User credential verification indication in a virtual universe

Abstract

User credential verification indication in a virtual universe is disclosed. A method, system and program product are provided that include verifying a credential of the user of a first avatar in the virtual universe; and establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, the method comprising:
 verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and   establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the verifying includes obtaining the credential verification from a third party outside of the virtual universe. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information. 
     
     
         9 . A system for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, the system comprising at least one computing device comprising:
 a verifier for verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and   a zone establisher for establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information. 
     
     
         16 . A program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, performs a process comprising:
 verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license; and   establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.   
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the indication is selected from a group consisting of: a text window, a change in an appearance of the avatar, and a visual indicator. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the zone includes an area in the virtual universe and the action includes the first avatar being placed in the area. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the zone includes an object in the virtual universe and the action includes an avatar taking the action relative to the object. 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the object is a badge associated with the first avatar and the action includes a user of a second avatar performing at least one of: mousing over, clicking on, and having the second avatar touch the badge. 
     
     
         21 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the indication includes progressive levels corresponding to a level of credential verification. 
     
     
         22 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the verifying includes obtaining the credential verification from a third party. 
     
     
         23 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein a second credential is selected from a group consisting of: a real-world name on a credit card associated with a user and a real-world location of the user as associated with the credit card information. 
     
     
         24 . A method for user credential verification indication in a virtual universe, comprising:
 producing computer executable program code;   storing the code on a computer readable medium; and   providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to:
 verifying a credential of a user of a first avatar in the virtual universe, wherein the credential is selected from a group consisting of: an occupational position, an occupational certification, an education level, an employment status, an income, a social security number, an age, and a driver's license, and 
 establishing a zone that causes an indication of the credential of the user of the first avatar to appear in response to an action being taken relative to the zone.