text:
My 1977 R100RS that I bought 26 years ago and is still the best.
My 1977 R100RS that I bought 26 years ago and is still the best.
Ambassador BMW MOA Ontario Canada
President Niagara BMW Riders #298
Knights of the Roundel #333
1977 R100RS, (Retired) 1993 R100GS (just getting started)
Over the last several years, I've ridden a bunch of different bikes of all makes. My favourite of all of them is the R1200S.
But if cost were no object, I would get an R1200ST and have an HP2 Sport engine and control unit installed.
Last edited by Rinty; 12-19-2011 at 03:42 PM.
"When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."
Wow I need think about this....... 1961 R69s is awesome ride,1965,1967,1969 r60/2 are fun also, 1980 R100s is a great bike I have, 1982,1988 R100rt great in cold weather,1988 R100rs awesome ride, 1991 k100rs is nice, 2002 k1200rs gets me to the rally fast lol...... The best bike I have is a 1960 R100s convertion Im built out of parts from 1960 to 1977 bike is 95% done, hope to be done by April.
As the herd is thinned here, one bike will remain standing... the GS Adventure. It has delivered more grins, from rides short and far, with more memories, than any other.
where's the Like button?
but wait... there's more. I submit the R80G/SPD
I've been searching for the answer to this question my whole life. I have a fair collection, and I've considered all ages, nationalities, makes, models and styles. (Yes, even American, but they fell off the radar years ago) I finally whittled the field down to a few, and I can attest to the fact that the British and Italians have made a strong showing. BSA's, Triumphs, Guzzi's and Ducati's all have their strengths and can provide intense enjoyment in their specific areas. But none have really reached that level of "The Absolute Best Bike in the World".
Only a Beemer could do that. And not just any Beemer. I regularly ride a wide range of BMW's, from /2's to oil heads, but there is only one that I would keep if I had to sell all the others:
Nothing else even comes close!!
I submit that here's something that comes close; might I say even a bit better...
"all things in moderation - including moderation"
R80 G/S, traditional BMW, smooth motor and takes me to some interesting places.
2003 Suzuki DRZ 400S
sensing a slight theme here
favorite Beemer...?
had an 88 R100RT which never really sparked any love...
i love my 93 R100RS. tho i also love my 88 K100(RS). tho i do love 'em both,
the airhead has more *personality* than the K, i'd choose it as the fave-
hands down, no contest.
i submit:
I have had bigger faster and more expensive bikes
but for a fav bike
Im gonna have to go with my current ride, an 85 R80RT that is not quite stock
just wish it got better mpg
88 r100rs.
I love my 77 R 75....smooth as silk...but I have to say that my favorite is my 100 RT (1980). And I am getting happier as I lighten it up....I think I will end up with a 100/7 with a windshield when all is said and done..
Steve in Santa Fe
96' Triumph Trophy
My favorite is my current ride: 1995 R1100RSL.
Second favorite would be the one I most regret selling: 1983 R65.
Last edited by MarkM; 12-24-2011 at 02:20 PM. Reason: Fix link
Mark M, St. Louis, '13 R1200GS
My R1200GS is a great motorcycle and probably the best motorcycle I've owned. As far as my favorite? It's between my old 1991 R100GS (pictured) and the 1993 R100R I currently own. I guess I'll give the nod to the R100GS as the most fun and versatile.
14 R1200GSA, 93 R100R, 15 FJ-09, 15 Road King, 07 Moto Guzzi Griso No car is as fun to drive as any motorcycle is to ride.


text:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]But all that is circumstance. Lets get down to what this is about. Defense, and the lack thereof. Im not trying to abdicate the value of defense. The Knicks can not be, under any reasonable set of expectations or circumstances, an elite team, and almost all of that has to do with their lack of defense. From personnel, to system, to approach, their team is built to sufficiently ignore defense. The only reason they even acknowledge its existence is to get the ball back. Bear in mind Im a believer that the DAntoni Defensive Sieve is a myth. His Suns teams were far from stalwarts but nor were they the Raptors of last season. They were fine. Just not fine enough, especially not for the grotesque, misshapen, UFC-style ball that makes up the NBA playoffs. But even I can recognize that this cohesive roster is going to be abhorrent on defense.
Last year... sound familiar?
Here's my favorite part...Mike D'Antoni's excuse-making days are over By Kelly Dwyer This has to be Mike D'Antoni's low point. This has to be as bad as it gets. Has to be. Otherwise, he's got some splainin' to do. He's tried before, mind you. With the"splainin'." D'Anton has never been shy about going on record regarding why, exactly, he's not playing this guy, won't play this guy or any potential combination of the myriad things the Knicks coach can or did do to his various guys. He's been vague, he's been wrong, he's been petty, he's been right, he's been churlish and he's been charming in his explanations. But this has to be the end of it. A month left in the season, the Knicks falling short of the playoffs, the last year of the Great Do-Over, and with Jordan Hill(notes) now having passed through town - this has to be it. OK, April 6 might have to be the end of it. That's the day Nate Robinson(notes) and the Celtics pass through New York. But that has to be the end of it. It has to be D'Antoni's low point. The last chance anyone has to question him. We're allowed to question him today because D'Antoni pulled off that right/wrong/jerk-ish/petty thing yesterday...
ow... ow.... I know.... Mike D'Antoni inflates stats!Because people are doubting you. They're doubting the way you coach, they're doubting the way you handle players of any type (to say nothing of the good or bad versions of those types), and with Steve Nash(notes) out pushing a team full of 90-year-olds and Robin Lopez(notes) on a 52-win pace in a West that's harder than ever, they're wondering what it is, exactly, that you do.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]The three-pointer isn't always the best shot. Yes, the D'Antoni offense welcomes the open three, but some nights (like Thursday), those aren't going to fall. Still, quarter after quarter, the likes of Felton, Wilson Chandler and Gallinari kept firing as if points would be awarded at a volume discount. Logic says a target is easier to hit the closer you get to it, so why not try? Mid-range shots were available; the Heat were practically begging the Knicks to take them. Yet they seldom did. Though it worked out in the end as Gallinari and Fields caught fire in the fourth, far too many nights have seen the Knicks fall when their threes don't. With a team as close to being consistently good as New York is, why not take what a defense gives you? Maybe a shooter or two finds a rhythm and you won't need to stage a 29-15, fourth-quarter rally to squeeze past a Heat team minus one of its top players.
Who knows? Maybe D'Antoni found a new way to make a wheel. I bet his supporters don't know either. But hey, this game is still young.
Here's another good article on who's to blame...
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]Suspect #1: Coach Mike DAnton DAntoni has always been an offense-first type of coach. The Knicks are averaging 101.6 PPG, 11th best in the league. DAntonisfast-break style of offense has made the team seemingly one- dimensional. The Knicks are shooting only 34% from behind the arc (7th worst in the league) and grabbing only 23% of offensive rebounds(4th worst in the league). Defensively, the Knicks have been abysmal. They are giving up 104.5 PPG, (5th worst in the league). They are only rebounding 47% of missed shots(league average is around 50%) and have been allowing opponents to shoot 47.7% from the field, (5th worst in the league). Theres no excuse for the way that the Knicks have been playing. Its the coachs job to motivate the players and have them play better defense. DAntoni does not have direct control over team acquisitions, but Donnie Walsh has given DAntoni some respectable parts(McGrady) to use in this transition year. DAnton has been almost indifferent to change his lack-luster defensive approach. This team should not be allowing 104.5 PPG. DAnton has failed the Knicks and the fans of New York this season.
This is from last year, but notice we are actually givng up more points now than then. Smh.
The verdict...
Players or coach?Whos To Blame: Mike DAntoni The uninspiring play this season is solely Mike DAntonis fault. The Knicks have some good players, but he has not been able to get this team to play as a unit. Even in this transition year, Donnie Walsh has given DAntoni some respectable players. DAnton must add a new defensive outlook or his tenure in the Big Apple will come to an end.
Players or system?
Ever hear of "unintended consequences"?
This thread was created to funnel the D'Antoni -vs- the Anti-D'Antoni debates. Please stop expressing opinions about coach in other threads created for other discussions.
P.S. "Spin Doctors" need not apply.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NPCEditor: Creating Virtual Human Dialogue Using Information Retrieval Techniques
NPCEditor is a system for building a natural language processing component for virtual humans capable of engaging a user in spoken dialog on a limited domain. It uses statistical language classification technology for mapping from a user's text input to system responses. NPCEditor provides a user-friendly editor for creating effective virtual humans quickly. It has been deployed as a part of various virtual human systems in several applications.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1609/aimag.v32i2.2347
Copyright © 2017, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved.


text:
Oregon 2,000 ft Prominence Peaks > Paulina Peak / Newberry Crater > Climber's Log
Paulina Peak / Newberry Crater Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|T. White
|Great side trip
Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2014
|The road certainly didn't stop a steady stream of summer vacationers from coming up here. Neat views at the top, but wildfire smoke and thunderstorm humidity cut down on visibility. I can imagine this would've been a fantastic summit had no road been constructed.
|Posted Nov 5, 2017 2:56 am
|Ske Trip
Date Climbed: Jan 14, 2017
|XC skied up and down the road, starting from 10 mile snow park. Visited Paulina Falls along the way. Nice outing.
|Posted Jan 16, 2017 1:33 am
|drive up
Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2016
|interesting area to visit at least once. Views of the two lakes in the caldera are good. The obsidian flow in the area is also worst checking out
|Posted Aug 22, 2016 2:48 pm
|Bike up
Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2016
|Biked up from lake and rode trail around crater. Freezing fog and rain the night before.
|Posted Jul 11, 2016 12:49 pm
|Dennis Poulin
|Drive Up
Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2004
|Nice Road
|Posted Jun 8, 2016 7:04 pm
|Paulina Peak
Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015
|Good to get a drive up peak after doing Mount Jefferson, Mount Hood, and Mount Adams the previous 4 days. Clear day with great views.
|Posted Sep 16, 2015 12:25 am
Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2015
|Posted Sep 10, 2015 10:35 pm
|Paulina Biking
Date Climbed: May 24, 2015
|Road gated. Took bike to snowline, about 400 ft below top. Fast ride down.
|Posted May 26, 2015 12:54 am
Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2014
|Started on trail about halfway up Paulina Creek. Made for a wonderful day out. Aside from all the people the top is great. Views are huge!
|Posted Feb 11, 2015 5:31 pm
|Winter hike
Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2014
|Tough hike in wintery conditions even tho we simply hiked up the road from our snow camp.
|Posted Dec 28, 2014 7:29 pm
|Bob Burd
|Trail hike
Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014
|Warm up hike before doing North Sister. Trip Report.
|Posted Sep 10, 2014 7:01 pm
|Katy Y
|Sweet little leg stretcher
Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2014
|Nice shortie if you're time-poor but want a workout. Views you won't see from your car.
|Posted Jul 31, 2014 12:40 am
|Nice view
Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2012
|Good views of East and Paulina Lakes which are a great place to camp in the late summer.
|Posted Jul 1, 2014 1:14 pm
|Up the Road
Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2005
|Can't remember if I did this on 4th of July or sooner. Was on a geology field trip as part of a 6 week field mapping camp. Checked out Big Obsidian Flow too.
|Posted Jun 18, 2014 12:19 am
|Washboard Road From H-E-Double Hockey Sticks
Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2012
|I was already heading north to Bend, and it was not quite sunset, so I took a nice side-trip to Newberry Crater and Paulina Peak. Nice views at the top. It was really interesting to see the massive lake-filled caldera remnant, below. Make certain to scurry ~14' up the nearby rock outcrop to the true highpoint.
The Paulina Peak Road is the one deterrant for this peak. The road was in good condition... except for the nearly four miles of almost constant washboard effect. It was shaking my car like crazy; my car felt like a human popcorn maker.
This was the sixth of seven Top 100 Oregon peaks I summited during a 3-1/2 day timeframe.
|Posted Jul 24, 2012 7:01 pm
|Nick Turtura
Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
|Took the kids up on a hot sunny day and encountered the biggest hail I've ever seen. Awesome.
|Posted Jul 9, 2012 1:46 am
|Long walk.
Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2011
|Hour and 20 minutes up and the same down. Nice walk for the mountain we had been on (closed to cars still). Summit was gorgeous with great views of the cascades from Adams to Thielsen. Very nice place.
|Posted Jul 8, 2011 10:38 pm
|Drive up
|I think I could see every major Oregon volcano
|Posted Jan 27, 2011 11:54 pm
|Josh Lewis
|First Drive up
|For the longest time this was Michael's highest summit and my first drive up peak.
|Posted Jan 13, 2011 10:36 pm
|Troy B
|Drive Up
Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2010
|After heading up to the summit of South Sister in the morning we drove up to the summit of Paulina Peak. Amazing view of the lakes and crater.
|Posted Oct 3, 2010 6:05 pm


text:
Listen today to Rihanna's incredible new album "Loud", featuring the phenomenal debut smash single "Only Girl (In The World)". It also contains part 2 of "Love The Way You Lie" featuring Eminem and "What's My Name" featuring Drake.
After this world-class megastar wrapped up the final show of her sold-out tour "Last Girl On Earth" in Chicago, she turned her attention to her brand new fifth studio album on Def Jam Recordings. Loud is packed with up-tempo dance grooves ready for you to dance your socks off to today on Spotify, so crank up the volume and get LOUD!


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|7 Dec 2010
|Filing date
|2 Oct 2007
|Priority date
|31 Dec 2003
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Howard Ganz
|Original Assignee
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (217), Non-Patent Citations (53), Referenced by (26), Classifications (23), Legal Events (1)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation of application Ser. 11/027,271 filed on Dec. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,157 which claims the benefit of provisional applications Ser. Nos. 60/533,591 and 60/533,634, both filed on Dec. 31, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, for the limited purposes required by the law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
A Computer Program Listing Appendix filed on CD ROM in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/027,880, filed on Dec. 30, 2004 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
This application relates generally to a system and method for toy adoption and marketing.
More specifically, this application relates to an Entertainment System including a website, in combination with a commercially purchased toy, wherein the system allows a toy user to register the toy online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various activities and scenarios in a "virtual world" including a virtual representation of the toy, via a computer connected to the Internet.
Typically, a consumer purchases a toy (e.g., a stuffed plush animal or other creature, etc.) as a gift for a child, for example, and that child then uses the toy for imaginative activities. However, the toy manufacturer relationship with the toy does not typically continue until the next toy is purchased.
This lack of continuity represents a lost opportunity to take advantage of the fact that the child or other toy owner likely wants to create a whole imaginative world for the toy for play purposes. A means of creating a such an imaginative world using modern computer tools, such as a personal computer connected to the internet, wherein the toy can be utilized in a computer generated "virtual world" for various games and activities, given a name and a history, and taken care of, would allow the owner a more varied and interactive means of playing with the toy.
Further, such a virtual world could be used to maintain the relationship between the toy owner and the toy manufacturer (or, alternatively a retailer or service provider), allowing new toys, accessories, and services of the manufacturer, retailer, or other provider to be offered to the toy owner, thereby increasing the potential market for the manufacturer and increasing the usage of the toy by the user. Such a virtual world could also provide many educational and gaming scenarios that would engage a child or adult with many hours of play.
Furthermore, such a virtual world could increase the attachment that the toy owner feels for the toy, and thus increase the likelihood that additional toy or accessory purchases would occur, and also increasing the satisfaction the owner feels with the toy, thus extending the relationship between the toy manufacture and the toy owner.
Finally, by engaging the toy owner in the virtual world, advertising and other marketing advantages would likely occur because of the additional satisfaction that the toy would provide, hence leading to potential word-of-mouth and other means of marketing the toy and the website.
Accordingly, a system for creating such a virtual world to take advantage of such marketing potential might provide some or all of the listed benefits.
Provided is a method for providing a virtual world presentation to a user for entertainment. The method comprises the steps of: storing data relating to a plurality of registration codes, each of the registration codes corresponding to one of a plurality of toys; serving content, via a communication network, to a user computer; receiving one of the registration codes transmitted from the user computer via one or both of the communication network and an additional communication network; verifying the one of the registration codes against the data relating to the plurality of registration codes; registering a toy corresponding to the one of the registration codes after the verifying; and providing virtual world data for including in the content.
The virtual world data of the above method is for use by the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing the toy.
Also provided is a method for providing a virtual world presentation to a user of a toy for entertainment, comprising the steps of: a user obtaining the toy including a corresponding registration code; serving content, via a communication network, to a user computer; receiving one or both of data and commands from the user computer; verifying the toy to determining a validity of the toy; registering the toy for allowing the user to access a restricted portion of an Entertainment System; and the system providing virtual world data for including in the content.
The virtual world data of the above method is for use by the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing the toy, and further the virtual world provides a plurality of activities for the user to participate in via interactions with the user computer.
Further provided is an entertainment system for providing a virtual world for entertainment of a user of a toy. The system comprises: a server subsystem for serving content, via a communication network, to a user computer, and for receiving one or both of data and commands from the user computer; a registration subsystem for verifying and then registering the toy, wherein the verifying includes determining a validity of the toy, and wherein the registering is for allowing the user to access a restricted portion of the Entertainment System; and a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data for including in the content.
The virtual world data of this system is for use by the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing the toy.
Also provided is an entertainment system for providing a virtual world for user entertainment, which comprises: 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; a server subsystem for serving content, via a communication network, to a user computer, and for receiving one of the 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 the one of the registration codes against the data relating to the plurality of registration codes, and subsequently registering the toy in the system after the verifying; and a virtual world providing subsystem for providing virtual world data for including in the content.
The virtual world data of the above system is for use by the user computer to present a virtual world to the user, and the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing the toy.
Further provided is a toy for utilizing an entertainment system, such as the ones listed above, for providing a virtual world for entertainment of a user of the toy. The toy comprises a toy body and a registration code, and the entertainment system uses the registration code to register and verify the toy. The entertainment system presents a virtual world to the user via a user computer connected to a communication network, and the virtual world includes a virtual toy representing the toy.
Further provided is an Entertainment System as described above, including one or more of the following activities for a user:
Still further provided is a computer readable medium for storing computer readable program code for performing the method disclosed herein by utilizing a computer system, as also disclosed herein.
Provided is an Entertainment System including an online "virtual world" where the user of a toy can register the toy using a unique registration number provided with the toy at purchase, adopt the toy online, and play with a virtual representation of the toy (the "virtual toy) in the virtual world. In a current embodiment, mostly as implemented by the software of the Computer Program Listing Appendix, incorporated by reference, the "virtual world" is implemented using an interactive website via a user computer connected to the Internet. In this manner, a user can play with the virtual toy in a computer generated fantasy world (i.e., the virtual world).
Graphics, animation, sound, and even recorded images might be utilized to generate this virtual world. Even live images might be utilized, if desired. In addition, other sources of material can also be utilized. In essence, the virtual world creates an interactive playland for the toy owner to encourage imagination using the toy, and at the same time, provide an incentive to purchase additional toys or encourage additional individuals to also purchase toys in order to participate in the Entertainment System.
Throughout this disclosure, the term "virtual" is used, for example, to describe the user viewable/hearable material presented to the user on the user computer from data and/or computer programs and commands generated and/or provided by the Entertainment System, to the user computer running one or more computer applications (e.g., a web browser with the appropriate plug-ins, applets, and/or other support programs, etc.). The System provides the data and/or programs, via a communication network connected to the System and the user computer (e.g., the Internet).
The term "virtual" does not necessarily mean that the displayed item is not "real", because the displayed item could, for example, be a video or picture of a real item, for example. Furthermore, the "virtual world" is presented using "real" physical phenomena (e.g., light and sound), and is impacted by "real" user interactions (e.g., mouse and keyboard manipulations). Rather, the term "virtual" is used to describe the computer generated and/or provided presentation to the user, including both visual and audible effects, via the user computer. It is a "virtual world" in the sense that it is primarily a computer presented fantasy world with which the user can interact via manipulations of the user computer. In this manner, the "virtual" items of the virtual world can be presented as interacting with each other and with the user. Furthermore, the user is provided access to games and trivia as well.
In the current embodiment, the virtual world provides a biography of the toy, a virtual representation of the toy (the virtual toy) using graphics and/or sound (such as an animated image, for example) to participate in games and activities. The system also provides a virtual means for maintaining the "health and well-being" of the character through various maintenance activities, such as virtual feeding and playing, virtual shopping, and virtual medical checkups, for example.
Furthermore, in the current embodiment, the Entertainment System can be utilized for marketing additional toys and/or accessories and/or services related to the toy to allow restricted access to additional online activities and features to those who purchase the toys.
The Entertainment System of the current embodiment may provide some general services and features open to the public, such as information about the toys and where to purchase them, a description of the features of the website, and other similar information. However, the primary purpose of the System in the current embodiment is to encourage the public to purchase a toy to obtain a registration code for access to the primary features and services. Accordingly, the primary features of the System are restricted to registered users. The existence of the System may encourage initial sales of the toy by new users (such as via word-of-mouth from current users), and the System will also encourage the purchase of additional toys by current users.
Online sales may be supported and encouraged in an alternate embodiment, but in the current embodiment the invention is intended to be utilized to sell toys in retail establishments. Thus, the invention becomes a marketing tool, utilizing word-of-mouth and the desire to increase participation in the virtual world, and thusly makes the toys more attractive to retail merchants and increases their sales.
In essence, the present invention in its current embodiment provides an Entertainment System including an online virtual world with a virtual toy representing a toy purchased at a retail store. The toys might be plush toy animals, for example. However, there is no limit to the type of toy that the system could support, as long as the toy can be represented by a virtual replica.
The current system functions basically as follows: A consumer purchases a toy (such as the plush toy animal representing a particular animal, for example, or some other toy). The toy includes a tag attached to the toy body or the toy packaging (or alternatively, another indicator and/or a storage device) indicating a web site address and a registration code. The user can load the System web site using the web address in a browser application running on the user's computer, and then enter the registration code to register the toy, thereby obtaining access to restricted portions of the System website.
In an alternative embodiment, the code can be automatically entered via the storage device, for example, for automatically loading, and/or downloading, and/or registering the user with the System.
Registration allows the user to participate in a virtual adoption process utilizing a virtual online replica of the toy (the "virtual toy") to provide an analogous online representation of the toy. The virtual toy should look somewhat like the real toy (e.g., same type of toy, similar shapes, color patterns, etc.), but could be more "cartoonized", for example, and can be animated, which may or may not be the case for the real toy.
The registered user can then participate in various activities both for enjoyment, and to virtually "maintain" the virtual toy in a happy, healthy, contented state.
The System of the current embodiment utilizes a server subsystem including a web server subsystem for generating both dynamic and static web pages as is known in the art, and for receiving data and/or commands from the user computer. One or more databases support the functioning of this server subsystem. The web server utilizes various scripting or other executable programs for providing dynamic content to the user's computer, which is attached to the web server via some computer network, such as the Internet, for example. The web server can also utilize various animated motion programs, such as a Flash program, java scripts, etc., to provide dynamic content to the user.
If the user has not yet purchased a toy, he can still access the System 10 to obtain information about the System and/or the toys, but will not, in the current embodiment, have access to much of the site until a toy is purchased and registered.
The Entertainment System 1 is comprised of a server subsystem 2 for interacting with the users 10 via a user computer being operated by the user. The server subsystem can utilize a server 3, for serving content, including web pages, data, commands, and/or programs, for example, to the user computer. In addition, the server subsystem can include a reception subsystem 4, for receiving information and commands from the users 10. Alternatively, the server 3 and reception subsystem 4 might be combined into a single computer application, such as a commercially available web server, for example, running on one or more computers. The current system will utilize commercially available applications to implement much of the server subsystem.
The Entertainment System 1 also comprises a Storage Subsystem 5, for storing system data, user IDs and passwords, toy registration codes, personalized user information, etc. utilized by the various subsystems. The Storage Subsystem 5 of the current system will utilize a commercially available database application running on commercially available hardware, for example.
A Registration Subsystem 6 is used for registering the user and the user's toy into the system, so that the user has access to restricted portions of the system. The Registration Subsystem 6 may utilize its own dedicated application and hardware, or could be combined with or share the Server Subsystem 2 applications and/or hardware. The registration subsystem examines the registration code against stored data relating to a plurality of registration codes each representing a toy for sale.
A Virtual World Providing Subsystem 7 generates and/or provides the virtual world data to be served by the server 3 to the users 10 for use in displaying a virtual world on the users computers. Portions of this data may be generated on the fly in response to user interactions, and portions are likely to be obtained and/or derived from data stored in the Storage Subsystem 5. (For example, in the current embodiment, items owned by the user (the items in the dock for example), the virtual room state [virtual furniture in the room for example], virtual cash, health, happiness, hunger parameters are all examples of "stored data", whereas data generated on the fly include position in the room [which also gets stored], and Arcade Game scores, all of which are described in more detail below).
Again, the Subsystem 7 may utilize unique applications and/or hardware, or may be combined with one or more of the Registration Subsystem 6 and/or the Server Subsystem 2 applications and hardware.
The current embodiment can utilize the Internet as the public communications network. However, other communications networks could be utilized, such as telephone networks, cellular networks, dedicated networks, cable TV networks, power lines, etc. Furthermore, combinations of these networks can be used for various functions. However, because of the ubiquitous nature of the Internet, a solution utilizing that diverse network (which can utilize many individual communications networks) is utilized in the current embodiment.
Furthermore, the System 1 might also utilize a private communication network for at least part of the system. For example, the Registration Subsystem 6 of
Note that, although
Continuing with
In the current embodiment, the System uses an Apache web server running in a Linux environment. For webserver hardware, an Intel 2 Ghz+CPUs with 2 GB RAM running Gentoo linux with the appropriate extensions (e.g., mod_php4 and mod_perl) can be utilized. The server will serve flash content to a web browser running a web browser application using PHP, Perl, and actionscript, and flash plugins. A MySQL database application will also be utilized for the storage subsystem.
The client (user) side Flash application make the calls to a number of PHP files. These PHP files then "interface" with the MySQL database to obtain the necessary data. All are served by the Apache web server, which can serve HTML, XML, along with the appropriate flash and other content. For multi-user environments (e.g., the multi user rooms discussed below) these are served by a socket server written in Perl.
This is effectively a 3 layer type of setup: Flash layer <--> PHP layer (this handles requests to the back end) <--> MySQL database, as shown in
A secure Apache SSL server can be utilized for the registration subsystem, likely sharing the computer with the other Apache server.
Items 242, 244, and 246 are parts of adoption center (discussed below), which is a flash application with PHP backend. Item 242 provides for user registration, using a form-driven flash application which validates the registration code and creates a user account within the system. A pet creation application 244, is a form driven flash application designed for guiding the user through pet creation process, and validating the registration code.
Items 252 & 254 are Different media (files) available on the server subsystem for user use. Item 254 represents Flash Movies and Games available for the user. Item 256 represents the server side API. Chat 262 and Multi-user games interactions API (MAPI) 264 are a part of Client side API and are used for setting up and maintaining connection to the socket server, authenticating the user, and work in a pass-through mode for multi-user games/environment to exchange messages.
The scheme of the API is subdivided into Client part 280 (flash application) and Server part 270 (PHP script). Flash clip/movie Game 290 calls a function within the API client side [Core 283] passing a request to some arbitrary data. The Client side API [Generator 285] sends the request to [Parser 272] server side API. The Server side [Core 273] processes it and retrieves data from the database, wraps it in XML [Generator 274] and sends it back to the Client Side API [Parser 282], which calls specified a callback function within originator Flash clip/movie [Game 290] and passes received data to it.
To ensure users privacy, prevent cheating and preserve validity/authenticity of information, additional security layers can be designed which encrypts all data being passed back and forth in-between parts of the APIs (client/server).
The chosen Encryption technique of the current embodiment is a modification of TEA routines, using a Feistel cypher with 128 bit key. Keys are generated at the login stage and securely passed to client side via HTTPS, after which the adoption centre spawns the client side API and passes the encryption data specific for the session. Additional measures which can be taken to prevent cheating and maintain data coherency include using different permutations of the original key for every data transmission.
The software of the Computer Program Listing Appendix supports the above described current configuration of the system.
Furthermore, each virtual toy can have a specific Temperament/Personality 104 which impacts how the Happiness 101, Hunger 102, and Health 103 parameters interact with each other, and with activities in the virtual world, and how quickly they change. For example, a virtual toy representing a toy sheep might be more easily be made happy, and have less of an appetite, than a virtual toy representing a toy lion, which may be more grumpy and have a greater appetite, for example. Thus, the virtual toy sheep may be easier to please and need less food than the virtual toy lion, for example. Alternative parameters could also be utilized. For example, a robot toy might have a "charge" or "energy" level, and an automobile might have a "fuel" parameter, rather than a hunger parameter, for example.
One of the features of the Entertainment System in the current embodiment is to provide online User Games and Activities 110, which can be used to win more virtual cash 111. Some of these Games/Activities 110 are described in more detail below.
The collection of virtual cash 111 is for use in making "virtual purchases" of various "virtual commodities", for example. In the current embodiment, each registration of additional new toys adds an increasing amount of virtual cash, which is monitored and tracked by the System, the balance of which is shown to the user when the user is participating in the virtual world. Virtual cash can be earned by playing games, successfully answering trivia questions, and via other means as well.
Furthermore, Virtual Cash 111 can be used to shop for virtual furnishings and accessories 114. These can be used to furnish one or more virtual rooms set up for the virtual toy. Furthermore, by furnishing the virtual room(s) and adding virtual accessories, the well-being parameters 100 of the virtual toy can be improved by the System, especially the happiness parameter 101 and the health parameter 103. Thus, a user can improve these parameters by using virtual cash to accessorize and outfit the various virtual rooms.
Furthermore, in the current embodiment, the user can purchase virtual Food and virtually feed the virtual toy 112, in order to satisfy the virtual toy's hunger parameter 102. This will also improve the virtual toy's happiness 102 and health 103 parameters in a manner determined by the System (utilizing, for example, the temperament/personality 104 of the toy).
Finally, in the current embodiment, by playing 115 with the virtual toy, the virtual toy's happiness and health parameters are improved. Playing may, however, make the toy hungry, thus affecting the toy's hunger parameter 102. The virtual cash virtual cash may also be used to provide a virtual medical checkup for the virtual toy to improve the virtual toy's health parameter 103.
In this manner, the Entertainment System uses the well-being parameters and virtual cash to help balance a platform for providing fun and activities, with an incentive to purchase new additional toys, and to increase the user's attachment to the physical toy. The fun and enjoyment obtained through the use of the system provides free word-of-mouth advertising, which also helps sell additional physical toys. In this manner, the Entertainment System is a marketing tool that will increase the overall sales of the toys, and thus provide a benefit to retailers selling the toys.
The toys might be, for example, plush toy animals, robots, action figures, figures based on cartoon characters, vehicles, aliens, inanimate objects, etc.
The toy will be paired with a hang tag or other device having the system website address and a registration code imprinted thereon or stored therein. For example, in the current embodiment, a simple paper or cardboard hang tag, as shown in
Alternatively, an electronic storage device, such as a USB key, or wireless RF tag or Bluetooth device, could be embedded within or provided with the toy and/or its packaging at purchase. The electronic device would then have the registration code stored in the device using electronic memory (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, etc.), for example. As electronic storage devices become cheaper, using such a device for storing the registration code may become the preferred approach.
For the current embodiment, after the user takes the toy home, the user begins the registration process by visiting the Entertainment System website using the address on the tag and a user computer via an Internet connection to load the home page (see screen shot
In the current embodiment, the user then registers the toy, thus receiving access to the various online features of the invention, as discussed herein.
The registration process 124 of the current embodiment is performed by manually entering the registration code printed on the registration tag via the user computer connected to the Internet. The user also chooses a user ID and password. The System can ensure that at least the combination of ID and password is unique, or might also insure that each user ID is unique as well.
Personal information might also be requested in order to recover user ID and password information. Such personal information might be a favorite color, user's birthdate, etc.
In an alternative embodiment using an electronic storage device with the registration code stored therein, the electronic device will communication with the user computer via a corresponding device, and thus automatically or manually transfer the registration code to the user computer. For example, the System could request that the user plug in a USB key into the user computer at the appropriate time, or the user computer may wirelessly read an RF or Bluetooth device located in or on the toy.
In the current embodiment, after the user enters the registration code, and before or after the user enters the user ID and password, the System checks the registration code in any one of a number of ways. In essence, the system uses stored data relating to all of the registration codes associated with corresponding toys for sale.
The system might check the registration code against a list of valid registration codes stored in the system database, for example. In this case, the stored data are the actual registration codes themselves. If there is a match, the registration code has been validated, and the system then determines the type of toy that the user purchased based on information stored with the registration code in the database. For example, each code could be linked to information about the type of toy (e.g., a basset hound, a fish, a lion, a robot, a soldier, etc.), its coloration and appearance, its temperament, etc.
The System may display a user agreement at some point, providing the terms of usage and legal notices, for example. The System require an affirmative response from the user in order to complete registration.
In such an embodiment discussed above, it would be beneficial to make each registration code unique and complicated, in order to make it difficult for an imposter or unauthorized user to make up a code or use a previously registered number to obtain unauthorized access or unauthorized additional virtual toys.
As an alternative, after being entered, the registration code is used in a mathematical algorithm to determine its authenticity, and such an algorithm might also be used to determine the type of toy being registered. For example, all lion plush toy registration codes might start with the letter "L", and might use a following number that can be factored into exactly 5 prime numbers, for example, or the number might fall into a particular range or format. Another example is the use of an algorithmic pass-code based on a central key value. In these examples, the stored data relating to the registration codes provides the proper information to perform the validation process (e.g., the proper letters, number ranges, acceptable factors, the central key, or the algorithm itself). Accordingly, by these methods, the actual registration numbers need not be stored, but could still be verified. Then, perhaps by storing the registered registration code, uniqueness could be guaranteed by never allowing that same code to be used again.
Of course, additional techniques can be used to determine a registration code authenticity as well, as long as the registration process ensures that it is likely the user has purchased a valid toy, and thus is an appropriate user of the system.
Referring again to
The user might then be prompted to register any additional toys (128 & 130), if any. Finally, the System might provide the user with an initial virtual medical checkup 132 for the new virtual toy at a virtual clinic (see screen shot
Note that alternative means of registering the toy are also possible in alternative embodiments. For example, the user might phone in the registration code using a telephone, and be given a user ID and password, or choose one over the phone. Or the user may register the toy at the place of purchase using a dedicated or general purpose computer on a private network. Or, if the toy is purchased online, the registration might occur at the time of purchase, before the user has obtained the actual physical toy. Thus, different communication networks may be utilized for registration as are utilized for website access, for example.
The System website can present various interactive scenes into which the virtual toy is incorporated. In the current embodiment, the toy characters can be animals that reside in a virtual village, for example. New features can be opened based on the number of toy animals a user owns and registers. For example, there might be a special adventure that opens when the user purchases and registers his fifth toy, regardless of what those toys are.
In an alternative embodiment, the scenes might be customized based on the type of toy. For example, a basset hound plush animal could be shown in an urban landscape or setting. Likewise, a cow could be shown in the countryside, a monkey in the jungle, and a lobster under the sea, as additional examples.
Furthermore, in another embodiment, each type of toy might have different traits that can impact the way the toy reacts based on the type of toy. Thus, a toy lion might be a mean carnivore, while a toy monkey eats fruit and is playful, for example. Soldiers might be aggressive, while dancers are graceful, for example. Thus, any of the above concepts are not limited to animal toys, but could easily support other toys such as human dolls, robots, machines, soldiers, etc.
Having virtually adopted their toy by registering it with the System, the consumer can then participate in a variety of online games, some involving the virtual representation of the toy (i.e., the virtual toy). These games can include adventure games, trivia games, arcade-style games, and the like. Participants can collect "virtual cash", which is virtual money which can be spent to purchase virtual items for their toys, as discussed above and below. This virtual cash may or may not be useable at other sites, and may or may not represent legal tender.
Furthermore, a participant may purchase additional toys, register them, adopt them, and thus add them their virtual world, creating additional virtual toys. These purchases are preferred to be actual toy purchases using legal tender where the user obtains a real toy. However, in an alternative embodiment, "virtual toys" represented only online might also be utilized, whether purchased with legal tender or merely online "money".
Each of the new toys is, after registration, represented as a virtual toy which can interact with other virtual toys (including those created to represent other actual toys), including team game play, for example. Participants can also chat with other registered users using online chatting or posting features. The current embodiment utilizes a symbol chat with preset icons, rather than general text chat, to protect children from inappropriate language. However, generalized chatting features could also be added, such as provided by a commercially available chat program, for example.
The user might then play with the virtual toy 208 for a while, increasing the toy's health and happiness parameters. The user might then add a friend to the site, and interactively play 212 with the friend, who can be online using his own computer. The friend will have virtual toy's that can be seen and interacted with, even though the friend may be remotely located, and thus not seen by the user. The user and his friend may chat with each other using the chat icons, for example.
The user might want to perform a checkup 214 of his virtual toy, if the toy displays some low health parameters. The user might then play various online games 216, including online arcades and trivia, in order to generate more virtual cash 218. The user might then use the new virtual cash to purchase virtual food, and then virtually feed 222 the virtual toy.
If the user bought additional toys, he can register the additional toys 224, which will also generate additional virtual cash 218. The user can then use both the original virtual toy and the additional virtual toy to play together, increasing the happiness parameter of both virtual toys, and perhaps making the toys hungry. The user then might end his online activities, or continue with additional online activities in a similar manner.
