Patent US6200216B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6200216B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic trading card
Assignee: Seed Spring LLC
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Filing: 1995-03-06
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Granted: 2001-03-13
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Expires: 2015-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for the application of a trading card metaphor to a disassociated computer program and the unique design of several hardware and software systems supports and enhances collecting, trading, game playing, and creating of digital electronic trading cards by taking the traditional trading card metaphor and uniquely updating and enhancing it for application in consumer digital media. An electronic hardware and software architecture for electronic trading cards (ETCs) has a number of components that function together as a system that support making electronic trading cards, trading electronic trading cards, activities (such as game playing) with electronic trading cards, and collecting electronic trading cards. The ETC format is embodied in the components of the electronic trading card system, which are designed to generate and accept a common proprietary electronic trading card format, so that, for example, a card created in a card-making application can be recognized by an electronic trading card album. The card format supports both scarcity and authenticity, which are essential to card collecting and trading, within a disassociated computer code segment.
Inventors
- 👤 Tyler Peppel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:11
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F1/00; A63F1/04; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A system for the implementation of a trading card metaphor, comprising: a disassociated computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A system for the implementation of a trading card metaphor, comprising: a disassociated computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
The system of claim 1 , said electronic format further comprising: an ETC header identification code that uniquely identifies the ETC; an optional lock and key mechanism to limit access and impose password protection on the ETC; an ETC graphic identification code that may include any of an audio visual logo, a copyright notice, and company information; multimedia data that may include any of animation, video, pictures, sounds, and text; pointers to external data and programs embedded in scripts that trigger the display of external media or run external applications; utility programs; applications, including any of incomplete linkable code segments, games, puzzles, and utilities; and a user writable area for any of personalization, messages, voice recording, image storage, and score keeping.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 2 , said utility programs further comprising any of: copy protection schemes, print drivers, telecommunications protocols, and self destruction routines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said ETC is transportable across a wide range of digital media, including CD-ROM, networked servers, fixed discs, floppy discs, data cards, writable optical storage, and RAM.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said trading card metaphor is a puzzle distributed to at least two ETCs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein said puzzle uses timing to generate scarcity in ETCs in any of the following ways: said ETCs self-destruct or self erase after a given time has elapsed; said ETCs are made available for limited times on on-line systems; and said ETCs are time stamped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said ETC is copy protected to limit the number of times said ETC can be copied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 7 , said ETC further comprising: public-key/private-key encryption means for detecting illegal copying.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said ETC is randomly distributed in partial sets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a runtime engine that must be present in a local computing device for a user to view and interact with an ETC, said runtime engine including media handlers and display routines, a timing mechanism, display management, and input handlers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said trading card metaphor further comprises: printed/printable incomplete cards in which a portion of their printed information is missing, said missing information being provided through the use of at least one ETC, such that said incomplete card can be printed when said missing information is found, wherein disassociated information from said ETC completes said incomplete card, thereby creating a hybrid ETC/paper trading card.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said trading card metaphor further comprises: an adventure game, including a plurality of linked ETCs, each ETC adapted to offer clues, hints and/or other special properties that give a ETC owner an advantage when playing said adventure game.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said ETCs augment an existing game with additional levels of play, characters, or other game elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said ETCs provide either of a reward and proof that a player has solved a level of play in said game.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: assembling and personalizing at least one ETCs, each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; choosing a format and setting for said ETC; optionally adding a personalized multimedia character to said ETC; optionally selecting a game to be incorporated into said ETC; optionally adding a secret message, linked to said game, to said ETC; and optionally adding links to other ETCs.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: assembling and personalizing at least one ETCs, each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; choosing a format and setting for said ETC; optionally adding a personalized multimedia character to said ETC; optionally selecting a game to be incorporated into said ETC; optionally adding a secret message, linked to said game, to said ETC; and optionally adding links to other ETCs.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: entering a multiroom virtual environment where each room in said environment requires a specific set of ETCs to complete an ETC collection, each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; finding a missing ETC; completing said set; and reward when said set is completed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: entering a multiroom virtual environment where each room in said environment requires a specific set of ETCs to complete an ETC collection, each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; finding a missing ETC; completing said set; and reward when said set is completed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said sets of ETCs comprise electronic albums that have movies on them, and wherein missing ETCs unlock key scenes from said movie.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein finding a missing movie ETC in its hiding place allows the a person finding the missing ETC personalize any of the ETC and the movie.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: solving a puzzle having increasing levels of difficulty using a series of linked electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; and reproducing a personalized certificate of completion when, and only when, each level of said puzzle is solved, said certificate of completion optionally including clues to solve a next level of said puzzle.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for implementing a trading card metaphor in an electronic trading card (ETC), comprising the steps of: solving a puzzle having increasing levels of difficulty using a series of linked electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; and reproducing a personalized certificate of completion when, and only when, each level of said puzzle is solved, said certificate of completion optionally including clues to solve a next level of said puzzle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein said ETCs are linked such that solution of a predetermined number of ETC puzzles assembles all disassociated information necessary to reveal clues that enable completion of one level of said game; and wherein completion of a predetermined number of levels assembles all disassociated information necessary to reveal clues that enable completion of said game.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for the implementing a trading card metaphor, comprising the steps of: a dissociating a computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for the implementing a trading card metaphor, comprising the steps of: a dissociating a computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
144 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the steps of: providing an ETC header identification code that uniquely identifies the ETC; providing an optional lock and key mechanism to limit access and impose password protection on the ETC; providing an ETC graphic identification code that may include any of an audio visual logo, a copyright notice, and company information; providing multimedia data on said ETC that may include any of animation, video, pictures, sounds, and text; providing pointers on said ETC to external data and programs embedded in scripts that trigger the display of external media or run external applications; providing utility programs on said ETC; providing applications on said ETC, including any of incomplete linkable code segments, games, puzzles, and utilities; and providing a user writable area on said ETC for any of personalization, messages, voice recording, image storage, and score keeping.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said utility programs comprise any of copy protection schemes, print drivers, telecommunications protocols, and self destruction routines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said ETC is transportable across a wide range of digital media, including CD-ROM, networked servers, fixed discs, floppy discs, data cards, writable optical storage, and RAM.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said trading card metaphor is a puzzle distributed to at least two ETCs.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said puzzle uses timing to generate scarcity in ETCs in accordance with any of the following steps: self-destructing or self erasing said ETC after a given time has elapsed; limiting ETC availability times on on-line systems; and time stamping said ETC.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of: copy protecting said ETC to limit the number of times said ETC can be copied.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 , said ETC further comprising: detecting illegal copying with public-key/private-key encryption means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said ETC is randomly distributed in partial sets.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of: requiring the presence of a runtime engine in a local computing device before a user can view and interact with an ETC.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said trading card metaphor further comprises the step of: providing a printed/printable card, where a portion of said card's printed information is missing; using at least one ETC to find said missing information, such that said incomplete card can be printed when said missing information is found, wherein disassociated information from said ETC completes said incomplete card, thereby creating a hybrid ETC/paper trading card.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said trading card metaphor further comprises an adventure game, including a plurality of linked ETCs, each ETC adapted to offer clues, hints or other special properties that give a ETC owner an advantage when playing said adventure game.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said ETCs augment an existing game with additional levels of play, characters, or other game elements.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said ETCs provide either of a reward and proof that a player has solved a level of play in said game.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of: trading ETCs on writable media.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of: trading ETCs on-line.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein said ETC has a built-in phone number that is dialed on command.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
62 words
A system for the implementation of a trading card metaphor, comprising: a disassociated computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; said ETC including a display system, a housing, software, a battery, a CPU, and an LCD display.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
62 words
A system for the implementation of a trading card metaphor, comprising: a disassociated computer program, consisting of a plurality of electronic trading cards (ETCs), each ETC corresponding to a disassociated computer code segment and having an electronic format that supports card scarcity and card authenticity; said ETC including a display system, a housing, software, a battery, a CPU, and an LCD display.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 38 , further comprising: means for outputting files contained on said ETC onto any of paper cards, which paper cards may be traded and used in card games.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-09-11 | 2005-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-12 | 2008-09-11 | 2009-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-12 | 2012-09-11 | 2013-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |