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Creating and using secure communications channels for virtual universes

  • US 8,291,218 B2
  • Filed: 12/02/2008
  • Issued: 10/16/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for providing secure communication for a virtual universe client of a virtual universe, said method comprising:

  • monitoring a communication stream to and from the virtual universe client by a proxy component between the virtual universe client and a hosting network hosting the virtual universe, the communication stream comprising communication between avatars in the virtual universe, in which the virtual universe simulates one or more real world rules including at least one of gravity, topography, or locomotion, and in which users of the virtual universe interact with the simulated one or more real world rules thereof via the avatars, wherein the communication stream comprises at least one data packet selected for encryption and at least one data packet not selected for encryption, wherein the at least one data packet not selected for encryption passes to the virtual universe absent encryption;

    selecting the at least one data packet of the communication stream for encryption, the selected data packet being sent by the virtual universe client to a destination;

    intercepting the selected data packet being sent by said virtual universe client, the intercepting comprising removing data from the selected data packet of the communication stream;

    determining a network data path for transmission of the selected data packet, the network data path comprising a plurality of servers of the hosting network and through which the selected data packet is to be transmitted to the destination;

    sequentially encrypting said data with public keys of the plurality of servers in said network data path;

    injecting the sequentially encrypted data back into the selected data packet of the communication stream to form a sequentially encrypted data packet; and

    transmitting said sequentially encrypted data packet to a first server of the plurality of servers.

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