Of course, actual user sessions can involve an infinite combination of the various features of the invention, and the process of
In the current embodiment, the virtual items in the virtual world can be made to interact with each other. For example, the virtual toy might sit in virtual chair, or climb on top of a virtual table. The virtual toy might walk around the virtual world, and play with its own virtual toys. Virtual toys may play and interact with each other. Virtual accessories might be placed on a table, and virtual pictures "hanged" on a virtual wall. Virtual chairs might be moved around, and slid up to a virtual table. The virtual toy might sit in a chair. Virtual food might be placed on a virtual plate, for example, and the virtual toy may simulate eating the virtual food. Thus the user is provided with an animated display of these interactions, including both video and/or audio components. In this manner, the virtual world simulates activity in the real world.
The user can also zoom in and out of various views, virtually move from room to room (i.e., display different rooms), etc. all by manipulating the mouse and keyboard of the user computer.
The virtual world and the games represented on the Entertainment System website may be changed and updated on a regular basis to maintain the interest of the user participants. For example, trivia game questions may be updated, and new games periodically added.
Further, new types of plush toy animals can be periodically introduced to encourage consumers to make additional purchases. Special or limited addition toys could be introduced, for example, on holidays. For example, an American bald eagle might be introduced to commemorate Independence Day, and a Santa Claus for Christmas. These new toys can be introduced to the user in a virtual manner, and the user encouraged to purchase the actual toy. Bonuses of virtual cash, or special activities might be provided to those who do purchase special toys.
Subsequent purchases of toys, when registered, may lead to increasingly greater deposits of virtual cash as a reward. For example, the first toy registration may lead to $1500 in virtual cash, a second purchase and registration may add $2000, and a third add $2500, for example. Furthermore, purchasing and registering a certain number of toys could lead to bonuses, such as additional virtual rooms, and/or access to additional games (e.g., an outdoor tennis court with game). These bonuses encourage subsequent purchases, and keep the user interested in both the System and the toys.
Additional features that can be included in additional embodiments, as discussed above, are incorporating a storage medium into the plush toy animal instead of, or as a complement to, the registration tags, for example. This might allow the online profile of the toy, including everything the toy has "learned", to be stored in the device with the toy. The toy could then be connected to another computer at another location, for example at a friend's house, in order to participate in online activities, as long as that computer is connected to the Internet, for example. Furthermore, the storage medium could be used to store other information for its owner, such as homework assignments, photographs, music or shortcuts to favorite online websites.
The Entertainment System website for providing this virtual world is a site where children and other toy owners that own an appropriate toy can adopt and care for their virtual toy (e.g., "virtual pets"), play games, and go on adventures, as discussed above. After registration, the user can begin to enjoy the complete 'game' in the virtual world, which is a combination of caring for the toy, going on fun adventures, being surprised by rollovers and trivia, and generally having interesting and entertaining experiences. It is a multi-faceted world, rich in amusement and learning opportunities, including both audio and video (graphics, animation, photos, etc.) representations.
In the current embodiment, there are about 7 or more main sections to explore in this virtual world.
Some of these functions and features of the current embodiment, all of which utilize parts of the software of the Computer Program Listing Appendix, and are described in more detail, below:
Home Page
This section is preferably open to the public, whether an animal has been purchased or not, and features one or more Splash movies, for example. The options presented on the home page include: a Site Tour, Collection(s) portraits—plush and virtual—of each toy animal in the collection(s), access to the Free Arcade, as well as User Log On, and Entrance to User Registration. This section can encourage a person to purchase a toy if he has not yet done so for access to other site locations. See
Adoption Center (AC)
In the AC, the user is guided through the registration process, with the help of the host, Miss Birdie, for example. A User Agreement is presented here. Each user fills in "adoption" forms here, including choosing his or her user name (or "special name") and password ("secret word"). The user enters the multi-(e.g., nine) digit alphanumeric code found on the hang tag of the toy that will authenticate his or her toy, and provide them access to the final steps of registration/adoption. See
In the current embodiment, the user is given an initial amount of "virtual cash" in order to begin "virtual furnishing" the room, purchasing "virtual food" for the toy, etc., as described in more detail above and below.
In an alternative embodiment, the user chooses the color of the toy's room, and also might choose a number (e.g., five) of free items for the toy's room. Finally, the adoption is completed with the presentation of a unique biography for the toy, randomly generated using many variables. Users have the option of changing the name of the toy, and perhaps generating a new biography.
After the successful registration of the toy, the user is brought to the clinic for a check-up/familiarization. The host for this page is a virtual doctor (e.g., Dr. Quack), who gives the virtual toy a quick check-up and gives it a clean bill of health. A user may return to the clinic at any time, for another check-up or when virtual toy's health parameter is low. If the toy requires medical attention, the user chooses and purchases medicine, for example. Other treatments may also be provided. See
Toy's Room
The virtual toy's room is made up of a series of animated (e.g., Flash based) screens that depict the virtual room or rooms where the toy "lives", "eats" and "plays". In the current embodiment, a single isometric view of the room is provided. The virtual room can, in time, be converted into a large virtual house or even multiple virtual houses, through the use of room expansions via spending the virtual cash, for example. In the current embodiment, the user can purchase virtual flooring and virtual wallpaper or paint, and virtual furnishings, to prepare the virtual room for the virtual toy. See
Virtual outdoor yards, that have their own virtual furniture and exclusive virtual objects (i.e. trees) that cannot be placed inside the house, for example, can also be provided for "purchase" using virtual cash.
In the current embodiment, a user interface section located at the bottom of the window known as the "dock", or "Control Panel" is provided, as shown in the example virtual room screen shot of
In an alternative embodiment, there might be a number (e.g. 3) of views of the room, and each scene might be accompanied by the dock.
If the user has multiple registered virtual toys, the dock interface will allow the user to switch between toys and view them when not in use. Furthermore, a plurality of virtual toys might be moved into a room for interactive play, for example.
Further, the user can add friends to a friends list, and then the friends can virtually visit each other's rooms, each seeing the same room and playing with their virtual toys, both interacting with the room objects, and chatting using a chatting tool, for example. In the current embodiment, the chatting tool can use "chat symbols", for example, rather than using typed words, so that pre-defined phrases can be chosen and transmitted to the other participant.
In an alternative embodiment, users would be encouraged to revisit be receiving daily rewards, such as an 'allowance' or pieces of a puzzle that can be put together, or one piece will be put in the puzzle box every day, thus encouraging users to revisit.
In the current embodiment, a user can go virtually "shopping" using the computer in a dedicated shopping location/room (e.g., at the "WShop"). This simulated virtual shopping experience allows the user to simulate the purchase of virtual online goods for their virtual toy(s). An example screen shot of the W shop is shown in
Furthermore, real-life shopping for additional physical toys and/or their accessories, such as via mail-order, might also be supported.
