Method for Determining Valued Excursion Corridors in Virtual Worlds
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for determining an excursion corridor within a virtual environment, the computer implemented method comprising:
- recording a time-stamped snapshot of a location of at least one avatar within the virtual universe;
responsive to recording a time-stamped snapshot, updating an avatar tracking data structure, wherein the avatar tracking data structure provides a time-based history of avatar locations within the virtual universe;
responsive to updating the avatar tracking data structure, generating a weighted density map;
responsive to generating a weighted density map, correlating the weighted density map with a plurality of virtual object locations, wherein each of the plurality of virtual object locations corresponds to one of a plurality of virtual objects;
responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, identifying at least one excursion corridor, wherein the at least one excursion corridor identifies frequently taken routes between the plurality of virtual object locations; and
responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, identifying at least one waypoint, wherein the waypoint corresponds to one of the plurality of virtual objects, and wherein the waypoint is an endpoint for at least one of the at least one excursion corridor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and a data processing system determine an excursion corridor within a virtual environment. A time-stamped snapshot of a location of at least one avatar within the virtual universe is recorded. An avatar tracking data structure is then updated. The avatar tracking data structure provides a time-based history of avatar locations within the virtual universe. A weighted density map is generated. The weighted density map is then correlated with virtual object locations. Each virtual object location corresponds to a virtual object. Excursion corridors are identified. The excursion corridor identifies frequently taken routes between the virtual object locations. Waypoints are identified. Each waypoint corresponds to a virtual object. Each waypoint is an endpoint for one of the excursion corridors.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for determining an excursion corridor within a virtual environment, the computer implemented method comprising:
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recording a time-stamped snapshot of a location of at least one avatar within the virtual universe; responsive to recording a time-stamped snapshot, updating an avatar tracking data structure, wherein the avatar tracking data structure provides a time-based history of avatar locations within the virtual universe; responsive to updating the avatar tracking data structure, generating a weighted density map; responsive to generating a weighted density map, correlating the weighted density map with a plurality of virtual object locations, wherein each of the plurality of virtual object locations corresponds to one of a plurality of virtual objects; responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, identifying at least one excursion corridor, wherein the at least one excursion corridor identifies frequently taken routes between the plurality of virtual object locations; and responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, identifying at least one waypoint, wherein the waypoint corresponds to one of the plurality of virtual objects, and wherein the waypoint is an endpoint for at least one of the at least one excursion corridor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for determining an excursion corridor within a virtual environment, the computer program product comprising; computer usable program code for recording a time-stamped snapshot of a location of at least one avatar within the virtual universe; computer usable program code, responsive to recording a time-stamped snapshot, for updating an avatar tracking data structure, wherein the avatar tracking data structure provides a time-based history of avatar locations within the virtual universe; computer usable program code, responsive to updating the avatar tracking data structure, for generating a weighted density map; computer usable program code, responsive to generating a weighted density map, for correlating the weighted density map with a plurality of virtual object locations, wherein each of the plurality of virtual object locations corresponds to one of a plurality of virtual objects; computer usable program code, responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, for identifying at least one excursion corridor, wherein the at least one excursion corridor identifies frequently taken routes between the plurality of virtual object locations; and computer usable program code, responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, for identifying at least one waypoint, wherein the waypoint corresponds to one of the plurality of virtual objects, and wherein the waypoint is an endpoint for at least one of the at least one excursion corridor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A data processing system comprising:
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a bus system; a communications system coupled to the bus system; a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code for determining an excursion corridor within a virtual environment; and a processing unit coupled to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to record a time-stamped snapshot of a location of at least one avatar within the virtual universe;
responsive to recording a time-stamped snapshot, to update an avatar tracking data structure, wherein the avatar tracking data structure provides a time-based history of avatar locations within the virtual universe;
responsive to updating the avatar tracking data structure, to generate a weighted density map;
responsive to generating a weighted density map, to correlate the weighted density map with a plurality of virtual object locations, wherein each of the plurality of virtual object locations corresponds to one of a plurality of virtual objects;
responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, to identify at least one excursion corridor, wherein the at least one excursion corridor identifies frequently taken routes between the plurality of virtual object locations;
responsive to correlating the weighted density map with the plurality of virtual object locations, to identify at least one waypoint, wherein the waypoint corresponds to one of the plurality of virtual objects, and wherein the waypoint is an endpoint for at least one of the at least one excursion corridor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification