Method and apparatus for distributing virtual goods over the internet

摘要

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.

主权项

1. 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, and wherein the client application uses a multimedia player on the host to render the virtual collectible for perception by the user, and further to render digital content corresponding to a group of other users, and wherein the server allows the group of other users to simultaneously perceive the virtual collectible via their respective hosts, and wherein the digital content for each of the users includes an image representing a virtual identity.