Networked computer system for communicating and operating in a virtual reality environment

• US 20070288598A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xdyne, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xdyne, Inc.
• Inventors: Siyanko, Alex, Syomik, Anatoly, Edeker, Ada
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions

Abstract

The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. :

A method of registering a host and a host owner within a virtual reality networked computer system, said method comprising the steps of;

establishing a network communication between a host and at least one of a plurality of servers via a network which is connected to the host and the plurality of servers;

issuing a registration request from the host to the plurality of servers wherein a network address of the host is identified in the registration request;

transmitting the registration request to at least one other server via the network wherein the network address of the host is determined from the registration request;

determining a home session server from the plurality of session servers wherein the home session server is determined from the network address of the host and the network address of each of the plurality of session servers wherein the home session server is nearest in location to the host;

transmitting host owner user informational data from the host to the home session server wherein the host owner user information data may optionally comprise a unique user identifier of a registered user wherein the unique user identifier is indicative of a location of a primary host owned by the registered user wherein the host being registered becomes a secondary host owned by the registered user;

assigning unique identifiers to the host and to the host owner user not yet registered with the system wherein the unique identifier identifies the home session server for the host and a numeric code of the host within a home session server local database; and

updating at least one database associated with the home session server with the host informational data wherein the home session server stores the host informational data and the unique host and owner user identifiers within the database.

31. :

The method of claim 30 wherein the plurality of servers have a plurality of higher level name servers, a plurality of lower level name servers and a plurality of session servers wherein one of the plurality of the session servers is located nearest to the host by the registration request.

32. :

A method of locating a user and a host within a virtual reality networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of;

issuing a location request from a first host to a first low level server wherein the first host is connected to the low level server via a network wherein the low level server is representative of a first geographical region;

transmitting the location request from the low level server to at least one upper level server which is representative of a second geographical region wherein the second geographical region is a larger geographical region than the first geographical region wherein the first host is connected to at least one upper level server via the network;

transmitting the location request from at least one upper level server to a plurality of second lower level servers which are connected to a plurality of second hosts wherein each of the plurality of second hosts have a host name until the name of one of the plurality of second hosts corresponds to the location request of the first host;

establishing a network communication between the first host and the one of the plural of second hosts;

determining a location of the users wherein the location of the users is identified in the location request; and

establishing a network communication with the users via the first host and the plurality of second hosts.

33. :

The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of;

activating the network communication in a visit user home mode which locates the first host and the plurality of second hosts in the visit user home mode.

34. :

The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of;

activating the network communication in a follow user mode wherein the location of the user is determined in the follow user mode.

35. :

A method of operating a virtual reality environment in an active mode within a networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of;

establishing a network communication between a client host and server host via a plurality of servers and a network wherein each of the plurality of servers communicates with the client host and the server host;

activating data representative of the virtual reality environment with the server host wherein the data representative of the virtual reality environment has static virtual reality data and dynamic virtual reality data wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script wherein the dynamic virtual reality data represents parameter values of exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the parameter values represent geometric coordinates and describe a state of the exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment;

transmitting the dynamic virtual reality environment data from the server host to the client host via the network;

interacting between the client host and the server host within the virtual reality environment wherein the client host activates and maintains data representative of the virtual reality environment identical to the data representative of the virtual reality environment activated with the server host; and

maintaining the network communication between the client host and the server host wherein the network communication between the client host and the server host is continuous and uninterrupted as the client host obtains the static virtual reality data.

36. :

The method of claim 35, wherein the client host and the server host simultaneously function as both a client host and a server host relative to a plurality of different virtual reality environments.

37. :

The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of;

activating the static virtual reality and the dynamic virtual reality data representing the virtual reality environment in a stealth mode wherein no user interacts with the virtual reality environment via server host local terminal wherein the user may view a plurality of different virtual reality environments activated in the stealth mode via virtual displays located within the current active environment.

38. :

The method of claim 35 wherein the virtual reality environment operated in active mode is a current active environment with server host wherein the user interacts with the current virtual reality environment via the server host local terminal.

39. :

A method of operating a virtual reality environment within a networked computer system in a passive mode, the method comprising the steps of;

establishing a network communication between a first client host and a server host via a plurality of servers and a network which is attached to the first client host, the server host and the plurality of servers wherein the server host stores data representative of the virtual reality environment which has static virtual reality data and dynamic virtual reality data wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script wherein the dynamic virtual reality data represents parameter values of exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the parameter values represent geometric coordinates and describe a state of the exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment;

transmitting a copy of the dynamic virtual reality data from the server host to the first client host via the network communication;

discontinuing the network communication between the first client host and the server host; and

activating the data representative of the virtual reality environment with the first client host wherein the first client host obtains the static virtual reality data corresponding to the dynamic virtual reality data from at least one of the plurality of the data servers.

40. :

The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of;

creating a user group by establishing a network communication between the first client host and the second host wherein the second host obtains the copy of the dynamic virtual reality data wherein the second host obtains the static virtual reality data corresponding to the dynamic virtual reality data from at least one of the plurality of the data servers.

41. :

A method of temporarily relocating a host within a virtual reality networked computer system wherein the host is located at a first location, the method comprising the steps of;

establishing a network communication between the host and a home session server wherein the home session server is assigned to the host wherein the home session server is located at a second location;

calculating a first logical distance between the host and the home session server from the first location of the host and the second location of the home session server;

calculating a second logical distance between the host and one of a plurality of session servers in geographic proximity to the host wherein one of the plurality of session servers is located at a third location wherein the second logical distance is determined from the first location of the host and the third location of one of the plurality of session servers;

redirecting the host to one of the plurality of session servers if the first logical distance between the host and the home session server is greater than the second logical distance of one of the plurality of session servers wherein the network communication is established between the host and one of the plurality of session servers; and

updating the home session server with informational data wherein the informational data identifies the one of the plurality of session servers which is connected to the host via the network communication.

42. :

A method of permanently relocating a host within a virtual reality networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of;

establishing a network communication between a host and a first session server assigned to the host via a network wherein the host communicates with the home session server via the network communication wherein the first session server is a home session server to the host wherein a first logical distance separates the host and the first session server;

moving the host to a second session server wherein the network is expanded to include the second session server wherein a second logical distance separates the second session server and the host wherein the second logical distance is less than the first logical distance; and

updating the first session server with informational data wherein the informational data identifies the second session server and the second logical distance between the host and the second session server wherein the second session server is assigned as the home session server for the host.

43. :

A method of teleporting a plurality of users between a plurality of virtual reality environments wherein each of the users has a host for accessing the plurality of virtual reality environments, the method comprising the steps of;

creating a user group of at least two hosts of the plurality of users wherein the user croup interacts within a first virtual reality environment wherein a first host initiates creation of the user group within the first virtual reality environment wherein a teleporter is activated by one of the hosts from the user group;

establishing a continuous network communication between each of the hosts of the user group wherein the continuous network communication between each of the hosts of the user group is uninterrupted during activation of the teleporter;

identifying a second virtual reality environment wherein the user group is transferred to the second virtual reality environment via the teleporter;

transmitting data representing the second virtual reality environment from a server host to each of the hosts of the user group wherein the second virtual reality environment is activated by the data; and

establishing a network connection between the server host and each of the hosts of the user group within the second virtual reality environment.

44. :

The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of;

causing each of the host user avatars of the user group to access the teleporter via an entry point and a corresponding entry point clone located within the first virtual reality environment; and

establishing the continuous network communication between each of the hosts of the user group wherein each of the host user avatars is located within the teleporter.

45. :

A host computer for accessing a networked virtual reality environment from a server, the host computer comprising;

a data storage device storing first data representing the virtual reality environment and second data representing a program code wherein the program code accesses and displays the virtual reality environment wherein the first data has static virtual reality data and dynamic virtual reality data wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script wherein the dynamic virtual reality data represents parameter values of exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the parameter values represent geometric coordinates and describe a state of the exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the program code has means for storing the first data representing the virtual reality environment wherein the host computer activates the dynamic virtual reality data and obtains a first portion of the static virtual reality data from the server and a second portion of the static virtual reality data from the data storage device of the host computer and means for enabling the host computer to establish network communications with at least one other host computer within the virtual reality environment;

a display device;

a user input device;

a network communication device; and

a processor connected to the data storage device, the display device, the user input device and the network communication device.

