Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment

• US 20080287193A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trion World ABC LLC
• Original Assignee: Trion Worlds, Incorporated (Samarion SE)
• Inventors: Farina, Bryan Joseph, Lee, Robert Ernest, Van Caneghem, Jon Edward, Aldridge, David M., Maltzen, Jason A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.

Claims

1. A method to create events in synthetic environments, the method comprising:

identifying executable code configured to generate a synthetic environment accessible by multiple clients, the executable code including socket code configured to interact with sources of plug data;

selecting plug data from a source of plug data from the sources of plug data; and

establishing a trigger point at which the socket code and the plug data interact to introduce dynamic content to the synthetic environment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating the plug data subsequent to formation of the executable code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the plug data comprises:

selecting a data arrangement configured to provide the plug data to the socket code without modifying the executable code.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein selecting the data arrangement comprises:

selecting a universal data structure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting the universal data structure comprises:

selecting an XML-based data arrangement.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting the universal data structure comprises:

selecting a property class-based data arrangement.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the trigger point comprises:

establishing an amount of time that the dynamic content is accessible by the multiple clients in the synthetic environment.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the trigger point comprises:

establishing a condition that causes the dynamic content to be introduced into the synthetic environment.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein establishing the condition comprises:

establishing a point in time as the condition to introduce the dynamic content into the synthetic environment.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

editing a universal data structure to include the plug data.

11. A method to create events in synthetic environments, the method comprising:

selecting object code to generate a synthetic environment, the object code including socket code to introduce content to the synthetic environment;

instantiating a plug object having a data arrangement in accordance with a universal data structure;

configuring the plug object to include data representing a location at which the content is introduced in the synthetic environment substantially simultaneous to the execution of the object code; and

scheduling a time during which the content is introduced into the synthetic environment.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

instantiating another plug object in accordance with the universal data structure independent of the object code.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein instantiating the plug object comprises:

instantiating a property class object.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein instantiating the plug object comprises:

implementing a data arrangement formatted in accordance with XML.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising invoking an XML editor to modify the data arrangement of the plug object.

16. A computer readable medium to facilitate massively multiplayer online games, the computer readable medium comprising executable instructions to:

identify executable code configured to generate a synthetic environment accessible by multiple clients, the executable code including socket code configured to interact with sources of plug data;

select plug data from a source of plug data from the sources of plug data, the plug data being created subsequent to formation of the executable code; and

establish a trigger point at which the socket code and the plug data interact to introduce dynamic content to the synthetic environment.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising executable instructions to:

select a data arrangement configured to provide the plug data to the socket code without modifying the executable code.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the executable instructions to establish the trigger point comprises executable instructions to:

establish a point in time as the condition to introduce the dynamic content to the synthetic environment.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the executable instructions to establish the trigger point comprises executable instructions to:

establish a level of player activity at or near a trigger point in the synthetic environment as the condition to introduce the dynamic content.