Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for providing a secured virtual marketplace. In general, in one aspect, the technique includes maintaining a list of virtual objects as well as data format information for each of a plurality of virtual environment systems. Each virtual object is represented by data. The data format information for a virtual environment system specifies a format that data must have to be processable by the virtual environment system. The techniques includes receiving a request to distribute one or more virtual objects from the list of virtual objects, the request identifying the virtual objects to be distributed and the virtual environment system with which the virtual objects are to interact. The technique includes formatting, in accordance with the data format information and the request, data representing the one or more virtual objects to be distributed and further includes distributing the one or more virtual objects.

Abstract: Techniques for providing blocks of data to a remote computer system for insertion into a computer-generated document residing on the remote computer system. The techniques include identifying, in the central network-accessible computer system, a plurality of blocks of data, a source for obtaining current data for each of the blocks of data, and an identifier that uniquely identifies each of the blocks of data In response to a request from the remote computer system received by the central network-accessible computer system for current data for a specified one of the plurality of blocks of data, the central network-accessible computer system transmits the requested current data for the block of data from the central network-accessible computer system to the remote computer system for insertion into a computer-generated document residing on the remote computer system.