IP Library Granted Patent US 12,373,867
Granted Patent B2
US 12,373,867 · App. 17/971,818 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Asset unlocking using augmented reality

Inventors: Ron G. Faris (Brooklyn, NY); Jett House (New York City, NY); Aaron L. Uhrmacher (New York City, NY); Michael B. Hailey (Forest Grove, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
G06Q30/0601G06Q30/0185G06Q30/0643H04N5/272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,373,867
App. No.
17/971,818
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An end-user computing device may utilize augmented reality to capture input from a target image. The end-user computing device may determine whether the target image contains target information. If so, an augmented reality program on the end-user computing device may present an indication that the end user has unlocked an asset. An indication that the end user has unlocked the asset may also be sent to a remote computing device.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, by an augmented reality program installed at an end-user computing device of an end user, a target image, wherein the target image comprises target information indicating a consumer product that the end user is not yet eligible to purchase;

determining, by the augmented reality program, that the target image comprises the target information; and

based at least on the determining that the target image comprises the target information:

presenting, by the augmented reality program and on a display of the end-user computing device, a three-dimensional projection of the consumer product and an indication that the end-user is eligible to purchase the consumer product after sharing the target image through at least one social media platform;

confirming, by the augmented reality program, that the end-user has shared the target image;

sending, by the end-user computing device and via a network, an indication that the end-user is eligible to purchase the consumer product; and,

granting, by the end-user computing device, access to the end-user to purchase the product based upon the end-user interacting with the three-dimensional projection of the consumer product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target information of the target image is a unique identification number.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the target image comprises the target information comprises performing an image recognition of the target image.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the performing the image recognition comprises:

sending, by the end-user computing device via the network and to a remote computing device, the target image; and

receiving, by the end-user computing device via the network and from the remote computing device, an indication that the target image has been recognized.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prompting, by the augmented reality program, the user to provide user input associated with the target image; and

receiving, by the augmented reality program, the user input;

wherein the presenting the indication that the end-user is eligible to purchase the consumer product is further based on the receiving the user input.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting the indication that the end-user is eligible to purchase the consumer product comprises overlaying, on the target image, an image of the consumer product.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the image of the consumer product is a three-dimensional image of the consumer product.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the target image comprises obtaining, via an imaging device of the end-user computing device, the target image.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the target image comprises obtaining, via a social media account of another user, the target image.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sharing, by the end-user computing device, the target image via a social media account of the end user.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising navigating, by the end-user computing device, to an online store where the consumer product is available for purchase by the end user.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target image depicts a tangible object.

13. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display; and

instructions comprising instructions of an augmented reality program installed at the computing device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors cause:

obtaining, by the augmented reality program, a target image, wherein the target image comprises target information indicating a consumer product that an end user of the computing device is not yet eligible to purchase;

determining, by the augmented reality program, that the target image comprises the target information; and

based at least on the determining that the target image comprises the target information:

presenting, by the augmented reality program and on the display, a three-dimensional projection of the consumer product and an indication that the end-user is eligible to purchase the consumer product after sharing the target image through at least one social media platform;

confirming, by the augmented reality program, that the end-user has shared the target image;

sending, via a network, an indication that the end user is eligible to purchase the product; and,

granting, by the augmented reality program, access to the end-user to purchase the product based upon the end-user interacting with the three-dimensional projection of the consumer product.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the target information of the target image is a unique identification number.

15. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the determining that the target image comprises the target information comprises performing an image recognition of the target image.

16. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:

prompting, by the augmented reality program, the user to provide user input associated with the target image; and

receiving, by the augmented reality program, the user input;

wherein the presenting the indication that the end user is eligible to purchase the consumer product is further based on the receiving the user input.

17. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the presenting the indication that the end user is eligible to purchase the consumer product comprises overlaying, on the target image, an image of the consumer product.

18. The computing device of claim 13 further comprising an imaging device, wherein the obtaining the target image comprises obtaining, via the imaging device, the target image.

19. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the obtaining the target image comprises obtaining, via a social media account of another user, the target image.

20. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause navigating to an online store where the consumer product is available for purchase by the end user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: FARIS, RON G.; HOUSE, JETT; UHRMACHER, AARON L.; HAILEY, MICHAEL B.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 061619/0131 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16129439 · Sep 12, 2018
Provisional Application 62557342 · Sep 12, 2017
Related Publication 20230044916A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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