ENABLEMENT OF VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES THROUGH ADVERTISEMENT EXPOSURE

• US 20080204449A1
• 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., Seaman, James W.
• Application Number:
  US11/679,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

The present invention relates to the enablement of virtual universe functions and features through advertisement exposure. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: viewing, by the avatar, advertising content within the virtual environment; and earning a number of points for viewing the advertising content.

Claims

1. A method for enabling aspects of a virtual environment to an avatar, comprising:

viewing advertising content within the virtual environment; and

earning a number of points for viewing the advertising content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing of advertising content is selected from the group consisting of actively viewing the advertising content and passively viewing the advertising content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

earning a first number of points for actively viewing the advertising content; and

earning a second number of points for passively viewing the advertising content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first number of points and the second number of points can comprise a same number of points or a different number of points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an aspect comprises a feature or function of the virtual environment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a point value to an aspect of the virtual environment; and

enabling the avatar to access or enhance the aspect in the case the avatar has earned a sufficient number of points.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

deducting the point value assigned to the aspect from the number of points earned by the avatar in the case the avatar accesses or enhances the aspect.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the avatar to immediately access an aspect of the virtual environment upon viewing the advertising content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

visually indicating on the avatar the number of points earned by the avatar.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a point value to a virtual space of the virtual environment; and

enabling the avatar to access the virtual space in the case the avatar has earned a sufficient number of points.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

deducting the point value assigned to the virtual space from the number of points earned by the avatar in the case the avatar accesses the virtual space.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting a visual content of the virtual space based on the number of points earned by the avatar.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of points earned by the avatar for viewing the advertising content is based on a vendor of the advertising content.

14. A system for enabling aspects of a virtual environment to an avatar, comprising:

a system for viewing advertising content within the virtual environment; and

a system for earning a number of points for viewing the advertising content.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system for viewing comprises at least one of:

a system for actively viewing the advertising content; and

a system for passively viewing the advertising content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a first number of points is earned for actively viewing the advertising content, and a second number of points is earned for passively viewing the advertising content.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first number of points and the second number of points can comprise a same number of points or a different number of points.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein an aspect comprises a feature or function of the virtual environment.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a system for assigning a point value to an aspect of the virtual environment; and

a system for enabling the avatar to access or enhance the aspect in the case the avatar has earned a sufficient number of points.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a system for deducting the point value assigned to the aspect from the number of points earned by the avatar in the case the avatar accesses or enhances the aspect.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a system for allowing the avatar to immediately access an aspect of the virtual environment upon viewing the advertising content.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a system for visually indicating on the avatar the number of points earned by the avatar.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a system for assigning a point value to a virtual space of the virtual environment; and

a system for enabling the avatar to access the virtual space in the case the avatar has earned a sufficient number of points.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a system for deducting the point value assigned to the virtual space from the number of points earned by the avatar in the case the avatar accesses the virtual space.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a system for adjusting a visual content of the virtual space based on the number of points earned by the avatar.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the number of points earned by the avatar for viewing the advertising content is based on a vendor of the advertising content.

27. A program product stored on a computer readable medium, which when executed, enables aspects of a virtual environment to an avatar, the computer readable medium comprising program code for:

viewing advertising content within the virtual environment; and

earning a number of points for viewing the advertising content.

28. A method for deploying an application for enabling aspects of a virtual environment to an avatar, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

view advertising content within the virtual environment; and

earn a number of points for viewing the advertising content.