Real-world incentives offered to virtual world participants

• US 20070156509A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John
• Application Number:
  US11/600,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

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.

Claims

1. A method of providing a real-world opportunity to a virtual world participant, comprising

providing a data record for a particular unsolicited communication 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 entity;

providing a communication connection to the data record as part of an authentication and/or validation procedure for the real-world opportunity; and

processing certain pertinent required authorization information incorporated in the particular unsolicited communication that enables a recipient of the particular unsolicited communication to be qualified to take advantage of the real-world opportunity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the data record for the particular unsolicited communication includes:

providing the data record for the particular unsolicited communication sent to one or more predetermined virtual world participants whose identity is established in advance based at least in part on their profile or characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the data record for the particular unsolicited communication includes:

providing the data record for the particular unsolicited communication sent to one or more designated virtual world participants whose identity is determined based at least in part on their current virtual world behavior.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing certain pertinent required authorization information includes:

processing purchase information that may be used by the one or more targeted virtual world participants to obtain a real-world product and/or service of the real-world entity.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said processing purchase information includes:

processing one or more of the following types of purchase-related information;

authorization code, origination code, offer code, date code, discount terms, premium terms, product availability, quota limit, service availability, clearance item, trial period, sale period, installment terms, interest terms, website, street address, hours open, phone number, mailing address, email address, contact person, extra benefit, free benefit, bonus, referral award, required virtual world prerequisite, required real-world prerequisite, required coupon, prerequisite confirmation, expiration date, age qualification, access key, special privilege, cross promotion, real-world event, real-world performance, admission ticket, reserved seat ticket, and membership status.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said processing purchase information includes:

processing a coupon related to the real-world opportunity.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said processing the coupon includes:

processing one or more of the following types of coupon authentication;

authorization code, origination code, offer code, date code, recipient name, recipient'"'"'s real-world identity, recipient'"'"'s email address, transferee name, transferee'"'"'s real world identity, and transferee'"'"'s email address.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said processing the coupon includes:

processing the coupon submitted by a transferee party.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said processing the coupon submitted by a transferee party includes:

processing the coupon that was transferred to another virtual world participant.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring a virtual world prerequisite as at least a partial basis to qualify for the real-world opportunity.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said requiring the virtual world prerequisite includes:

requiring confirmation of one or more of the following types of virtual world prerequisites;

event attendance, class completion, test grade, rule compliance, skill measurement, level achievement, value token acquisition, experience token acquisition, participation level, group membership, rating compliance, acquiring virtual character attribute, removing virtual character attribute, activity participation, site visitation, setting visitation, item purchase, service purchase, item possession, item interaction, product promotion, product publicity, service promotion, service publicity, and character interaction.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring a real-world prerequisite as at least a partial basis to qualify for the real-world opportunity.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said requiring the real-world prerequisite as at least the partial basis includes:

requiring confirmation of one or more real-world demographic prerequisites.

19. The method of claim 1 incorporated as program instructions in one or more computer program products, wherein the program instructions are encoded on a transmission carrier medium and/or on a storage carrier medium.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing redemption of an awarded real-world opportunity based on the one or more targeted virtual world participants pursuing the real-world opportunity using one or more of the following ways;

take action during a virtual world time period;

take action during a real-world time period;

send email message;

visit virtual world store;

visit website;

visit real-world store;

select hyperlink;

respond to prompt;

send email attachment, send fax transmission, obtain printed document, scan document, process encoded card, telephonic transmission, physical delivery, postal delivery, web-page input, web service, API invocation, URL access, password access, encryption key, and digital transceiver.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring the one or more virtual world participants to confirm their real-world identity as at least a partial basis to qualify for the real-world opportunity.

