Third party control over virtual world characters

• US 8,556,723 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• 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: Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/286,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world experiences including activities, settings, events, purchases, sales and diverse transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world participation. In some circumstances, multiple persons can participate as a group or participate as individuals in the virtual world environment. Some embodiments provide an oversight procedure that enables a supervisory entity to exercise direct or indirect control over certain virtual world aspects of a participant or player. In some implementations the oversight procedure is at least partially based on an attribute related to the participant or player.

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 performance of operations including at least;

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment;

obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character; and

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity that is related to a real world individual associated with a virtual world character, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity that is related to a real world individual associated with a virtual world character, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity that is related by blood or marriage or other recognized legal relationship to a real world individual associated with a virtual world character, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player group entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the operations further include:

confirming that the real world individual associated with the virtual world character belongs to or is associated with the real world supervisory non-player group entity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing, upon confirming consent or acquiescence from a real world individual associated with a virtual world character, at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard and based at least partly on at least one virtual world attribute or criterion, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing, without giving real-time advance notice to the real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing, at least partly in response to a real world supervisory non-player entity choosing from among one or more options, at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing, at least partly in response to a real world individual associated with a virtual world character choosing from among one or more options, at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure customized by a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

enabling the real world supervisory non-player entity to have an option of selecting one or more of the following actions;

waive consequence, provide additional consequence, warn of possible consequence, proceed with predetermined consequence, modify consequence, increase penalty, enhance benefit, decrease penalty, decrease benefit, provide new penalty, and provide new benefit.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

enabling the real world supervisory non-player entity to monitor one or more virtual world activities associated with the virtual world character.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

enabling the real world supervisory non-player entity to approve at least one archetype parameter.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

enabling the real world supervisory non-player entity to approve at least one modified parameter.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the at least one real world school class grade is below the at least one specified standard.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character comprises:

automatically obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character comprises:

obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character from at least one source that is independent of the real world individual and the real world supervisory non-player entity.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade for French is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to French language chat in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to English language chat in the at least one virtual world environment.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player person, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player person, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player person, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment, the real world supervisory non-player person including one or more of the following types of people;

coach, tutor, teacher, clergyman, parole officer, employer, manager, supervisor, counselor, therapist, lawyer, physician, nurse, guardian, family member, spouse, parent, grandparent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, neighbor, and friend.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard and based at least partly on one or more virtual world occurrences, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character comprises:

updating real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment comprises:

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one time or completion requirement with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one time or availability limitation with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

17. A system comprising:

circuitry configured for establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment;

circuitry configured for obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character; and

circuitry configured for, if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.

18. A system comprising:

at least one article of manufacture bearing one or more instructions for facilitating operations including at least;

establishing at least one oversight procedure of a real world supervisory non-player entity, the at least one oversight procedure providing (i) at least one requirement of participation by a virtual world character with respect to at least one first activity in at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least one limitation on participation by the virtual world character with respect to at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment;

obtaining real world school class grade information of a real world individual associated with the virtual world character; and

if the real world school class grade information of the real world individual associated with the virtual world character indicates that at least one real world school class grade is below at least one specified standard, implementing the at least one oversight procedure including (i) requiring at least some participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one first activity in the at least one virtual world environment and (ii) at least partially limiting participation by the virtual world character with respect to the at least one second activity in the at least one virtual world environment.