Reporting a non-mitigated loss in a virtual world

• US 20060178964A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/234,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Embodiments include an apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, system includes a monitoring module operable to identify an occurrence of a loss in a virtual world experienced by a participant and not covered in an existing risk mitigation arrangement between the participant and a protection entity (hereafter “uncovered loss”). The system also includes a communication module operable to provide a signal indicative of the identified occurrence of an uncovered loss.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a monitoring module operable to identify an occurrence of a loss in a virtual world experienced by a participant and not covered in an existing risk mitigation arrangement between the participant and a protection entity (hereafter “

uncovered loss”

); and

a communication module operable to provide a signal indicative of the identified occurrence of an uncovered loss.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the uncovered loss includes a loss occurring by reason of determinable contingency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the uncovered loss includes at least one of loss occurring by reason of an injury, a loss, a theft, a damage, a harm, a casualty, a disability, a death of the participant, a death of another participant, and an imposed punitive obligation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the uncovered loss includes a loss relative to a subject matter in which the participant has an interest.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further includes an operability to display information corresponding to the identified occurrence of an uncovered loss.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further includes an operability to provide a signal indicative of a proposed risk mitigation arrangement available to the participant.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module further includes a broadcast module operable to display a proposed risk mitigation arrangement available to the participant.

8. A system comprising:

an overseer module operable to monitor a virtual world for an occurrence of a preselected loss suffered by a participant and not covered in an existing risk mitigation agreement between the participant and a protection entity; and

a reporting module operable to transmit a signal indicative of a monitored occurrence of a preselected loss not covered in the existing risk mitigation agreement.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the preselected loss includes a preselected loss of at least two preselected losses.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a marketing module operable to promote a new risk mitigation arrangement to the participant.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a marketing module operable to display a promotion of a proposed risk mitigation service to the participant.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a negotiation module operable to facilitate formation of a new arrangement that includes the protection entity providing a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of a loss.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the providing a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of a loss includes providing a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of the preselected loss.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the future occurrence of a loss includes a future occurrence of the preselected loss.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the future occurrence of a loss includes a future occurrence of another preselected loss.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the future occurrence of a loss includes a future occurrence of a loss other than the preselected loss.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a marketing module operable to promote to the participant a proposed risk mitigation arrangement that includes the protection entity providing a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of a defined loss; and

a negotiation module operable to facilitate formation of the proposed risk mitigation arrangement.

18. A method comprising:

identifying an occurrence of a loss in a virtual world suffered by a participant and not covered by an existing risk mitigation arrangement between the participant and a protection entity (hereafter “

uncovered loss”

), the virtual world being operable to interact with the participant and at least one other participant over a network; and

generating a signal indicative of the identified occurrence of the uncovered loss.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying information corresponding to the identified occurrence of an uncovered loss in the virtual world.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a signal indicative of an opportunity for the participant to form a new risk mitigation arrangement that includes a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of a loss in the virtual world in exchange for a consideration.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

displaying an information corresponding to the opportunity for the participant to form a new risk mitigation arrangement.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a participant-inputted response corresponding to the opportunity for the participant to form a new risk mitigation arrangement.

23. A computer program product, comprising:

(a) program instructions operable to perform a process in a computer system, the process comprising

identifying an occurrence of a loss in a virtual world suffered by a participant and not covered by an existing risk mitigation arrangement between the participant and a protection entity (hereafter “

uncovered loss”

), the virtual world being operable to interact with the participant and at least one other participant over a network, and

generating a signal indicative of the identified occurrence of the uncovered loss; and

(b) a computer-readable signal-bearing medium bearing the program instructions.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the process further comprises

promoting a new risk mitigation relationship to the participant.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the process further comprises

facilitating formation of a new risk management arrangement that includes a benefit to the participant upon a future occurrence of a defined loss.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer-readable signal-bearing medium includes a computer storage medium.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer-readable signal-bearing medium includes a communication medium.