Attribute enhancement in virtual world environments

• US 8,285,638 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh, Mohammad Z
• Application Number:
  US11/342,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,447 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• 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 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/95 Financial

Abstract

A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. Designated virtual objects with special distinguishable attributes may be sponsored by a real-world entity. Some virtual world communication techniques may be used to help establish a recognizable association between the real-world entity and the designated virtual objects.

Claims

1. A method of managing attributes in a virtual-world, comprising:

(a) selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in a virtual-world wherein in said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in a virtual world includes;

(i) selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience;

(b) identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity with provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world;

(c) providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, wherein said providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world further includes;

(i) providing the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object by one or more of the following types of techniques;

enhancing an existing virtual object, adding a supplemental attribute, providing diminution of another virtual object, weakening another virtual object, changing a characteristic, changing a performance attribute, and supplementing another object; and

(d) implementing via a processor a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the at least one real-world entity as a sponsor of the at least one adjustment of the at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity includes:

real-world advertising or promotion of a virtual-world enterprise, which advertising or promotion is to be provided or funded by the at least one real-world entity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity which provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes:

identifying as the agreement with the at least one real-world entity an agreement associated with either of a first real-world entity or a second real-world entity that won out under a competitive bidding system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world further comprises;

providing an unlimited adjustment in exchange for commensurate valuable consideration.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world further comprises;

providing the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object by one or more of the following types of techniques;

modifying an existing virtual object, creating a new virtual object, adding a supplemental object, deleting an object deficiency, deleting an attribute deficiency, providing limitation for another virtual object, attributing deletion of another virtual object, changing a usage attribute, exchanging with another object, and combining with another object.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said implementing, via the processor, a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the at least one real-world entity as a sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes:

presentation a virtual brand identifier in the virtual-world to help provide the recognizable association.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said presenting a virtual brand identifier in the virtual-world to help provide the recognizable association allowing presentation of the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing a virtual brand identifier that already has an association with the at least one real-world entity.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said presenting a virtual brand identifier in the virtual-world to help provide the recognizable association includes:

providing a new virtual brand identifier that is not already used in a real-world activity of the at least one real-world entity.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said presenting a virtual brand identifier in the virtual-world to help provide the recognizable association allowing presentation of the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing the virtual brand identifier for use in association with a type of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, the at least one baseline virtual object having a designated attribute characteristic, which type is already promoted or sold as part of a real-world business activity of the at least one real-world entity.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said presenting a virtual brand identifier in the virtual-world to help provide the recognizable association includes:

providing a virtual brand identifier for use in association with a type of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, the at least one baseline virtual object designated attribute characteristic, which type is different from a real-world product or a real-world service of the at least one real-world entity.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual includes:

selecting the at least one baseline virtual object from one or more of the following type of virtual objects in the virtual-world;

a personage, character, an avatar, a team, a guild, a clan, a vehicle, a weapon, a shield, a structure, clothing, a personality, an appearance, a value token, a product, a service, a skill, an ability, a level access, a career, food, a potion, a medication, a dwelling, a certification, a nutrient, a device, an emblem, an addon, a modification, a supply, a quest, a task, a goal, and a reward.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said implementing, via the processor, a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the at least one real world entity as a sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes:

presenting in the virtual-world a real-world entity identifier in connection with one or more of the following criteria;

a local denotation, a temporal denotation, a contextual denotation, a conversational denotation, a participation denotation, an interaction denotation, a subject matter denotation, an access level denotation, a group member denotation, a position denotation, and a relationship denotation.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said implementing, via the processor, a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the at least one real-world entity as a sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes:

presenting one or more of the following type of identifiers in the virtual-world to provide the recognizable association with the at least one real-world entity;

a personal name, a company name, a group name, a brand, a trademark, a service mark, a symbol, a logo, a insignia, a design, an image, a slogan, a color scheme, a visual, an aural identifier, music, a sound, a voice, a personage, a caricature, an acronym, a shape, an indicia overlay, a theme, a position, a relationship, a contextual identifier, a locational identifier, a temporal identifier, an association identifier, and a positional identifier.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a personal computer game.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a massively multi-player online role-playing game, multi-player online role-playing game, a massively multi-player online line game, and a multi-player online game.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to create and interact as if the one or more users were living another life.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to chat via at least one avatar.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to computer conference via at least one avatar.

