Method and apparatus for collaboration among individuals

• US 20070260687A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sankaranarayan, Ramakrishnan R., Rao, Alok S. Raghunath, Ramakrishnan, Raju T., Meena, Ashok K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,088,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• 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 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Method and systems for establishing a collaboration among individuals and an imaginary character in a virtual world are disclosed. An exemplary method may include establishing an internet protocol channel between a first individual and a program represented by the imaginary character. The exemplary method may also include establishing a non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a collaboration comprising:

establishing a first internet protocol channel between a first individual and a program represented by an imaginary character in a virtual world; and

establishing a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a request, from the second individual, to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual; and

establishing the third channel between the second individual and the first individual.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the third channel between the second individual and the first individual includes:

forwarding the request to establish the third channel to a user terminal interfacing with the first individual;

detecting, at the user terminal, that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world; and

routing, at the user terminal, the request to establish the third channel to an output device used by the first individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the virtual world to the second individual.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a user terminal interfacing with the second individual is at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is controlled by the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character autonomously establishes at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

13. A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor, the instructions configured to cause the processor to carry out the method of claim 1.

14. A system for establishing a collaboration comprising:

a collaboration management server adapted to establish a first internet protocol channel between a first individual and a program represented by an imaginary character in a virtual world;

a gateway operably connected to the collaboration management server and adapted to establish a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the collaboration management server is further adapted to:

receive a request, from the second individual, to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual; and

establish the third channel between the second individual and the first individual.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the collaboration management server is further adapted to forward the request to establish the third channel to a user terminal adapted to interface with the first individual, and

the user terminal adapted to interface with the first individual is adapted to;

detect that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world; and

route the request to establish the third channel to an output device used by the first individual.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the collaboration to the second individual.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein a user terminal adapted to interface with the second individual is at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to receive instructions from the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to autonomously establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.