Virtual world reversion rights

• US 20100312680A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rinaldo, John D. JR., Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,977,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/95 Financial

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 possible transfers and/or transfer revocations involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights.

Claims

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

identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right capable of being transferred to a recipient party;

establishing that the future transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right from a donor party to the recipient party is subject to revocation ; and

making a tentative transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which tentative transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing a final transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right to be completed to the recipient party based on a determination that there is no applicable basis for the revocation.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

requiring something of value from or on behalf of the recipient party as at least partial consideration for allowing the final transfer to be completed.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

requiring something of value from the recipient party or a third party that is rendered to one or more of the following;

donor party, donor'"'"'s representative, donor'"'"'s designee, charitable entity, group, and designated third party.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

revoking the tentative transfer based on applicable information indicating that the disqualification factor has been corrected or eliminated or waived or remedied.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said revoking the tentative transfer includes:

returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

requiring something of value from or on behalf of the donor party as at least partial consideration for returning the particular virtual object or virtual right.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said revoking the tentative transfer includes:

allowing one or more of the following consequences regarding the particular virtual object or virtual right;

forfeiture, destruction, donation to charitable entity, transfer to designated third party, transfer to designated group, transfer to heir of donor party, and transfer to family member of donor party.

9. The method or claim 1 further comprising:

revoking the tentative transfer based on a determination that applicable remedial action regarding the disqualification factor has been taken by or on behalf of the donor party.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right includes:

identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right acquired by a virtual character in a virtual world environment; and

triggering the tentative transfer of such virtual object or virtual right as a result of a virtual world disqualification factor.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

confirming the virtual world disqualification factor that includes a death or demise or destruction or disablement of the virtual character.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

confirming one or more of the following virtual world disqualification factors involving the virtual character;

virtual death, demise, destruction, disablement, group dissolution, non-viable group, non-viable character, character disappearance, lack of character participation for given period of time, no change of programmed participation for given period of time, character banned from virtual world environment, violation virtual world environment rule, non-compliance with VW oversight rule, breach of rating restriction, determination by authorized third party, failure to pay virtual world debt, default on virtual world agreement, default on virtual world subscription payment, disqualification of virtual world group, eviction from virtual world group, overdraft of virtual account, guilty of virtual crime, conviction of virtual crime, illegal virtual activity, change in VW resource use pattern, lack of change in VW resource use pattern, lack of response to specific probes, incorrect response to specific probes, unauthorized character impersonation, and breach of conditions established by owner of virtual character.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right includes:

identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right acquired in a virtual world environment by a real-world donor entity; and

triggering the tentative transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right as a result of a real-world disqualification factor.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

confirming the real-world disqualification factor that includes a death or disablement of the real-world donor entity.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

confirming one or more of the following real-world disqualification factors involving the real-world donor entity;

death, disablement, unable to locate donor entity;

non-response from donor entity, criminal conviction of donor entity, change in group membership, group member absence, donor entity not in group;

donor entity not part of organization, donor entity no longer married, donor entity no longer a government citizen, donor entity now is a government citizen, donor entity incapacitated, bankruptcy of donor entity, insolvency of donor entity, violation participation of virtual world access rules, breach of ethical duty, infraction of game rule, defective user ID, non-payment of virtual world subscription, non-compliance with Internet or network standards, non-compliance with guidelines of RW third party, and non-compliance with guidelines of VW third party.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the tentative transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by the donor party.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the tentative transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by a virtual world environment owner or operator.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the tentative transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by a real-world third party or a virtual world third party.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

revoking the tentative transfer based on a waiver of the disqualification factor by an authorized party.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said revoking the tentative transfer based on the waiver includes:

confirming the waiver of the disqualification factor by an authorized party having supervisory responsibility or oversight authority with respect to the donor party.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said confirming the waiver of the disqualification factor includes:

confirming the waiver of the disqualification factor by one or more of the following;

person, individual under eighteen years of age, individual over eighteen years of age, family member, family relative, real-world group, real-world organization, administrator, real-world entity, real-world third party, virtual character, virtual group, virtual player, virtual world participant, virtual world third party, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, oversight entity, supervisory authority, and agent.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said revoking the tentative transfer includes:

returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

requiring something of real-world value or virtual world value as at least partial consideration for said returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein said revoking the tentative transfer includes:

requiring forfeiture of something of value by the donor party as at least partial consideration for said revoking the tentative transfer.

25. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implementing the tentative transfer to one of the following types of recipient parties;

virtual character, virtual group, virtual world participant, virtual world player, prospective VW participant, prospective VW player, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, real-world entity, group administrator, designated supervisory authority, designated oversight entity, family member, family relative, and designated third party.

26-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A system for implementing a future transfer in a virtual world, comprising:

circuitry for identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right capable of being transferred to a recipient party, said circuitry for identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right including;

circuitry for identifying the particular virtual object or virtual right acquired by a virtual character in a virtual world environment; and

circuitry for triggering a tentative transfer of such virtual object or virtual right as a result of a virtual world disqualification factor;

circuitry for establishing that the tentative transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right from a donor party to the recipient party is subject to revocation; and

circuitry for making the tentative transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right.