10. (canceled)

13-15. -15. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20-22. -22. (canceled)

25. A method of processing a real-world opportunity offered to a virtual world participant, comprising:

providing a data record for a virtual world communication sent from or on behalf of a real-world third party enterprise to be received by a selected virtual world participant;

providing a communication connection to the data record as part of an authentication and/or validation procedure for the real-world opportunity

processing certain authorization information that includes a virtual world prerequisite and/or a real-world prerequisite required as a qualification basis for the real-world opportunity.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing an authentication technique to confirm completion of the virtual world or real-world prerequisite.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said providing the authentication technique includes:

providing an authentication code that is recognizable by a real-world entity associated with the real-world opportunity.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said providing the authentication technique includes:

providing an identification of the virtual world participant.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said processing certain authorization information regarding the virtual world prerequisite includes:

processing a confirmation of one or more of the following types of virtual world prerequisites;

event attendance, class completion, test grade, rule compliance, skill measurement, level achievement, value token acquisition, experience token acquisition, participation level, group membership, rating compliance, acquiring virtual character attribute, removing virtual character attribute, activity participation, site visitation, setting visitation, item purchase, service purchase, item possession, item interaction, product promotion, product publicity, service promotion, service publicity, and character interaction.

31. The method of claim 25 incorporated as program instructions in one or more computer program products, wherein program instructions are encoded on a transmission carrier medium and/or on a storage carrier medium.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein said processing certain authorization information includes:

processing certain authorization information that includes one or more of the following types of purchase-related information for the real-world opportunity;

authorization code, origination code, offer code, date code, discount terms, premium terms, product availability, quota limit, service availability, clearance item, trial period, sale period, installment terms, interest terms, website, street address, hours open, phone number, mailing address, email address, contact person, extra benefit, free benefit, bonus, referral award, required virtual world prerequisite, required real-world prerequisite, required coupon, prerequisite confirmation, expiration date, age qualification, access key, special privilege, cross promotion, real-world event, real-world performance, admission ticket, reserved seat ticket, and membership status.

30. (canceled)

33. A computerized system for validating a real-world premium, comprising:

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 authenticate or validate a submitted real-world premium in accordance with applicable qualification parameters and/or prerequisites.

34. The computerized system of claim 33 wherein said first listing of said database record includes:

a listing of multiple types of real-world premiums.

35. The computerized system of claim 33 wherein said second listing of said database record includes:

a listing of the one or more virtual world environments providing distribution of the multiple types of real-world premiums, respectively.

36. The computerized system of claim 33 wherein said computer apparatus includes:

a control module operably connected to said processing module and configured to implement a consequential result from a submission of one or more awarded real-world premiums.

37. The computerized system of claim 36 wherein said control module requires a real-world identification of a party making the submission before implementing the consequential result.

38. The computerized system of claim 33 wherein said processing module is configured to recognize one or more of the following parameters as part of an authentication and/or validation procedure for processing the submitted real-world premium:

authorization code, date code, type of premium code, distributor code, identity of virtual world distributor, transferable premium, non-transferable premium, real-world identification of original recipient, real-world identification of submitter, and real-world identification of group to receive benefit of premium.

39. The computerized system of claim 33 wherein said processing module is configured to receive confirmation and/or authentication of the real-world premium via one or more of the following techniques:

email message, email attachment, fax transmission, printed document, scanned document, encoded card, telephonic transmission, physical delivery, postal delivery, web-page input, web service, API invocation, URL access, password access, encryption key, and digital transceiver.

40. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

a database for keeping a record of the one or more virtual world participants who have completed a virtual world prerequisite and/or a real-world prerequisite required for receiving the real-world premium.

55. The system of claim 33 wherein said processing unit is configured to confirm compliance with an applicable real-world qualification parameter required for the submitted real-world premium.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said processing unit includes capability to confirm compliance with applicable real-world demographic qualification parameters.

57. The system of claim 33 wherein said processing unit is configured to confirm compliance with an applicable virtual world qualification parameter required for the submitted real-world premium.

