Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for enabling communications and other forms of interaction between participants in a gaming or other form of virtual environment and the real world, or between a participant in one virtual environment and a participant in a second virtual environment. In particular, systems are provided to share presence information between participants, including information relating to their images and commercial activities. The presence information is user information that is used by real-time messaging systems to represent the user's current presence and identity. The presence information of a user is presented to other users to help them to decide when or if to communicate with the user.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method is provided for enabling commerce transactions, and other forms of commercial activity among participants in a gaming or other forms of virtual environment and the real world, or between a participant in one virtual environment and a participant in a second virtual environment, using or taking advantage of the services of an Identity Bridge or Gateway. In particular, a real-time commercial activity system is implemented through user interface interactions, and middle-ware interactions. A financial transaction between the users is facilitated through a third party finance service provider, using proprietary identities of the users. Since the system obtains and verifies the relationship between proprietary and real identities of the users, the financial transaction can be facilitated in a secure and trusted fashion without revealing real identities.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for enabling communications, commerce transactions, and other forms of interaction between participants in a gaming or other form of virtual environment and the real world, or between a participant in one virtual environment and a participant in a second virtual environment. These and other types of interactions are enabled with a sufficient degree of trust between the participants to encourage such interactions, while at the same time not compromising certain desired characteristics of the gaming or other experience, such as immersion in the experience and the ability to maintain a high degree of anonymity.

Abstract: A system and method for template creation and execution is disclosed. Template execution is subdivided into steps requiring a higher degree of technical knowledge and steps requiring a higher degree of business/organizational knowledge. During template execution, files from each step in the template creation process are retrieved. A template file is parsed for tags, the tags call a definition file, and the definition file accesses a configuration file. Updated configuration information from the configuration file is inserted into the tags.