IP Library Granted Patent US 10,380,604
Granted Patent B2
US 10,380,604 · App. 12/174,805 · Granted Aug 13, 2019

Method and system for viral marketing within a virtual world

Inventors: Rick A. Hamilton, II (Charlottesville, VA); Jenny S. Li (Danbury, CT); Clifford A. Pickover (Yorktown Heights, NY); Anne R. Sand (Petyon, CO)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06Q30/02G06Q30/0241G06Q30/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,380,604
App. No.
12/174,805
Granted
Aug 13, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, including generating one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU) and monitoring information from the VU. Additionally, the method includes directing the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more viral advertisements in the VU based on the information.

Claims (8)

1. A method comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to:

generate one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU);

monitor and gather real-time information from the VU by listening and observing a surrounding VU environment including other avatars and attributes of the other avatars by concept matching to detect topics of conversations of potential customer avatars;

direct the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more customized viral advertisements in the VU by modifying behaviors and scripts run by ad-avatars based on the real-time information by analyzing the real-time information against a database of target customers, locations, products, ad-avatar data, historical incidents, interactions between ad-avatars and a potential customer avatar and historical viral marketing results;

notify a customer service representative (CSR) when a response from the potential customer avatar is detected;

allow the CSR to take over control of the one or more ad-avatars to manage a dialog between the one or more ad-avatars and the potential customer avatars; and

provide the CSR with associated scripts to further carry on the dialog with the potential customer avatar.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: KYNDRYL, INC.
Reel/Frame 057885/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2009
From: HAMILTON, RICK A., II; LI, JENNY S.; PICKOVER, CLIFFORD A.; SAND, ANNE R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022348/0089 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100017260A1 · Jan 21, 2010