Virtual world property disposition after real-world occurrence

• US 7,720,687 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Jr., John D., Jung, Edward K. Y., Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Charles R
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEIS, SAMUEL
• Application Number:
  US11/242,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

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 of various types of virtual property and virtual property rights.

Claims

1. A method of enabling transfer of a virtual world property right, comprising:

identifying a virtual world property right of a virtual world patron in the virtual world;

providing, via a processor, a procedure for transferring the virtual world property right in the virtual world pursuant to an authorization from the virtual world patron, which authorization is effective upon a real-world death of the virtual world patron;

storing a record of the authorization;

confirming, via a processor, the real-world death of the virtual world patron; and

transferring the virtual world property right in the virtual world to a successor party designated by the virtual world patron in the authorization.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requiring something of value as consideration for said transferring the virtual world property right.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said requiring something of value includes:

requiring something of real-world value from or on behalf of the virtual world patron.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said requiring something of value includes:

requiring something of virtual world value from or on behalf of the virtual world patron.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said requiring something of value includes:

requiring something of real-world value from the successor party or other beneficiary.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said requiring something of value includes:

requiring something of virtual world value from the successor party or other beneficiary.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending one or more of the following types of communication, notification or information request to the successor party and/or other beneficiary regarding said transferring the virtual world property right;

identity confirmation;

acceptance of transfer;

tendering required consideration;

response deadline;

confirmation of death of real-world party;

applicable restriction;

preliminary requirement;

compliance with applicable restriction;

non-compliance with applicable restriction;

compliance with preliminary requirement;

non-compliance with preliminary requirement;

virtual world status, attribute, level, possession, log, other contract, other obligation, clan membership, group membership, relationship, skill, and avatar.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending one or more types of communication includes:

sending the communication, notification or request prior to said confirming the real-world death.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending the one or more types of communication includes:

sending the communication, notification or request during a time period between said confirming the real-world death and said transferring.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising

sending a communication to a representative of the deceased donor party or to the successor party or to another beneficiary, which communication includes notification of a preliminary requirement prior to said transferring.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said sending the communication includes:

sending the notification of one or more of the following types of preliminary requirements;

verification of identity of the designated successor party;

verification of age of the designated successor party;

consent by designated successor party to virtual world participation agreement;

consent by designated successor party to retain the virtual world property right for a given period of time; and

consent by designated successor party to pay a transfer fee, payment of fee, consent by real-world third party, consent by virtual world third party, consent by real-world group, and consent by virtual world group.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the procedure includes:

providing the procedure for transferring the virtual world property right pursuant to authorization from one or more of the following types of virtual world patrons;

real-world person, real-world person under eighteen years of age, real-world person over eighteen years of age, real-world family, real-world group, real-world organization, real-world entity, real-world third party, virtual world character, virtual world group, virtual world player, virtual world participant, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, and virtual world third party.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said transferring includes:

transferring the virtual world property right to one or more of the following types of successor parties;

a real-world person, a real-world person under eighteen years of age, a real-world person over eighteen years of age, a real-world family, a real-world group, a real-world organization, a real-world entity, a real-world third party, a virtual world character, a virtual world group, a virtual world player, a virtual world participant, a virtual world third party, virtual group at a virtual world location or setting, real-world group in a particular real-world location, real-world group in a particular real-world region, active participant at particular real-world time, and active participant at particular virtual world time.