Virtual world property disposition after virtual world occurence

• US 20060178966A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• 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:
  US11/242,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers of various types of virtual property and virtual property rights.

Claims

1. A method of arranging for future transfer of a virtual world element, comprising:

identifying a virtual character in a particular virtual world environment;

establishing that the virtual character has a right to the virtual world element; and

providing a procedure to implement a future transfer of such right to a recipient party in the event that the virtual character is no longer deemed a viable participant in the virtual world environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the virtual character includes:

identifying the real-world entity that has responsibility for the virtual character.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the procedure includes:

obtaining authorization for the future transfer from the real-world entity that has responsibility for the virtual character.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said obtaining authorization from the real-world entity includes:

obtaining authorization via a real-world communication from the real-world entity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the procedure includes:

obtaining authorization for the future transfer from the virtual character.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said obtaining authorization from the virtual character includes:

obtaining authorization via a virtual world communication from the virtual character.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a record regarding the future transfer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in the virtual world environment to the virtual character or to its agent.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a real-world environment to a real-world entity that has responsibility for the virtual character.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a procedure includes:

making a determination that the virtual character is no longer deemed a viable participant by confirming one or more of the following virtual world occurrences;

virtual character death, virtual character destruction, virtual character disappearance, lack of virtual character participation for given period of time, no change of programmed participation of virtual character for given period of time, virtual character banned from the virtual world environment, violation by virtual character of one or more virtual environment rules, non-compliance with VW oversight rule, failure of virtual character to pay a virtual world debt, default on virtual world agreement, default on payment of virtual world subscription, disqualification of virtual world group, eviction from virtual world group, violation of oversight rule, breach of rating restriction, overdraft of virtual account, guilty of virtual crime, conviction of virtual crime, illegal virtual activity, Detection of change in VW resource use pattern, detection of lack of change in VW resource use pattern, lack of response to specific probes, incorrect response to specific probes, unauthorized character impersonation, and satisfaction of conditions established by owner of virtual character.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring the virtual world character to give something of virtual world value as consideration for the future transfer of such right.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring the virtual world character to achieve a virtual world goal as consideration for the future transfer of such right.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring a real-world party associated with the virtual world character to give something of virtual world value and/or real-world value as consideration for the future transfer of such right.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring a resolution of any adverse claim in order for the recipient party to qualify to receive such right.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

confirming that the virtual world element is a type of element approved for future transfer.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the transfer to one of the following types of recipient parties;

virtual character, virtual group, virtual world participant, virtual world player, real-world entity, virtual world owner, and virtual world operator

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a limitation on a number of times such right can be subject to a future transfer.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the procedure includes:

obtaining an initial authorization to implement the future transfer of such right or a revised authorization that modifies a previous authorization.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein obtaining the revised authorization includes:

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

requiring something of real-world value from or on behalf of the virtual character as consideration for making the initial authorization or making the revised authorization for the future transfer.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

requiring something of virtual world value from or on behalf of the virtual character as consideration for making the initial authorization or making the revised authorization for the future transfer.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing the virtual character to select one or more of the following types of virtual world elements to be the subject of the future transfer;

composite virtual character, virtual character name, virtual character trait, character attribute, composite avatar, virtual skill, virtual key, access right, value tokens, virtual currency, experience points, level access, virtual property, virtual real property, virtual personal property, property right, contractual right, email account, password, key, location, site, history, log, activity log, chat log, activity log, messages, message log, list, companion list, contact list, address list, item, modified item, item component, disguise, clothing, clothing component, accessory, weapon, tool, vehicle, magical power, decoration, inventory, store credit, virtual charge account, virtual role, virtual position, group membership, all virtual rights of donor, and total asset accumulation of donor.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

requiring something of virtual world and/or real-world value from or on behalf of the recipient party as consideration for receiving the right to the virtual world element.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring the recipient party to be a participant in the virtual world environment in order to qualify for receiving the right to the virtual world element.

25. A computerized system comprising:

one or more computer programs for creating a virtual world environment;

a first database record for listing a transferable right regarding a virtual aspect or attribute of a virtual character that is a participant in the virtual world environment;

a module to facilitate authorizing a disposition of the transferable right to a designated successor party, which disposition will be triggered by a figurative demise of the virtual world character; and

a second database record of any required information including an applicable term or condition required for the disposition to occur.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said first database record includes:

a record of one or more adverse claims made in response to a virtual world notification of a pending disposition of the transferable right to the designated successor party.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said record of the one or more adverse claims includes one or more of the following types of adverse claims or defects:

real-world estate claim, real-world creditor claim, real-world contractual claim, real-world legal claim, real-world group claim, real-world family claim, prior real-world transfer, virtual world estate claim, virtual world creditor claim, virtual world contractual claim, virtual world legal claim, virtual world family claim, prior virtual world transfer, virtual world item expiration, item lost, item destroyed, item not separable, virtual world privilege expiration, voided right, rescinded right, forfeited right, item no longer identifiable, right not separable, group right vetoed by group, right no longer legally transferable, right no longer recognized, right no longer exercisable, erroneous death confirmation, forged authorization, improper authorization, misplaced authorization, jointly owned right, conflicting authorizations, transfer revoked, violation of oversight authority, change of virtual attributes, existing right does not match transferred right, existing description does not match transferred description, and third party consent denied.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said second database record includes one or more of the following types of transfer requirements:

