Virtual online auction forum

Abstract

A method and system for auctioning an item over a network inside a virtual auction forum populated by graphical representations of users is described. Virtual profiles containing graphical representations are associated with each of the users of an auction forum, and the auction for the item is virtualized. The users of the auction forum participate as bidders in the virtual auction with their graphical representations, and some events in the virtual auction are represented through the users' graphical representations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for conducting an auction on an online auction forum, the method being performed by one or more computer systems and comprising:
 maintaining a user profile for a first user of the online auction forum, the user profile of the first user including data corresponding to a first avatar associated with first user;   while the auction is on-going, virtualizing the auction for a first user device of the first user by (i) causing a virtual environment corresponding to the auction to be rendered by the first user device, and (ii) causing a plurality of avatars, including the first avatar, to be rendered by the first user device within the virtual environment, wherein at least some of the plurality of avatars are rendered as participating in the auction within the virtual environment; and   concurrently with virtualizing the auction for the first user device, communicating with a second user device of a second user of the online auction forum to cause auction content to be rendered by the second user device without virtualizing the auction.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein virtualizing the auction for the first user device further comprises causing the first user device to render the virtual environment and the plurality of avatars to reflect events of the auction. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual environment corresponding to the auction is rendered by the first user device in accordance with one or more environmental rules associated with the auction. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , further comprising causing the virtual environment rendered by the first user device to progress the auction towards completion in response to a trigger condition defined in the one or more environmental rules. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising manipulating at least a portion of the virtual environment or at least some of the plurality of avatars to reflect a bid submitted for the auction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein manipulating at least a portion of the virtual environment or at least some of the plurality of avatars to reflect a bid submitted for the auction includes manipulating at least one of the plurality of avatars to raise a hand or paddle, or to stand up. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising limiting the ability of users participating in the auction to communicate with each other based on communication limitations defined for the auction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein virtualizing the auction includes displaying an avatar for an auctioneer that conducts the auction. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system for conducting an auction on an online auction forum, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computer system, cause the computer system to:
 maintain a user profile for a first user of the online auction forum, the user profile of the first user including data corresponding to a first avatar associated with first user; 
 while the auction is on-going, virtualize the auction for a first user device of the first user by (i) causing a virtual environment corresponding to the auction to be rendered by the first user device, and (ii) causing a plurality of avatars, including the first avatar, to be rendered by the first user device within the virtual environment, wherein at least some of the plurality of avatars are rendered as participating in the auction within the virtual environment; and 
 concurrently with virtualizing the auction for the first user device, communicate with a second user device of a second user of the online auction forum to cause auction content to be rendered by the second user device without virtualizing the auction. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein virtualizing the auction for the first user device further comprises causing the first user device to render the virtual environment and the plurality of avatars to reflect events of the auction. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the virtual environment corresponding to the auction is rendered by the first user device in accordance with one or more environmental rules associated with the auction. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to cause the virtual environment rendered by the first user device to progress the auction towards completion in response to a trigger condition defined in the one or more environmental rules. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to manipulate at least a portion of the virtual environment or at least some of the plurality of avatars to reflect a bid submitted for the auction. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein manipulating at least a portion of the virtual environment or at least some of the plurality of avatars to reflect a bid submitted for the auction includes manipulating at least one of the plurality of avatars to raise a hand or paddle, or to stand up. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to limit the ability of users participating in the auction to communicate with each other based on communication limitations defined for the auction. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein virtualizing the auction includes displaying an avatar for an auctioneer that conducts the auction. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
 maintain a user profile for a first user of an online auction forum, the user profile of the first user including data corresponding to a first avatar associated with first user;   while an auction is on-going, virtualize the auction for a first user device of the first user by (i) causing a virtual environment corresponding to the auction to be rendered by the first user device, and (ii) causing a plurality of avatars, including the first avatar, to be rendered by the first user device within the virtual environment, wherein at least some of the plurality of avatars are rendered as participating in the auction within the virtual environment; and   concurrently with virtualizing the auction for the first user device, communicate with a second user device of a second user of the online auction forum to cause auction content to be rendered by the second user device without virtualizing the auction.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein virtualizing the auction for the first user device further comprises causing the first user device to render the virtual environment and the plurality of avatars to reflect events of the auction. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual environment corresponding to the auction is rendered by the first user device in accordance with one or more environmental rules associated with the auction. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the computer system to limit the ability of users participating in the auction to communicate with each other based on communication limitations defined for the auction.