19. A method of managing attributes in a virtual-world, comprising:

(a) selecting at least one baseline virtual object with a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in a virtual-world includes;

(i) selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience;

(b) identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity which provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, wherein the at least one adjustment of the at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world further includes;

i) providing the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object by one or more of the following types of techniques;

enhancing an existing virtual object, adding a supplemental attribute, providing diminution of another virtual object, weakening another virtual object, changing a characteristic, changing a performance attribute, and supplementing another object; and

(c) implementing, via a processor, a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the at least one real-world entity as a sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a personal computer game.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a massively multi-player online role-playing game, multi-player online role-playing game, a massively multi-player online line game, and a multi-player online game.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to create and interact as if the one or more users were living another life.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to chat via at least one avatar.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

selecting at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to computer conference via at least one avatar.

25. A system for managing virtual-world objects, comprising:

(a) a computer processor configured for dynamic management of a least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in a virtual-world environment, wherein said computer processor configured for dynamic management of at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in a virtual-world environment includes;

(i) a computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience;

(b) the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity which provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity which provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual world further comprises;

(i) the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object via the computer processor to provide one or more of the following;

enhancement of a virtual object, a weakening of another virtual object, change of a characteristic, change of a performance attribute, and supplementation of another object; and

(c) the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with implementing a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the real-world entity as the sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world, said computer apparatus configured to implement a virtual-world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between the real-world entity as the sponsor of the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes;

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with presenting in the virtual-world a real-world entity identifier in connection with one or more of the following criteria;

a locational denotation, a temporal denotation, a contextual denotation, a conversational denotation, a participation denotation, an interaction denotation, a subject matter denotation, an access level denotation, a group membership denotation, a position denotation, and a relationship denotation.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world comprises;

a computer apparatus configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing the at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object via the computer apparatus configured to provide one or more of the following;

modification of an existing virtual object, creation of a new virtual object, addition of a supplemental attribute, addition of a supplemental object, deletion of an object deficiency, deletion of an attribute deficiency, limitation of another virtual object, deletion of another virtual object, change of a usage attribute, change of a performance attribute, an exchange with another object, combination with another object.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing—

consistent with the terms of the agreement with the at least one real-world entity and valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the at least one real-world entity—

at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of the one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of the in-progress interaction in the virtual-world comprises;

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with coordinating the dynamic management of one or more of the following type of identifiers in the virtual-world to provide a recognizable association with the real-world entity;

a personal name, a company name, a group name, a brand, a trademark, a service mark, a symbol, a logo, a insignia, a design, an image, a slogan, a color scheme, a visual, an aural identifier, music, a sound, a voice, a personage, a caricature, an acronym, a shape, an indicia overlay, a theme, a position, a relationship, a contextual identifier, a locational identifier, a temporal identifier, an association identifier, and a positional identifier.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with identifying an agreement with at least one real-world entity which provides for at least one adjustment of at least one attribute characteristic of the at least one baseline virtual object within the collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-progress interaction in the virtual-world includes:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with one or more arrangements involving multiple specified virtual objects associated with a plurality of real-world entities, respectively.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with one or more arrangements involving multiple specified virtual objects associated with a plurality of real-world entities include:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with a plurality of real-world entities that independently or jointly have an arrangement for multiple specified virtual objects and their respective identifiers.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with coordination of a dynamic management of the multiple specified virtual objects and their respective identifiers.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor further comprises:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing a proprietary version of a specified virtual object that is protected against copying or unauthorized reproduction in the virtual-world environment.

33. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor further comprises:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative of one or more logical functions associated with providing an assortment of different one or more specified virtual objects that are uniquely associated with the at least one real-world entity.

34. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor further comprises:

the computer processor configured to create a physical reality representative

of one or more logical functions associated with providing one or more specified virtual objects that are uniquely associated with the real-world entity, and which incorporate a promotional theme.

35. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of in-game experience includes:

the computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a personal computer game.

36. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

the computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of a massively multi-player online role-playing game, multi-player online role-playing game, a massively multi-player online line game, and a multi-player online game.

37. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

the computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to create and interact as if the one or more users were living another life.

38. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

the computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to chat via at least one avatar.

39. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an in-game experience includes:

the computer processor configured to select at least one baseline virtual object within a collective grouping of one or more virtual objects that form at least a part of an interactive computer based simulated environment that allows one or more users to computer conference via at least one avatar.