Fujitsu Software Corporation

Norman Morse

John Onusko

Randy Farmer

Jeffrey Douglas

Chris Morningstar

A virtual world computer process includes portable virtual token objects that can be used by on-line users of the virtual world to facilitate exchange of goods and services within the virtual world. In particular, client-server computer processes are provided for the virtual world that allow on-line users to conduct activities within the virtual world including getting, putting, giving, and receiving portable virtual token objects as well as other portable virtual objects. Each on-line user is represented in the graphic user interface by a virtual avatar object. Token objects are put into circulation by virtual ATM objects. A virtual ATM object allows a user to obtain a balance, deposit tokens, and withdraw tokens. A vendroid object is an object that sells portable virtual items in exchange for tokens deposited by avatars. Different virtual items have different values, and vendroids do not all have the same virtual items for sale. In the virtual world, a lurker is represented in a locale by a ghost object. An icon is present, i.e, an eye-the-sky, in a locale, whenever a ghost object, or ghost objects are present. Ghost objects have anonymity, i.e. their names are not known to avatars of the locale, and have limited interaction choices. A ghost object cannot talk or think to other avatars. A ghost object retains the ability to transmit private &ldquo;ESP&rdquo; messages to other avatars.

Virtual objects for building a community in a virtual world

A computer system including computers interconnected by a network creates a virtual world in which computer users can interact with each other. Each user is represented graphically on computers' displays. Other objects (trees, buildings, and so on) are also represented. Each user can control its own representation in the virtual world to communicate with other users, to buy things, to move from place to place. A user may be given supervisory powers to have additional control over images on the displays. For example, a user having supervisory powers can summon other users, restrict other users' representations' ability to speak or move, create, delete or modify virtual objects in the virtual world. Convenient user interface is provided to exercise the supervisory powers.

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Norman Morse