secondary beneficiary;

group beneficiary, charitable beneficiary, joint beneficiaries, real-world party donor to be anonymous, disclose identity of real-world donor only after confirmation of death, subject to contingency, contingent on successor having attribute, contingent on successor not having attribute, contingent on successor having certain item, contingent on successor not having certain item, contingent on successor having related item, contingent on successor having right to acquire related item, contingent on successor having right to inherit related item, conditional transfer based on successor party'"'"'s age, conditional transfer based on successor party'"'"'s education, conditional transfer based on successor party'"'"'s marital status, transfer conditional upon acceptance by successor party;

transfer conditional upon timely acceptance, transfer conditional upon inspection by successor party, collective transfer of all virtual property rights of real-world party donor, transfer of multiple versions of the subject matter of the property right;

authorize duplicate virtual attributes or aspects to be transferred;

collective transfer of all virtual property rights to respective designated beneficiaries, transfer voided if successor party deceased, further transferability not authorized;

transfer to occur at given date even if real-world party donor still alive;

transfer conditional upon approval of third party;

transfer made to trustee on behalf of successor party, transfer made to trustee on behalf of beneficiary;

liquidating virtual world property right prior to transfer, obtaining liquidated virtual world value as subject of transfer, and obtaining liquidated real-world value as subject of transfer.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said second database records include a record of one or more of the following types of informational data:

authorization for transferring, date of authorization, identity of designated successor party, identity of property right to be transferred, secondary beneficiary, transfer requirements, transfer fee, and required third party approval.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein said second database records are accessible in the virtual world environment to one or more of the following:

owner of virtual-world environment, operator of virtual-world environment, real-world party donor, party selected by donor, agent of donor, designated successor party, party selected by successor party, approved representative of real-world party donor, approved representative of designated successor party, secondary beneficiary, contingent beneficiary, joint beneficiary, parent of successor who is a minor, guardian of successor who is a minor, officer of successor entity, and officer of successor group.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein said second database records are accessible in a real-world environment to one or more of the following:

owner of virtual-world environment, operator of virtual-world environment, real-world party donor, party selected by donor, agent of donor, designated successor party, party selected by successor party, approved representative of real-world party donor, approved representative of designated successor party, secondary beneficiary, contingent beneficiary, joint beneficiary, parent of successor who is a minor, guardian of successor who is a minor, officer of successor entity, and officer of successor group.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said second database records relate to an authorized transfer of a property right in one or more of the following types of virtual elements:

composite virtual character, virtual character name, virtual character trait, character attribute, composite avatar, virtual skill, virtual key, access right, value tokens, virtual currency, experience points, level access, virtual property, virtual real property, virtual personal property, property right, contractual right, email account, password, key, location, site, history, log, activity log, chat log, activity log, messages, message log, list, companion list, contact list, address list, item, modified item, item component, disguise, clothing, clothing component, accessory, weapon, tool, vehicle, magical power, decoration, inventory, store credit, virtual charge account, virtual role, virtual position, group membership, all virtual rights of donor, and total asset accumulation of donor,

33. A computer program product having encoded instructions for executing a process, wherein the process comprises:

providing a virtual world environment where a virtual character is enabled to acquire a property right in one or more virtual elements or attributes or characteristics;

facilitating an arrangement to transfer the virtual property right to a designated successor party, which transfer is contingent upon making a determination that the virtual character is no longer deemed a viable participant in the virtual world environment; and

making a record of the arrangement to transfer.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, further comprising:

a transmission carrier medium for encoding the instructions.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, further comprising:

a storage carrier medium for encoding the instructions.

36. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said facilitating the arrangement to transfer includes:

allowing a transfer to a virtual world successor party.

37. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said facilitating the arrangement to transfer includes:

allowing a transfer to a real-world successor party.

38. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said making a determination that the virtual character is no longer deemed a viable participant includes confirming one or more of the following virtual world occurrences:

virtual character death, virtual character destruction, virtual character disappearance, lack of virtual character participation for given period of time, no change of programmed participation of virtual character for given period of time, virtual character banned from the virtual world environment, violation by virtual character of one or more virtual environment rules, non-compliance with VW oversight rule, failure of virtual character to pay a virtual world debt, default on virtual world agreement, default on payment of virtual world subscription, disqualification of virtual world group, eviction from virtual world group, violation of oversight rule, breach of rating restriction, overdraft of virtual account, guilty of virtual crime, conviction of virtual crime, illegal virtual activity, detection of change in VW resource use pattern;

detection of lack of change in VW resource use pattern, lack of response to specific probes, incorrect response to specific probes, unauthorized character impersonation, and satisfaction of conditions established by owner of virtual character.

39. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said making the record includes:

making a record of one or more of the following types of informational data;

authorization for transferring, date of authorization, identity of designated successor party, identity of virtual property right to be transferred, secondary beneficiary, transfer requirements, transfer fee, and required third party approval.

40. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said process is encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media accessible to multiple virtual world patrons having logon capabilities at different locations.

41. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein said process is encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media capable of functional operation on localized computer apparatus accessible to an individual virtual world patron.