System, Method, and Computer Readable Media for Identifying and Rating Virtual Universe Objects

• US 20100017428A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Kozloski, James R., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/94 based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement

Abstract

A system, a method, and a computer readable media for identifying and rating a VU object in a virtual universe are provided. The method includes displaying first and second VU objects in a region of the virtual universe on a display device at a first time for a first user. The method further includes identifying the second VU object which modifies a view of the first VU object. The method further includes inputting first rating information associated with the second VU object that identifies a user perception of the second VU object. The method further includes inputting user view preference information indicating rating information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user. The method further includes displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on the display device for the first user at a second time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object, and the rating information of the user view preference information.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and rating a VU object in a virtual universe, comprising:

displaying first and second VU objects in a region of the virtual universe on a display device at a first time for a first user;

identifying the second VU object which modifies a view of the first VU object;

inputting first rating information associated with the second VU object that identifies a user perception of the second VU object;

inputting user view preference information indicating rating information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user;

storing the user view preference information in a first storage location, the user view preference information being associated with the region of the virtual universe and the first user; and

displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on the display device for the first user at a second time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object, and the rating information of the user view preference information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rating information indicates a degree of user offensiveness to the second VU object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating information in the user view preference information comprises at least one of a rating number and a rating word indicating a degree of user offensiveness that is acceptable to the first user for displaying VU objects.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the user view preference information associated with the region of the virtual universe by a second user; and

displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on another display device for the second user at a third time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object and the user view preference information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting first category information associated with the second VU object that identifies the user perception of the second VU object;

inputting user view preference information indicating category information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user; and

displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on the display device at a third time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on the first category information associated with the second VU object, and the category information of the user view preference information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first category information indicates a category name describing VU objects.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the category information in the user view preference information comprises a category name associated with VU objects which is acceptable to the first user for displaying the VU objects.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selecting user view preference information associated with the region of the virtual universe by a second user; and

displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on a second display device for the second user at a fourth time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first category information associated with the second VU object, and the category information of the user view preference information.

9. A system for identifying and rating a VU object in a virtual universe, comprising:

a first display device; and

a first computer operably communicating with the first display device, the first computer configured to induce the first display device to display first and second VU objects in a region of the virtual universe at a first time for a first user;

the first computer further configured to allow the first user to identify the second VU object which modifies a view of the first VU object;

the first computer further configured to allow the first user to input first rating information associated with the second VU object that identifies a user perception of the second VU object;

the first computer further configured to allow the first user to input user view preference information indicating rating information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user;

the first computer further configured to store the user view preference information in a first storage location, the user view preference information being associated with the region of the virtual universe and the first user; and

the first computer further configured to induce the first display device to display the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe for the first user at a second time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object, and the rating information of the user view preference information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first rating information indicates a degree of user offensiveness to the second VU object.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the rating information in the user view preference information comprises at least one of a rating number and a rating word indicating a degree of user offensiveness that is acceptable to the first user for displaying VU objects.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a second computer configured to access the first storage location to allow a second user to select the user view preference information associated with the region of the virtual universe; and

the second computer further configured to induce a second display device to display the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe for the second user at a third time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object and the user view preference information.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first computer further configured to allow the first user to input first category information associated with the second VU object that identifies the user perception of the second VU object;

the first computer further configured to allow the first user to input user view preference information indicating category information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user; and

the first computer further configured to induce the first display device to display the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe at a third time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on the first category information associated with the second VU object, and the category information of the user view preference information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first category information indicates a category name describing VU objects.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the category information in the user view preference information comprises a category name associated with VU objects which is acceptable to the first user for displaying the VU objects.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a second computer configured to access the first storage location to allow a second user to select the user view preference information associated with the region of the virtual universe; and

the second computer further configured to induce a second display device to display the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe for the second user at a fourth time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first category information associated with the second VU object, and the category information of the user view preference information.

17. A computer readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for identifying and rating a VU object in a virtual universe, the method comprising:

displaying first and second VU objects in a region of the virtual universe on a display device at a first time for a first user;

identifying the second VU object which modifies a view of the first VU object;

inputting first rating information associated with the second VU object that identifies a user perception of the second VU object;

inputting user view preference information indicating rating information for selecting VU objects to be displayed in the region of the virtual universe to the first user;

storing the user view preference information in a first storage location, the user view preference information being associated with the region of the virtual universe and the first user; and

displaying the first VU object in the region of the virtual universe on the display device for the first user at a second time after the first time, while not displaying the second VU object based on both the first rating information associated with the second VU object, and the rating information of the user view preference information.