Controlling and using virtual universe wish lists
First Claim
1. A method for gifting an instance of a virtual object in a virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of:
- a computer detecting a selection of the virtual object in the virtual universe by a first avatar in response to a first user input, wherein the first avatar is controlled by a user associated with a first user account of a virtual universe computer network, wherein the virtual universe comprises a three-dimensional computer simulated environment where the first avatar represents the user as an inhabitant of the virtual universe, wherein said computer simulated environment is controlled by one or more processors in the virtual universe computer network, and wherein the selection indicates a desire by the user for the virtual object;
the computer designating the virtual object in a wish list for the first avatar in response to the step of the computer detecting the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar, wherein the wish list includes a listing of desired objects by the first avatar available from the virtual universe, and wherein the listing of desired objects are stored in a first data store unit associated with the first user account, said first data store unit accessible via the virtual universe computer network;
the computer determining, in response to the step of the computer designating of the virtual object in the wish list, that a second avatar in the virtual universe possesses the instance of the virtual object in a second data store unit associated with a second user account of the virtual universe computer network;
the computer notifying the second avatar in the virtual universe of the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar in response to the step of the computer determining that the second avatar possesses the instance of the virtual object;
the computer detecting a request by the second avatar, via second user input, to gift the instance of the virtual object to the first avatar in response to the step of the computer notifying the second avatar of the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar; and
the computer transferring the instance of the virtual object from the second data store unit associated with the second avatar to the first data store unit associated with the first avatar in response to the step of the computer detecting the request by the second avatar to provide the instance of the virtual object to the first avatar.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are processes and devices that control and use virtual universe wish lists. One of the devices described is a virtual wish list device. The virtual wish list device determines an item in a virtual universe that is a desired by an avatar. The virtual wish list device designates the item as a desired item in a wish list. The wish list may be stored in the avatar'"'"'s virtual universe inventory. The wish list device determines details about the desired item, such as whether the item is desired in the virtual universe or in the real world. The wish list device stores the details about the desired item in the wish list. The virtual wish list device may use the details to conduct transactions related to the desired item.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for gifting an instance of a virtual object in a virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of:
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a computer detecting a selection of the virtual object in the virtual universe by a first avatar in response to a first user input, wherein the first avatar is controlled by a user associated with a first user account of a virtual universe computer network, wherein the virtual universe comprises a three-dimensional computer simulated environment where the first avatar represents the user as an inhabitant of the virtual universe, wherein said computer simulated environment is controlled by one or more processors in the virtual universe computer network, and wherein the selection indicates a desire by the user for the virtual object; the computer designating the virtual object in a wish list for the first avatar in response to the step of the computer detecting the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar, wherein the wish list includes a listing of desired objects by the first avatar available from the virtual universe, and wherein the listing of desired objects are stored in a first data store unit associated with the first user account, said first data store unit accessible via the virtual universe computer network; the computer determining, in response to the step of the computer designating of the virtual object in the wish list, that a second avatar in the virtual universe possesses the instance of the virtual object in a second data store unit associated with a second user account of the virtual universe computer network; the computer notifying the second avatar in the virtual universe of the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar in response to the step of the computer determining that the second avatar possesses the instance of the virtual object; the computer detecting a request by the second avatar, via second user input, to gift the instance of the virtual object to the first avatar in response to the step of the computer notifying the second avatar of the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar; and the computer transferring the instance of the virtual object from the second data store unit associated with the second avatar to the first data store unit associated with the first avatar in response to the step of the computer detecting the request by the second avatar to provide the instance of the virtual object to the first avatar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for using a virtual wish list in a virtual universe, the computer system comprising:
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one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect a selection of a virtual object in the virtual universe by a first avatar in response to a first user input, wherein the first avatar is controlled by a first user and is associated with a first user account of a virtual universe computer network; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect an indication by the first avatar of a service associated with the virtual object in response to a second user input by the first user, wherein the virtual universe comprises a three-dimensional computer simulated environment where the first avatar represents the first user as an inhabitant of the virtual universe, wherein said computer simulated environment is controlled by at least one of the one or more processors, and wherein the indication of the service associated with the virtual object indicates a desire by the first user to receive the service associated with the virtual object; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to store the indication of the service in a virtual wish list, wherein the virtual wish list is stored in an inventory for the first avatar, wherein the virtual wish list includes a listing of desired services by the first avatar available from the virtual universe and wherein the listing of desired services are stored in a data store unit associated with the inventory for the first avatar; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect an indication by a second avatar to view the virtual wish list subsequent to storing the indication of the service in the virtual wish list; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to present the indication of the service in the virtual wish list to the second avatar; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect a request by the second avatar to purchase the service for the first avatar in response to presenting the indication of the service in the virtual wish list to the second avatar; program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to transact a purchase by the second avatar for the service in response to detecting the request by the second avatar to purchase the service for the first avatar; and program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to provide the service to the first avatar in the virtual universe in response to detecting the request by the second avatar to purchase the service for the first avatar. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product for teleporting within a virtual universe to obtain versions of a virtual object associated with a wish list in the virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:
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one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices including a mechanism for storing information readable by a computer comprising one or more processors; first program instructions to detect a selection of the virtual object in the virtual universe by a first avatar in response to a user input, wherein the first avatar is controlled by a user associated with a user account of a virtual universe computer network, wherein the virtual universe comprises a three-dimensional computer simulated environment where the first avatar represents the user as an inhabitant of the virtual universe, wherein said computer simulated environment is controlled by the one or more processors, and wherein the selection indicates a desire by the user for a version of the virtual object; second program instructions to designate the virtual object in the wish list for the first avatar in response to detecting the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar, wherein the wish list includes a listing of desired objects by the first avatar available from the virtual universe, and wherein the listing of desired objects are stored in a data store unit associated with the first user account, said data store unit accessible via the virtual universe computer network; third program instructions to notify a second avatar in the virtual universe of the selection of the virtual object by the first avatar in response to designating the virtual object in the wish list; fourth program instructions to detect a request by the second avatar to purchase a version of the virtual object on behalf of the first avatar; and fifth program instructions to teleport the second avatar to a location in the virtual universe to purchase the version of the virtual object, is in response to detecting the request by the second avatar to purchase the version of the virtual object on behalf of the first avatar; and wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification