Method and apparatus for collaboration among individuals

1. A method for collaborating in a virtual world, comprising:

establishing a first internet protocol channel between a first individual at a first terminal and a program, the program represented by an imaginary character in the virtual world, wherein the first terminal includes a gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world;

establishing a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world;

receiving a request from the second individual to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual;

determining, responsive to the request to establish the third channel, whether the first individual is participating in a collaboration with the imaginary character in the virtual world in which the imaginary character provides information to the first individual;

responsive to determining that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, routing the request to establish the third channel to a first communication device connected to the gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world; and

responsive to determining that the first individual is not participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, alerting, at the first terminal, the first individual of the request to establish the third channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the virtual world to the second individual.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second terminal includes at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is controlled by the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character autonomously establishes at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

11. A system for collaborating in a virtual world, comprising:

a collaboration management server adapted to establish a first internet protocol channel between a first individual at a first terminal and a program, the program represented by an imaginary character in the virtual world, wherein the first terminal includes a gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world;

a gateway operably connected to the collaboration management server and adapted to:

establish a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world;

receive a request from the second individual to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual;

determine, responsive to the request to establish the third channel, whether the first individual is participating in a collaboration with the imaginary character in the virtual world in which the imaginary character provides information to the first individual;

responsive to a determination that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, route the request to establish the third channel to a first communication device connected to the gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world; and

responsive to a determination that the first individual is not participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, alert, at the first terminal, the first individual of the request to establish the third channel.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the collaboration to the second individual.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second terminal includes at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to receive instructions from the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to autonomously establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.