Exchanging assets between on-line virtual worlds

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates exchanging assets between online virtual worlds. During operation, the system receives a first asset from a representative of a first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world, and receives a second asset from a representative of a second player who controls the second asset in the second virtual world. Next, the system provides the first asset to a representative of the second player in the first virtual world, and provides the second asset to a representative of the first player in the second virtual world.

1 . A method for facilitating an exchange of assets between online virtual worlds, comprising:
 receiving a first asset from a representative of a first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world;   receiving a second asset from a representative of a second player who controls the second asset in a second virtual world;   providing the first asset to a representative of the second player in the first virtual world; and   providing the second asset to a representative of the first player in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein upon receiving the first asset, the method further comprises storing the first asset in a first warehouse in the first virtual world, and before providing the first asset, the method further comprises retrieving the first asset from the first warehouse; and   wherein upon receiving the second asset, the method further comprises storing the second asset in a second warehouse in the second virtual world, and before providing the second asset, the method further comprises retrieving the second asset from the second warehouse.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a first market persona in the first virtual world is responsible for receiving the first asset from the representative of the first player and providing the first asset to the representative of the second player; and   wherein a second market persona in the second virtual world is responsible for receiving the second asset from the representative of the second player and providing the second asset to the representative of the first player.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to receiving the first asset, the method further comprises facilitating formation of an exchange agreement by:
 matching the first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world with the second player who controls the second asset in a second virtual world; and   enabling the first player and the second player to form an agreement on an exchange between the first asset and the second asset.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 recording the agreement; and   using parameters from the recorded agreement to suggest real exchange rates for future exchanges involving the first asset and/or the second asset.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising using the recorded agreement along with other recorded agreements associated with other exchanges to establish an exchange rate between a first currency in the first virtual world and a second currency in the second virtual world. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein matching the first player with the second player additionally involves authenticating the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       8 . A method for facilitating an exchange of assets between online virtual worlds, comprising:
 receiving a request from a player who controls a first asset in a first virtual world to exchange the first asset for a second asset in a second virtual world;   determining a real exchange rate between the first asset and the second asset based on equal asset values for the first asset and the second asset; and   receiving the first asset from a representative of the player in the first virtual world; and   providing the second asset to a representative of the player in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 wherein receiving the first asset involves storing the first asset in a first warehouse in the first virtual world; and   wherein providing the second asset involves retrieving the second asset from a second warehouse in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 wherein a first market persona in the first virtual world is responsible for receiving the first asset from the representative of the player; and   wherein a second market persona in the second virtual world is responsible for providing the second asset to the representative of the player.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the real exchange rate between the first asset and the second asset involves inferring an exchange based on previous exchanges involving the first asset, the second asset, and possibly related exchanges. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein prior to determining the real exchange rate, the method further involves authenticating the player. 
   
   
       13 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating an exchange of assets between online virtual worlds, the method comprising:
 receiving a first asset from a representative of a first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world;   receiving a second asset from a representative of a second player who controls the second asset in a second virtual world;   providing the first asset to a representative of the second player in the first virtual world; and   providing the second asset to a representative of the first player in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 ,
 wherein upon receiving the first asset, the method further comprises storing the first asset in a first warehouse in the first virtual world, and before providing the first asset, the method further comprises retrieving the first asset from the first warehouse; and   wherein upon receiving the second asset, the method further comprises storing the second asset in a second warehouse in the second virtual world, and before providing the second asset, the method further comprises retrieving the second asset from the second warehouse.   
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 ,
 wherein a first market persona in the first virtual world is responsible for receiving the first asset from the representative of the first player and providing the first asset to the representative of the second player; and   wherein a second market persona in the second virtual world is responsible for receiving the second asset from the representative of the second player and providing the second asset to the representative of the first player.   
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein prior to receiving the first asset, the method further comprises facilitating formation of an exchange agreement by:
 matching the first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world with the second player who controls the second asset in a second virtual world; and   enabling the first player and the second player to form an agreement on an exchange between the first asset and the second asset.   
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 recording the agreement; and   using parameters from the recorded agreement to suggest real exchange rates for future exchanges involving the first asset and/or the second asset.   
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises using the recorded agreement along with other recorded agreements associated with other exchanges to establish an exchange rate between a first currency in the first virtual world and a second currency in the second virtual world. 
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein matching the first player with the second player additionally involves authenticating the first player and the second player. 
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating an exchange of assets between online virtual worlds, comprising:
 receiving a request from a player who controls a first asset in a first virtual world to exchange the first asset for a second asset in a second virtual world;   determining a real exchange rate between the first asset and the second asset based on equal asset values for the first asset and the second asset; and   receiving the first asset from a representative of the player in the first virtual world; and   providing the second asset to a representative of the player in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 ,
 wherein receiving the first asset involves storing the first asset in a first warehouse in the first virtual world; and   wherein providing the second asset involves retrieving the second asset from a second warehouse in the second virtual world.   
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 ,
 wherein a first market persona in the first virtual world is responsible for receiving the first asset from the representative of the player; and   wherein a second market persona in the second virtual world is responsible for providing the second asset to the representative of the player.   
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein determining the real exchange rate between the first asset and the second asset involves inferring an exchange based on previous exchanges involving the first asset, the second asset, and possibly related exchanges. 
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein prior to determining the real exchange rate, the method further involves authenticating the player. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus that facilitates exchanging assets between online virtual worlds, comprising:
 a first market persona in a first virtual world, wherein the first market person is configured to,
 receive a first asset from a representative of a first player who controls the first asset in a first virtual world, and 
 provide the first asset to a representative of the second player in the first virtual world; 
   a second market person in a second virtual world, wherein the second market persona is configured to,
 receive a second asset from a representative of a second player who controls the second asset in a second virtual world, and 
 provide the second asset to a representative of the first player in the second virtual world. 
   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 ,
 wherein upon receiving the first asset, the first market persona is configured to store the first asset in a first warehouse in the first virtual world, and before providing the first asset, the first market persona is configured to retrieve the first asset from the first warehouse; and   wherein upon receiving the second asset, the second market persona is configured to store the second asset in a second warehouse in the second virtual world, and before providing the second asset, the second market persona is configured to retrieve the second asset from the second warehouse.   
   
   
       27 . An apparatus that facilitates exchanging assets between online virtual worlds, comprising:
 a request-receiving mechanism configured to receive a request from a player who controls a first asset in a first virtual world to exchange the first asset for a second asset in a second virtual world;   an exchange-rate-determining mechanism configured to determine a real exchange rate between the first asset and the second asset based on equal asset values for the first asset and the second asset;   an asset-receiving mechanism configured to receive the first asset from a representative of the player in the first virtual world; and   an asset-providing mechanism configured to provide the second asset to a representative of the player in the second virtual world.