Patent ID: 8149241

Claim:
A method for controlling activities of an avatar in a virtual universe, the method comprising: receiving by the virtual universe from a participant of the virtual universe through a virtual universe client, a first command directing an action of an avatar of the participant in the virtual universe; executing by the virtual universe the first command, whereby the participant, through the avatar, participates in the virtual universe; receiving by the virtual universe from the participant of the virtual universe through another means of communication between the participant of the virtual universe and the virtual universe, the means of communication not involving a virtual universe client, a second command directing a mood of the avatar of the participant in the virtual universe, wherein the receiving by the virtual universe from the participant of the virtual universe through the means of communication the second command directing the mood of the avatar of the participant in the virtual universe comprises: transmitting to the participant by the virtual universe a request for a command from the participant directing the mood of an avatar, the transmitting in response to a transmission from the participant to the virtual universe specifying a condition for the virtual universe to transmit a request for a mood command; and receiving by the virtual universe from the participant of the virtual universe through the means of communication the second command directing the mood of the avatar of the participant in the virtual universe in response to the transmission to the participant of the request for a mood command; and executing by the virtual universe the second command, thereby modifying the mood of the avatar of the participant in the virtual universe, wherein: the virtual universe comprises a shared virtual space accessible by multiple participants each represented by one or more avatars; the avatars concurrently interact in the virtual space, the interaction of the avatars comprising engaging in business or social experiences with other avatars; and the virtual universe provides a continuous environment.