Method and Apparatus for Distributing Virtual Goods Over the Internet
AssigneeHyperlayers, Inc.
InventorsSteven Samuel Hoffman, Naomi Kokubo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Virtual Collectible Distribution Network generates and distributes Virtual Collectible objects, each potentially possessing unique properties, over a computer network such as the Internet, to a group of users. The Distribution Network utilizes a client-server system. The client software can be standalone or embedded in another application, such as a web browser or game. In one scenario, the client software observes certain behaviors of the user, and communicates such behavior to the server, which process is transparent to the user. The server, based on the communications from the client, predefined algorithm, and other factors, may decide to award the user with a Virtual Collectible.
Claims17
A system, comprising:
- a website that a plurality of different users access via the public Internet;
- a virtual world that is accessed via the website, the virtual world allowing the different users to interact with each other via respective avatars;
- a client application residing on a host that one of the users uses to interact with the website on the Internet, the client application automatically monitoring the user's interactions;
- and
- a server in communication with the client application that is remote from the website both physically and with respect to Internet addresses,
- wherein the client application further automatically communicates certain of the monitored user interactions to the server, and
- wherein the server includes a distribution manager that determines whether to automatically distribute one or more virtual collectibles to the one user based on the communicated certain user interaction.
A method, comprising:
- providing a website that a plurality of different users access via the public Internet;
- providing a virtual world that can be accessed via the website, the virtual world allowing the different users to interact with each other via respective avatars;
- automatically monitoring, using a client application residing on a host that one of the users uses to interact with websites on the Internet, the user's interactions;
- providing a server that is separate from the website both physically and with respect to Internet addresses;
- automatically communicating, from the client application to the server, certain of the monitored user interactions;
- and
- determining, at the server, whether to automatically distribute one or more virtual collectibles to the user based on the communicated certain user interaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.