SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING DIGITAL OBJECTS

• US 20140164227A1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Online Entertainment LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Inventors: Butler, Jeffrey, McPherson, Darrin, Rappaport, Roise
• Granted Patent: US 11,113,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0274 Split fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Implementations of systems and methods according to present principles provide new ways to share digital objects in computing environments, improving the user experience and also enhancing communication and relationships among people. The “sharings” can occur as a transfer of an object from one user to another or the transfer of the object into an environment (or vice versa). In one example, a user in a game designs and builds a digital object for a tower and then sells the tower in the game. The tower becomes popular and is used by many other players of the game, including as a part of their own constructions, and also begins to appear in system-generated structures. The creator of the original tower, as well as creators of components constituting the tower, may be provided with compensation for their efforts from such sales of subsequent towers or constructions using such towers.

Claims

1. A method of tracking and benefiting sources of components in transferred rights to digital items in an online simulation, comprising:

a. on a server, receiving notification of a transfer of a right to a digital item, the digital item constituted of a plurality of components, at least two of the components associated with different respective sources; and

b. upon the transfer, providing a benefit to the different respective sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer of the right is in exchange for a compensation, and wherein the providing a benefit to the different respective sources includes transferring at least a portion of the compensation to the different respective sources.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transferring at least a portion of the compensation to the different respective sources includes:

a. receiving the compensation from a buyer and associating the compensation with a server account;

b. receiving a token indicating the right to be transferred;

c. transferring the token to the buyer; and

d. providing at least a portion of the compensation to the different respective sources.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion of the compensation is apportioned to the respective sources on an objective basis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the objective basis is proportional to the size of the component associated with the source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the size is related to, with respect to a component, a surface area, a volume, a visible surface area, a visible volume, a voxel count, a visible voxel count, or a time for construction.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the objective basis is proportional to the value of the component associated with the source.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a schedule from a seller, a buyer, the server, or one of the sources, and apportioning at least a portion of the compensation according to the schedule.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein upon a subsequent transfer of the right, the compensation for the subsequent transfer is apportioned at least in part according to the schedule.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring includes debiting a buyer account and crediting a seller account, the buyer and seller accounts associated with player characters in the online simulation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit is a recognition benefit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the recognition benefit is a badge or an achievement.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferred right is represented by a template.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferred right is represented by a resultant object.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferred right includes a claim.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components is made of at least two subcomponents, each sub component associated with a respective source, and wherein the providing a benefit to the respective sources includes providing a benefit to the sources of the two subcomponents.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the digital item to a registry of digital items and detecting if the digital item is substantially a copy of a digital item in the registry.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if the digital item is substantially a copy of a digital item in the registry, then prohibiting the transfer of rights.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform the method of claim 1.

20. A method for sharing digital item, comprising:

a. creating a first digital item based on instructions from a first user;

b. transferring a first payment from a second user to the first user;

c. granting the second user access to a copy of the first digital item;

d. creating a second digital item based on instructions from the second user, where the second digital item includes a copy of the first digital item;

e. transferring part of a second payment from a third user to the second user;

f. transferring part of the second payment from the third user to the first user; and

g. granting the third user access to a copy of the second digital item.