Resolution of virtual world revocable transfers

• US 20080228607A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D.
• Application Number:
  US12/005,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in a possible future transfer or related transfer revocation or related transfer modification involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights.

Claims

1. A method for a conditional transfer in a virtual world, comprising:

identifying a virtual object or virtual right in a virtual world environment that is subject to a possible future transfer from a donor party to a recipient, wherein the possible future transfer is triggered by an activation factor;

scheduling the possible future transfer of the virtual object or virtual right based on applicable information that substantiates the activation factor;

determining whether compliance with certain criteria for revocation or modification of the future transfer has been established; and

maintaining a record of status information regarding the possible future transfer, which record is accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making a tentative transfer based on applicable information to substantiate an activation factor that includes a real-world or virtual world disqualification.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making a tentative transfer based on applicable information to substantiate an activation factor that includes a disqualification involving the donor party.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing a final disposition of the possible future transfer in the event that revocation or modification of the transfer is not authorized.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling modification of the possible future transfer during a pending period after an occurrence of the activation factor.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling modification of the possible future transfer during a pending period prior to any tentative or final transfer to the recipient.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining a record of status information includes:

maintaining a record of one or more of the following types of modification of the possible future transfer;

cancellation, forfeiture, revocation, designate substitute recipient, designate return to donor, designate required recipient qualification, designate prerequisite for recipient, adding accessory to transfer, adding ancillary item or right to transfer, provide enhanced virtual object to transfer, provide enhanced virtual right to transfer, provide diminished virtual object to transfer, provide diminished virtual right to transfer, provide separated virtual component for transfer, provide altered virtual right to transfer, deletion of virtual object, deletion of virtual right, substituted transfer subject matter, new disposition procedure, designate multiple recipients, add transfer limitation, waiver of transfer requirement, conditional waiver of transfer requirement, consideration required from recipient, additional contingency contingent upon another transfer, and contingent upon recipient qualification.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing completion of a final transfer as a result of an expiration of a time period during which no revocation or no unauthorized modification has occurred.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

triggering the possible future transfer based on an activation factor that includes a real-world or virtual world disqualification involving the donor party.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining a record of status information includes:

maintaining a record of a safeguard to prevent one or more of the following types of unauthorized modification of the particular virtual object or virtual right;

destruction, disablement, loss, sale, transfer, license, registration, publicity, display to other party, conversion, alteration, customization, fragmentation, division, duplication, encumbrance, subject to lien, subject to current obligation, subject to future obligation, use as collateral, enhancement, dilution, and forfeiture.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a real-world communication or a virtual world communication to provide status information related to the possible future transfer.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said sending the communication includes:

sending the communication to notify the donor party or its designated representative regarding the status information related to the possible future transfer.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said sending the communication includes:

sending the communication to notify the recipient or its designated representative regarding the status information related to the possible future transfer.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

sending the communication that provides status information regarding one or more of the following;

transferable object, transferable right, activation factor, disqualification, tentative transfer, interim usage period, transfer revocation, forfeiture, returning virtual object to donor, returning virtual right to donor, transfer modification, transfer enhancement, transfer diminution, qualification of recipient, prerequisite for recipient, transfer consideration, new recipient, waiver of disqualification, correction of disqualification, elimination of disqualification, remedial action, objection to transfer, adverse claim, conflict resolution, revocation criteria, modification criteria, transfer consideration, final transfer, transfer disposition, virtual object usage instructions, virtual right usage instructions, transfer completing instructions, and transfer avoidance instructions.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said sending the communication includes:

providing in the communication directed to the recipient party or its designated representative an identification of the particular object or virtual right that is the subject of the possible future transfer.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said providing in the communication the identification includes:

providing in the communication one or more of the following types of information relating to the subject of the possible future transfer;

transfer term, tentative transfer condition, tentative transfer limitation, final transfer term, final transfer condition, final transfer limitation, actual donor identity, anonymous donor identity, alias virtual object identity, alias virtual right identity, characteristic, attribute, capability composite components, separable elements, proprietary aspect, and future transferability.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a communication to one or more of the following parties that confirms revocation of the future transfer or modification of a tentative or final transfer;

donor party, recipient, designated real-world third party, designated virtual world third party, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, government agency, financial institution, oversight entity, supervisory authority, parent, employer, teacher, group, and beneficiary.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a notification in the virtual world environment to one or more of the following types of parties regarding the possible future transfer of the virtual object or virtual right;

character, avatar, player, participant, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, group, third party, oversight entity, supervisory authority, arbiter, objecting party, and adverse claimant.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining a record of status information includes:

maintaining a record for status information regarding one or more of the following;

donor party, recipient party, future transfer, activation factor, disqualification, revocation guidelines, remedial action, activation factor, disqualification, transfer consideration, revocation consideration, pending transfer, revoked transfer, modified transfer, completed transfer, revocable future transfer, non-revocable future transfer, transferable virtual world right, and transferable virtual world object.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment to the donor party.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment to the recipient party.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment to a party authorized to provide a waiver of the activation factor.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment to a designated real-world or virtual world third party entity.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein said maintaining the record includes:

maintaining the record to be accessible in a virtual world or real-world environment to one or more of the following types of third party entities;

donor party, recipient, designated third party, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, government agency, financial institution, oversight entity, supervisory, authority, parent, employer, teacher, beneficiary, group, real-world player, virtual world player, virtual world non-player character, and avatar.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to completing a final transfer, confirming that no adverse claimant or other party has filed an objection to the final transfer.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

implementing a revocation before allowing the final transfer in the event that the objection to the final transfer is deemed to be sufficient.

41. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing a final transfer if no remedial action or correction or elimination or waiver regarding the activation factor occurs within a given period of time.

5. (canceled)

9-12. -12. (canceled)

15-22. -22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

42-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A system for a conditional transfer comprising:

computer apparatus for creating a virtual world environment;

data memory operably coupled to the computer apparatus and adapted to store informational data relating to a possible future transfer of a virtual object or virtual right from a donor party to a recipient;

one or more application programs configured to schedule the possible future transfer based on an occurrence of an activation factor involving the donor party; and

a controller module that facilitates sending a real-world communication or a virtual world communication to provide status information related to a tentative or a final transfer of the virtual object or virtual right based on applicable information to substantiate the activation factor.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

criteria for determining whether to allow revocation of the possible future transfer and thereby prevent a final transfer to the recipient.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

criteria for determining whether to allow modification of the virtual object or virtual right prior to completion of a final transfer to the recipient.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

criteria for determining whether the modification of the virtual object or virtual right is sufficient to prevent a tentative or final transfer to the recipient.

51. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

an activation factor that includes a real-world disqualification involving the donor party.

52. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

an activation factor that includes a virtual world disqualification involving the donor party.

53. The system of claim 47 wherein said one or more application programs include:

provision for making a tentative or final transfer of the virtual object or virtual right to the recipient based on a determination that no remedial action or correction or elimination or waiver regarding the activation factor occurs within a given period of time.

54. The system of claim 47 wherein said one or more application programs include:

provision for making oily a partial transfer of the virtual object or virtual right during an interim usage period prior to a final disposition regarding the possible future transfer.

56. The system of claim 47 wherein said data memory includes:

transfer status information regarding one or more of the following;

donor party, recipient party, future transfer, activation factor, disqualification, revocation guidelines, remedial action, activation waiver, disqualification waiver, transfer completion consideration, revocation consideration, pending transfer, revoked transfer, modified transfer, completed transfer, revocable future transfer, non-revocable future transfer, transferable virtual world right, and transferable virtual world object.

57. The system of claim 47 wherein said one or more application programs include:

one or more application programs encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media accessible to multiple virtual world patrons having logon capabilities at different locations.

58. The system of claim 47 wherein said one or more application programs includes:

one or more application programs encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media capable of functional operation on localized computer apparatus accessible to an individual virtual world patron.

55. (canceled)

59. A computer program product comprising:

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

providing a virtual world environment where a possible future transfer of a virtual object or virtual right from a donor party to a recipient is triggered by a real-world or virtual world disqualification involving the donor party,

maintaining a data record for a term or condition relating to the possible future transfer, which data record includes certain criteria for modification of the virtual object or virtual right or a revocation of the possible future transfer prior to completion of a final transfer to the recipient; and

b) computer readable signal-bearing media including a storage medium and/or a communication medium for encoding the instructions.

60. The computer program product of claim 59 wherein said process further includes:

making a tentative transfer of the virtual object or virtual right to the recipient based on applicable information that substantiates the disqualification, wherein the tentative transfer includes only a partial transfer of the virtual object or virtual right prior to a final disposition regarding the possible future transfer.

61. The computer program product of claim 60, wherein said process component making the tentative transfer includes:

providing a diminution or elimination of one or more of the following type of capabilities of the virtual object or virtual right prior to the final disposition;

sentient, mental, physical, emotional, computational, logical, creative, memory, communication, transportation, access, creative, usage, and proprietary.

62. The computer program product of claim 59 wherein said process further includes:

enabling one or more of the following types of changed term or condition during a pending period prior to any tentative or final transfer to the recipient;

cancellation, forfeiture, revocation, designate substitute recipient, designate return to donor, designate required recipient qualification, designate prerequisite for recipient, adding accessory to transfer, adding ancillary item or right to transfer, provide enhanced virtual object to transfer, provide enhanced virtual right to transfer, provide diminished virtual object to transfer, provide diminished virtual right to transfer, provide separated virtual component for transfer, provide altered virtual right to transfer, deletion of virtual object, deletion of virtual right, substituted transfer subject matter, new disposition procedure, designate multiple recipients, add transfer limitation, waiver of transfer requirement, conditional waiver of transfer requirement, consideration required from recipient, additional contingency, contingent upon another transfer, and contingent upon recipient qualification.

63. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein said process component maintaining the data record includes:

maintaining a record of a changed term or condition which is authorized by or on behalf of the donor party.

64. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein said process further includes:

implementing a final transfer of the virtual object or virtual right based on a determination that no revocation of the future transfer or no modification of the virtual object or virtual right is sufficient to prevent implementation of the final transfer to the recipient.