories for a virtual room where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases a well-being value of said parameters indicative of well-being, wherein said parameters indicative of well-being include separate parameters indicative of first, second and third well being parameters on the website, where each of the first, second and third well being parameters are different and separate parameters on the website.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said first, second and third well-being parameters affects all of health, happiness and hunger on the website.

11. A method as in claim 9, further comprising authorizing physical distribution of the product, which includes a registration code associated therewith, wherein said registering comprises accepting said registration code that was manually entered by a recipient of the product on said website.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising storing an indication of a virtual representation in one of said different user accounts associated with said recipient of the product, and based on said storing, displaying said virtual representation which substantially resembles said product.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased comprise virtual food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said information indicative of hunger.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased comprise a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health.

15. A method as in claim 10, wherein said other items to said virtual item changes at least one of said first, second and third parameters and include virtual accessories for a virtual room, where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases said at least one of said parameters.

16. A method as in claim 10, wherein said other items include all of virtual food, a virtual medical checkup and at least one additional item, and said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual food to feed the virtual item and change said information indicative of hunger;

said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual medical checkup to be given to said virtual item and change said information indicative of health; and

said virtual cash is used for shopping for the at least one additional item for said virtual item to be provided to said virtual item and change said information indicative of happiness.

17. A method as in claim 9, wherein said E store function also allows purchasing real items which are sent to a user by physical delivery in response to being purchased via said E store function.

18. A system, comprising:

a computer running computer instructions which when executed operates a website that displays a number of different virtual items, where said computer includes a memory that maintains information about a plurality of different user accounts, and where each of a plurality of said user accounts includes information indicative of a number of virtual items associated therewith, and also includes individualization information for said virtual items, and includes accessory information for said virtual items, where said individualization information is used by the computer to provide a benefit to a virtual item on the website, and wherein said computer instructions running on said computer hosts a plurality of different activities which allow interacting with virtual items on said website, and based on said interacting with said items, earning virtual cash that does not represent legal tender for use on said website to purchase said virtual items;

said computer operating a routine controlling a user to manually register a product on said website, said product being one that was purchased outside of the website; and

said computer running an E store function which controls purchasing said virtual items, wherein said virtual items bought by the user from said E store are automatically registered and information indicative of registration is automatically associated at least one of the different user accounts that is associated with the user, and where the information indicative of the registration includes information of an individual virtual item, and information about a profile for said individual virtual item that affects how the individual virtual item is affected by actions on the website, where a profile for a first virtual item is different than a profile for a second virtual item, wherein said other items that benefit to said virtual item include virtual accessories for a virtual room where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases a well-being value of said parameters indicative of well-being, wherein said benefit to said virtual item is automatically received upon registering the virtual item where said parameters indicative of well-being include separate parameters indicative of first, second and third well being parameters on the website, where each of the first, second and third well being parameters are different and separate parameters on the website.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein said parameters indicative of well-being include a change to said first well being parameter representing health of the virtual item, a change to said second well being parameter representing happiness of the virtual item and a change to said third well being parameter representing hunger of said virtual items on the website.

20. A system as in claim 18, wherein the product comprises a physical product which includes a registration code associated therewith, wherein said computer accepts said registration code that was entered by said user on said website.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein said computer stores an indication of a virtual representation in said at least one of the different user accounts associated with the user, and displays said virtual representation which substantially resembles said physical product based on the indication of said virtual representation stored in the at least one of the different user accounts associated with the user.

22. A system as in claim 19, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased comprise virtual food to feed the virtual item on said computer, where feeding the virtual item changes said information indicative of hunger.

23. A system as in claim 19, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase said other items, and said other items purchased comprise a virtual medical checkup on said computer, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health.

24. A system as in claim 19, wherein said benefit changes at least one of said first, second and third parameters and includes virtual accessories for a virtual room, where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases said at least one of said first, second and third parameters.

25. A system as in claim 18, wherein said other items include all of virtual food, a virtual medical checkup and at least one additional item, and said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual food to feed the virtual item and change said information indicative of hunger;

said virtual cash is used to purchase said virtual medical checkup to be given to said virtual item and change said information indicative of health; and

said virtual cash is used for shopping for the at least one additional item to be provided to said virtual item and change said information indicative of happiness.

26. A system as in claim 18, wherein said E store function also providing real items which are purchased and sent to a user by physical delivery.

27. A method comprising:

interacting with a website that displays a number of different virtual items, said interacting comprising sending information indicating login credentials for a first user account;

responsive to sending said login credentials, receiving information indicative of said first user account including information indicative of a number of virtual items associated with said first user account, and individualization information for said number of virtual items, and also accessory information for said number of virtual items;

displaying said information indicative of the number of virtual items and said individualization information, where said displaying said individualization information includes displaying parameters representing an amount of a benefit to a virtual item on the website;

interacting with a plurality of different activities using said number of virtual items, and based on said interacting with said number of virtual items, receiving an indication of an amount of virtual cash earned by the user for use on said website to purchase other virtual items;

purchasing a first item on an E Store using said virtual cash and receiving said first item as associated with said first user account;

