Virtual credit with transferability

• US 20060229976A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/096,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229976A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method and system provides credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations posted to virtual accounts, and can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed. The user may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world financial transactions. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world accounts for arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction. Some embodiments enable a debtor obligation and/or a creditor right arising from a virtual credit transaction to be transferred to another party, in some instances without having to obtain any permission for such transfer.

Claims

1. A virtual reality environment comprising:

a simulated world wherein a participant is enabled to select a different destination and/or activity and/or event;

a value system in the simulated world wherein a potential value is attributed to something available for acquisition pursuant to a credit arrangement;

a user interface communication link that enables a participant to have access to the simulated world and participate in the credit arrangement as a debtor participant or a creditor participant; and

a memory device capable of keeping a record of the credit arrangement, including a record of any transfer of a right or an obligation related to the credit arrangement.

2. The environment of claim 1 wherein said value system further includes:

a monetary system based on putative value symbols that constitute a medium of exchange; and

wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to include a commitment for future payment of one or more putative value symbols.

3. The environment of claim 2 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to provide for future payment of one or more of the following types of value symbols:

virtual currency, monetary chips, discount coupons, award points, access rights, entrance keys, experience medals, level permits, bonus vouchers, skill merits, character traits, health benefits, success awards, entrance tickets, authorization passes, eligibility credentials, benefit tokens, vested rights, license permissions, decryption codes, bonus vouchers, test certificates, game time credits, additional characters, control over other player characters, control over non-player characters, aliases, privacy levels, visibility levels, and disguises.

4. The environment of claim 2 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to include a commitment by a debtor participant for future payment of a value symbol that can be acquired in connection with one or more of the following types of events or activities occurring in said simulated world:

sports, races, competitions, combat, battles, survival, achievements, opportunities, challenges, character choices, training, government, academics, education, careers, jobs, journeys, attendance, entertainment, amusement, parties, shopping, reading, calculating, analysis, healthcare, sharing, communication, music, philanthropy, religion, socializing, companionship, dating, lovemaking, gambling, lotteries, tests, awards, gifts, barter, negotiations, sales, purchases, services, loans, journaling, record keeping, posting information, networking, and building.

5. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world includes a game environment for one or more players.

6. The environment of claim 5 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to include the acquisition in said game environment of one or more of the following types of things of potential value:

products, services, items, virtual value tokens, virtual currency, monetary chips, discount coupons, award points, access keys, experience medals, level permits, bonus vouchers, skill merits, character traits, health benefits, success awards, entrance tickets, authorization passes, eligibility credentials, benefit tokens, vested rights, license permissions, decryption codes, bonus vouchers, and test certificates.

7. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link enables the participant to be the debtor participant in the credit arrangement that includes an obligation for future compensation to be tendered in said simulated world by or on behalf of the debtor participant.

8. The environment of claim 7 wherein said simulated world allows the obligation for future compensation to be transferable by the debtor participant to another party.

9. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link enables the participant be the creditor participant in the credit arrangement that includes a right for future compensation to be received in said simulated world by or on behalf of the creditor participant.

10. The environment of claim 9 wherein said simulated world allows the right for future compensation to be transferred by the creditor participant to another party.

11. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world enables interaction between the debtor participant and the creditor participant regarding one or more of the following activities:

creating the credit arrangement, negotiating terms of the credit arrangement, revising the credit arrangement, resolving the credit arrangement, transferring the debtor'"'"'s credit arrangement obligations, transferring the creditor'"'"'s credit arrangement rights, and terminating the credit arrangement.

12. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to be based on a commitment with a real-world due date for resolution.

13. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to be based on a commitment that includes future real-world compensation.

14. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to include one or more of the following penalties based on a failure of a debtor participant to keep one or more obligations of the credit arrangement:

a penalty in the simulated world, and a real-world penalty.

15. The environment of claim 1 wherein said simulated world allows the credit arrangement to include one or more of the following benefits based on compliance by a debtor participant with one or more obligations of the credit arrangement:

a benefit in the simulated world, and a real-world benefit.

16. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link includes login and logoff capability for the participant;

and wherein said memory device maintains the record of the credit arrangement after the participant has logged off or become dormant in the simulated world via.

17. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link is accessible via wired and/or wireless links.

18. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link provides disclosure of sufficient information necessary to decrypt, decode, or otherwise obtain the identification of a real-world person or real-world entity responsible for debtor obligations arising from the credit arrangement.

19. The environment of claim 1 wherein said user interface communication link provides disclosure of sufficient information necessary to decrypt, decode, or otherwise obtain the identification of a real-world person or entity having creditor rights arising from the credit arrangement.

