METHOD OF SECURING TYPED CONVERSATION USING ENCRYPTION KEYS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD

• US 20090252331A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schadeberg, Wolfgang G.
• Application Number:
  US12/099,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/283
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0822 using key encryption key

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of securing typed conversations using encryption keys when interfacing in a public environment established in a Virtual World, in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG).

Claims

1. A method for securing typed conversations in a virtual public environment, comprising:

prompting a first communicator desirous of communicating in a virtual public environment to enter a key consisting of at least one of a password and a first encryption key, said first encryption key created from said password;

communicating said at least one of a password and a first encryption key to a second communicator desirous of communicating in a virtual public environment with said first communicator in a form of a second encryption key configured to communicate with said first encryption key, said at least one of a password and said first encryption key being communicated through a software solution separate from said virtual public environment, said software solution common to said first communicator and said second communicator;

displaying a first text entry box to said first communicator upon entry of said at least one of a password and a first encryption key for receiving typed text communication addressed to said second communicator desirous of communicating in a virtual public environment with said first communicator, encrypting any text typed in said first text entry box by said first communicator such that it may be decrypted with said first or said second encryption key; and

displaying any text entered in said first text entry box in a decrypted form to said second communicator and prompting said second communicator for a response.