Patents by Inventor Ethan Rappaport

Ethan Rappaport has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030064812
    Abstract: A toy such as a talking doll or a random outcome generator for board games selects at random one of a repertoire of outputs. The outputs may be read from a smart card, or from an internal memory that was previously loaded from a smart card. Preferably, the toy is under control of a microprocessor embedded in the smart card. A portable educational or game-playing device presents information and prompts to a user using stored data, and receives the user's responses. A new repertoire of outputs may be downloaded onto the smart card over the internet. For game-playing, education, or other structured activities, the portable device records the user's progress onto the smart card. The network server then downloads only data appropriate for the next stage of education or game-play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Ethan Rappaport, Arthur Swanberg
  • Publication number: 20030018523
    Abstract: The invention is a method and system that allows a customer to receive rewards. The rewards will typically be in the form of coupons, points, or access to restricted material, such as a restricted web page, a restricted game, or a consumer good that is inoperable until it is rendered operable by the reward. The rewards are saved in electronic form on an instrument, such as a smart card or other medium capable of storing electronic data. The rewards can be earned based on the customer's purchases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Ethan Rappaport, Arthur Swanberg
  • Publication number: 20020155893
    Abstract: A system for playing a game using read/writable media is disclosed. The game comprises an entity having several components, and each piece of media has data stored thereon the represents one or more components and/or properties of the components or entities. An entity could be a basketball team, and the components players. Similarly, an entity could be a robot, and the components pieces and characteristics of the robot. Typically the media is a smart card that capable of storing and transmitting electronically stored data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Arthur Swanberg, Ethan Rappaport
  • Publication number: 20020077180
    Abstract: A computer implemented game which uses a smart card for obtaining additional game features. The computer software running on the computing system includes a portion of code which is generally locked from use. The locked portion of code represents additional characters, levels of play, and other game playing enhancements which may be played in the game. Unlocking of the code set occurs when a user has the appropriate smart card representing the character. Alternatively, the game playing computer software may receive installable code from the smart card which defines additional characters for level of play for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Arthur Swanberg, Ethan Rappaport
  • Publication number: 20020077182
    Abstract: A computer implemented game which uses a smart card for obtaining additional game features. The computer software running on the computing system includes a portion of code which is generally locked from use. The locked portion of code represents additional characters, levels of play, and other game playing enhancements which may be played in the game. Unlocking of the code set occurs when a user has the appropriate smart card representing the character. Alternatively, the game playing computer software may receive installable code from the smart card which defines additional characters, levels of play, and other game playing enhancements for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Arthur Swanberg, Ethan Rappaport