# US 2014/0196136 A1 · Unlocking Virtual Items for Online Use and in Video Games

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- Number: US 2014/0196136 A1
- Document ID: US20140196136A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/205,184
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-29
- Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Applicants: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors: Greg Hill; Stephanie Meyer; Mark Harwood
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196136A1

## CPC

- A63F 13/69: by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
- A63F 13/65: automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
- A63F 13/71: using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
- A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
- G06Q 20/1235: {with control of digital rights management [DRM]}
- G06Q 20/384: {using social networks}
- H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)}
- H04L 67/131: Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
- A63F 13/95: Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
- A63F 2300/513: server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
- A63F 2300/5553: user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
- A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items
- A63F 2300/609: for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
- A63F 2300/69: Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
- A63F 2300/8064: Quiz
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

There is provided a system and method for providing access to a virtual object corresponding to a real object. There is provided a method comprising authenticating a user account for a networked application, confirming a validity of a user provided code, wherein the code is visible on the real object or on accompanying materials of the real object, and granting the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity. As a result, users are enabled to enjoy interactions with real objects as well as corresponding virtual objects both in an offline video game context and in an online network application context.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

A method for use by a hardware processor for providing access to a virtual object, the method comprising:
authenticating, by the hardware processor, a user account for a networked application;
confirming, by the hardware processor, a validity of a code, wherein the code becomes visible to a user by solving a puzzle; and
granting, by the hardware processor, the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising:
causing the networked application to show the virtual object on a display.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein prior to confirming the validity of the code the method further comprises:
receiving the code from a user input.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the code is embedded in the puzzle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the code comprises a string of numeric digits.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the code comprises a string of alphanumeric digits.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the code comprises a bar code.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the visual object comprises a piece of clothing wearable by an avatar of the user account in the networked application.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the networked application comprises a persistently online social networking application.

### Claim 30

A server for providing access to a virtual object, the server comprising:
a hardware processor configured to:
authenticate a user account for a networked application;
confirm a validity of a code, wherein the code becomes visible to a user by solving a puzzle; and
granting the user account access to the virtual object for use in the networked application in response to the confirming of the validity.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to cause the networked application to show the virtual object on a display.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein prior to confirming the validity of the code the hardware processor is further configured to receive the code from a user input.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the code is embedded in the puzzle.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the code comprises a string of numeric digits.

### Claim 35 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the code comprises a string of alphanumeric digits.

### Claim 36 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the code comprises a bar code.

### Claim 37 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the visual object comprises a piece of clothing wearable by an avatar of the user account in the networked application.

### Claim 38 (depends on 30)

The server of claim 30, wherein the networked application comprises a persistently online social networking application.