Patent Document ID: 8036930
Application ID: 12015895

Base Claim:
1. A method comprising: collecting, by one or more processors, virtual universe data associated with interactions between avatars, entities, and objects in a virtual universe, the collecting including, collecting, by the one or more processors, at least some of the virtual universe data as the interactions occur; determining, by the one or more processors, a criteria by which to perform a market segmentation analysis on the virtual universe data; performing, by the one or more processors, the market segmentation analysis on the virtual universe data, wherein the market segmentation analysis comprises segmenting the avatars based on an amount of time the avatars are in the virtual universe and an amount of money the avatars spend in the virtual universe, and wherein the segmenting generates a first segment that includes those of the avatars that spend below a defined amount of time within the virtual universe and spend above a defined monetary amount in the virtual universe, a second segment that includes those of the avatars that spend above the defined amount of time within the virtual universe and spend above the defined monetary amount in the virtual universe, a third segment that includes those of the avatars that spend below the defined amount of time within the virtual universe and spend below the defined monetary amount in the virtual universe, and a fourth segment that includes those of the avatars that spend above the defined amount of time within the virtual universe and spend below the defined monetary amount in the virtual universe; and generating, by the one or more processors, a report indicating results of the market segmentation analysis; marketing, by the one or more processors, at least one of a first-adopter product and a high-valued product to those of the avatars in the third segment; and providing, by the one or more processors, at least one of a free offer and a discount for a product to those of the avatars in the fourth segment.

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Claim 8:
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the criteria indicates how to divide the virtual universe data into groups, and wherein the criteria include one or more of money spent by the avatars in the virtual universe, time spent in the virtual universe by the avatars, and roles of the avatars in the virtual universe.