20. A computer program product having one or more computer programs for executing a computer process, the computer process comprising:

providing a simulated world where a player is enabled to interact in the simulated world with another player or with a non-player entity;

creating facilitating a credit arrangement in the simulated world involving a transferable creditor right and/or a transferable debtor obligation based on the acquisition of something of potential value; and

automatically making a record of the credit arrangement.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said facilitating a credit arrangement of said computer process includes:

enabling interaction in the simulated world between a debtor participant and a creditor participant regarding one or more of the following activities;

creating the credit arrangement, negotiating terms of the credit arrangement, revising the credit arrangement, resolving the credit arrangement, transferring the debtor'"'"'s credit arrangement obligations, transferring the creditor'"'"'s credit arrangement rights, and terminating the credit arrangement.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said automatically making a record of the credit transaction in said computer process includes:

providing an identification of a real-world person or entity responsible for debtor obligations arising from the credit arrangement.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said automatically making a record of the credit transaction in said computer process includes:

providing an identification of a real-world person or entity having creditor rights arising from the credit arrangement.

24. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said facilitating a credit arrangement of said computer process includes:

providing capability for a virtual credit transaction in said simulated world involving one or more non-player entities taken from the following group;

real-world credit entity, third party real-world entity, simulated world provider, game environment operator, third party virtual entity, simulated world credit entity, fictional character, and simulated world avatar.

25. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said facilitating a credit arrangement of said computer process includes:

providing capability for virtual credit transactions in said simulated world between two players, wherein one player is a debtor participant and another player is a creditor participant.

26. A method of conducting virtual world transactions, comprising:

providing an imaginary environment where a player is enabled to choose a different destination and/or activity and/or event;

creating an opportunity in the imaginary environment for the player to participate in a credit transaction based on an obligation of future conduct, wherein the credit transaction involves a transferable creditor right and/or a transferable debtor obligation; and

making a record of the credit transaction.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said creating the opportunity includes:

creating an opportunity for the player to participate in the credit transaction with another player.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said creating the opportunity includes:

creating an opportunity for the player to participate in a credit transaction with a non-player entity from the following group;

real-world credit entity, real-world third party, virtual world environment provider, game world operator, third party virtual entity, virtual world credit entity, fictional character, and fictional avatar.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said creating the opportunity includes:

creating an opportunity for the player to participate in a credit transaction based on the obligation of future conduct that includes payment of real-world money.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein said making a record includes:

making a record of compliance and/or noncompliance with terms of the credit transaction; and

recording a performance rating based on the record.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

enabling the credit transaction to have transferability of a creditor right to another party without having to obtain permission.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

enabling the credit transaction to have transferability of a debtor obligation to another party without having to obtain permission.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

requiring permission from a debtor or third party in order for a creditor right to be transferred to another party.

34. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

requiring permission from a creditor or third party in order for a debtor obligation to be transferred to another party.

35. The method of claim 26 incorporated in one or more computer program products comprising program instructions.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the one or more computer program products comprise a carrier medium for encoding the program instructions.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said one or more computer program products provide a game environment capable of having one or more players logged on for participation in the credit transaction with another player and/or with a non-player entity.

38. A method of player participation in a virtual world environment, comprising:

providing a virtual world environment with an opportunity for a player to acquire something of potential value pursuant to a credit transaction with another party;

enabling a transfer of a right and/or an obligation arising from the credit transaction; and

making a record of any such transfer.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said providing the virtual world environment includes:

enabling interaction in the virtual world environment between a debtor participant and a creditor participant regarding one or more of the following activities;

creating the credit arrangement, negotiating terms of the credit transaction, revising the credit transaction, resolving the credit arrangement, transferring the debtor'"'"'s obligation, transferring the creditor'"'"'s rights, and terminating the credit arrangement.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein said providing the virtual world environment includes:

providing capability for a credit transaction in the virtual world environment involving one or more non-player parties taken from the following group;

real-world credit entity, third party real-world entity, virtual world provider, game environment operator, third party virtual entity, virtual world credit entity, fictional character, and virtual world avatar.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein said making the record of such transfer includes:

providing an identification of a real-world person or entity responsible for a debtor obligation as a result of such transfer.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein said making the record of such transfer includes:

providing an identification of a real-world person or entity having a creditor right as a result of such transfer.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein said enabling the transfer includes:

determining whether or not permission is required before completing such transfer.

44. The method of claim 38 incorporated in one or more computer program products comprising encoded instructions, which provide a game environment capable of having one or more players logged on for participation in the credit transaction with another player and/or with a non-player entity.