PRE-FETCHING ITEMS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE BASED ON AVATAR COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20100306652A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Snitzer, Brian J., Hamilton, Rick A., Corrao, Ann, Bolger, Rosa M., O'Connell, Brian M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/706
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics

Abstract

The present invention pre-fetches objects, textures and scripts (collectively referred to herein as items) through analysis of the communications of an avatar. Furthermore, if an object, texture or script is not pre-fetched upon arrival to a region the virtual universe'"'"'s object, texture and script download system is augmented to prioritize objects the user may be interested in based on the avatar'"'"'s communications and previously stated priorities. The present invention may improve user experience of virtual world by prioritizing the download and caching of objects, textures, and scripts that are likely to interest the user. Such a prioritization enhances the user experience by reducing wait times for the rendering of objects of interest.

Claims

1. A method for pre-fetching items in a virtual universe (VU) based on avatar communications, comprising:

analyzing communications between a set of avatars in the VU;

extracting a set of terms from the communications based on the analysis;

ranking the set of terms based on at least one of a frequency, a recency, and a relevance of the set of terms as used in the communications; and

calculating a relative priority of each of the set of terms based on the ranking.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-fetching at least one item based on the relative priority.

3. The method of claim 2, the pre-fetching comprising pre-fetching at least one item having a higher relative priority than other items.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising caching the at least one item.

5. The method of claim 1, the ranking being further based on a trust of source of the communications.

6. The method of claim 5, the trust of source being based on a relationship between the communications and the set of avatars.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

comparing the set of terms to a database of terms; and

filtering the set of terms based on the comparing.

8. The method of claim 7, the database of terms comprising terms associated with spam.

9. A system for pre-fetching items in a virtual universe (VU) based on avatar communications, comprising:

a module for analyzing communications between a set of avatars in the VU;

a module for extracting a set of terms from the communications based on the analysis;

a module for ranking the set of terms based on at least one of a frequency, a recency, and a relevance of the set of terms as used in the communications; and

a module for calculating a relative priority of each of the set of terms based on the ranking.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a module for pre-fetching at least one item based on the relative priority.

11. The system of claim 10, the module for pre-fetching pre-fetching at least one item having a higher relative priority than other items.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a module for caching the at least one item.

13. The system of claim 9, the module for ranking being configured to further rank the set of terms based on a trust of source of the communications.

14. The system of claim 13, the trust of source being based on a relationship between the communications and the set of avatars.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising;

a module for comparing the set of terms to a database of terms; and

a module for filtering the set of terms based on the comparing.

16. The system of claim 15, the database of terms comprising terms associated with spam.

17. A computer readable medium containing a program product for pre-fetching items in a virtual universe (VU) based on avatar communications, the computer readable medium comprising program code for causing a computer to:

analyze communications between a set of avatars in the VU;

extract a set of terms from the communications based on the analysis;

rank the set of terms based on at least one of a frequency, a recency, and a relevance of the set of terms as used in the communications; and

calculate a relative priority of each of the set of terms based on the ranking.

18. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 17, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to:

pre-fetch at least one item based on the relative priority.

19. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 18, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to pre-fetch at least one item having a higher relative priority than other items.

20. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 17, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to:

cache the at least one item.

21. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 17, the ranking being further based on a trust of source of the communications.

22. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 21, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to:

the trust of source being based on a relationship between the communications and the set of avatars.

23. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 17, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to:

compare the set of terms to a database of terms; and

filter the set of terms based on the comparing.

24. The computer readable medium containing a program product of claim 23, the database of terms comprising terms associated with spam.

25. A method for deploying a system for pre-fetching items in a virtual universe (VU) based on avatar communications, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

analyze communications between a set of avatars in the VU;

extract a set of terms from the communications based on the analysis;

rank the set of terms based on at least one of a frequency, a recency, and a relevance of the set of terms as used in the communications; and

calculate a relative priority of each of the set of terms based on the ranking.