Systems and methods for authenticating an avatar

• US 10,079,819 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Botanic Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Botanic Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Nathan, Paco Xander, Cox, Cathi Joann, Leibert, Florian Thomas, Meadows, Mark Stephen, Mallis, Jan Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kenneth W
• Application Number:
  US15/481,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20170339123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Systems and methods for authenticating an avatar are provided. This system is useful with an avatar having an identifier, virtual environments, and a user who uses the avatar in the virtual environments. Transoms are generated, each with a unique identifier configured to exist in a specific location, and registered with an identity provider. The transom initiates a request. An offer is conveyed that includes the transom identifier, the location and the avatar identifier. The avatar is then authenticated by a shared secret. The identity provider then responds to the offer with avatar identification information, including reputation information. Reputation information is for the avatar and the user, and is compiled from external avatar data sources by using a trust matrix. An avatar gallery is generated by linking each avatar owned by each user to the account and compiling avatar profiles from the account, and the reputation information. The avatar profiles are searchable, and include micro formats.

Claims

1. A method for generating a searchable avatar gallery in a virtual environment, comprising:

ascertaining reputation information for a user and an avatar by vetting a relationship chain using a trust matrix, wherein the trust matrix is employed to generate a trust rating for the user by analyzing the relationship chain between the user and a plurality of users, wherein a unique transom identifier corresponds to the avatar;

generating a linked avatar for integration in the searchable avatar gallery, wherein the linked avatar includes any profile corresponding to the user, the reputation information, and the unique transom identifier for the avatar; and

integrating the linked avatar into the searchable avatar gallery, wherein the searchable avatar gallery includes other linked avatars, wherein any of the other linked avatars include any profile corresponding to another user, reputation information of the another user, and another unique transom identifier for another avatar corresponding to the another user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

integrating the linked avatar into the searchable avatar gallery; and

providing the searchable avatar gallery to at least one of the plurality of users in the virtual environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reputation information includes a plurality of reputation scores generated based on feedback from at least one of the plurality of other users within the virtual environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reputation information includes a first component related to a reputation of the avatar and a second component related to a reputation of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving external avatar data from another virtual environment; and

compiling avatar identity information corresponding to the external avatar data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search command associated with any of an account of the user, the user, and the avatar; and

providing the linked avatar including any profile corresponding to the user, the reputation information, and the unique transom identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the linked avatar includes microformats.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a request for an ownership claim from another user; and

linking the another user with an identity provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the account is associated with a unique transom identifier registered with an identity provider.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated information related to any of the user, the avatar, and the reputation information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to receiving the updated information, using the trust matrix to generate another trust rating for the user by re-analyzing the relationship chain between the user and at least one of the plurality of users based on the updated information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the unique transom identifier for the avatar includes authenticating the avatar by utilizing a shared secret.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compiling reputation information for the avatar and one or more other avatars associated with the user to generate a reputation score for the user; and

including the reputation score for the user in the linked avatar.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, a request to enter a particular portion of the virtual environment; and

transmitting an alert to the user indicating that entering the particular portion of the virtual environment includes incursion of charges.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, acceptance of the incursion of charges; and

transmitting the linked avatar to another user along with a request for the user to enter the particular portion of the virtual environment.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the another user, acceptance for the user to enter the particular portion of the virtual environment; and

automatically billing the account through a merchant processor.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

managing an account for each user among the plurality of users in the virtual environment; and

generating other linked avatars corresponding to other duplicative accounts managed for any of the plurality of users.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

ascertaining reputation information for each of the other linked avatars by vetting relationship chains among the plurality of users using the trust matrix.

19. A method for authenticating an avatar, comprising:

storing a transom within a specific location within a virtual environment, wherein the transom includes a unique transom identifier and is registered with an identity provider;

redirecting an end user to a user agent and generating a nonce;

conveying an offer, wherein the offer includes the unique transom identifier, the specific location, and an avatar identifier for an avatar;

linking the end user to an account with an identity provider;

comparing the generated nonce with the offer;

authenticating the avatar by utilizing a shared secret; and

acquiring end user reputation including a plurality of reputation scores acquired by compiling avatar identity information using a trust matrix which generates a trust rating for the end user by analyzing relationships between the end user and a relying party through at least one intermediate party.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

registering the at least one transom with an identity provider.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

responding to the offer with avatar identification information.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

generating an account for the end user with the identity provider; and

logging the end user into the account.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, from the end user, a request to enter a particular portion of the virtual environment; and

transmitting authentication information for the avatar to another end user along with a request for the end user to enter the particular portion of the virtual environment.

24. A system for authenticating an avatar, comprising:

a memory that stores computer executable components; and

a processor that executes at least the following computer executable components stored in the memory;

a transom having a unique transom identifier stored in a specific location within a virtual environment and corresponding to an end user, the transom being configured to request an identity of an avatar and to provide a first share of a shared secret

a user agent to couple to the end user and a relying party, wherein the user agent is configured to provide a second share of the shared secret; and

an identity provider to couple to the at least one transom and the user agent, and wherein the identity provider is configured to provide identity for the end user if the request from the transom includes a valid first share and a valid second share of the shared secret; and

wherein the identity for the end user includes a plurality of reputation scores acquired by compiling avatar identity information using a trust matrix which generates a trust rating for the end user by analyzing relationships between the end user and the relying party through at least one intermediate party.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

generating an account for the end user with the identity provider; and

logging the end user into the account.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the transom is managed by the relying party.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

redirecting the end user to the user agent to generate a new account for the end user; and

providing access to the identity provider and the relying party to the end user via the user agent.