Method and apparatus for promoting on-line activities using rules-based virtual worlds
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- hosting a rules-based virtual world by a computer-based server system that manages avatars and on-line presences respectively corresponding to a plurality of users registered with the rules-based virtual world, wherein a user of the plurality of users interacts with other users of the plurality of users with virtual world content including their respective avatars and on-line presences via a client application that communicates with the computer-based server system;
maintaining information about the user'"'"'s level within the rules-based virtual world, wherein the user'"'"'s level is based on a comparison of one or more attributes of the user and rules associated with the virtual world;
allowing the user, while the user is not accessing the rules-based virtual world via a web browser that is separate from the client application, to surf the web and receive normal web content different from the virtual world content, wherein the normal web content is served from a website on the public Internet, and wherein the virtual world content is served from the server system that is separate and remote from the website;
automatically capturing, using the client application, a request from the user to receive the normal web content;
communicating the request from the client application to the computer-based server system; and
automatically supplementing the normal web content that the user receives via the web browser with additional virtual world content from the rules-based virtual world via the client application based on the maintained information and in response to the request, thereby causing the user to simultaneously receive and render using the web browser the normal web content from the website and the additional virtual world content from the server system, the additional virtual world content including at least the avatar corresponding to the user.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer and network software, and more particularly it relates to a computer system and method for promoting virtual world and specific on-line activities through rules, awards and other incentives. According to some aspects, the present invention maintains rules-based virtual world(s) and activities, wherein the rules are designed to allow users to achieve a certain status, skill and/or reputation level, and to reward them accordingly. Rewards can include access to certain virtual activities (e.g. interactive objects, games, etc.) and/or virtual spaces, possession of certain Virtual Collectibles, and other enhancements to their on-line experience. Rules and criteria can specify that such rewards are provided to users based on their skill level in virtual games hosted by system, the number and type of Virtual Collectibles they have already acquired, the reputation they have gained as traders or chatters within the virtual world(s), etc. According to certain other aspects of the invention, the rules and criteria for providing rewards are designed to promote further activity with the system and to directly and indirectly drive traffic to sites of partners.
26 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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hosting a rules-based virtual world by a computer-based server system that manages avatars and on-line presences respectively corresponding to a plurality of users registered with the rules-based virtual world, wherein a user of the plurality of users interacts with other users of the plurality of users with virtual world content including their respective avatars and on-line presences via a client application that communicates with the computer-based server system; maintaining information about the user'"'"'s level within the rules-based virtual world, wherein the user'"'"'s level is based on a comparison of one or more attributes of the user and rules associated with the virtual world; allowing the user, while the user is not accessing the rules-based virtual world via a web browser that is separate from the client application, to surf the web and receive normal web content different from the virtual world content, wherein the normal web content is served from a website on the public Internet, and wherein the virtual world content is served from the server system that is separate and remote from the website; automatically capturing, using the client application, a request from the user to receive the normal web content; communicating the request from the client application to the computer-based server system; and automatically supplementing the normal web content that the user receives via the web browser with additional virtual world content from the rules-based virtual world via the client application based on the maintained information and in response to the request, thereby causing the user to simultaneously receive and render using the web browser the normal web content from the website and the additional virtual world content from the server system, the additional virtual world content including at least the avatar corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a virtual world manager that hosts a virtual world having virtual world content and manages avatars and on-line presences respectively corresponding to a plurality of users registered with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world manager also maintains information about a user'"'"'s level within the system, wherein the user'"'"'s level is based on a comparison of one or more attributes of the user and rules associated with the virtual world, and wherein the user interacts with other users of the plurality of users with virtual world content including their respective avatars and on-line presences in the virtual world via a client application that communicates with the computer-based server system; a port that receives information from the client application regarding normal web content different from the virtual world content the user requests using a web browser that is separate from the client application while the user is not accessing the virtual world via the web browser, wherein the normal web content is served from a website on the public Internet, and wherein the virtual world content is served from the server system that is separate and remote from the website; and a distribution manager that determines whether to automatically supplement the normal web content that the user receives via the web browser with additional virtual world content from the rules-based virtual world via the client application based on the maintained information and in response to the request, thereby causing the user to simultaneously receive and render using the web browser the normal web content from the website and the additional virtual world content from the server system, the additional virtual world content including at least the avatar corresponding to the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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hosting a rules-based virtual world by a computer-based server system that manages avatars and on-line presences respectively corresponding to a plurality of users registered with the rules-based virtual world, wherein a user of the plurality of users interacts with other users of the plurality of users with virtual world content including their respective avatars and on-line presences via a client application that communicates with the computer-based server system, wherein interacting includes displaying the avatars and the other virtual world content on host computing devices associated with the user and other users; maintaining information about a user'"'"'s level within a rules-based virtual world hosted by the computer-based server system, wherein the user'"'"'s level is based on a comparison of one or more attributes of the user and rules associated with the virtual world; allowing a user, while the user is not accessing the rules-based virtual world via a web browser that is separate from the client application, to surf the web and receive normal web content different from virtual world content, wherein the normal web content is served from a website on the public Internet, and wherein the virtual world content is served from the server system that is separate and remote from the website; and automatically supplementing the normal web content that the user receives via the web browser with additional virtual world content based on information regarding the user'"'"'s web surfing for normal web content from the client application and the maintained information, thereby causing the user to simultaneously receive and render using the web browser the normal web content from the website and the additional virtual world content from the server system, the additional virtual world content including at least the avatar corresponding to the user, wherein, the avatars comprise virtualized identities corresponding to the users, and are rendered for display to the users along with other virtual world content; wherein the step of maintaining information about the user'"'"'s level includes updating certain of the attributes of the user based on the user'"'"'s interactions with other users in the virtual world, and wherein receiving information regarding the user'"'"'s web surfing includes receiving a URL from the client application installed on the user'"'"'s host computing device, and wherein the step of maintaining information about the user'"'"'s level further includes updating certain other of the attributes of the user based on the received information.
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Specification