Attribute enhancement in virtual world environments

• US 20060178975A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• 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., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. Designated virtual objects with special distinguishable attributes may be sponsored by a real-world entity. Some virtual world communication techniques may be used to help establish a recognizable association between the real-world entity and the designated virtual objects.

Claims

1. A method of sponsorship in a virtual world comprising:

selecting one or more virtual objects;

making an arrangement for a RW entity to have a recognizable association with the one or more virtual objects;

providing an identifier incorporated in the virtual world, which identifier is a contributory factor for communicating the recognizable association; and

establishing an attribute guideline for the one or more virtual objects, which attribute guideline includes a particular attribute characteristic that serves as a special distinguishable feature as compared to another virtual object in the virtual world.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the identifier includes:

providing an identifier already used in connection with a real-world activity of the RW entity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the identifier includes:

providing a new identifier that is not already used in connection with a real-world activity of the RW entity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the identifier includes:

providing a plurality of identifiers, some of which are already used in connection with a real-world activity of the RW entity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the identifier includes:

providing an identifier that indicates the real-world entity is a sponsor of the one or more virtual objects.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing the identifier includes:

providing one or more of the following type of identifiers;

personal name, company name, group name, brand, trademark, service mark, symbol, logo, insignia, design, image, slogan, color scheme, visual, aural, music, sound, voice, personage, caricature, acronym, shape, indicia, overlay, theme, position, relationship, contextual, locational, temporal, association, and position.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting a modified virtual object version of a type already in the virtual world.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting a new virtual object version of a type already in the virtual world.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting a new type of virtual object that is not yet in the virtual world.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

establishing a proprietary version of the one or more virtual objects.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said establishing the proprietary version include

providing protection for the proprietary version against copying or unauthorized reproduction in the virtual world.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting a version of one or more virtual objects, which version includes one or more proprietary attributes including locational or temporal or contextual or subject matter attributes which are protected against copying or unauthorized reproduction in the virtual world.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting an assortment of different virtual objects.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting one or more virtual objects includes:

selecting a plurality of virtual objects which incorporate a promotional theme.

15. A method of managing attributes in a virtual world, comprising:

selecting a collection of virtual objects;

confirming an arrangement wherein one or more designated virtual objects in the collection has a designated attribute characteristic that serves to uniquely distinguish the one or more designated virtual objects as compared to others in the collection; and

implementing a virtual world notification technique to help establish a recognizable association between a real-world entity and the one or more designated virtual objects.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

obtaining confirmation of the designated attribute characteristic in exchange for payment of something of real-world value, wherein the payment is based on a quantity measurement or quality valuation ascribed to the designated attribute characteristic.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

obtaining confirmation of the designated attribute characteristic in exchange for valuable consideration provided by or on behalf of the real-world entity.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said obtaining confirmation includes:

confirming real-world advertising or promotion of a virtual world enterprise, which advertising or promotion is to be provided or funded by the real-world entity.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said confirming the arrangement includes:

making confirmation of the designated attribute characteristic in exchange for valuable consideration offered by the real-world entity in competition with another possible offer from a different real-world entity.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said making confirmation includes:

making confirmation of a provision for a given range of attribute enhancement in exchange for commensurate valuable consideration.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said making confirmation includes:

making confirmation of a provision for an unlimited possibility of attribute enhancement in exchange for commensurate valuable consideration.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing the designated attribute characteristic by one or more of the following type of techniques;

modify existing virtual object, enhance existing virtual object, create new virtual object, add supplemental attribute, add supplemental object, delete object deficiency, delete attribute deficiency, diminution of other virtual object, weakening other virtual object, provide limitation for other virtual object, attribute deletion of other virtual object, change characteristic, change usage attribute, change performance attribute, exchange with another object, combine with another object, and supplement other object.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein confirming the arrangement includes:

obtaining confirmation for the designated attribute characteristic that is not available to another real-world entity.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein said implementing the virtual world notification technique includes:

allowing a virtual brand identifier to help provide the recognizable association with the designated virtual object.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said allowing the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing the virtual brand identifier that already has an association with the real-world entity.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said allowing the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing a new virtual brand identifier that is not already used in a real-world activity of the real-world entity.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said allowing the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing the virtual brand identifier for use in association with a type of the one or more designated virtual objects, which type is already promoted or sold as part of a real-world business activity of the real-world entity.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein said allowing the virtual brand identifier includes:

providing the virtual brand identifier for use in association with a type of the one or more designated virtual objects, which type is different from a real-world product or real-world service of the real-world entity.

29. The method of claim 15 wherein said selecting the collection includes:

selecting a collective grouping that includes the same type of virtual objects.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said selecting the collective grouping includes:

selecting the collective grouping from one or more of the following type of virtual objects;

personage, character, avatar, team, guild, clan, vehicle, weapon, shield, structure, clothing, personality, appearance, value token, product, service, skill, ability, level access, career, food, potion, medication, dwelling, certification, nutrient, device, emblem, add-on, modification, supply, quest, task, goal, and reward.

31. The method of claim 15 wherein said implementing the virtual world notification technique includes:

allowing a presentation of a real-world entity identifier in connection with the following criteria involving the one or more designated virtual objects;

locational, temporal, contextual, conversational, participation, interaction, subject matter, access level, group membership, position, and relationship.

32. The method of claim 15 wherein said implementing the virtual world notification technique includes:

providing one or more of the following type of identifiers associated with the real-world entity;

personal name, company name, group name, brand, trademark, service mark, symbol, logo, insignia, design, image, slogan, color scheme, visual, aural, music, sound, voice, personage, caricature, acronym, shape, indicia overlay, theme, position, relationship, contextual, locational temporal, association, and position.

33. A system for managing virtual world objects, comprising;

computer apparatus configured for dynamic management of virtual objects in a virtual world environment;

data record means for keeping track of one or more arrangements involving a specified virtual object associated with a real-world entity, which specified virtual object has a particular attribute profile that serves as a recognizable distinguishable feature as compared to other virtual objects in the virtual world environment;

wherein said data record means includes informational data regarding an identifier for use in connection with the specified virtual object, which identifier is a contributory factor for communicating to a virtual world participant a sponsorship of the specified virtual object by the real-world entity; and

a program module operably coupled with the computer apparatus, and wherein said program module has a communication link with said data record means to coordinate the dynamic management of the specified virtual object and its related identifier.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said program module is configured to allow a presentation of the identifier in connection with the following criteria involving the specified virtual object:

locational, temporal, contextual, conversational, participation, interaction, subject matter, access level, group membership, position, and relationship.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said program module is configured to provide the particular attribute profile for the specified virtual object by one or more of the following type of techniques:

modify existing virtual object, enhance existing virtual object, create new virtual object, add supplemental attribute, add supplemental object, delete object deficiency, delete attribute deficiency, diminution of other virtual object, weakening other virtual object, provide limitation for other virtual object, attribute deletion of other virtual object, change characteristic, change usage attribute, change performance attribute, exchange with another object, combine with another object, and supplement other object.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said program module is configured to coordinate the dynamic management of one or more of the following type of identifiers:

personal name, company name, group name, brand, trademark, service mark, symbol, logo, insignia, design, image, slogan, color scheme, visual, aural, music, sound, voice, personage, caricature, acronym, shape, indicia, overlay, theme, position, relationship, contextual, locational, temporal, association, and position.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein said data record means includes:

data records for keeping track of one or more arrangements involving multiple specified virtual objects associated with a plurality of real-world entities, respectively.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said data records include:

data records for keeping track of a plurality of real-world entities that independently or jointly have an arrangement for multiple specified virtual objects and their respective identifiers.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said program module is configured to coordinate the dynamic management of the multiple specified virtual objects and their respective identifiers.

40. A computer program product comprising:

a) program instructions configured to perform a process that associates information in a computer system, the process including

establishing a virtual world environment;

confirming an identifier incorporated in the virtual world environment, which identifier is a contributory factor for communicating a recognizable association between a real-world entity and a designated virtual object,

causing the designated virtual object to have a particular attribute profile that serves as a distinguishable feature as compared to another virtual object,

coordinating the management of the identifier and the designated virtual object in the virtual world environment; and

b) a computer readable signal-bearing media including a storage medium and/or a communication medium for encoding the program instructions.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein said process is encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media accessible to multiple virtual world patrons having logon capabilities at different locations.

42. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein said process is encoded on storage and/or signal transmission media capable of functional operation on localized computer apparatus accessible to an individual virtual world patron.