Virtual credit in simulated environments

• US 8,457,991 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• 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., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Hatem M
• Application Number:
  US11/975,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment;

enabling the at least one user of the virtual world environment to participate in at least one virtual world credit transaction that includes making one or more purchases of at least one of a good, a service, or an item of the virtual world environment with fictional money using the at least one virtual world credit account; and

responsive to meeting at least one predetermined benchmark standard, facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the at least one user to make remuneration with something of virtual world value against one or more balances due or obligations owed with respect to the at least one virtual world credit account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the at least one user to make remuneration with something of real world value against one or more balances due or obligations owed with respect to the at least one virtual world credit account.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating feedback to the at least one user regarding the virtual world credit account.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating to the at least one user one or more consequences of at least one credit purchase or payment made with respect to the at least one virtual world credit account.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring one or more actions taken to make resolution or provide compensation in association with one or more virtual world credit transactions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically changing one or more credit terms.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the periodically changing one or more credit terms comprises:

periodically changing at least one interest rate.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing at least one electronic charge card for the at least one virtual world credit account.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing at least one hardcopy charge card for the at least one virtual world credit account.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account allowing carry forward of one or more balances.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating feedback to the at least one user regarding one or more consequences of one or more virtual world credit transactions involving the at least one virtual world credit account.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment that is usable during at least one given time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level that is changeable in accordance with one or more benchmark standards.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level that is changeable to at least one higher participation level upon completion of one or more performance benchmarks.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one participation level that is changeable in accordance with credit record information of one or more real financial accounts.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the responsive to meeting at least one predetermined benchmark standard, facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money comprises:

responsive to the at least one user of the virtual world environment being associated with at least one group in the virtual world environment, facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the responsive to meeting at least one predetermined benchmark standard, facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money comprises:

responsive to the at least one user of the virtual world environment meeting at least one predetermined benchmark standard associated with one or more activities in the virtual world environment, facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment that is usable for one or more specified purchase categories.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one specified billing period.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

activating the at least one specified billing period based at least partly on one or more purchases.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account having at least one specified billing period comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one specified billing period that is based at least partly on user education.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account including at least one option to vary one or more credit terms.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account including one or more credit terms based at least partly on user demographic information.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit account to at least one user of a virtual world environment, the at least one virtual world credit account including one or more credit terms based at least partly on one or more .past performance records.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling usage of at least one an actual financial account.

28. The method of claim 1 that further includes:

providing one or more communication links to the virtual world environment that are accessible by one or more users at different locations.

29. A method comprising:

providing at least one virtual world credit arrangement in at least one virtual world environment that enables at least one user of the at least one virtual world environment to have at least one virtual world credit transaction for making one or more virtual world purchases involving fictional money; and

responsive to meeting at least one predetermined benchmark standard facilitating, via at least one computer processor, access by the at least one user of the virtual world environment to at least one real world credit account for making one or more real world purchases involving real world money.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

enabling the at least one user of the virtual world environment to make compensation against one or more balances due or obligations owed in association with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the enabling the at least one user of the virtual world environment to make compensation against one or more balances due or obligations owed in association with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement comprises:

enabling the at least one user of the virtual world environment to make remuneration with something of real world value against one or more balances due or obligations owed in association with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

communicating feedback to the at least one user regarding one or more consequences of one or more transactions related to the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit arrangement in at least one virtual world environment that enables at least one user of the at least one virtual world environment to have at least one virtual world credit transaction involving fictional money comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit arrangement in at least one virtual world environment that enables at least one user of the at least one virtual world environment to have at least one virtual world credit transaction involving fictional money, the at least one virtual world credit arrangement allowing carryover of one or more balances.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

communicating feedback to the at least one user regarding information associated with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

identifying at least one real world account for engaging in one or more real world financial transactions with respect to the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

communicating to the at least one user one or more consequences of one or more purchases and/or payments.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

monitoring one or more actions taken to make resolution by real world compensation as required by the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

periodically changing one or more credit terms associated with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the periodically changing one or more credit terms associated with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement comprises:

periodically changing at least one credit limit associated with the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing at least one bi-directional communication link for one or more messages to and/or from the at least one user.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the providing at least one virtual world credit arrangement in at least one virtual world environment that enables at least one user of the at least one virtual world environment to have at least one virtual world credit transaction involving fictional money comprises:

providing at least one virtual world credit arrangement in at least one virtual world environment that enables at least one user of the at least one virtual world environment to purchase with fictional money at least one virtual world product, service, or item of the virtual world environment.

42. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

enabling the at least one user to make remuneration from at least one real world account.

43. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing assistance to the at least one user to obtain at least one real world account for engaging in one or more real world financial transactions.

44. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

issuing at least one electronic charge card for the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.

45. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

issuing at least one hardcopy charge card for the at least one virtual world credit arrangement.