U.S. Pat. No. 8,814,702

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a user10with a video console40in which a video game30can be reproduced.

This user10starts a procedure in the video game for adding or introducing an object (step shown by arrow100).

The video game30sends an identity of the user (step200) to a server20through the video console40.

The server20generates a token (or unique temporal code) which is paired with said identity of the user.

This token, which can be a chain of alphanumeric characters, is unique and can only be generated once during a specific time period. When this time period runs out, the tokens are recycled.

The server20incorporates this token in a tone or audio file by means of audio watermarking methods. The server20sends this audio file to the video console (step300) where the video game reproduces it, the tone being audible through the speakers of the video console.

The video console also shows an on-screen message to the user indicating that he/she is to execute an application60previously installed in a smartphone50.

This application60activates an NFC reader of said smartphone to thus obtain a unique identifier of the object to be introduced, which object in this case must be located in the proximity of the smartphone. This step of obtaining the unique identifier of the object can also be done by other methods, such as for example, by means of graphic codes, for example, BIDI.

On the other hand, the application60also activates the microphone of the mobile telephone for hearing the ambient sound, such that the tone reproduced in the video console is detected and thus the token is extracted.

This application60can be executed in any smartphone or intelligent mobile telephone belonging to any user.

It must be noted that until now it has been unnecessary to enter any type of credentials in the smartphone.

The smartphone50sends both the unique identifier of the object and the token (step400) to the server20.

The server20uses this token to establish the necessary pairing between the object and the identity of the player.

Finally, the server20sends the unique identifier of the object to the video console (step500) so that it is introduced and added in the virtual world of the video game.

One difference with respect to existing pairing methods (as in the case of PS Vita®) is that it is virtually transparent for the user, who does not have to enter any credential.

When the user starts the process of adding an object for the video game, the video game reproduces a melody with a watermark. That melody or sound is captured by means of the application of the smartphone and is sent to a server to complete the pairing process.

According to another possible embodiment, the server20incorporates this token in a multimedia file by means of embedded coding in the same file (for example, audio and image watermarking and steganography methods). The server also sends this multimedia file to the video console, where the video game reproduces it, being reproduced by the video game platform, for example, through the screen and/or speakers of the video game platform.

In this embodiment, the video console also shows an on-screen message to the user or player indicating that he/she is to execute the application60previously installed in the smartphone50.

The application60activates a reader of said smartphone to thus obtain the unique identifier of the object. This step of obtaining the unique identifier of the object can also be done by other methods, such as for example, by means of graphic codes.

According to this embodiment, the application activates a camera of the smartphone to extract the token from the multimedia file reproduced by the game platform.

According to another possible embodiment of the method of the invention, the multimedia file reproduced by the video console, for example, an image displayed on-screen, includes an instruction or series of instructions for the user to follow in the smartphone; for example, it may indicate making a series of strokes the touch-sensitive screen of the smartphone, or shaking the smartphone with a series of movements.

In this embodiment, the application activates the corresponding sensor of the corresponding smartphone, i.e., touch-sensitive screen or accelerometer/accelerometers, and after implementing that series of instructions with the corresponding activated sensor, the application maps out these instructions, thus obtaining the unique token.

The invention has been described according to preferred embodiments thereof, but for a person skilled in the art it will be evident that many variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.