Virtual objects for building a community in a virtual world
US6476830B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S715/977
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A virtual world computer process includes portable virtual token objects that can be used by on-line users of the virtual world to facilitate exchange of goods and services within the virtual world. In particular, client-server computer processes are provided for the virtual world that allow on-line users to conduct activities within the virtual world including getting, putting, giving, and receiving portable virtual token objects as well as other portable virtual objects. Each on-line user is represented in the graphic user interface by a virtual avatar object. Token objects are put into circulation by virtual ATM objects. A virtual ATM object allows a user to obtain a balance, deposit tokens, and withdraw tokens. A vendroid object is an object that sells portable virtual items in exchange for tokens deposited by avatars. Different virtual items have different values, and vendroids do not all have the same virtual items for sale. In the virtual world, a lurker is represented in a locale by a ghost object. An icon is present, i.e, an eye-the-sky, in a locale, whenever a ghost object, or ghost objects are present. Ghost objects have anonymity, i.e. their names are not known to avata…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.