Determining whether object is genuine or fake in Metaverse

• US 9,808,722 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawachiya, Kiyokuni, Tatsubori, Michiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sayoc, Kristoffer S
• Application Number:
  US13/533,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26, 709203
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

A server computer is connected to a plurality of client computers through a network, and controls objects in a Metaverse accessed by the client computers. The server computer includes a storage unit for storing an object ID specifying an object accessible in the Metaverse by the plurality of client computers and authenticity information associated with the object ID. The authenticity information indicates that the object is genuine. The server computer also includes a communication unit for communicating with each of the client computers. The server computer also includes an enquiry unit for causing the communication unit to transmit the authenticity information corresponding to the object ID to at least one of the plurality of client computers upon receipt of an enquiry request to enquire about the object ID of the object from one of the plurality of client computers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of determining whether an object is genuine or fake in a Metaverse, the method being implemented in a computer system having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:

causing, by the computer system a first entry to be stored in a data record, wherein the first entry comprises a first object ID and a first authenticity information, wherein the first object ID specifies a first object in the Metaverse accessible by avatars of users that access the Metaverse via client devices, wherein the first object is owned by a first user, and wherein the first authenticity information indicates that the first object is genuine;

in response to the first object being copied to form a second object in the Metaverse, causing, using the computer system, the first entry to be copied to form a second entry in the data record, wherein the second entry co-exists with the first entry and includes a second object ID and a second authenticity information, wherein the second object ID specifies the second object in the Metaverse, and wherein the second authenticity information indicates that the second object is fake;

receiving, by the computer system, from a client device, an enquiry request concerning the second object, the enquiry request including the second object ID;

transmitting, by the computer system, the second authenticity information corresponding to the second object ID to the client device in response to the enquiry request; and

transmitting, by the computer system, an alert notification to a first user client device associated with the first user in response to the enquiry request, the alert notification notifying the first user that the second object is a copy of the first object owned by the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first object is an accessory object for avatars in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes one or more of manager information specifying a manager of a brand of the accessory object, a brand name indicating the name of a brand of the accessory object, or logo data indicating a logo of a brand of the accessory object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first object is an employee badge object of an avatar in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes one or more of a company name associated with the employee badge object, or logo data indicating a logo of a company associated with the employee badge object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first object is a ticket having an expiration time in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes time period information indicating an expiration time of the first authenticity information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an enquiry request is received responsive to a selection of the first object in the Metaverse.

6. A system for determining whether an object is genuine or fake in a Metaverse, the system comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed with one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

store a first entry in a data record, wherein the first entry comprises a first object ID and a first authenticity information, wherein the first object ID specifies a first object in the Metaverse accessible by avatars of users that access the Metaverse via client devices, wherein the first object is owned by a first user, and wherein the first authenticity information indicates that the first object is genuine;

in response to the first object being copied to form a second object in the Metaverse, cause the first entry to be copied to form a second entry in the data record, wherein the second entry co-exists with the first entry and includes a second object ID and a second authenticity information, wherein the second object ID specifies the second object in the Metaverse, and wherein the second authenticity information indicates that the second object is fake;

receive, from a client device, an enquiry request concerning the second object, the enquiry request including the second object ID;

transmit the second authenticity information corresponding to the second object ID to the client device in response to the enquiry request; and

transmit an alert notification to a first user client device associated with the first user in response to the enquiry request, the alert notification notifying the first user that the second object is a copy of the first object owned by the first user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first object is an accessory object for avatars in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes one or more of manager information specifying a manager of a brand of the accessory object, a brand name indicating the name of a brand of the accessory object, or logo data indicating a logo of a brand of the accessory object.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first object is an employee badge object of an avatar in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes one or more of a company name associated with the employee badge object, or logo data indicating a logo of a company associated with the employee badge object.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first object is a ticket having an expiration time in the Metaverse; and

wherein the first authenticity information further includes time period information indicating an expiration time of the first authenticity information.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein an enquiry request is received responsive to a selection of the first object in the Metaverse.

11. A computer program product for determining whether an object is genuine or fake in a Metaverse, the computer program product comprising:

one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable tangible storage devices that, when executed, cause a computer to;

store a first entry in a data record, wherein the first entry comprises a first object ID and a first authenticity information, wherein the first object ID specifies a first object in the Metaverse accessible by avatars of users that access the Metaverse via client devices, wherein the first object is owned by a first user, and wherein the first authenticity information indicates that the first object is genuine;

in response to the first object being copied to form a second object in the Metaverse, cause the first entry to be copied to form a second entry in the data record, wherein the second entry co-exists with the first entry and includes a second object ID and a second authenticity information, wherein the second object ID specifies the second object in the Metaverse, and wherein the second authenticity information indicates that the second object is fake;

receive, from a client device, an enquiry request concerning the second object, the enquiry request including the second object ID;

transmit the second authenticity information corresponding to the second object ID to the client device in response to the enquiry request; and

transmit an alert notification to a first user client device associated with the first user in response to the enquiry request, the alert notification notifying the first user that the second object is a copy of the first object owned by the first user.