Virtual collateral for real-world obligations

• US 8,473,382 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• 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): RANKINS, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US11/364,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,674 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 382/173, 711/163, 705 35- 37
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in virtual collateral transactions as well as conditional transfers and/or revocations involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights. A possible relinquishment of designated aspects of the virtual collateral may result from unsatisfactory compliance with a real-world obligation or virtual world obligation that is secured by the virtual collateral.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

one or more media bearing one or more instructions that when executed by the at least one processor facilitate a process including at least;

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments; and

implementing at least one arrangement that designates virtual world collateral as at least partial security for performance of the at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

invoking at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

monitoring the virtual world collateral.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the process further includes:

providing approval for notification of one or more status changes affecting the virtual world collateral to at least one beneficiary of the at least one real world obligation.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

authorizing creation of at least one record which provides identification of the virtual world collateral.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the authorizing creation of at least one record which provides identification of the virtual world collateral comprises:

authorizing creation of at least one record which provides identification of the virtual world collateral and that is accessible in at least one virtual world environment having at least one nexus with the virtual world collateral.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the authorizing creation of at least one record which provides identification of the virtual world collateral comprises:

authorizing creation of at least one record which provides identification of the virtual world collateral and that is accessible in at least one real world environment.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

tagging the virtual world collateral in at least one inventory listing separate from the virtual world collateral.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

providing notification to at least one beneficiary or at least one other designated party regarding at least one occurrence that jeopardizes or diminishes one or more attributed values of the virtual world collateral.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

imposing at least one limitation on the virtual world collateral to prevent ownership transfer of the virtual world collateral without approval by or on behalf of at least one beneficiary of the at least one real world obligation.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

imposing at least one limitation on the virtual world collateral to help prevent destruction or damage or impairment of the virtual world collateral.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

imposing at least one limitation on the virtual world collateral to help prevent alteration or relocation or hiding of the virtual world collateral.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the invoking the at least one safeguard to help prevent at least one unacceptable change in status of the virtual world collateral comprises:

transferring control of the virtual world collateral to a third party trustee or escrow agent for safeguarding the virtual world collateral.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to be current with at least one virtual world subscription payment by at least one real world deadline.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments involving something of real world value.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments in at least one real world environment.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the implementing at least one arrangement that designates virtual world collateral as at least partial security for performance of the at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

implementing at least one arrangement that designates virtual world collateral as at least partial security for performance of the at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments, the virtual world collateral being one or more of the following;

item, access entry, achievement, award, composite virtual character, virtual character name, virtual character trait, character attribute, avatar, virtual skill, virtual key, access right, value token, virtual currency, experience point, level access, access entry, virtual property, virtual real property, virtual personal property, property right, contractual right, email account, password, key, location, site, message, list, companion list, contact list, address list, item, modified item, item component, disguise, clothing, clothing component, accessory, weapon, tool, vehicle, magical power, decoration, inventory, store credit, virtual charge account, virtual role, virtual position, group membership, proprietary right, and/or usage right.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

confirming availability of the virtual world collateral.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

obtaining consent from at least one virtual world entity to provide the virtual world collateral as security.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

obtaining consent from at least one real world entity to provide the virtual world collateral as security.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

facilitating relinquishment of the virtual world collateral in an event that the at least one real world obligation has not been satisfied.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

facilitating programmed disposition of the virtual world collateral in an event that the at least one real world obligation has not been satisfied.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

facilitating selected disposition of the virtual world collateral in an event that the at least one real world obligation has not been satisfied.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

facilitating one or more of the following types of relinquishment of the virtual world collateral in an event that the at least one real world obligation has not been satisfied;

forfeiture, transfer to obligation beneficiary, transfer to designated third party, return to originator, liquidation with proceeds to obligation beneficiary, dismantling, exchange for value token, conversion, substitution, exchange, transfer embargo, disable transfer of component, transfer of accessory, dilution of characteristic, depreciation of value, impairment, alteration, destruction, temporary loss, and/or permanent loss.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one ongoing real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments comprises:

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments having one or more grace periods.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

providing at least one tag integrally perceptible with the virtual world collateral itself.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

associating at least one special tag with the virtual world collateral.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the process further includes:

providing status information associated with the at least one real world obligation.

30. A system comprising:

circuitry configured for identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments; and

circuitry configured for implementing at least one arrangement that designates virtual world collateral as at least partial security for performance of the at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments.

31. A system comprising:

one or more non-transitory media bearing one or more instructions for facilitating a process including at least;

identifying at least one arrangement that includes at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments; and

implementing at least one arrangement that designates virtual world collateral as at least partial security for performance of the at least one real world obligation to keep current with one or more virtual world subscription payments.