REAL WORLD AND VIRTUAL WORLD CROSS-PROMOTION

• US 20090192891A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Titus, Tobin, Porter, Erik, Booth, Ernie
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for cross promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world. A redemption code is received from a first participant in the virtual world. A virtual object corresponding to the redemption code is provided to the first participant. A request for information regarding the real object is received from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object. Upon receiving the request via the virtual object, information regarding the real object is provided to the second participant and via the virtual object.

Claims

1. A method for cross-promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first participant of the virtual world, a redemption code;

providing, to the first participant, a virtual object corresponding to the redemption code;

receiving, from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object, a request for information regarding a real object; and

upon receiving the request via the virtual object, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, the information regarding the real object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, an interface to purchase the real object via the virtual object; and

receiving, from the second participant and via the interface, payment to purchase the real object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification that the first participant has purchased the real object; and

in response to receiving the notification, providing, to the first participant, the redemption code.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an insert containing the redemption code along with the real object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual representation of the real object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the redemption code comprises a unique identification number corresponding to the virtual object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the real object comprises advertising information regarding the real object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the advertising information comprises specifications regarding the real object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the real object comprises purchasing information regarding the real object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the purchasing information comprises a price to purchase the real object.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the purchasing information comprises a link to website for purchasing the real object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first participant accesses the virtual world via a first computing device at a first location, and wherein the second participant accesses the virtual world via a second computing device at a second location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a first avatar controlled by the first participant and second avatar controlled by the second participant are configured to interact with the virtual object.

14. A method for cross-promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first participant of the virtual world, a redemption code;

providing, to the first participant, a virtual object corresponding to the redemption code;

receiving, from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object, a request for information regarding a real object;

upon receiving the request via the virtual object, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, information regarding the real object and an interface to purchase the real object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the virtual object is unrelated to the real object.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the interface to purchase the real object comprises a credit card interface with which the second participant enters credit card information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first participant controls a first avatar configured to interact with the virtual object in the virtual world, and wherein the second participant controls a second avatar configured to interact with the virtual object in the virtual world.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, from the second participant and via the virtual object, payment for the purchase of the real object; and

upon receiving the payment, providing the redemption code to the second participant.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide a redemption code to a first participant of a virtual world;

receive, from the first participant, the redemption code;

retrieve a virtual object based on the redemption code;

provide, to the first participant, the virtual object;

receive, from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object, a request for information regarding a real object;

upon receiving the request, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, information regarding the real object and an interface to purchase the real object.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the request for information regarding the real object is received from an avatar controlled by the first participant.