System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interaction between a plurality of users in a three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space, comprising:
- a plurality of client processes, wherein each client process is executed on a digital computer distinct from the digital computers executing others of the plurality of client processes;
a central server process, executed by a server computer;
a network coupling the server computer to the digital computers which execute the plurality of client processes, thereby coupling the plurality of client processes with the central server process;
a plurality of user objects, executed as subprocesses of the central server process, wherein each of the plurality of user objects is associated with a user in the plurality of users;
an environment database, accessible by each client process;
means for communicating a position of a particular user in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space from the particular user'"'"'s client process to the other client processes via the central server process, the means for communicating programmed according to a protocol;
means, on a digital computer executing the particular user'"'"'s client process, for receiving positions of the users of the other client processes according to the protocol via the central server process;
and means, on the digital computer executing the particular user'"'"'s client process, for rendering a three-dimensional view from a viewpoint of the location of the particular user, the rendered view including at least one object from the environment database and, when other users are at locations viewable from the rendered viewpoint, including those other viewable users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user'"'"'s avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user'"'"'s avatar.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interaction between a plurality of users in a three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space, comprising:
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a plurality of client processes, wherein each client process is executed on a digital computer distinct from the digital computers executing others of the plurality of client processes;
a central server process, executed by a server computer;
a network coupling the server computer to the digital computers which execute the plurality of client processes, thereby coupling the plurality of client processes with the central server process;
a plurality of user objects, executed as subprocesses of the central server process, wherein each of the plurality of user objects is associated with a user in the plurality of users;
an environment database, accessible by each client process;
means for communicating a position of a particular user in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space from the particular user'"'"'s client process to the other client processes via the central server process, the means for communicating programmed according to a protocol;
means, on a digital computer executing the particular user'"'"'s client process, for receiving positions of the users of the other client processes according to the protocol via the central server process;
and means, on the digital computer executing the particular user'"'"'s client process, for rendering a three-dimensional view from a viewpoint of the location of the particular user, the rendered view including at least one object from the environment database and, when other users are at locations viewable from the rendered viewpoint, including those other viewable users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification