Risk mitigation in a virtual world

Abstract

Embodiments include an apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, a system includes a computer-simulated environment wherein a participant is able to take part. The system also includes a risk management element of the computer-simulated environment, and a computer storage medium operable to save a record of the arrangement.

1 . A system comprising:
 (I) a program comprising computer-readable instructions operable to manage a virtual world configured to interact with at least two participants over a network;   (II) a risk mitigation module operable to facilitate an arrangement that includes a protection entity providing a benefit to a participant of the at least two participants (hereafter referred to as “the participant”) upon an occurrence of a defined loss in the virtual world in exchange for a consideration,
 (A) wherein the protection entity includes:
 (i) a participant protection entity, wherein the participant protection entity includes:
 (a) at least one of a real-world entity or a real-world entity engaged in a business of entering into contracts similar to the arrangement; and 
 
 
 (B) wherein the providing a benefit to the participant includes:
 (i) providing a real-world benefit to the participant; and 
 
   (III) a computer storage medium operable to save a record of the arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two participants includes at least two participants who control their respective virtual identity in the virtual world. 
     
     
         3 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the risk mitigation module operable to facilitate an arrangement includes a risk mitigation module operable to facilitate at least one of forming the arrangement, facilitate an interaction between the participant and the protection entity, creating the arrangement, negotiating a term of the arrangement, revising the arrangement, resolution of disputes related to the arrangement, transferring the consideration, transferring a right of the participant in the arrangement, memorializing the arrangement, and notification regarding matters relevant to the arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the participant protection entity includes at least one of a person, an individual, a virtual-world entity, a virtual-world entity engaged in a business of entering into contracts similar to the arrangement, a fictional protection entity, or an avatar of the virtual world. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protection entity includes a non-participant protection entity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the non-participant protection entity includes at least one of a provider of the virtual world, an operator of the virtual world, or a person associated with the virtual world. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing a benefit to the participant includes providing a virtual-world benefit to the participant. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing a benefit to the participant includes providing a compensation to the participant. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing a benefit to the participant includes providing a benefit determined relative to a circumstance existing at an occurrence of the loss. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing a benefit to the participant includes providing a benefit that is a function of a participant attribute and/or environmental attribute measured at an occurrence of the loss. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing benefit to the participant includes providing an attribute replacement to the participant. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the providing an attribute replacement to the participant includes providing at least one of a replacement of an attribute, a resurrection of a virtual identity of the participant in the virtual world, a replacement of a virtual-world property, a payment of a virtual-world fine, and a satisfaction of a virtual-world punishment. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loss includes a determinable contingency. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loss includes at least one of loss occurring by reason of a harm, an injury, a death of the participant, a death of another participant, a damage, a casualty, a disability, and an imposed punitive obligation. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the loss includes a loss relative to a subject matter of the arrangement in which the participant has an interest. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consideration includes a virtual-world consideration. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the virtual-world consideration includes a virtual-world money. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the virtual-world consideration includes at least one of an attribute, a right, a body part, a weapon, or a token. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consideration includes a real-world consideration. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the real-world consideration includes a real-world money. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consideration includes a consideration provided by another participant of the at least two participants. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer storage medium operable to save a record of the arrangement includes a computer storage medium operable to save at least one of a record of a conveyance of the consideration to the protection entity, a record of the participant's assent to the arrangement, a record of the protection entity's assent to the arrangement, a record of an occurrence of the loss, or a record of any provision of the benefit. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a monetary module operable to manage a medium of exchange in the virtual world expressed as a virtual-world currency unit.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the virtual-world currency unit includes a virtual-world currency having a value in the virtual world and facilitating an exchange for goods and services. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual-world further comprises:
 a native virtual-world medium of exchange expressed as a native virtual-world currency unit having a value in the virtual world; and   the system further comprises
 a monetary module coupled with the virtual world, subject to control of another participant of the at least two participants, and operable to manage a secondary virtual-world medium of exchange expressed as a secondary virtual-world currency unit having a value in the virtual world and facilitating at least one of the benefit and the consideration. 
   
     
     
         38 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the secondary virtual world currency includes a secondary virtual world currency having a value in another virtual world. 
     
     
         42 . A method comprising:
 (I) operating a virtual world in communication with a plurality of players over a network;   (II) enabling a player of the plurality of players (hereafter referred to as “the player”) and a risk distribution entity to form an agreement whereby a thing of value is conveyed to the risk distribution entity and the risk distribution entity undertakes to provide a benefit upon the player experiencing a specified loss in the virtual world,
 (A) wherein the risk distribution entity includes:
 (i) at least one of a real-world entity or a real-world entity engaged in a business of entering into contracts similar to the arrangement; and 
 
 (B) wherein the benefit to the participant includes:
 (i) a real-world benefit; and 
 
   (III) making a digital record of the arrangement.   
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the enabling a player and a risk distribution entity to form an agreement includes at least one of creating an opportunity for an interaction between the player and the risk distribution entity, providing a capability for the player and the risk distribution entity to form the arrangement, assisting an interaction between the player and the risk distribution entity, creating the agreement, negotiating a term of the agreement, revising a term of the agreement, resolving the agreement, transferring the consideration, transferring a right of the player in the agreement, and memorializing the agreement. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the risk distribution entity includes an entity that shifts and/or distributes a risk of the specified loss among the plurality of players. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the thing of value includes at least one of a thing having a value in virtual world and a thing having a value in the real world. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A computer program product, comprising:
 (a) program instructions operable to perform a process in a computer system, the process comprising
 communicating with a virtual world and with a participant, 
 providing an opportunity for the participant to make an arrangement with a protection entity that includes the protection entity providing a compensation upon a described loss being experienced in the virtual world in exchange for a consideration, and 
 creating a record of the arrangement; and 
   (b) a computer-readable signal-bearing medium bearing the program instructions.   
     
     
         50 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the computer-readable signal-bearing medium includes a computer storage medium. 
     
     
         51 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the computer-readable signal-bearing medium includes a communication medium. 
     
     
         52 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the communicating with a virtual world and with a participant includes communicating with a virtual world and with a participant via a network. 
     
     
         53 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the process further comprises
 communicating between the virtual world and the protection entity.   
     
     
         54 . The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the process further comprises
 providing a notification of an occurrence of the described loss.   
     
     
         55 . A system comprising:
 a computer-simulated environment wherein a participant is able to take part;   a risk management element of the computer-simulated environment that facilitates an arrangement that includes a protection entity providing a future benefit to the participant upon an occurrence of a defined loss in the computer-simulated environment in exchange for a transfer of a thing of value to the protection entity; and   a computer storage medium operable to save a record of the arrangement.   
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 a participant interface communication link that enables the participant to access to the computer-simulated environment and participate in the risk management element.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 a protection entity interface communications link that enables the protection entity to access to the computer-simulated environment and participate in the risk management element.