VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM USING GROUPS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, input from multiple clients to model a virtual reality classroom in which input from at least one designated instructor client and input from designated student ones of the multiple clients are processed to control animated video and audio output of a multi-user modeled three-dimensional virtual reality classroom;
modeling, at the server, a common environment portion of the virtual reality classroom responsive to input from the instructor client;
modeling, at the server, at least two separate and distinct student group portions of the virtual reality classroom each responsive to input from different subsets of the student ones of the multiple clients;
transmitting a first data stream from the server to a first one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a first one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom;
whilesubstantially simultaneously transmitting a second data stream from the server to a second one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a second one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An online environment server hosts an event, such as a class period or interactive entertainment event, in a virtual reality process. Clients are divided into groups as they join the process according to defined group and user profiles and current group capacities. A human host, such as a teaching assistant, may also join each group as a moderator or administrator. Each group member interacts in real time with other group members via electronic chat. Recordings of group sessions may be accessed later by non-group members. The group server is configured such that the group moderator or administrator may control classroom data flow for her assigned group, such as pausing an animated stream of instructor or event input into the virtual classroom to allow classroom questions or discussion, causing the stream to be cached at the system level. Then, the moderator may resume play of the instructional sequence. When resuming play after a pause, the system server may automatically speed up play of the animated input stream from a cache while continuing to cache as necessary, until parity is reached with the current input stream for all groups.
78 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving, at a server, input from multiple clients to model a virtual reality classroom in which input from at least one designated instructor client and input from designated student ones of the multiple clients are processed to control animated video and audio output of a multi-user modeled three-dimensional virtual reality classroom; modeling, at the server, a common environment portion of the virtual reality classroom responsive to input from the instructor client; modeling, at the server, at least two separate and distinct student group portions of the virtual reality classroom each responsive to input from different subsets of the student ones of the multiple clients; transmitting a first data stream from the server to a first one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a first one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom;
whilesubstantially simultaneously transmitting a second data stream from the server to a second one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a second one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for causing a computer processor to:
-
model a virtual reality classroom in response to input from at least one designated instructor client and input from designated student clients to provide animated video and audio output for a multi-user modeled three-dimensional virtual reality classroom, wherein the virtual reality classroom comprises a common environment portion responsive to input from the instructor client and at least two separate and distinct student group portions responsive to input from different subsets of the student clients; transmit a first data stream from the server to a first one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a first one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom;
whilesubstantially simultaneously transmitting a second data stream from the server to a second one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a second one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. A virtual reality classroom system, comprising:
-
means for modelling a virtual reality classroom in response to input from at least one designated instructor client and input from designated student clients to provide animated video and audio output for a multi-user modeled three-dimensional virtual reality classroom, wherein modeling provides the virtual reality classroom comprising a common environment portion responsive to input from the instructor client and at least two separate and distinct student group portions responsive to input from different subsets of the student clients; and means for providing a first data stream from the server to a first one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a first one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom while substantially simultaneously transmitting a second data stream from the server to a second one of the different subsets, configured for modeling the common environment portion and a second one of the at least two separate student group portions of the virtual reality classroom.
-
Specification