Use of corroboration to generate reputation scores within virtual reality environments

A method for use with a computer implemented virtual reality (VR) environment that enables users of the VR environment to explore the VR environment and interact with one another within the VR environment using client computing devices that are being used by the users, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, from a client computing device used by a first user of the VR environment, information indicative of a negative interaction between an avatar of the first user and an avatar of a second user of the VR environment, which negative interaction can be used to determine that the first user has a positive impression of the second user;
• (b) receiving, from a client computing device used by a third user of the VR environment, further information that can be used to either corroborate or contradict that the negative interaction between the avatar of the first user and the avatar of the second user actually occurred within the VR environment;
• (c) determining, based on the further information received from the client computing device used by the third user of the VR environment, whether the negative interaction is corroborated or contradicted;
• (d) in response to determining that the negative interaction is corroborated, decreasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment;
• (e) in response to determining that the negative interaction is contradicted, at least one of not decreasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment or decreasing a reputation score associated with the first user of the VR environment;
• and
• (f) enabling each of one or more users of the VR environment to access, using the client computing device they are using, the reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment.

One or more processor readable storage devices having instructions encoded thereon which when executed cause one or more processors to perform a method for use with a virtual reality (VR) environment in which users can explore the VR environment and interact with one another within the VR environment using client computing devices that are being used by the users, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, from a client computing device used by a first user of the VR environment, information indicative of a positive interaction between an avatar of the first user and an avatar of a second user of the VR environment, which positive interaction can be used to determine that the first user has a positive impression of the second user;
• (b) receiving, from a client computing device used by a third user of the VR environment, further information that can be used to either corroborate or contradict that the positive interaction between the avatar of the first user and the avatar of the second user actually occurred within the VR environment;
• (c) determining, based on the further information received from the client computing device used by the third user of the VR environment, whether the positive interaction is corroborated or contradicted;
• (d) in response to determining that the positive interaction is corroborated, increasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment;
• (e) in response to determining that the positive interaction is contradicted, at least one of not increasing or decreasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment;
• and
• (f) enabling each of one or more users of the VR environment to access, using the client computing device they are using, the reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment.

One or more processor readable storage devices having instructions encoded thereon which when executed cause one or more processors to perform a method for use with a virtual reality (VR) environment in which users can explore the VR environment and interact with one another within the VR environment using client computing devices that are being used by the users, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, from a client computing device used by a first user of the VR environment, information indicative of a negative interaction between an avatar of the first user and an avatar of a second user of the VR environment, which negative interaction can be used to determine that the first user has a positive impression of the second user;
• (b) receiving, from a client computing device used by a third user of the VR environment, further information that can be used to either corroborate or contradict that the negative interaction between the avatar of the first user and the avatar of the second user actually occurred within the VR environment;
• (c) determining, based on the further information received from the client computing device used by the third user of the VR environment, whether the negative interaction is corroborated or contradicted;
• (d) in response to determining that the negative interaction is corroborated, decreasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment;
• (e) in response to determining that the negative interaction is contradicted, at least one of not decreasing a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment or decreasing a reputation score associated with the first user of the VR environment;
• and
• (f) enabling each of one or more users of the VR environment to access, using the client computing device they are using, the reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment.

A system for supporting a computer implemented virtual reality (VR) environment in which users of the VR environment can explore the VR environment and interact with one another within the VR environment using client computing devices that are being used by the users, the system comprising:

• one or more processors configured to receive, from a client computing device used by a first user of the VR environment, information indicative of a positive or negative interaction between an avatar of the first user and an avatar of a second user of the VR environment, which positive or negative interaction can be used to determine that the first user has a positive or negative impression of the second user;
• one or more processors also configured to receive, from a client computing device used by a third user of the VR environment, further information that can be used to either corroborate or contradict that the positive or negative interaction between the avatar of the first user and the avatar of the second user actually occurred within the VR environment;
• the one or more processors also configured to determine, based on the further information received from the client computing device used by the third user of the VR environment, whether the positive or negative interaction is corroborated or contradicted;
• the one or more processors also configured to adjust a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment, in response to a determination that the positive or negative interaction is corroborated;
• the one or more processors also configured to not adjust a reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment, in response to a determination that the positive or negative interaction is contradicted;
• and
• the one or more processors also configured to enable each of one or more users of the VR environment to access, using the client computing device they are using, the reputation score associated with the second user of the VR environment.