SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT PRESERVATION BASED ON AUTOMATED ITEM REDUCTION

• US 20100146402A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keller, Neal M., Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes detecting one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status. Additionally, the method includes determining a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status. Further, the method includes performing an automated asset reduction of the VU asset based on the determining.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the method comprising:

detecting one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status;

determining a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status; and

performing an automated asset reduction of the VU asset based on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the VU occurrence comprises one of:

a visitation of the VU resident to a region of the VU;

a collaboration between the VU resident and another VU resident;

a use of a previous user context of the VU resident; and

a use of a VU mode of transportation by the VU resident.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the visitation of the VU resident to the region of the VU comprises determining at least one of a frequency and a duration of use of the VU asset by the VU resident while in the region of the VU.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the collaboration between the VU resident and the other VU resident comprises determining at least one of a frequency and a duration of use of the VU asset by the VU resident while at least one of in a proximity of and communicating with the another VU resident.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the use of the previous user context of the VU resident comprises determining at least one of a frequency and a duration of use of the VU asset by the VU resident while within the previous user context.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the use of the VU mode of transportation by the VU resident comprises determining at least one of a frequency and a duration of use of the VU asset by the VU resident while using the VU mode of transportation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the special event comprises:

determining at least one of a primitive object (prim) load limit for a VU land for the special event and an individual avatar prim load limit;

determining an expected prim load for the special event; and

at least one of;

determining a category of assets whose asset reduction maintains an actual prim load beneath the prim load limit; and

determining an individual avatar'"'"'s assets whose asset reduction at least one of maintains the actual prim load beneath the prim load limit and maintains an actual individual prim load beneath the individual avatar prim load limit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the special event further comprises identifying assets of a visiting avatar arriving at the special event whose asset reduction maintains the actual prim load beneath the prim load limit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the VU asset relevant to the special event comprises determining a VU asset at least one of created for the special event, created at the special event, used at the special event, and left at the special event by the VU resident after the VU resident has left the special event.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the automated asset reduction comprises at least one of:

a deletion of the VU asset;

an alteration of a graphical characteristic of the VU asset; and

an archiving of the VU asset in a storage system and a removal of the VU asset from the VU resident'"'"'s inventory or a VU landscape.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the deletion of the VU asset is temporary or reversible for a period of time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the alteration of the graphical characteristic of the VU asset reduces a computational load on the VU and comprises at least one of:

reducing a texture mapping detail of the VU asset;

reducing a color detail of the VU asset;

providing a monochrome representation of the VU asset; and

reducing a number of facets of the VU asset.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the storage system comprises at least one of a VU storage system, a secondary VU archival storage system and a client side archival storage system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is configurable.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a visual indicator of a future asset reduction for the VU asset prior to the performing the automated asset reduction of the VU asset, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one of a blinking, a flashing and a fading of the VU asset.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein an asset reduction method is selectable by at least one of the VU resident, a VU service provider, and an asset reduction service provider.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider at least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports the computer infrastructure that performs the steps of claim 1.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein steps of claim 1 are provided by a service provider on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.

19. A system, comprising:

a virtual universe (VU) monitoring tool configured to;

detect one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status; and

determine a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status; and

at least one of;

an asset deletion tool configured to automatically delete the VU asset upon a detection of the absence of the VU occurrence;

an asset graphical characteristics alteration tool configured to automatically alter a graphical characteristic of the VU asset upon the detection of the absence of the VU occurrence; and

an asset archival storage tool configured to automatically archive the VU asset in a storage system and remove the VU asset from the VU resident'"'"'s inventory or a VU landscape upon the detection of the absence of the VU occurrence.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the VU occurrence comprises one of:

a visitation of a VU resident to a region of a VU;

a collaboration between the VU resident and another VU resident;

a use of a previous user context of the VU resident; and

a use of a VU mode of transportation by the VU resident.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a real world status tool configured for indicating a change of a real world status of the VU resident; and

a special events tool configured for indicating an occurrence of a special event in the VU.

22. The system of claim 21, comprising a computer infrastructure operable to implement the VU monitoring tool, the asset deletion tool, the asset graphical characteristics alteration tool, the asset archival storage tool, the real world status tool and the special events tool.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is operable on software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having readable program code embodied in the storage medium, the computer program product includes at least one component operable to:

detect one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status;

determine a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status; and

perform an automated asset reduction of the VU asset based on a detection of the absence of one of the VU occurrence, the special event and the change of real world status, and a determining the VU asset of the VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status.

25. A method comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

detect one of an absence of a virtual universe (VU) occurrence in a VU within a predetermined time period, a special event in the VU and a change of real world status from a previous real world status;

determine a VU asset of a VU resident relevant to the VU occurrence, the special event or the previous real world status; and

perform an automated asset reduction of the VU asset to maintain a primitive objects (prim) load of the VU beneath a prim load limit of the VU based on a detection of the absence of one of the VU occurrence, the special event and the change of real world status.