Virtual world system supporting a consumer experience

Abstract

A system and method for creating a virtual world for supporting a consumer experience is disclosed. The apparatus in an example embodiment includes providing access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category; generating an image of a virtual store in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment; populating the virtual store with at least one first object representing an item listing category; receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object; and using the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   generating an image of a virtual store in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment;   populating the virtual store with at least one first object representing an item listing category;   receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object; and   using the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including:
 providing access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   populating the virtual store with at least one second object representing an item listing;   receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object; and   using the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including generating a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  further including generating a display object informing the user of the item listing represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including populating the virtual store with at least one visual aid with which the user cannot interact. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including texturing the at least one first object. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including associating a script with the at least one first object. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including populating the virtual store with at least one banner with which the user can initiate the playing of a game. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a database interface to provide access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   a virtual store generator to generate an image of a virtual store in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, and to populate the virtual store with at least one first object representing an item listing category; and   a user input receiver to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein:
 the database interface being further configured to provide access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   the virtual store generator being further configured to populate the virtual store with at least one second object representing an item listing; and   the user input receiver being further configured to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the virtual store generator being further configured to generate a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       12 . An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 provide access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   generate an image of a virtual store in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, and to populate the virtual store with at least one first object representing an item listing category; and   receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       13 . The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the machine executable instructions being further configured to:
 provide access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   populate the virtual store with at least one second object representing an item listing; and   receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       14 . The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the machine executable instructions being further configured to generate a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       15 . A method comprising:
 providing access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   generating at least one first object representing an item listing category;   using the at least one first object in a game implemented in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment;   receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object; and   using the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further including:
 providing access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   generating at least one second object representing an item listing;   using the at least one second object in the game implemented in the three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment;   receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object; and   using the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further including generating a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a database interface to provide access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   a game generator to generate at least one first object representing an item listing category, and to use the at least one first object in a game implemented in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment; and   a user input receiver to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein:
 the database interface being further configured to provide access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   the game generator being further configured to generate at least one second object representing an item listing, and to use the at least one second object in the game implemented in the three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment; and   the user input receiver being further configured to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object; and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the game generator being further configured to generate a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
       21 . An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 provide access to a database of item listing categories, each item listing category in the database having an associated link to a source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category;   generate at least one first object representing an item listing category, and to use the at least one first object in a game implemented in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment; and   receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one first object, and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.   
   
   
       22 . The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the machine executable instructions being further configured to:
 provide access to a database of item listings, each item listing in the database having an associated link to a source for a physical item corresponding to the item listing;   generate at least one second object representing an item listing, and to use the at least one second object in the game implemented in the three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment; and   receive a signal indicative of user interaction with the at least one second object;
 and to use the associated link to re-direct the user to the source for physical items corresponding to the item listing category represented by the at least one second object with which the user interacted. 
   
   
   
       23 . The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the machine executable instructions being further configured to generate a display object informing the user of the item listing category represented by the at least one first object with which the user interacted.