A Family Album, which may be available from the dock, for example, can be used to contain all the important documents including one or more of:
The arcade is a collection of online games for the user to play via the user computer. The user can "take" his or her toy to play some of the games games, which in turn provides them with happiness points for their happiness parameter, and allows the user to earn online virtual cash. In the current embodiment, registered users may have full access to all games, with full access requiring the purchase of a toy with the accompanying registration code and registration, although in an alternate embodiment, the arcade may be made open to the general public with limited access to some limited number of the games.
Examples of Arcade games in the current embodiment are: Bananza; Color Storm; Dashing Dolphin; Driving School; Tulip Trouble; Jazz Monsters; Leaf Leaf, Lily Padz; Icecap Adventure; Picnic; Hungry Hog; Pumpkin Patch Protector; Webkinz Wishing Well; and Wacky Zingoz, for example.
In an alternative embodiment, a virtual clubhouse is provided which is a virtual location which houses important community information. The blackboard displays statistics, such as high scores ranking for games. The usernames, or a subset of the user names (such as the first three letters, for example), of the high scores can be listed. The System website may provide users with the opportunity to provide feedback through a suggestion card interface at the Clubhouse, for example. There may also be an online survey, or Poll, area that allows administrators to poll the community's members on various topics.
Webkinz Gazette
In the current embodiment, most of the features of the above Clubhouse are provided in a virtual Newspaper (e.g., Webkinz Gazette) providing news and information, including a "What's New" section that informs users of the latest additions to the site. The virtual paper might also list the usernames (or the subset of the usernames) of the users with the high scores in various arcade games and/or trivia, for example.
In an alternate embodiment, each virtual toy belongs to one of a number of areas (e.g., Urban, Country, Undersea, Jungle), with a corresponding Adventure. Each adventure area can consist of a large isometric map in four quadrants, and detailed scenes for playing games. The map is constructed in a maze-like fashion that allows the user to explore the different areas of the environment. The map is embedded with rollovers, pop-ups, trivia questions, and various virtual collectible objects that the virtual toy can pick up along the way. Within the map, there may be five or more extended play areas (the "scenes") that allow the user to play games that provide virtual prizes and clues to aid them in completing the adventure. Upon completion of the initial adventure, the user acquires a special virtual key. There are a number of virtual keys (e.g. four keys) in total, one from each adventure area in the series. As a bonus for recovering all of the keys, the user is granted access to a "Wonder World", or "WW". (See below.)
Adventures can be an important part of play at the website. The game could involve a number of separate environments (e.g. four). Initially, each adventure takes place only in the designated environment (e.g., Jungle, Undersea, Urban and Country). Every adventure involves points and/or virtual cash. The virtual cash is useful in the virtual World as the users can make virtual purchases for their toys. In an alternative embodiment, after the user buys a number of toys (one from each environment, for example) and registers them and successfully completes the adventures, he or she can go to another (e.g. fifth) environment called the Wonder World (WW).
Each additional registered toy can add new sections to the adventure areas of the virtual website for the individual user. The only way a user can experience these additions is to buy a new toy, an accessory, or perhaps a service (whether virtual or actual—both can be supported). This will give the toy owner added value and entertainment. If the user has more that one toy from the same environment, they will have the option to go on an "extreme adventure" that combines the use of all owned and registered toys.
Multiple product purchases will be encouraged through access to new features being opened to use once the purchaser has entered multiple registration codes into the system. For example, while the first pet code opens access for the basic features of the site, the third pet code entered on the same account may open access to a virtual pet adventure, and the fifth pet code entered may add a special room to the virtual toy's house, such as a home theatre or tennis court.
In an alternate embodiment, core functionality could also require multiple product purchases, such as multi-use play being only accessible from the magical land of a Wonderworld (WW) that is accessed through the purchase of a set of toys. One of the things the user could get in WW is access to the "Magic W", represented by a giant statue of a 'W' in the middle of WW. When the user gets to the Magic W, they get a virtual ring version of the magic W in his or her dock. This will enable the user to initiate some multi-use activities on the website, among other things.
In WW, there may be a midway full of virtual games, a vast magical virtual land, a virtual puzzle center, and a virtual vector world. This world can be made growing all the time and thus be full of excitement. In the center of it all, is the magic "W". Here, the user can play in a new world that allows them to participate in multi-user games, multi-user adventures, and a user chat interface developed to utilize pre-scripted phrases and symbols, for the safety of the users.
Quizzy's Question Corner"
This is an area for users to answer trivia questions and age-appropriate educational questions based on U.S. and Canadian educational standards. In the current embodiment, the questions can be sorted by age in a "Learn and Play" section and there is a daily Trivia question that is tracked so that a user at anytime can answer the historical daily trivia question. Both sections reward the user with virtual cash and virtual stickers that are stored and viewable in a virtual sticker album. The user can earn virtual cash by correctly answering the questions.
The multi-use capabilities of the site are used in the current embodiment to increase user satisfaction. Users can "invite" their friends (other users) over to their room and interact with the room objects together, including playing games. This can occur even though the users may be remotely located from one-another using different user computers. These multiplayer concepts might be brought into the Question Corner and Arcade allowing for competitive play between multiple users.
Some of the features of the current embodiment include the option to offer various additional toys, accessories, and/or services to the user, whether real or virtual, and perhaps entwined with the activities being participated in the virtual world (such as via a game, for example, or a health checkup, etc.). Some of the characters found in the current embodiment are Ms Birdie—The adoption centre penguin; Dr. Quack—The clinic duck; and Quizzy—The Quizzy's Question Corner bear.
The site web pages should be quick to load so as to make it useful and fun. Finally, additional enhancements can be provided for additional benefits. For example, some information on the toy might be stored locally, such as on a USB key, which can be carried by the user and used to access the site from various locations.
The Computer Program Listing on CD ROM made a part of this application provides the preferred code at the time of its generation for implementing the above system on a web server as is known in the art. The features and functionality of this code are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention has been described hereinabove using specific examples; however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives may be used and equivalents may be substituted for elements or steps described herein, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Modifications may be provided to adapt the invention to a particular situation or to particular needs without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular implementation described herein, but that the claims be given their broadest interpretation to cover all embodiments, literal or equivalent, covered thereby.
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|U.S. Classification
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|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification