Virtual world reversion rights

• US 8,977,566 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• 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: Malamud, Mark A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RANKINS, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US12/661,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/95 Financial

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 possible transfers and/or transfer revocations involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights.

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, perform operations including at least;

identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a donor party to a recipient party; and

making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include at least:

allowing a final transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right to be completed to the recipient party based on a determination that there is no applicable basis for a revocation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include at least:

requiring something of value from or on behalf of the recipient party as at least partial consideration for allowing a final transfer to be completed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further include at least:

revoking the transfer based on information indicating that the disqualification factor has been at least one of corrected, eliminated, waived, or remedied.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the revoking the transfer comprises:

returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the operations further include at least:

requiring something of value from or on behalf of the donor party as at least partial consideration for returning the particular virtual object or virtual right.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the revoking the transfer includes one or more of the following consequences regarding the particular virtual object or virtual right:

forfeiture, destruction, donation to charitable entity, transfer to designated third party, transfer to designated group, transfer to heir of donor party, and transfer to family member of donor party.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right as a result of a virtual world disqualification factor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further include at least:

confirming the virtual world disqualification factor that includes at least one of death, demise, destruction, or disablement of a virtual character.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right as a result of a real-world disqualification factor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include at least:

confirming the real-world disqualification factor that includes at least one of death or disablement of a real-world donor entity.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by the donor party.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by at least one of a virtual world environment owner or operator.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer that is triggered by a disqualification factor selected by at least one of a real-world third party or a virtual world third party.

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

revoking the transfer based on a waiver of the disqualification factor by an authorized party.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the revoking the transfer based on a waiver of the disqualification factor by an authorized party comprises:

revoking the transfer based on a waiver of the disqualification factor by an authorized party having at least one of supervisory responsibility or oversight authority with respect to the donor party.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further include at least:

returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further include at least:

requiring something of at least one of real-world value or virtual world value as at least partial consideration for returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the donor party.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

making a transfer to one of the following types of recipient parties;

virtual character, virtual group, virtual world participant, virtual world player, prospective virtual world participant, prospective virtual world player, virtual world owner, virtual world operator, real-world entity, group administrator, designated supervisory authority, designated oversight entity, family member, family relative, or designated third party.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a donor party to a recipient party comprises:

identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a donor party to a recipient party upon occurrence of a disqualification factor involving the donor party.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a donor party to a recipient party upon occurrence of a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a virtual world character to a recipient party upon occurrence of a disqualification factor involving the virtual world character.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a virtual world character to a recipient party upon occurrence of a disqualification factor involving the virtual world character comprises:

identifying a particular virtual object or virtual right to transfer in a virtual world from a virtual world character to a recipient party upon lack of participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world for a given period of time.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the operations further include at least:

determining lack of participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world for the given period of time.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the making a transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right, which transfer is triggered by a disqualification factor involving the donor party comprises:

transferring, subject to revocation in an event of participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world within a specified time period, the particular virtual object or virtual right in response to determining lack of participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world for the given period of time.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the operations further include at least:

finalizing transfer of the particular virtual object or virtual right in response to non-participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world within the specified time period.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the operations further include at least:

returning the particular virtual object or virtual right to the virtual world character in response to participation of the virtual world character in the virtual world within the specified time period.