Facilitating Simulated Purchases of Items by Virtual Representations of Participants in Computer-Based Simulations

• US 20080086382A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ur, Shmuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method for facilitating simulated purchases by virtual representations of participants in computer-based simulations of items outside of the context of computer-based simulations, the method including receiving a simulated payment for an item for purchase, where the simulated payment is associated with a virtual representation of a participant in a computer-based simulation, where the item is available for purchase outside of the context of the simulation, and where the simulated payment is received outside of the context of the simulation, and providing a description of the item to a process of the simulation, where the description is provided subsequent to receiving the simulated payment, where and the description is provided in association with the virtual representation.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating simulated purchases by virtual representations of participants in computer-based simulations of items outside of the context of computer-based simulations, the method comprising:

receiving a simulated payment for an item for purchase, wherein said simulated payment is associated with a virtual representation of a participant in a computer-based simulation, wherein said item is available for purchase outside of the context of said simulation, and wherein said simulated payment is received outside of the context of said simulation; and

providing a description of said item to a process of said simulation, wherein said description is provided subsequent to receiving said simulated payment, wherein and said description is provided in association with said virtual representation.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein either of said receiving and said providing are performed via a computer network.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said providing comprises providing said description via email.

4. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

receiving an attribute value of said virtual representation; and

generating a shopping environment in accordance with said attribute value.

5. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising receiving an indication that said simulated payment is associated with said virtual representation.

6. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising receiving simulated currency for said item, wherein said simulated currency is convertible to legal tender at an exchange rate.

7. A system for facilitating simulated purchases by virtual representations of participants in computer-based simulations of items outside of the context of computer-based simulations, the system comprising:

simulated payment information for an item for purchase, wherein said simulated payment is associated with a virtual representation of a participant in a computer-based simulation, wherein said item is available for purchase outside of the context of said simulation, and wherein said simulated payment is received outside of the context of said simulation;

a description of said item, wherein said description is provided subsequent to receiving said simulated payment, wherein and said description is provided in association with said virtual representation; and

a computer configured to store said description, receive said simulated payment, and provide said description to a process of said simulation.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said computer is operative to either of said receive said simulated payment and provide said description via a computer network.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said computer is operative to provide said description via email.

10. The system according to claim 7 wherein said computer is operative to receive an attribute value of said virtual representation and generate a shopping environment in accordance with said attribute value.

11. The system according to claim 7 wherein said computer is operative to determine that said simulated payment is associated with said virtual representation.

12. The system according to claim 7 wherein said computer is operative to receive simulated currency for said item, wherein said simulated currency is convertible to legal tender at an exchange rate.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising:

a first code segment operative to receive a simulated payment for an item for purchase, wherein said simulated payment is associated with a virtual representation of a participant in a computer-based simulation, wherein said item is available for purchase outside of the context of said simulation, and wherein said simulated payment is received outside of the context of said simulation; and

a second code segment operative to provide a description of said item to a process of said simulation, wherein said description is provided subsequent to receiving said simulated payment, wherein and said description is provided in association with said virtual representation.