UNSOLICITED ADVERTISEMENTS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE THROUGH AVATAR TRANSPORT OFFERS

• US 20080204448A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dawson, Christopher J., Pickover, Clifford A., Hamilton, Rick A., Gusler, Carl P.
• Application Number:
  US11/679,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A tool is provided that provides unsolicited advertisements in a virtual universe through avatar transport offers. An information collector component is configured to collect information on an avatar that is online in the virtual universe. A transport offer generator component is configured to present an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

Claims

1. A method for generating an offer of transport to an avatar that is online in a virtual universe for exposure to an unsolicited advertisement, comprising:

collecting information on the avatar; and

presenting an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising exposing the avatar to the unsolicited advertisement in response to the avatar accepting transport.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising enabling the avatar to make a purchase of the goods or services that are subject of the unsolicited advertisement.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising enabling the avatar to make a request to receive further information that relates to the unsolicited advertisement.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collecting of avatar information comprises gathering information that comprises avatar profiles, avatar interests, interactions with other avatars and proximity to regions within the virtual universe.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising evaluating whether the collected avatar information warrants targeting the avatar for the unsolicited advertisement;

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the evaluating of collected avatar information comprises analyzing the collected avatar information in accordance with a plurality of advertising related information and determining whether the characteristics derived from the collected avatar information is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising selecting an advertisement targeted to the characteristics of the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the presenting of an offer to transport an avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement comprises using enticements to coax the avatar to accept the offer for transport.

10. An advertising generation tool for use in a virtual universe, comprising:

an information collector component configured to collect information on an avatar that is online in the virtual universe; and

a transport offer generator component configured to present an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

11. The advertising generation tool according to claim 10, further comprising an avatar proximity monitor component configured to monitor avatars that are online in the virtual universe and determine avatars that are within proximity to a specified region within the virtual universe.

12. The advertising generation tool according to claim 10, wherein the information collector component is configured to gather information that comprises avatar profiles, avatar interests, interactions with other avatars and proximity to regions within the virtual universe.

13. The advertising generation tool according to claim 10, further comprising an evaluator component configured to evaluate whether the collected avatar information warrants targeting the avatar for an unsolicited advertisement

14. The advertising generation tool according to claim 13, further comprising a database comprising a plurality of advertising related information.

15. The advertising generation tool according to claim 14, wherein the evaluator component is configured to analyze the collected avatar information in accordance with the plurality of advertising related information and determine whether the characteristics derived from the collected avatar information is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

16. The advertising generation tool according to claim 15, wherein the evaluator component is configured to select an advertisement targeted to the characteristics of the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

17. The advertising generation tool according to claim 10, wherein the transport offer generator component is configured to use enticements to coax the avatar to accept the offer for transport.

18. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to generate an offer of transport to an avatar that is online in a virtual universe for exposure to an unsolicited advertisement, the computer instructions comprising:

collecting information on the avatar; and

presenting an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, further comprising instructions for exposing the avatar to the unsolicited advertisement in response to the avatar accepting transport.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for enabling the avatar to make a purchase of the goods or services that are subject of the unsolicited advertisement.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the collecting of avatar information comprises instructions for gathering information that comprises avatar profiles, avatar interests, interactions with other avatars and proximity to regions within the virtual universe.

22. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, further comprising instructions for evaluating whether the collected avatar information warrants targeting the avatar for the unsolicited advertisement.

23. The computer-readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the evaluating of collected avatar information comprises instructions for analyzing the collected avatar information in accordance with a plurality of advertising related information and determining whether the characteristics derived from the collected avatar information is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

24. The computer-readable medium according to claim 23, further comprising instructions for selecting an advertisement targeted to the characteristics of the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is suitable for receiving the unsolicited advertisement.

25. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the presenting of an offer to transport an avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement comprises instructions for using enticements to coax the avatar to accept the offer for transport.

26. A method for exposing an avatar within a virtual universe with an unsolicited advertisement, comprising:

finding an avatar that is online in the virtual universe; and

presenting an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

27. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to generate an offer of transport to an avatar that is online in a virtual universe for exposure to an unsolicited advertisement, the computer instructions comprising:

collecting information on the avatar;

evaluating whether the collected avatar information warrants targeting the avatar for the unsolicited advertisement; and

presenting an offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.

28. A method for deploying an advertising generation tool for use in a computer system that generates unsolicited advertisements in a virtual universe, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

collect information on an avatar that is online in the virtual universe; and

offer to transport the avatar to another region within the virtual universe for exposure to the unsolicited advertisement.