Payment options for virtual credit
First Claim
1. A method of creating credit transactions in a fictional world environment, comprising:
- providing a virtual charge account service available to a participant in the fictional world environment, including accepting virtual transactions charged to a virtual credit account in connection with purchase activities in the fictional world environment; and
transmitting a billing statement to the participant who acquires the virtual credit account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction. One aspect makes a virtual charge account service available for use in a fictional world environment, wherein a billing statement charges various fees that may be valuated in fictional world money, real-world money, or non-monetary fictional world value tokens.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of creating credit transactions in a fictional world environment, comprising:
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providing a virtual charge account service available to a participant in the fictional world environment, including accepting virtual transactions charged to a virtual credit account in connection with purchase activities in the fictional world environment; and transmitting a billing statement to the participant who acquires the virtual credit account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product having one or more computer programs for executing a computer process, the computer process comprising:
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providing a virtual charge account service in a fictional world environment; processing an authorized fictional world transaction involving a virtual credit account; and transmitting a billing statement for fees owed with respect to the authorized fictional world transaction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for processing virtual credit transactions comprising:
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a fictional world environment wherein a virtual transaction involves a purchase activity; a virtual credit account accessible in the fictional world environment for use with the purchase activity; a database record for recording the purchase activity; and an output device coupled to the database record for communicating obligations arising from the purchase activity to a person or entity responsible for virtual credit account obligations. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of creating credit transactions in a fictional world environment, comprising:
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providing a virtual charge card account to a user in the fictional world environment including accepting virtual transactions charged to a virtual credit account in connection with purchase activities in the fictional world environment; incorporating a benchmark completion requirement based on an activity of the user in the fictional world environment as a basis for giving the user an option to transition from the virtual charge card account to an actual financial account; using a microprocessor, transitioning the user to usage of the actual financial account responsive to the user completing the benchmark completion requirement; and
transmitting a billing statement to the participant who acquires the virtual credit account.
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Specification