purchasing a second item on said E store which is an item that is not a virtual item and is sent to the user by physical delivery, wherein said first virtual product is also sold in said E store, and further comprising automatically associating said information from said registration code of said first virtual product with said first user account, when purchased at the E store,

where said item that is not a virtual item is a physical product, where the physical product has a first look and is associated with a registration code, and further comprising entering said code on said website, and receiving an indication of a representation which resembles said physical product as a representation in said user account, and based on said storing, displaying said representation to a user, and where said indication of the representation also includes a profile for said representation that affects how the representation is affected by actions on the website, where the profile for a first virtual item is different than the profile for a second virtual item, wherein said other items that benefit to said virtual item include virtual accessories for a virtual room where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases a well-being value of said parameters indicative of well-being, wherein said benefit to said virtual item is automatically received on registration of the virtual item, and where said parameters indicative of well-being include separate parameters indicative of first, second and third well being parameters on the website, where each of the first, second and third well being parameters are different and separate parameters on the website.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein said benefit to said virtual item includes a parameter that effects all of health, happiness and hunger on the website.

29. A method as in claim 27, where said purchasing the second item affects said health, happiness and hunger of said number of virtual items that are associated with said first user account, and change said displaying of said parameters representing said health happiness and hunger.

30. A method as in claim 27, further comprising obtaining a first virtual product which includes a registration code associated therewith, and entering said registration code into a computer to associate information from said registration code with said first user account.

31. A method as in claim 28, further comprising using said virtual cash to purchase food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said parameter indicative of hunger.

32. A method as in claim 28, further comprising using said virtual cash to purchase a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health.

33. A method as in claim 28, wherein said benefit changes at least one of said first, second and third parameters and includes virtual accessories for a virtual room, where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases said at least one of said parameters.

34. A method as in claim 28, further comprising using said virtual cash to purchase food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said parameter indicative of hunger;

said virtual cash is used to purchase a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health; and

said virtual cash is used for shopping of items for said virtual item, wherein providing said items to said virtual item changes said information indicative of happiness changes said information indicative of happiness.

35. A method as in claim 27, where said first user account includes information indicative of more than one virtual item.

36. A method, comprising:

using a computer based server to operate a website that displays a number of different virtual items, where said computer based server maintains information about a plurality of different user accounts, and where each of a plurality of said user accounts includes information indicative of at least first and second virtual items, and also includes individualization information for said first and second virtual items, and includes accessory information for said virtual items, where said individualization information includes parameters representing an amount of a benefit to a virtual item on the website,

using said computer based server for hosting a plurality of different activities on said website, said hosting including interacting with said first and second virtual items on said website;

based on said interacting with said items, providing virtual cash on said website associated with one of said user accounts, for use on said website to purchase virtual items;

first accepting a code on said website that controls registering a product on the website that was purchased outside of the website, said first accepting associating information indicative of the registering with a user account, where information indicative of the registering comprises said first virtual item, and where said first virtual item is associated with said product; and

operating an E store function on said website which controls purchasing said second virtual item; and

automatically registering said second virtual item purchased from said E store function and automatically associating information indicative of the registering with a user account

profile for said second virtual item that affects how said second virtual item is affected by actions on the website, and where the profile for the second virtual item is different than a profile for the first virtual item, wherein said other items that benefit to said virtual item include virtual accessories for a virtual room where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases a well-being value of said parameters indicative of well-being, wherein said benefit to said virtual item is automatically received on registration of the virtual item, and where said parameters indicative of well-being include separate parameters indicative of first, second and third well being parameters on the website, where each of the first, second and third well being parameters are different and separate parameters on the website.

37. A method as in claim 36, wherein said benefit to said virtual item includes a change to said first parameter representing health of the virtual item, a change to said second parameter representing happiness of the virtual item and a change to said third parameter representing hunger of said virtual items.

38. A method as in claim 36, wherein said user accounts store information about a plurality of different information indicative of the registering.

39. A method as in claim 37, wherein said E store function controls purchasing virtual items and receiving items that effect said health, happiness and hunger of said virtual items based on said purchasing, wherein said items are credited to said user account to change said health happiness and hunger of said virtual items based on said purchasing at the store.

40. A method as in claim 36, further comprising distributing a physical product which includes a registration code associated therewith, where the physical product has a look, and wherein said manually registering comprises accepting entry of said code on said website, and providing said virtual item, where said virtual item resembles the physical product.

41. A method as in claim 37, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said parameter indicative of hunger.

42. A method as in claim 37, wherein said virtual cash is used to purchase a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health.

43. A method as in claim 37, wherein said benefit changes at least one of said first, second and third parameters and includes virtual accessories for a virtual room, where adding said virtual accessories to said virtual room increases said at least one of said parameters.

44. A method as in claim 37, further comprising using said virtual cash to purchase food to feed the virtual item, where feeding the virtual item changes said parameter indicative of hunger;

said virtual cash is used to purchase a virtual medical checkup, where getting the virtual medical checkup changes said information indicative of health; and

said virtual cash is used for shopping for items for said virtual item, wherein providing said items to said virtual item changes said information indicative of happiness changes said information indicative of happiness.

45. A method as in claim 36, wherein said E store function also provides real items which are purchased and sent to a user by physical delivery in addition to said virtual items which are delivered on said website.