Virtual objects for building a community in a virtual world

• US 6,476,830 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1996
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Software Corp. (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Onusko, John E., Morse, Norman, Farmer, Randy, Morningstar, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US08/699,698
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 345/330-332, 345/335, 345/339, 345/348-349, 345/355, 345/962, 345/976-977, 345/706, 345/744, 345/751, 345/753, 345/757, 345/758, 345/759, 345/763, 345/764, 345/769, 345/771, 345/836, 345/839, 345/848, 345/849, 345/861, 345/866, 395/200.34, 395/200.65, 705/26, 705/39, 705/41, 705/43-44, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

A virtual world computer process includes portable virtual token objects that can be used by on-line users of the virtual world to facilitate exchange of goods and services within the virtual world. In particular, client-server computer processes are provided for the virtual world that allow on-line users to conduct activities within the virtual world including getting, putting, giving, and receiving portable virtual token objects as well as other portable virtual objects. Each on-line user is represented in the graphic user interface by a virtual avatar object. Token objects are put into circulation by virtual ATM objects. A virtual ATM object allows a user to obtain a balance, deposit tokens, and withdraw tokens. A vendroid object is an object that sells portable virtual items in exchange for tokens deposited by avatars. Different virtual items have different values, and vendroids do not all have the same virtual items for sale. In the virtual world, a lurker is represented in a locale by a ghost object. An icon is present, i.e, an eye-the-sky, in a locale, whenever a ghost object, or ghost objects are present. Ghost objects have anonymity, i.e. their names are not known to avatars of the locale, and have limited interaction choices. A ghost object cannot talk or think to other avatars. A ghost object retains the ability to transmit private “ESP” messages to other avatars.

Claims

1. A graphic user interface adapted for interacting with a server, said server interacting with a second graphic user interface, comprising:

(a) a virtual avatar object existing in a virtual environment, comprising an instance of an avatar class stored in a computer memory having;

a plurality of gestures stored in said computer memory; and

a gesture change command method stored in said computer memory; and

(b) a virtual medium of exchange object comprising;

an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said server, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual environment and stored in said computer memory having;

a denomination; and

a plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object stored in said computer memory, each method being mediated by said server to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object of said graphic user interface and another virtual avatar object associated with said another graphic user interface.

2. A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein said instance of said avatar class further comprises:

a plurality of storage slots.

3. A graphic user interface as in claim 2 wherein said plurality of storage slots includes a hand of said virtual avatar object.

4. A graphic user interface as in claim 3 wherein all of said plurality of storage slots except said hand are in a pocket of said virtual avatar object.

5. A graphic user interface in claim 2 wherein said plurality of storage slots includes slots in a pocket of said virtual avatar object.

6. A graphic user interface as in claim 5 wherein one of said slots in said pocket is reserved for a virtual token object.

7. A graphic user interface as in claim 5 wherein one of said slots in said pocket is reserved for a virtual head object.

8. A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein a set of said plurality of gestures are a plurality of moods.

9. A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein said instance of said medium of exchange object is a virtual token object that is an instance of a token class.

10. A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token split methods.

11. A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token get from container methods.

12. A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token put in container methods.

13. A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token put in pocket methods.

14. A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token get from pocket methods.

15. A graphic user interface as in claim 1 further comprising:

a virtual ATM object further comprising;

an instance of an ATM class stored in a computer memory having;

a plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object stored in said computer memory.

16. A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include request balance methods.

17. A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include deposit methods.

18. A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include withdrawal methods.

19. A graphic user interface as in claim 1 further comprising:

a virtual vendroid object further comprising;

an instance of a vendroid class stored in a computer memory having;

a plurality of virtual objects for sale; and

a plurality of methods for operating said vendroid object stored in said computer memory.

20. A graphic user interface as in claim 1, wherein said metric comprises a length of time for which said virtual avatar object exists in said virtual enviroment.

21. A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world comprising:

representing an on-line user of said virtual world with a virtual avatar object;

including a plurality of gestures in said virtual avatar object;

performing a gesture by said virtual avatar object upon selection of said gesture from a plurality of gestures by said on-line user; and

providing a virtual medium of exchange object having;

an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said graphic user interface computer process, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual world, and stored in a memory accessible by said graphic user interface computer process, said instance of a medium of exchange class having;

a denomination; and

a plurality of methods for utilizing said medium of exchange object stored in said memory, each method being mediated by a server computer process to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object and another virtual avatar object associated with another graphic user interface computer process.

22. A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 21 further comprising:

including a pocket having a plurality of slots in said virtual as in avatar object.

23. A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 22 further comprising:

representing said instance of said medium of exchange in of said virtual world by a virtual token object.

24. A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 23 further comprising:

representing a virtual machine object for dispensing said virtual token objects as a virtual ATM.

25. A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 21, wherein said metric comprises a length