Controlling and using virtual universe wish lists

• US 8,442,946 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, Kozloski, James R., O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Seaman, James W., Walker, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FILIPCZYK, MARCIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/433,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14.1, 705/14.26, 705 1467- 1473, 707/620, 707/655, 707/803, 709/216, 709/217, 715/757, 715/706, 715/750
• US Class Current: 707/655
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

Described herein are examples of a virtual universe wish list as well as its control and use. Some embodiments are directed to determining a selection of an object in a virtual universe that is a desired by a user, which user is represented by a first avatar. Some embodiments are further directed to designating the object as a desired item in a wish list for the first avatar. The wish list may be stored in the avatar'"'"'s virtual universe inventory. Some embodiments are further directed to determining a second avatar in the virtual universe that possesses an instance of the virtual object. Some embodiments are further directed to generating an advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar.

Claims

1. A method for generating an advertisement in a virtual universe, said method comprising the steps of:

a computer detecting a selection of a virtual object in a 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 the 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 data store unit associated with the user account, said first data store unit accessible via the virtual universe computer network;

the computer determining a second avatar in the virtual universe that possesses an instance of the virtual object in response to the step of the computer designating the virtual object in the wish list, wherein the second avatar is associated with an account; and

the computer generating the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar in response to the step of the computer determining that the second avatar possesses the instance of the virtual object.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the computer determining that the first avatar is a customer of the second avatar, wherein the second avatar is a virtual universe vendor within the virtual universe, and wherein the step of the computer generating the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar further comprises the computer indicating on the advertisement that the second avatar will provide the instance of the virtual object as a gift.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

the computer detecting access to the virtual wish list by a third avatar in the virtual universe; and

the computer providing the advertisement to the third avatar to purchase the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

the computer teleporting the third avatar to a location in the virtual universe where the second avatar sells the instance of the virtual object.

5. A computer system for generating an advertisement in a virtual universe, said computer system comprising:

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 a 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 the computer simulated environment is controlled by one or more processors in the virtual universe computer network, and wherein the selection of the virtual object indicates a desire by the user for 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 designate the virtual object in a wish list for the first avatar in response 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 user account, said data store unit accessible via the 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 determine a second avatar in the virtual universe that possesses an instance of the virtual object in response to designating the virtual object in the wish list, wherein the second avatar is associated with an account; 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 generate the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar in response to determining that the second avatar possesses the instance of the virtual object.

6. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising:

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 determine that the first avatar is a customer of the second avatar, wherein the second avatar is a virtual universe vendor within the virtual universe, and wherein the program instructions to generate the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar indicate on the advertisement that the second avatar will provide the instance of the virtual object as a gift.

7. The computer system of claim 5 further comprising:

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 access to the virtual wish list by a third avatar in the virtual universe; 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 advertisement to the third avatar to purchase the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar.

8. The computer system of claim 7 further comprising:

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 teleport the third avatar to a location in the virtual universe where the second avatar offers the instance of the virtual object for sale.

9. A computer program product for generating an advertisement in a virtual universe, said computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect a selection of a virtual object in a 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 the computer simulated environment is controlled by one or more processors in the virtual universe computer network, and wherein the selection of the virtual object indicates a desire by the user for the virtual object;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to designate the virtual object in a 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 user account, said data store unit accessible via the virtual universe computer network;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine a second avatar in the virtual universe that possesses an instance of the virtual object in response to designating the virtual object in the wish list, wherein the second avatar is associated with an account; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to generate the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar in response to determining that the second avatar possesses the instance of the virtual object.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine that the first avatar is a customer of the second avatar, wherein the second avatar is a virtual universe vendor within the virtual universe, and wherein the program instructions to generate the advertisement to obtain the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar indicate on the advertisement that the second avatar will provide the instance of the virtual object as a gift.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect access to the virtual wish list by a third avatar in the virtual universe; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to provide the advertisement to the third avatar to purchase the instance of the virtual object from the second avatar on behalf of the first avatar.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to teleport the third avatar to a location in the virtual universe where the second avatar offers the instance of the virtual object for sale.