Data security in virtual-world systems

A method for performing data interactions in a virtual environment, comprising:

• receiving a first request from a first user to perform a first data interaction with a second user comprising transfer of data objects between a first data file associated with the first user and a second data file associated with the second user, wherein the first data interaction is to be performed in a virtual environment;
• detecting that the first user and the second user are part of a first virtual community within the virtual environment;
• in response to the detecting, invoking a first smart contract that implements a first set of rules defined for data interactions between users in the first virtual community, wherein the first smart contract implements at least a portion of the first set of rules defining data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community;
• processing the transfer of the data objects associated with the first request according to the first set of rules, wherein processing the first request comprises implementing the first smart contract to enforce one or more rules from the first set of rules that define data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community;
• receiving a second request from the first user to perform a second data interaction with a third user comprising transfer of data objects between the first data file associated with the first user and a third data file associated with the third user, wherein the second data interaction is to be performed in the virtual environment;
• detecting that the third user is part of a second virtual community in the virtual environment, wherein the second virtual community is different from the first virtual community;
• in response to detecting that the third user is part of the second virtual community, invoking a second smart contract that implements a second set of rules defined for data interactions between users in the first virtual community with users in the second virtual community, wherein the second smart contract implements at least a portion of the second set of rules defining data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community and users that are part of the second virtual community;
• and
• processing the transfer of the data objects associated with the second request according to the second set of rules, wherein processing the second request comprises implementing the second smart contract to enforce one or more rules from the second set of rules that define data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community and users that are part of the second virtual community.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing a first set of rules and a second set of rules;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory, and configured to:
• receive a first request from a first user to perform a first data interaction with a second user comprising transfer of data objects between a first data file associated with the first user and a second data file associated with the second user, wherein the first data interaction is to be performed in a virtual environment;
• detect that the first user and the second user are part of a first virtual community within the virtual environment;
• in response to the detecting, invoke a first smart contract that implements the first set of rules defined for data interactions between users in the first virtual community, wherein the first smart contract implements at least a portion of the first set of rules defining data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community;
• process the transfer of the data objects associated with the first request according to the first set of rules, wherein processing the first request comprises implementing the first smart contract to enforce one or more rules from the first set of rules that define data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community;
• receive a second request from the first user to perform a second data interaction with a third user comprising transfer of data objects between the first data file associated with the first user and a third data file associated with the third user, wherein the second data interaction is to be performed in the virtual environment;
• detect that the third user is part of a second virtual community in the virtual environment, wherein the second virtual community is different from the first virtual community;
• in response to detecting that the third user is part of the second virtual community, invoke a second smart contract that implements the second set of rules defined for data interactions between users in the first virtual community with users in the second virtual community, wherein the second smart contract implements at least a portion of the second set of rules defining data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community and users that are part of the second virtual community;
• and
• process the transfer of the data objects associated with the second request according to the second set of rules, wherein processing the second request comprises implementing the second smart contract to enforce one or more rules from the second set of rules that define data transfer between users that are part of the first virtual community and users that are part of the second virtual community.