Real world and virtual world cross-promotion

• US 8,719,077 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Titus, Tobin, Booth, Ernie, Porter, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIEN C
• Application Number:
  US12/022,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,289 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/27, 705/302, 705/14.16, 705/14.41, 705/751, 705/26.43, 715/757, 715/706, 715/769, 463/32, 463/42, 379/114, 345/419, 709/204, 707/655
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for cross promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world. A redemption code is received from a first participant in the virtual world. A virtual object corresponding to the redemption code is provided to the first participant. A request for information regarding the real object is received from a second participant of the virtual world and via the virtual object. Upon receiving the request via the virtual object, information regarding the real object is provided to the second participant and via the virtual object.

Claims

1. A method of cross-promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world, the method comprising:

receiving a notification that a first participant of the virtual world has purchased a real object;

in response to receiving the notification, providing, to the first participant, a redemption code;

receiving, from the first participant of the virtual world, the redemption code, wherein the first participant is represented by a first avatar in the virtual world;

providing, to the first participant, a virtual object that is a virtual replica of the real object purchased by the first participant and corresponding to the redemption code such that the first avatar gains possession and ownership of the virtual object in the virtual world;

providing, from the first participant to a second participant of the virtual world, access to the virtual object in the virtual world, wherein the second participant is represented by a second avatar in the virtual world, and the second participant accesses the virtual object in the virtual world by utilizing the second avatar to interact with the virtual object in the virtual world;

upon providing, from the first participant to the second participant, access to the virtual object, receiving, by a computer, from the second participant, a request of information regarding the real object in a real world, the second participant utilizing the second avatar to transmit the request via the virtual object while interacting with the virtual object;

upon receiving the request via the virtual object, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, the information regarding the real object;

providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, an interface to purchase the real object via the virtual object;

receiving, from the second participant and via the interface, payment to purchase the real object; and

upon receiving the payment, providing the redemption code to the second participant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an insert containing the redemption code along with the real object, the insert separate from a packaging of the real object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the redemption code comprises a unique identification number corresponding to the virtual object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the real object comprises advertising information regarding the real object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertising information comprises specifications regarding the real object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the real object comprises purchasing information regarding the real object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the purchasing information comprises a price to purchase the real object.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the purchasing information comprises a link to website for purchasing the real object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first participant accesses the virtual world via a first computing device at a first location, and wherein the second participant accesses the virtual world via a second computing device at a second location.

10. A method of cross-promoting real objects in a real world and virtual objects in a virtual world, the method comprising:

receiving a notification that a first participant of the virtual world has purchased a real object;

in response to receiving the notification, providing, to the first participant, a redemption code;

receiving, from the first participant of the virtual world, the redemption code, wherein the first participant is represented by a first avatar in the virtual world;

providing, to the first participant, a virtual object that is a virtual replica of the real object and corresponding to the redemption code such that the first avatar gains possession and ownership of the virtual object in the virtual world;

providing, from the first participant to a second participant of the virtual world, access to the virtual object in the virtual world, wherein the second participant is represented by a second avatar in the virtual world, and the second participant accesses the virtual object in the virtual world by utilizing the second avatar to interact with the virtual object in the virtual world;

upon providing, from the first participant to the second participant, access to the virtual object, receiving, by a computer, from the second participant, a request of information regarding the real object in a real world, the second participant utilizing the second avatar to transmit the request via the virtual object while interacting with the virtual object;

upon receiving the request via the virtual object, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, information regarding the real object and an interface to purchase the real object;

receiving, from the second participant and via the virtual object, payment for the purchase of the real object; and

upon receiving the payment, providing the redemption code to the second participant.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interface to purchase the real object comprises a credit card interface with which the second participant enters credit card information.

12. An optical disk, a magnetic disk storage device, or a solid state storage device having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide a redemption code to a first participant of a virtual world from the purchase of a real object by the first participant, the first participant represented by a first avatar in the virtual world;

receive, from the first participant, the redemption code;

retrieve a virtual object that is a virtual replica of the real object and based on the redemption code, wherein the virtual object may be operated in a similar fashion to the real object;

provide, to the first participant, the virtual object such that the first avatar gains possession and ownership of the virtual object in the virtual world;

provide, from the first participant to a second participant of the virtual world, access to the virtual object in the virtual world, the second participant represented by a second avatar in the virtual world, the second participant accessing the virtual object in the virtual world by utilizing the second avatar to interact with the at least one operable function of the virtual object in the virtual world;

upon providing, from the first participant to the second participant, access to the virtual object, receive, from the second participant, a request for information regarding the real object in a real world, the second participant utilizing the second avatar to transmit the request via the virtual object while interacting with the virtual object, the information regarding the real object comprising specifications regarding the real object including a brand name and price of the real object;

upon receiving the request, providing, to the second participant and via the virtual object, information regarding the real object and an interface to purchase the real object;

receiving, from the second participant and via the virtual object, payment for the purchase of the real object; and

upon receiving the payment, providing the redemption code to the second participant.

13. The optical disk, magnetic disk storage device, or solid state storage device of claim 12, wherein the request for information regarding the real object is received from an avatar controlled by the first participant.