Monitoring Virtual Worlds to Detect Events and Determine Their Type

• US 20100042364A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Megumi, Saito, Mika, Suzuki, Shoko
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/179
• 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 13/60 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 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided for detecting events based upon population density as a function of time and geographic location. Flow of population enables continuous movement to be distinguished from non-continuous movement. Accordingly, various types of events where people are gathering may be determined based upon the population flow and density.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an event in a virtual world comprising:

dividing the world into a plurality of detailed areas;

acquiring population density data and movement information for each of the detailed areas;

calculating a population density index;

based upon the population density index, calculating a change in population density index for each unit of time;

calculating a quantity of entries indexed into one of the detailed areas at a specific time;

setting a threshold value for the population density index;

setting a threshold value for the change in population density index;

setting a threshold value for the quantity of entries index;

detecting an event in at least one of the detailed areas responsive to any one of the calculated indexes exceeding its set threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the size of an event, including defining the center of the event and a neighborhood surrounding the center of the event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising estimating the event type, including classifying the event type based on one of the indexes exceeding the threshold.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising estimating the event type based upon characteristics of the event center and the neighborhood.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising estimating the event type as a localized event based upon the value of the quantity of entries index exceeding the threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising classifying the event as an attracting event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being positive.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising classifying the event as a repelling event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being negative.

8. An article comprising:

a computer-readable carrier including computer program instructions configured to detect an event in a virtual world comprising, the instructions comprising;

instructions to divide the world into a plurality of detailed areas;

instructions to acquire population density data and movement information for each of the detailed areas;

instructions to calculate a population density index, and based upon the population density index, calculating a change in population density for each unit of time;

instructions to calculate a quantity of entries index into one of the detailed areas at a specific time;

instructions to set a threshold value for the population density index;

instructions to set a threshold value for the change in population density index;

instructions to set a threshold value for the quantity of entries index; and

an event detected in at least one of the detailed areas responsive to any one of the calculated indexes exceeding its set threshold value.

9. The article of claim 8, further comprising instructions to determine the size of an event, including defining the center of the event and a neighborhood surrounding the center of the event.

10. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions to estimate the event type, including classifying the event type based on one of the indexes exceeding the threshold.

11. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions to estimate the event type based upon characteristics of the event center and the neighborhood.

12. The article of claim 9, further comprising instructions to estimate the event type as a localized event based upon the value of the quantity of entries index exceeding the threshold.

13. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions to classify the event as an attracting event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being positive.

14. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions to classify the event as a repelling event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being negative.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor in communication with memory;

a storage device in communication with the processor to store population data;

a virtual world divided into a plurality of detailed areas;

a manager in communication with the memory, the manager to acquire population density data and movement information for each of the detailed areas;

the manager to calculate a population density index, and based upon the population density index, to calculate a change in population density index for each unit of time;

the manager to calculate a quantity of entries index into one of the detailed areas at a specific time;

a threshold value for the population density index;

a threshold value for the change in population density index;

a threshold value for the quantity of entries index;

an event detected in at least one of the detailed areas responsive to any one of the calculated indexes in excess of a set threshold value.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising the manager to determine the size of an event, including defining the center of the event and a neighborhood surrounding the center of the event.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an estimated event type, including a classification of the event type based on one of the indexes being in excess of the threshold, based upon characteristics of the event center and the neighborhood, and based upon the value of the quantity of entries index being in excess of the threshold.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising the manager to classify the event as an attracting event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being positive, and to classify the event as a repelling event responsive to the value of the quantity of entries index being negative.