46. :

The host computer of claim 45 wherein the dynamic virtual reality data representing the virtual reality environment is modified and stored by the host computer.

47. :

The host computer of claim 46 further comprising;

means for enabling the host computer to establish network communications with a server to receive the static virtual reality data.

48. :

The host computer of claim 45 further comprising;

a session server assigned to the host computer wherein the host communicates with at least one other host via the session server.

49. :

A computer program product on media that is stored on a host computer for accessing a networked virtual reality environment, the computer program product comprising;

computer readable code means for storing data representing the virtual reality environment wherein the data has static virtual reality data and dynamic virtual reality data wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script wherein the dynamic virtual reality data represents parameter values of exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the parameter values represent geometric coordinates and describe a state of the exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment;

computer readable code means for executing a plurality of commands to activate the dynamic virtual reality data wherein the computer readable code means identifies the static virtual reality data necessary to activate the virtual reality environment from the dynamic virtual reality data;

computer readable code means for running the virtual reality environment wherein the computer readable code means obtains the static virtual reality data and activates the virtual reality environment with the static virtual reality data and the dynamic virtual reality data; and

computer readable code means for enabling the host computer to establish a network communication with at least one other host computer for accessing the data representing the virtual reality environment from at least one other host computer.

50. :

The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the data representing the virtual reality environment is stored by the host computer.

51. :

The computer program product of claim 50 further comprising;

readable code means for enabling the host computer to establish network communication with a data server to receive the static virtual reality data.

52. :

The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the host computer establishes network communication with the other hosts via a session server which is assigned to the host computer.

53. :

A data server for facilitating network communication between a plurality of hosts within a virtual reality environment, the data server comprising;

means for storing the static virtual reality data representing the virtual reality environment wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script; and

means for transmitting the static virtual reality data representing the virtual reality environment to a first host computer which receives the virtual reality data to establish a networked communication session with one or more second host computers within the virtual reality environment.

55. :

The data server of claim 53 wherein the host computer receives the static virtual reality data representing the virtual reality environment in a single transmission from the data server.

54. (canceled)

56. :

A session server for facilitating network communication between a plurality of hosts within a virtual reality environment, said session server comprising;

means for transmitting dynamic data representing the virtual reality environment between the plurality of hosts via the session server wherein the session server connects to each of the plurality of hosts; and

means for storing and transmitting informational data to locate each of the plurality of hosts wherein the informational data identifies a network location of each of the plurality of hosts wherein the session server is assigned to each of the plurality of hosts.

57. :

The session server of claim 56 which includes means for transmitting the dynamic data to the plurality of hosts by performing multi-cast messaging between the plurality of hosts wherein each of the plurality of hosts receives the dynamic data from the session server via the multi-cast messaging.

58. :

The session server of claim 56 which includes means for transmitting the dynamic data to the plurality of hosts by performing uni-cast messaging between the session server and the plurality of hosts wherein at least one of the plurality of hosts receives the dynamic data from the session server via the uni-cast messaging.

59. :

The session server of claim 56 further comprising;

means for registering each of the plurality of hosts with the session server wherein the informational data of each of the plurality of hosts is stored by the session server.

60. :

A networked computer system having a plurality of hosts each capable of communicating within a virtual reality environment, the networked computer system comprising;

a server host having means for activating data representing one or more virtual reality environments wherein the static virtual reality data is object information representing virtual reality objects wherein the object information of the static virtual reality data represents any one of a three-dimensional model, a graphic texture, a sound, a program module and a script wherein the dynamic virtual reality data represents parameter values of exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the parameter values represent geometric coordinates and describe a state of the exemplars of the virtual reality objects within the virtual reality environment wherein the dynamic virtual reality data is stored by the server host;

a data server connected to the server host wherein the static virtual reality data is stored by the data server; and

a client host that accesses one or more of the virtual reality environments via the server host wherein the client host has means for receiving the dynamic virtual reality data from the server host via a session server assigned to the client host and means for receiving static data representing the virtual reality environment from the data server.

61. (canceled)