Virtual World Product Registration System for Extended User Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers who purchase products, such as toys, typically do not have continued interaction with the manufacturer, missing opportunities for ongoing engagement and sales of ancillary products, as the relationship ends with the initial purchase.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to register products online using a unique registration code, providing access to a virtual world where the product and its accessories can interact, offering additional content, games, and marketing opportunities, thereby extending the product's lifecycle and encouraging further purchases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a consumer purchases a product, then the transaction is completed and the consumer receives the product, but the relationship with the manufacturer ends and there is no continued interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a virtual world that nests within the existing product ecosystem. The virtual replica of the physical toy lives inside the virtual world environment, allowing the product relationship to continue digitally after the physical transaction completes. This nested structure extends the relationship duration without requiring a completely separate complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy (digital replica) of the physical product that exists in the virtual world. This virtual replica maintains the product's identity and allows continued interaction through digital means, extending the product relationship beyond the initial physical purchase without adding significant system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual world platform is implemented to extend product relationships, then user engagement and attachment increase, but system complexity and development costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual world platform is designed to serve multiple functions: it hosts virtual replicas of products, provides a marketplace for ancillary products, enables user interaction and engagement, and facilitates manufacturer marketing efforts. This multi-functionality increases adaptability and versatility while managing platform complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-registers products in the virtual world before actual sales occur. This preliminary action allows the virtual infrastructure to be prepared in advance, reducing the complexity of real-time system creation and enabling smoother user onboarding and engagement.
3Productivity
If ancillary products are offered through the virtual world, then additional sales opportunities are created, but the device and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the primary product experience with ancillary product sales within a single virtual world platform. By merging the virtual replica interaction with the ancillary marketplace, the system creates additional sales opportunities without requiring separate complex systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An Entertainment System including a website, in combination with a commercially purchased product, wherein the system allows a product user to register a primary product online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various activities and scenarios in a “virtual world” including a virtual representation of the product, via a computer connected to the Internet. Additional ancillary products are also provided that may be related to the primary product or the virtual world, with these ancillary products also being provided with one or more codes to provide additional content, bonus items, and/or bonus access in the virtual world.