Linking token detection at a single computing platform with a user identification to effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9922185-B2
Application number	US-201414513530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Dec 26, 2012
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

Token detection at a single computing platform may be linked with a user identification to unlock content and/or effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms, in accordance with one or more implementations. Exemplary implementations may enhance consistency in a user's experiences of a virtual space across multiple computing platforms.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured to link token detection at a single computing platform with a user identification to effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms, the system comprising;
one or more hardware processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
manage user identifications associated with users of the system, the user identifications including a first user identification associated with a first user;
implement instances of a virtual space to determine views of the virtual space for presentation via computing platforms associated with the users, the instances of the virtual space including a first instance and a second instance, both the first instance and the second instance being associated with the first user identification, the first instance being configured for presentation via a first computing platform, the second instance being configured for presentation via a second computing platform, both the first computing platform and the second computing platform being associated with the first user identification, the first computing platform being configured to facilitate communicative coupling with a token reader, the second computing platform lacking capability to communicatively couple with the token reader;
effectuate communication of information defining the determined views of the virtual space to the computing platforms for presentation of the views on the computing platforms, the views of the virtual space including virtual space content, such that determined views of the first instance of the virtual space are communicated to the first computing platform, and the determined views of the second instance of the virtual space are communicated to the second computing platform, wherein the views of both the first instance and the second instance of the virtual space include a first character controlled by the first user and/or a first virtual item used by the first user;
detect physical tokens based on signals received from the token reader, the token reader being communicatively coupled with the first computing platform, a given physical token being a standalone physical object, the physical tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token;
associate detection of individual physical tokens with individual user identifications, detection of the first token being associated with the first user identification responsive to the first signal being received from the token reader communicatively coupled with the first computing platform; and
effectuate modifications to virtual space content present in the views of the virtual space responsive to individual physical tokens being detected, the modifications including a first modification configured to be made responsive to the association between the detection of the first token and the first user identification, the first modification being observable in both the first instance via the first computing platform and the second instance via the second computing platform, the first modification including one or both of a modification to the first character or a modification to the first virtual item.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instances of the virtual space further include a third instance associated with the first user identification, the third instance being configured for presentation via a third computing platform associated with the first user identification, and wherein the first modification is observable in the third instance via the third computing platform.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first computing platform is a stationary computing platform and the second computing platform is a mobile computing platform.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first token is configured to depict one or both of the first character or the first virtual item.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first modification is the modification to the first character, the modification to the first character including a modification to one or more of a behavior of the first character, an ability of the first character, an appearance of the first character, or a relationship of the first character.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first modification is the modification to the first virtual item, the modification to the first virtual item including a modification to one or more of a function of the first virtual item, an effectiveness of the first virtual item, or an appearance of the first virtual item.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured by computer readable instructions to provide a virtual item repository within the virtual space, the virtual item repository being configured to provide access by a plurality of characters to a plurality of virtual items, the plurality of characters including the first character and the plurality of virtual items including the first virtual item.

8. A system configured to link token detection at a single computing platform with a user identification to effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms, the system comprising:
one or more hardware processors configured by computer readable instructions to:
manage user identifications associated with users of the system, the user identifications including a first user identification associated with a first user;
implement instances of a virtual space to determine views of the virtual space for presentation via computing platforms associated with the users, the instances of the virtual space including a first instance and a second instance, both the first instance and the second instance being associated with the first user identification, the first instance being configured for presentation via a first computing platform, the second instance being configured for presentation via a second computing platform, both the first computing platform and the second computing platform being associated with the first user identification, the first computing platform being configured to facilitate communicative coupling with a token reader, the second computing platform lacking capability to communicatively couple with the token reader;
effectuate communication of information defining the determined views of the virtual space to the computing platforms for presentation of the views on the computing platforms, the views of the virtual space including virtual space content, such that determined views of the first instance of the virtual space are communicated to the first computing platform, and the determined views of the second instance of the virtual space are communicated to the second computing platform, wherein the views of both the first instance and the second instance of the virtual space include a first set of virtual space content observable the first user;
detect physical tokens based on signals received from the token reader, the token reader being communicatively coupled with the first computing platform, a given physical token being a standalone physical object, the physical tokens including a first token, the first token being detectable based on a first signal conveying information associated with the first token;
associate detection of individual physical tokens with individual user identifications, detection of the first token being associated with the first user identification responsive to the first signal being received from the token reader communicatively coupled with the first computing platform; and
effectuate modifications to the virtual space content present in the views of the virtual space responsive to individual physical tokens being dete

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Vignocchi John G
• Nelson Robert
• Bunker Jeffrey
• Leavitt Troy
• Lowe Robert
• Blackburn John
• Shen Christopher

Classifications

• G06F2221/2109

  Game systems · CPC title

• G06F21/00

  Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity · CPC title

• G06F21/34 Primary

  involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards · CPC title

• G06F2221/2147

  Locking files · CPC title