Referencing objects in a virtual environment

• US 20060200662A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fulton, Bill, Phillips, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/049,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/164
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/306 for displaying a marker associated to an object or location in the game field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally toward referencing objects in a virtual environment. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a computer-implemented method for referencing an object in a virtual environment that includes receiving a command from a user to designate an object and designating the object. The method can further include receiving a command from the user to associate selected information with the object and associating the selected information with the object. In certain aspects of the invention, designating the object can include associating a visual reference marking with the object. In other aspects of the invention, the user includes a first user and the method can further include allowing a visual reference marking associated with the object to be viewed by at least one second user and/or revealing the information associated with the object to the at least one second user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for referencing an object in a virtual environment, comprising:

receiving a command from a user to designate an object;

designating the object;

receiving a command from the user to associate selected information with the object; and

associating the selected information with the object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein designating the object includes associating a visual reference marking with the object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein associating information with the object includes at least one of using a voice tag, a text tag, a symbolic referent tag, and a time tag.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user includes a first user, and wherein the method further comprises at least one of:

allowing a visual reference marking associated with the object to be viewed by at least one second user; and

revealing the information associated with the object to the at least one second user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user includes a first user, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a command from the first user to allow at least one second user to view a visual reference marking associated with the object, to reveal the information associated with the object to the at least one second user, or both.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a command from the user to associate selected information with the object includes receiving the selected information to be associated with the object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the shape of the object after the object has been designated and the selected information has been associated with the object; and

maintaining the designation of the object and the association of information with the object after the object has changed shape.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is at least one of stationary, movable, and moving.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the object includes multiple pieces, is a piece of a larger item, or both.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

disassociating the information from the object; and

de-designating the object.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

receiving a command to disassociate the information from the object;

receiving a command to de-designate the object;

disassociating the information from the object; and

de-designating the object.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a command from a user to designate an object includes receiving a command from a user identifying an object to be designated.

13. A computer-implemented method for referencing an object in a virtual environment, comprising:

displaying one or more objects, each of the one or more objects being selectable for designation by a user;

designating an object in response to a user selection; and

associating selected information with the designated object in response to a user input.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the user includes a first user, and wherein the method further comprises at least one of:

displaying a visual reference marking associated with the designated object to at least one second user; and

revealing the selected information associated with the designated object to the at least one second user.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing the shape of the designated object; and

maintaining the designation of the designated object and the association of information with the designated object after the designated object has changed shape.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of:

disassociating the selected information from the designated object; and

de-designating the designated object.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a command from a user to designate an object;

designating the object;

receiving a command from the user to associate selected information with the object; and

associating the selected information with the object.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the user includes a first user, and wherein the steps further comprise at least one of:

allowing a visual reference marking associated with the object to be viewed by at least one second user; and

revealing the information associated with the object to the at least one second user.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the steps further comprise:

changing the shape of the object after the object has been designated and the selected information has been associated with the object; and

maintaining the designation of the object and the association of information with the object after the object has changed shape.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the steps further comprise at least one of:

disassociating the information from the object; and

de-designating the object.