Allocating virtual universe customer service

A method for providing a service for allocating customer service representatives in a virtual universe, the method comprising:

• providing a processing unit in communication with a computer readable memory and a tangible computer-readable storage device;
• wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory:
• in response to a customer avatar entering a virtual universe store that is defined in a virtual universe and that comprises an unavailable original customer service representative avatar, clones the unavailable original customer service representative avatar and assigns the clone to the customer avatar;
• assigns an inventory rating value to the customer avatar that is in proportion to a value item in an inventory of the customer avatar;
• assigns a historical shopping value to the customer avatar as a function of retrieving historical customer data from a data store by assigning a first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that meets a minimum threshold amount, and assigning a second shopping value that is lower than the first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that is below the minimum threshold amount;
• creates a customer profile value for the customer avatar as a function of adding the assigned inventory rating value to the assigned historical shopping value;
• chooses a subavatar as a function of the created customer profile value by choosing a first subavatar that is controlled by a human if the created customer profile value meets a high-priority customer profile requirement threshold, and by choosing a second subavatar that is controlled by an automated artificial agent if the created customer profile value is below the high-priority customer profile requirement threshold;
• and
• populates the assigned clone with the chosen subavatar, wherein the populated clone engages the customer avatar.

A system, comprising:

• a processing unit in communication with a computer readable memory and a tangible computer-readable storage device;
• wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory:
• in response to a customer avatar entering a virtual universe store that is defined in a virtual universe and that comprises an unavailable original customer service representative avatar, clones the unavailable original customer service representative avatar and assigns the clone to the customer avatar;
• assigns an establishment rating value to the customer avatar in proportion to a number of teleports of the customer avatar across the virtual universe, or to a frequency that a name of the customer avatar shows up in search results of the virtual universe;
• assigns a historical shopping value to the customer avatar as a function of retrieving historical customer data from a data store by assigning a first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that meets a minimum threshold amount, and assigning a second shopping value that is lower than the first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that is below the minimum threshold amount;
• creates a customer profile value for the customer avatar as a function of adding the assigned establishment rating value to the assigned historical shopping value;
• chooses a subavatar as a function of the created customer profile value by choosing a first subavatar that is controlled by a human if the created customer profile value meets a high-priority customer profile requirement threshold, and by choosing a second subavatar that is controlled by an automated artificial agent if the created customer profile value is below the high-priority customer profile requirement threshold;
• and
• populates the assigned clone with the chosen subavatar, wherein the populated clone engages the customer avatar.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a computer-readable tangible storage medium, that is not a transitory propagating signal, having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer processing unit, cause the computer processing unit to:
• in response to a customer avatar entering a virtual universe store that is defined in a virtual universe and that comprises an unavailable original customer service representative avatar, clone the unavailable original customer service representative avatar and assign the clone to the customer avatar;
• assign a demographic rating value to the customer avatar by:
• assigning a first demographic rating value if the customer is associated with a region having a preferred customer demographic profile;
• and
• assigning a second demographic rating value that is lower than the first demographic rating value if the customer is associated with another region that does not have a preferred customer demographic profile;
• assign a historical shopping value to the customer avatar as a function of retrieving historical customer data from a data store by assigning a first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that meets a minimum threshold amount, and assigning a second shopping value that is lower than the first shopping value if the retrieved historical customer data comprises a total shopping purchase amount that is below the minimum threshold amount;
• create a customer profile value for the customer avatar as a function of adding the assigned demographic rating value to the assigned historical shopping value;
• choose a subavatar as a function of the created customer profile value by choosing a first subavatar that is controlled by a human if the created customer profile value meets a high-priority customer profile requirement threshold, and by choosing a second subavatar that is controlled by an automated artificial agent if the created customer profile value is below the high-priority customer profile requirement threshold;
• and
• populate the assigned clone with the chosen subavatar, wherein the populated clone engages the customer avatar.