Patent US6476830B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6476830B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Virtual objects for building a community in a virtual world
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-08-02
•
Granted: 2002-11-05
•
Expires: 2016-08-02
Abstract
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 avatars of the locale, and have limited interaction choices. A ghost object cannot talk or think to other avatars. A ghost object retains the ability to transmit private "ESP" messages to other avatars.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy Farmer
- 👤 Chris Morningstar
- 👤 John E. Onusko
- 👤 Norman Morse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06N; G06N3/00; G06N3/004; G06N3/006; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/30; A63F13/35; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0641; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5546; A63F2300/5553; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/977
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A graphic user interface adapted for interacting with a server, said server interacting with a second graphic user interface, comprising: (a) a virtual avatar object existing in a virtual environment, comprising an instance of an avatar class stored in a computer memory having: a plurality of gestures stored in said computer memory; and a gesture change command method stored in said computer memory; and (b) a virtual medium of exchange object comprising: an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said server, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual environment and stored in said computer memory having: a denomination; and a plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object stored in said computer memory, each method being mediated by said server to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object of said graphic user interface and another virtual avatar object associated with said another graphic user interface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A graphic user interface adapted for interacting with a server, said server interacting with a second graphic user interface, comprising: (a) a virtual avatar object existing in a virtual environment, comprising an instance of an avatar class stored in a computer memory having: a plurality of gestures stored in said computer memory; and a gesture change command method stored in said computer memory; and (b) a virtual medium of exchange object comprising: an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said server, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual environment and stored in said computer memory having: a denomination; and a plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object stored in said computer memory, each method being mediated by said server to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object of said graphic user interface and another virtual avatar object associated with said another graphic user interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein said instance of said avatar class further comprises: a plurality of storage slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 2 wherein said plurality of storage slots includes a hand of said virtual avatar object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 3 wherein all of said plurality of storage slots except said hand are in a pocket of said virtual avatar object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A graphic user interface in claim 2 wherein said plurality of storage slots includes slots in a pocket of said virtual avatar object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 5 wherein one of said slots in said pocket is reserved for a virtual token object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 5 wherein one of said slots in said pocket is reserved for a virtual head object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein a set of said plurality of gestures are a plurality of moods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 wherein said instance of said medium of exchange object is a virtual token object that is an instance of a token class.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token split methods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token get from container methods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token put in container methods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token put in pocket methods.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 9 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual medium of exchange object include token get from pocket methods.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 further comprising: a virtual ATM object further comprising: an instance of an ATM class stored in a computer memory having: a plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object stored in said computer memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include request balance methods.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include deposit methods.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 15 wherein said plurality of methods for utilizing said virtual ATM object include withdrawal methods.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 further comprising: a virtual vendroid object further comprising: an instance of a vendroid class stored in a computer memory having: a plurality of virtual objects for sale; and a plurality of methods for operating said vendroid object stored in said computer memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A graphic user interface as in claim 1 , wherein said metric comprises a length of time for which said virtual avatar object exists in said virtual enviroment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
181 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world comprising: representing an on-line user of said virtual world with a virtual avatar object; including a plurality of gestures in said virtual avatar object; performing a gesture by said virtual avatar object upon selection of said gesture from a plurality of gestures by said on-line user; and providing a virtual medium of exchange object having: an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said graphic user interface computer process, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual world, and stored in a memory accessible by said graphic user interface computer process, said instance of a medium of exchange class having: a denomination; and a plurality of methods for utilizing said medium of exchange object stored in said memory, each method being mediated by a server computer process to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object and another virtual avatar object associated with another graphic user interface computer process.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
181 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world comprising: representing an on-line user of said virtual world with a virtual avatar object; including a plurality of gestures in said virtual avatar object; performing a gesture by said virtual avatar object upon selection of said gesture from a plurality of gestures by said on-line user; and providing a virtual medium of exchange object having: an instance of a medium of exchange class caused to be created by said graphic user interface computer process, accrued according to a metric relating to participation in said virtual world, and stored in a memory accessible by said graphic user interface computer process, said instance of a medium of exchange class having: a denomination; and a plurality of methods for utilizing said medium of exchange object stored in said memory, each method being mediated by a server computer process to effectuate a transaction involving said instance of said medium of exchange between said virtual avatar object and another virtual avatar object associated with another graphic user interface computer process.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 21 further comprising: including a pocket having a plurality of slots in said virtual as in avatar object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 22 further comprising: representing said instance of said medium of exchange in of said virtual world by a virtual token object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 23 further comprising: representing a virtual machine object for dispensing said virtual token objects as a virtual ATM.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A graphic user interface computer process for facilitating interactions among on-line users of a virtual world as in claim 21 , wherein said metric comprises a length
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5649118A
Cited
US5347306A
Cited
US5491743A
Cited
US5687323A
Cited
US5956038A
Cited
US5852812A
Cited
US5880731A
Cited
US5918213A
Cited
US5838316A
Cited
US5729594A
Cited
US5732232A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-04 | 2006-05-06 | 2006-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-04 | 2010-05-06 | 2010-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-04 | 2014-05-06 | 2014-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |