Method and system for user defined local storage of information and objects in a virtual world

The invention provides a method and system for securing information for a virtual world environment. The method includes creating information for a virtual world environment, transmitting the information to the virtual world environment from the memory, selectively removing the information from the virtual world environment, and selectively storing the information on a memory external to the server to prevent access from the server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to virtual world environments, and in particular to user defined local storage of information and objects in a virtual world environment.

2. Background Information

As internet based 3-D virtual worlds (VW) become more and more ubiquitous, individuals and businesses across a variety of industries are creating a presence in these worlds for many purposes including social networking, advertising and sales. Users of these VWs are able to create objects, services and a plurality of other business opportunities “in world” that could help the individual or company gain revenue, launch products or services, and provide customers with a rich information base for learning and buying opportunities.

In VWs, objects created are stored on the server and very often, if not always, visible to the VW hosts. This causes security concerns especially during pre-announced activities when prototypes are evaluated and compared in a virtual world. For a highly sensitive product or service, a VW user may feel uncomfortable allowing the VW provider to have access to items or information being developed in world, even in instances where the user is able to block other VW users from viewing or otherwise accessing the sensitive information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and system for securing information for a virtual world environment. The method includes creating information for a virtual world environment, transmitting the information to the virtual world environment from the memory, selectively removing the information from the virtual world environment, and selectively storing the information on a memory external to the server to prevent access from the server.

Another embodiment involves a system for securing virtual world information. The system includes a virtual world server hosting a virtual world environment, and a client device configured to connect to the virtual world server. The client device includes an information creation module configured to create information for the virtual world environment, a memory configured to store the information, a transmit module configured to transmit the information to and from the virtual world environment, and a restore module configured to selectively restore the information to the virtual world environment.

Yet another embodiment involves a computer program product for securing virtual world information that causes a computer to create information for a virtual world environment, transmit the information to the virtual world environment from the memory, selectively remove the information from the virtual world environment, and selectively store the information on a memory external to the server to prevent access from the server.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The description may disclose several preferred embodiments of securing virtual world information, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof. While the following description will be described in terms of virtual world information storage for clarity and to place the invention in context, it should be kept in mind that the teachings herein may have broad application to all types of systems, devices and applications.

The invention provides a method and system for securing information for a virtual world environment. The method includes creating information for a virtual world environment, transmitting the information to the virtual world environment from the memory, selectively removing the information from the virtual world environment, and selectively storing the information on a memory external to the server to prevent access from the server.

FIG. 1illustrates a device100for securing virtual world environment information. In one embodiment, device100includes an information creation module110, a transmit module120, a restore module130and a memory140. In one embodiment, virtual world environment information is stored in memory140. Virtual world environment information is created either in the virtual world environment, through information creation module110, or both. Virtual world information includes, but is not limited to, virtual world objects, history of user activity, visited pages, sign on logs, chat discussions, purchases, sales, private information, shared user information, emails, posts, discussions, favorite lists, friends lists, other avatar associated information, chat sessions, inventory, etc.

In one embodiment, when virtual world information is created by the information module110, the information is stored locally on memory140. When a user is ready to sign on to a virtual world environment to use the created information, transmit module120transmits or uploads the information to a virtual world environment running on a virtual world server.

In one embodiment, the virtual world environment gives a user a choice to select where information is to be stored. In this embodiment, the information can be stored locally on a memory140, or on the virtual world server. In another embodiment, the user has the capability of directing the storage location of different portions of information. That is, a user may want to store some information on the virtual world server, and other information locally on memory140.

In one embodiment, when a user signs off a virtual world environment, the user's selected virtual world information is removed from the virtual world environment and stored locally on memory140. In one embodiment, in place of the virtual world information, tags are left when a user signs off. When the information is stored locally on memory140, a host of the virtual world environment has no access to the information.

In one embodiment, restore module130restores information stored locally on memory140to the virtual world environment. A user selects the type of restoration through a menu, graphical user interface (GUI), etc. In one embodiment, restore module130restores information to the virtual world environment upon the user logging on to the virtual world environment. In another embodiment, the information is restored upon an avatar of a user becoming proximal to a location where information for an object or a service is to be restored in the virtual world environment. In one embodiment where a tag is left for the information to be restored, the tag is activated when a user reaches a grid location within a predetermined distance to the tag.

In another embodiment, the restore module130restores information to the virtual world environment manually upon logging in to the virtual world environment. In yet another embodiment, the restore module130restores information to the virtual world environment based on a predefined time. For example, if a user has planned a launch on a specific date at a specific time, the user can keep the information off the virtual world environment until the predetermined date and time.

In one embodiment, the user can group information for restoration. In this embodiment, the user selects how to group information. This selected grouping can be any type of grouping. For example, the user can select to group information by a creation date, a period of time since the creation date (e.g., one month, 6 months, etc.), semantic meaning of the information, type of information, information related to a specific topic, theme, product, service, etc. In this embodiment, the other restore embodiments discussed above can also be applied to the grouped information.

In one embodiment, information module110, transmit module120and restore module130are part of a software toolkit that can be loaded on a user's computing device. In this embodiment, manual or automatic updates are made in order to remain compatible with changing virtual world environments.

FIG. 2illustrates a virtual world environment system200. System200includes a virtual world environment210running on a virtual world server220having a memory230and connected with a database240, a network/Intranet/Internet250, clients1-N100, and at least one client260not including hardware/software for storing virtual world information locally.

In one embodiment, a user using a client100, can create virtual world environment information locally on client100, and transmit the information to the virtual world environment210temporarily or permanently. Typically, user virtual world environment information is stored on database240and in memory230for clients260. If a client260installs either hardware or software to provide the user with a means for storing virtual world environment information locally on the client, and also providing the capability of restoring the information selectively, the client260can become a client100device.

By storing virtual world environment information in a local memory, the user gains security from a host of the virtual world server220, personnel having access to the database240and memory230, hackers, etc. The user can then control the security where the virtual world environment information is stored. For example, the memory can be removable and stored in a secure area, such as a locked desk, a safe, etc. The device can be portable itself and stored securely. The memory can have a password associated with it. A program running the local create/store/restore functions can be password protected.

FIG. 3illustrates a flow of information to/from the virtual world server from/to the client100. As illustrated, virtual world environment information can be created locally on client100or externally in the virtual world environment. The virtual world environment information created locally on client100is transmitted through the network/Intranet/Internet250to the memory230. If further virtual world environment information is created in the virtual world environment210, this virtual world environment information along with the virtual world environment information created locally can be selectively chosen by a user to be stored locally on client100. In this case, the virtual world environment information is transmitted through the network/Intranet/Internet250to the client100. For a restore, the virtual world environment information selectively chosen for a particular type of restore is transmitted through the network/Intranet/Internet250to the memory230and to the virtual world environment210.

FIG. 4illustrates a block diagram of process400which provides securing virtual world environment information according to one embodiment. In block410, virtual world environment information is created by a user locally on a client, such as client100, creates virtual world environment information in the virtual world environment, or the information is created by the user's activity, activities of other virtual world environment users, the virtual world environment information is generated by the virtual world environment or from other sources (e.g., RSS feeds).

In block420, a user selects where to store the virtual world environment information In this embodiment, the user can select to store all or part of the virtual world environment information locally, such as on client100. It should be noted that in other embodiments, a user can select to store the virtual world environment information on a third party site, such as a secure storage facility.

In block430, virtual world environment information created locally on a client100or previously created from the virtual world environment and stored locally is transmitted to the virtual world environment from the local memory of a device, such as client100. In another embodiment, the virtual world environment information can be transmitted from a third party secured storage to the virtual world environment.

In block440, virtual world environment information is selectively removed from the virtual world environment and stored locally on a device, such as device/client100or a secure third party storage facility. When the virtual world environment information is removed from the virtual world environment, all parties with access to the virtual world environment information on the virtual world environment server cannot access the virtual world environment information. It should also be noted that the virtual world environment information that is not permanently stored on the virtual world environment server or an associated database cannot be saved, backed up or copied by the host or personnel associated with the virtual world environment server.

The medium can be electronic, magnetic, optical, or a semiconductor system (or apparatus or device). Examples of a computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a RAM, a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be connected to the system either directly or through intervening controllers. Network adapters may also be connected to the system to enable the data processing system to become connected to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.

In the description above, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known equivalent components and elements may be substituted in place of those described herein, and similarly, well-known equivalent techniques may be substituted in place of the particular techniques disclosed. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the understanding of this description.