Cross-Virtual-World Resource Scheduling Framework

• US 20090017916A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Jennifer, Blanchard, John A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations

Abstract

A cross-world framework for providing integrated scheduling and reservation of virtual resources. Users are allowed to access the scheduling application from a website or an in-world interface. According to one embodiment, the framework uses the iCal industry standard calendaring format, and includes user configurable cross-channel notifications.

Claims

1. An automated method comprising:

accessing by a user a scheduling interface for a cross-world virtual world event;

displaying a list of events associated with said user;

creating a cross-world event by said user;

communicating the event to a plurality of virtual world platforms to achieve cross platform scheduling; and

notifying participants other than said user of said event.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scheduling interface comprises an in-world interface.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scheduling interface comprises a user interface external to an virtual world.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said list of events is sorted by events which the user can edit and events which the user may not edit

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-world event comprises one or more user selections and inputs selected from the group of and event start time, an event duration, a list of event participants, and designation of participants'"'"' home virtual worlds.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating a cross-world event further comprises importing a list of contacts as part of profile management.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of importing a list of contacts further comprises importing a buddy list via an application programming interface.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating a cross-world event further comprises specifying one or more virtual world resources for each affected virtual world.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of specifying virtual world resources comprises at least one step selected from the group of browsing a list of available resources, browsing for a specific resource, browsing using keywords, browsing using resource characteristics.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of browsing using resource characteristics comprises browsing by a characteristic selected from the group of environment type, number of seats, number of screens, number of simulations, number objects, number tools, and number of heads up displays.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating a cross-world event further comprises selecting an option by said user to allow event invitees to modify the event using a wiki-style model.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating a cross-world event further comprises selecting an option by said user to designate the event as private, thereby limiting access to the event to only those on the invitee list.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating a cross-world event further comprises selecting an option by said user to designate the event as dynamic, thereby allowing the user to specify initial event resource requirements and enabling automatic resource reconfiguration by each virtual world server to match event requirements as the requirements change.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of communicating the created cross-world event to a plurality of virtual world platforms comprises sending a scheduling request compliant with Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comments number 2445, version 1998.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of notifying participants comprises notifying a user within a virtual world common to said user.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of notifying participants comprises notifying a user within a different virtual world to said user.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of notifying participants comprises notifying a user via an communications means external to a virtual world.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising providing a scheduling hub where users can preview sample rooms, daily schedules, and learn how to use various resources.

18. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said external communications means is selected from the group of an electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, a facsimile transmission, a web page entry, and a voice message.

20. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer-readable medium suitable for encoding of software; and

one or more software programs encoded by said medium and configured to cause a processor to perform the steps of;

(a) providing access by a user a scheduling interface for a cross-world virtual world event;

(b) displaying a list of events associated with said user;

(c) creating a cross-world event by said user;

(d) communicating the event to a plurality of virtual world platforms to achieve cross platform scheduling; and

(e) notifying participants other than said user of said event.

21. A system comprising:

a scheduling interface accessible by a user for creating or managing a cross-world virtual world event;

a displayed list of events associated with said user;

a cross-world event reservationist configured to receive input from said user and to create a cross-world reservation for one or more virtual world resources;

an event communicator configured to communicate the event to a plurality of virtual world platforms to achieve cross platform scheduling; and

one or more event notifications transmitted to participants other than said user of said event.