Gifting of Virtual Items Between Users of a Virtual Space

• US 20130290147A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabam (Netmarble Corporation)
• Inventors: Chandra, Navendu, Schwab, Bryan, Lobo, Schubert
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

Gifting of virtual items between users of a virtual space may be facilitated. A purchase interface may be presented to a first user. The purchase interface may be configured to receive selection from the first user of (i) a virtual item for purchase, and (ii) one or more users with which the first user has established a virtual space relationship. Responsive to selection by the first user through the purchase interface of a first virtual item and a second user with which the first user has established a virtual space relationship, the first virtual item may be distributed to the second user in the virtual space.

Claims

1. A system configured to facilitate gifting of virtual items between users of a virtual space, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a space module configured to execute an instance of a virtual space, and to implement the instance of the virtual space to determine view information defining views of the instance of the virtual space for presentation to users through a social networking platform;

a user account module configured to manage user accounts associated with individual users, the user accounts including a first user account associated with a first user, wherein the first user account comprises;

social network information that identifies other users with which the first user has established social network relationships on the social networking platform;

alliance information that identifies a second set of users with which the first user has established virtual space relationships within the virtual space, wherein the established virtual relationships are independent from the established social network relationships; and

character information for a first character controlled by the first user in the virtual space;

a virtual item purchase module configured to generate information that causes a purchase interface to be presented to the first user, the purchase interface being configured to receive selection from the first user of (i) a virtual item for purchase, and (ii) one or more users from the second set of users; and

a virtual item distribution module configured to distribute, responsive to selection by the first user through the purchase interface of a first virtual item and a second user with which the first user has established a virtual space relationship, the first virtual item to the second user in the virtual space, wherein the first virtual item is held for the second user upon distribution.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual item purchase module is configured such that the purchase interface to be presented to the first user includes a list of selectable icons associated with users with which the first user has established virtual space relationships without regard for whether the first user has established social network relationships with such users.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual item comprises a virtual good and/or a virtual currency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual item purchase module is configured such that the purchase interface presents a cost of the virtual item.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer program modules further comprise a payment module configured to obtain payment from the first user for the virtual item, and wherein the virtual item distribution module is further configured such that distribution of the first virtual item to the second user is responsive to obtaining the payment from the first user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual space relationship between the first user and the second user comprises a relationship formed between the first character and a second character that is controlled by the second user in the virtual space.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein distribution of the virtual item to the second user comprises providing control of the virtual item to the second user in the virtual space.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein distribution of the virtual item to the second user comprises adding the virtual item to an inventory of a second character that is controlled by the second user in the virtual space.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the space module is configured such that an online game is played by the first user and the second user in the virtual space.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of users and the second set of users include at least one user in common, and wherein the second set of users includes at least one user that is not included in the first set of users.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of users and the second set of users include at least one user in common, and wherein the second set of users includes at least one user that is not included in the first set of users.

10. A computer-implemented method of facilitating gifting of virtual items between users of a virtual space, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

executing an instance of a virtual space;

implementing, on the one or more processors, the instance of the virtual space to determine view information defining views of the instance of the virtual space for presentation to users through a social network platform;

managing, on the one or more processors, user accounts associated with individual users, the user accounts including a first user account associated with a first user, wherein the first user account comprises;

social network information that identifies a first set of users with which the first user has established social network relationships on the social networking platform;

alliance information that identifies a second set of users with which the first user has established virtual space relationships within the virtual space, wherein the established virtual space relationships are independent from the established social network relationships; and

character information for a first character controlled by the first user in the virtual space;

Generating, on the one or more processors, information that causes a purchase interface to be presented to the first user, the purchase interface being configured to receive selection from the first user of (i) a virtual item for purchase, and (ii) one or more users from the second set of users; and

distributing, responsive to selection by the first user through the purchase interface of a first virtual item and a second user with which the first user has established a virtual space relationship, the first virtual item to the second user in the virtual space, wherein the first virtual item is held for the second user upon distribution.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the purchase interface includes a list of selectable icons associated with users with which the first user has established virtual space relationships without regard for whether the first user has established social network relationships with such users.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the virtual item comprises a virtual good and/or a virtual currency.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the purchase interface presents a cost of the virtual item.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising obtaining payment from the first user for the virtual item, and wherein distribution of the first virtual item to the second user is responsive to obtaining the payment from the first user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the virtual space relationship between the first user and the second user comprises a relationship formed between the first character and a second character that is controlled by the second user in the virtual space.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein distribution of the virtual item to the second user comprises providing control of the virtual item to the second user in the virtual space.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein distribution of the virtual item to the second user comprises adding the virtual item to an inventory of a second character that is controlled by the second user in the virtual space.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein an online game is played by the first user and the second user in the virtual space.