Selling and delivering real goods and services within a virtual reality world

Abstract

An ecommerce system is claimed that enables users to purchase real-world consumables within a virtual reality world, and then to immediately receive and consume the real-world consumables without leaving the virtual reality world. Users purchase and consume consumables such as movies, TV shows, lectures, books, magazines, consultations with advisors, psychic readings, and horoscopes, by controlling actions of avatars within the virtual world. In some embodiments, an avatar can earn virtual money by purchasing real-world consumables, and can use the virtual money to purchase additional real and/or virtual consumables. In other embodiments, avatars can earn virtual and/or real money by working in the virtual reality world. In various embodiments avatars can gain status, and can receive rewards based on status, such as access to special locations in the virtual world. And in some embodiments, avatars can compete with each other based on relative wealth, virtual possessions, and/or status.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.