Patents Assigned to Ganz
  • Patent number: 7604525
    Abstract: A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ganz
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090254434
    Abstract: A method for disabling and re-enabling third-party advertisements is disclosed. An Internet accessible “virtual world” or interactive on-line community can have its advertisements disabled by the entering and subsequent validation of a registration code that is associated with a toy into a website, once validated, displaying a virtual representation of the toy on the website, providing virtual world content so that the virtual representation of the toy is caused to interact with the virtual world content and the toy virtual representations of other users, displaying advertisement on the website in a first mode and allowing customization of the virtual world content including the disabling of advertisements in a second mode. In a similar manner the third party advertisements can be re-enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst, Jessica Boyd
  • Publication number: 20090248544
    Abstract: A reverse purchase system allows purchasing an item on a website and receiving a virtual version of that item substantially immediately. Subsequent to receiving that virtual version, the user later receives the real version either in the mail or through redemption of a coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of 212100 Ontario Inc. and 2121812 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090240659
    Abstract: A social networking website allows users to interact socially without revealing any information about themselves. The only information they reveal is about their virtual pets in the virtual website world.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of 2121200 Ontario Inc. and 2121812 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst, Jesse Scoble, Sally Christensen
  • Publication number: 20090228557
    Abstract: A computer network-based messaging system includes a multiple-layer chat filtering system for controlling the content of messages sent by users. A computer receives a message including a plurality of words entered by a sender. A word database includes a plurality of permitted words which are allowed to be transmitted. A phrase database includes a plurality of prohibited phrases which are not allowed to be transmitted. At least one of the plurality of prohibited phrases consists of a plurality of individual words that are each included in the word database. A message sending part that transmits the message over a computer network only if all of the plurality of words entered by the sender are contained in the word database and none of the plurality of prohibited phrases are contained in the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of 2121200 Ontario Inc. and 2121812 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst
  • Publication number: 20090204908
    Abstract: A method and system of managing a user's friends in a virtual environment are presented. The method includes interacting a virtual character with a plurality of additional virtual characters in response to commands input from the user entered via the user computer. A subset of the additional users, the additional virtual characters, or a combination of the additional users and the additional virtual characters are designated as friends of the user in the virtual environment, and the friends are added to a list of friends associated with the user. The friends on the list displayed to the user can be ranked in an order based at least in part on the interacting of the virtual character controlled by the user with the plurality of additional virtual characters in the virtual environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst, Sally Christensen
  • Publication number: 20090204420
    Abstract: A method for providing a virtual world presentation includes registering a first product on a computer system; registering a user on the computer system and associating that user with a user ID; responsive to registering the first product, displaying a virtual representation of the first product on the computer system; associating the virtual representation of the first product with the user ID; registering a second product on the computer system; and responsive to registering the second product, generating specialized content on the computer system. The specialized content is also associated with the user ID and may include a virtual representation of the second product. Accessing the computer system using the user ID provides access to both the virtual representation of the first product and the specialized content on the computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Patent number: 7568964
    Abstract: A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ganz
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090132656
    Abstract: A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of S.H. Ganz Holdings Inc. and 816877 Ontario Limited
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090132267
    Abstract: A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of S.H. Ganz Holdings Inc. and 816877 Ontario Limited
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090132357
    Abstract: A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz, an Ontario partnership consisting of S.H. Ganz Holdings Inc. and 816877 Ontario Limited
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090131164
    Abstract: A method, system and toy that provides a product that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the product. The product has a registration code associated with it. Data associated with the product is electronically stored in the product using an electronic storage medium. A user is registered on the website by associating the user with a user ID. The user ID is associated with the virtual replica of the product by utilizing the registration code. Access is granted to one or more features on the website in connection with the virtual replica of the product subsequent to input and validation of the registration code via the user ID without requiring additional entry of the registration code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Patent number: 7534157
    Abstract: An Entertainment System in combination with a commercially purchased toy, wherein the system allows a toy user to register the toy online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various entertainment activities and scenarios in a “virtual world” including a virtual representation of the toy, via a computer connected to the Internet. The system then encourages the user to purchase additional toys to enjoy additional benefits using the Entertainment System. The Entertainment System including a database subsystem, a registration subsystem, a server subsystem, and a virtual world providing subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Ganz
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090118009
    Abstract: A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090063282
    Abstract: A computer system provides a virtual world. The computer system includes a server subsystem serving virtual world data, via a communication network, and receives data and/or commands. A registration subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, verifies information from a toy, registers the toy, and determines a quantity of toys registered by a user who is registering the toy. The verifying includes determining the validity of the information. A virtual world providing subsystem, coupled to the server subsystem, provides the virtual world data, which produces data that presents the virtual world. The virtual world data includes a virtual toy representing the toy and a reward provided to the user for registering the toy. The reward is based on the quantity of toys previously registered by the user, such that the reward received for registering the toy is different than another reward previously received by the user for registering another toy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090063271
    Abstract: A unique code is used to register a virtual pet or other item using a code that is associated with the pet, and which, when entered, allows viewing and interacting with a virtual representation of the actual item on the website. If the code is entered during a specific time period, it allows obtaining at least one additional item, for example an exclusive item that cannot be obtained in any other way. The specific time period can be extended, e.g., using supplemental codes. The codes may specify fixed or variable time periods, and may be generic extension codes and extend other things other than this period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventors: Howard Ganz, Karl Joseph Borst
  • Publication number: 20090054155
    Abstract: An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the internet and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may “log onto” the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Michael D. Borge
  • Publication number: 20090053970
    Abstract: An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the internet and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may “log onto” the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Michael D. Borge
  • Publication number: 20090029772
    Abstract: A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Ganz
    Inventor: Howard Ganz
  • Publication number: 20090029768
    Abstract: A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: GANZ
    Inventor: Howard Ganz