Real-world incentives offered to virtual world participants
First Claim
1. A method of providing a real-world opportunity to a virtual world participant, comprising:
- making an arrangement that directs a particular unsolicited communication to be sent to one or more targeted virtual world participants in a virtual world environment, which particular unsolicited communication relates to the real-world opportunity offered by or on behalf of a real-world third party entity; and
incorporating in the particular unsolicited communication certain pertinent required authorization information that enables the one or more virtual world participants to be qualified to take advantage of the real-world opportunity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. One or more selected patrons are targeted to receive notification of a real-world opportunity that includes authorization information, which authorization information may disclose a required real-world or virtual world prerequisite. In some implementations, multiple participants at different locations may be involved in virtual world and/or real-world activities and transactions related to the real-world opportunity.
212 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of providing a real-world opportunity to a virtual world participant, comprising:
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making an arrangement that directs a particular unsolicited communication to be sent to one or more targeted virtual world participants in a virtual world environment, which particular unsolicited communication relates to the real-world opportunity offered by or on behalf of a real-world third party entity; and
incorporating in the particular unsolicited communication certain pertinent required authorization information that enables the one or more virtual world participants to be qualified to take advantage of the real-world opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of offering a real-world opportunity to a virtual world participant, comprising:
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making an arrangement for a virtual world communication from or on behalf of a real-world third party enterprise to be received involuntarily by the virtual world participant;
incorporating in the virtual world communication certain authorization information regarding a real-world opportunity; and
requiring a virtual world prerequisite and/or a real-world prerequisite as a qualification basis for the real-world opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computerized system for validating a real-world premium, comprising:
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computer apparatus;
a database record operably coupled to the computer apparatus, which database record provides a first listing of the real-world premium that is authorized for distribution to one or more virtual world participants, and a second listing of one or more virtual world environments providing such distribution; and
a processing module having a communication connection to the database record and configured to validate a submitted real-world premium - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for providing a real-world premium benefit to a virtual world participant, comprising:
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computer apparatus for creating a virtual world environment;
a database for keeping a record of the virtual world participant that has completed a virtual world prerequisite required for receiving a real-world premium; and
a processing unit operably coupled to the computer apparatus and to the database, which processing unit is capable of determining completion of the virtual world prerequisite, and further capable of generating a confirmation of an award of the real-world premium in a form and/or format suitable for validation by a real-world third party entity. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A computer program product comprising:
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a) program instructions configured to perform a process that associates information in a computer system, the process including providing a virtual world environment;
making a record of one or more types of a real-world premium that can be distributed by or on behalf of a real-world enterprise to one or more targeted virtual world participants, confirming completion of a virtual world prerequisite that is required in order to award the real-world premium to a virtual world participant, providing confirmation of the real-world premium in a form and/or format suitable for validation by or on behalf of the real-world enterprise; and
b) a computer readable signal-bearing media including a storage medium and/or a communication medium for encoding the program instructions. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of targeting a promotional notification sent to a virtual world participant, comprising:
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establishing criteria for selecting one or more targeted virtual world participants as a recipient of a real-world opportunity;
making an arrangement directing a virtual world notification to the one or more targeted virtual world participants regarding the real-world opportunity; and
providing authorization information to the one or more targeted virtual world participants, which authorization information will help enable the one or more targeted virtual world participants to qualify for the real-world opportunity. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification