Patent ID: 8230045
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: A63F,G06F,G06N

Abstract:
1. A server computer which is connected to a plurality of client computers through a network, and which controls objects in a Metaverse accessed by the client computers, the server computer comprising: a storage device for storing, as object information for a certain Metaverse object, an object ID specifying the object and, in association with the object ID, authenticity information indicating that the object is genuine, wherein the object includes an accessory for an avatar in the Metaverse, and the object information includes (i) time period information indicating an expiration time of the authenticity information, and (ii) history information indicating a history of at least any one of creation, copying, modification and giving of the object; a communication unit for communicating with each of the client computers to access the Metaverse; and an enquiry unit for, upon receipt of an enquiry request including an object ID to enquire about the object of the object ID from a certain client computer: (i) causing the communication unit to transmit authenticity information corresponding to the object ID to the client computer, on condition that the authenticity information corresponding to the object ID is stored in the storage device and is still valid since its expiration time has not come yet, (ii) causing the communication unit to transmit a notification that authenticity information corresponding to the object ID is not stored in the storage device to the client computer, on condition that the authenticity information corresponding to the object ID is not stored in the storage device, and (iii) identifying an original user of the object according to the history information, thereby causing the communication unit to transmit another notification that the authenticity information corresponding to the object ID is not stored, to a client computer of the original user, wherein the authenticity information includes manager information specifying a manager of the brand of the accessory object in the Metaverse, a brand name indicating the name of the brand, and logo data indicating the logo of the brand.