58. The system of claim 33 wherein said processing unit is configured to determine completion of a virtual world prerequisite for the submitted real-world premium.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein said processing unit includes capability to determine completion of one or more of the following types of virtual world prerequisites for the submitted real-world premium:

event attendance, class completion, test grade, rule compliance, skill measurement, level achievement, value token acquisition, experience token acquisition, participation level, group membership, rating compliance, acquiring virtual character attribute, removing virtual character attribute, activity participation, site visitation, setting visitation, item purchase, service purchase, item possession, item interaction, product promotion, product publicity, service promotion, service publicity, and character interaction.

60. The system of claim 33 wherein said processing unit is configured to process a coupon as part of an authentication and/or validation procedure for the submitted real-world premium.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said processing unit includes capability to recognize one or more of the following types of coupon authentication:

authorization code, origination code, offer code, date code, recipient name, recipient'"'"'s real-world identity, recipient'"'"'s email address, transferee name, transferee'"'"'s real world identity, and transferee'"'"'s email address.

62. The system of claim 60 wherein said processing unit includes capability to process the coupon submitted for redemption by an original recipient of an awarded real-world premium.

63. The system of claim 60 wherein said processing unit includes capability to process a coupon submitted for redemption by a transferee party.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein said processing unit includes further capability to process a coupon submitted for redemption by a transferee party not associated with a virtual world character of the virtual world environment providing the distribution.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein said processing unit includes further capability to process the coupon submitted for redemption by a real-world patron associated with a transferee character of the virtual world environment providing the distribution.

66. The system of claim 35 wherein said database includes:

a data record of a virtual world prerequisite for the submitted real-world premium.

67. The system of claim 35 wherein said database includes:

a data record of a real-world prerequisite for the submitted real-world premium.

68. The system of claim 35 wherein said database includes:

a data record of an applicable virtual world qualification parameter required for the submitted real-world premium.

69. The system of claim 35 wherein said database includes:

a data record of an applicable real-world qualification parameter required for the submitted real-world premium.

70. The system of claim 35 wherein said database includes:

a data record of one or more of the following types of criteria for selecting the one or more virtual world participants;

real-world profile, real-world demographic, virtual world profile, virtual world demographic, real-world characteristic, virtual world characteristic, historical interest, purchase history, activity history, real-world personality attribute, virtual world personality attribute, real-world behavioral attribute, and virtual world behavioral attribute.

71. The system of claim 36 wherein said control module further includes:

the control module configured to implement the consequential result to an original recipient of the awarded real-world premium.

72. The system of claim 36 wherein said control module further includes:

the control module configured to implement the consequential result to a transferee party of the awarded real-world premium.

73. The system of claim 36 wherein said control module further includes:

the control module configured to implement the consequential result to a group associated with an original recipient or transferee party of the awarded real-world premium.

41-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A computer program product comprising:

a) program instructions configured to perform a process that associates information in a computer system, the process including

making a record of one or more types of a real-world premium distributed by or on behalf of a real-world enterprise to one or more targeted virtual world participants in a virtual world environment,

confirming certain pertinent required authorization information that is required in order to award the real-world premium to a virtual world participant,

providing validation by or on behalf of the real-world enterprise of an awarded real-world premium; and

b) a computer readable signal-bearing media for encoding the program instructions.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein said process further includes:

processing a notice of completion of a virtual world prerequisite sent to a destination authorized by the real-world enterprise via one or more of the following techniques;

email message, email attachment, fax transmission, printed document, scanned document, encoded card, telephonic transmission, physical delivery, postal delivery, web-page input, web service, API invocation, URL access, password access, encryption key, and digital transceiver.

45. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein said computer readable signal-bearing media includes storage and/or signal transmission media for encoding the program instructions.

74. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein said process further includes:

processing a notice of completion of a real-world prerequisite sent to a destination authorized by the real-world enterprise via one or more of the following techniques;

email message, email attachment, fax transmission, printed document, scanned document, encoded card, telephonic transmission, physical delivery, postal delivery, web-page input, web service, API invocation, URL access, password access, encryption key, and digital transceiver.

46-54. -54. (canceled)