Method and apparatus for dynamic enhancement of video games with vendor specific data

Abstract

An enhancement system for videogames employs data captured from a delivery vehicle associated with a vendor supplied product as a keycode to obtain or to directly provide data to enhance the videogame. Statistics on use of the enhancement data is then accumulated and reported to the vendor for marketing analysis. Opportunities for cross marketing for the vendor supplied product, the video game and the device on which the video game operates is provided by the system.

1 . A video game enhancement system comprising: 
 means for operating a video game including a computer processing system, game controller and a display;    a data capture device interfaced to the operating means and having means for capturing data from a delivery vehicle associated with a vendor supplied product;    means for integrating new capability into the video game responsive to the captured data.    
   
   
       2 . A system as described in  claim 1  further comprising means for transmitting data reflecting usage of the captured data to an external collection means.  
   
   
       3 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein the data capture device comprises a video camera.  
   
   
       4 . A system as described in  claim 3  wherein the delivery vehicle comprises packaging for the product having a machine readable pattern imprinted thereon.  
   
   
       5 . A system as described in  claim 4  wherein the means for capturing data comprises a decoding module responsive to the machine readable pattern.  
   
   
       6 . A system as described in  claim 5  wherein the machine readable pattern is decoded by the decoding module as a keycode.  
   
   
       7 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein the means for integrating new capability comprises: 
 a remote server storing enhancement data for the video game;    a communications module incorporated in the operating means for communication with the remote server responsive to the data capturing means;    a processing module in the remote server responsive to a keycode from the communications module, the keycode captured from the delivery vehicle;    a delivery module in the remote server enabled by the processing module to transmit enhancement data corresponding to the keycode to the communications module; and,    means for incorporating the enhancement data into the video game.    
   
   
       8 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein the delivery vehicle incorporates a readable data storage medium and the capture means comprises means for reading enhancement data stored on the readable storage medium, and the means for integrating new capability comprises a module in the operating means responsive to the reading means for incorporating the enhancement data into the video game.  
   
   
       9 . A system as described in  claim 8  wherein the readable data storage medium comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and the capture means comprises a RFID reader.  
   
   
       10 . A system as described in  claim 8  further comprising means for transmitting data reflecting usage of the enhancement data to an external collection means.  
   
   
       11 . A system as described in  claim 2  wherein the transmitting means comprises a reporting module in the operating means for transmitting identifying characteristics of the operating means and enhancement data derived from the captured data and wherein the external collection means comprises a remote server and a communications module incorporated in the operating means for communication with the remote server responsive to the reporting module.  
   
   
       12 . A system as described in  claim 11  further comprising an access data pack incorporated in the remote server for access by the vendor of the supplied product, the access data pack receiving the identifying characteristics transmitted by the reporting module.  
   
   
       13 . A system as defined in  claim 5  wherein the machine readable pattern comprises a barcode.  
   
   
       14 . A system as defined in  claim 5  wherein the machine readable pattern comprises a data matrix.  
   
   
       15 . A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for integrating new capability comprises: 
 locked enhancement data pre-stored within the video game;    a processing module in the operating means responsive to a keycode from the communications module, the keycode captured from the delivery vehicle; and,    means for enabling operating means to access locked enhancement data corresponding to the keycode.    
   
   
       16 . A method for enhancement of a video game comprising the steps of: 
 providing a vendor supplied product including a delivery vehicle carrying data for capture;    interfacing a data capture device to an operating system for the video game;    exposing the delivery vehicle to the data capture device; and,    enhancing the video game responsive to the captured data.    
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 16  further comprising the step of providing information reflecting usage of the captured data to an external collection server.  
   
   
       18 . A method as defined in  claim 16  wherein the step of providing a vendor supplied product including a delivery vehicle carrying data for capture includes printing a machine readable code on the delivery vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . A method as defined in  claim 16  wherein the step of enhancing the video game responsive to the captured data includes the steps of: 
 decoding the captured data as a keycode;    accessing enhancement data responsive to the keycode; and,    incorporating the enhancement data into the videogame.    
   
   
       20 . A method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the step of accessing enhancement data comprises the steps of: 
 transmitting the keycode to a remote server; and,    supplying enhancement data from the remote server to the operating system responsive to the keycode.    
   
   
       21 . A method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the step of accessing enhancement data comprises the step of: 
 unlocking locked predetermined enhancement data in the videogame responsive to the keycode.    
   
   
       22 . A method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the enhancement data comprises a predetermined selection from character appearance data and performance enhancement data.  
   
   
       23 . A method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the step of incorporating the enhancement data further comprises the step of selecting desired enhancements from a menu of predetermined enhancement data presented responsive to the keycode.  
   
   
       24 . A method as defined in  claim 17  further comprising the steps of: 
 accumulating usage data in a data access pack; and    providing the data access pack to the vendor of the supplied product.