System and Method for Locating Missing Items in a Virtual Universe
First Claim
1. A method of locating missing items in a virtual universe comprising the steps of:
- using a computer hosting a virtual universe used by a plurality of users to assign a unique identifier designating an item as owned by a user;
using a database accessible by said computer to store said unique identifier designating said item as owned by said user;
using said computer to scan the virtual universe for the unique identifier;
using said computer to send output to a user interface to inform the item'"'"'s owner as to the item'"'"'s location in the virtual universe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for tagging Virtual Universe items as owned by a particular user and to use such tags to enable users and/or system administrators to locate lost or stolen items in a Virtual Universe. When items identified are located, the user/owners may be notified of the location or missing items; alternatively, the items may be automatically returned to the user/owners'"'"' inventories. By enabling differentiation between items that may be lost, stolen, or left intentionally in a Virtual Universe, the present invention addresses difficulties that may arise in managing the various items that populate a Virtual Universe, especially as a Virtual Universe expands or as Multiple Virtual Universes expand and partner with additional Virtual Universes.
52 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of locating missing items in a virtual universe comprising the steps of:
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using a computer hosting a virtual universe used by a plurality of users to assign a unique identifier designating an item as owned by a user; using a database accessible by said computer to store said unique identifier designating said item as owned by said user; using said computer to scan the virtual universe for the unique identifier; using said computer to send output to a user interface to inform the item'"'"'s owner as to the item'"'"'s location in the virtual universe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for a virtual universe in which missing items may be located, comprising:
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a computer hosting a virtual universe, said computer being connected to a network to which one or more user terminals for users of the virtual universe are also connected; a database storing data accessible by said computer hosting the virtual universe, said database containing metadata for an item in the virtual universe, said metadata comprising a unique identifier designating said item as owned by a user, and said database being in communication with the computer to exchange information enabling the computer to use the metadata to scan the virtual universe for the unique identifier of the item; a user interface connected to one of said one or more user terminals, said user interface being capable of informing an owner of said item as to the location of said item in response to output received from the computer when the location of the item is determined. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A machine-readable medium containing machine-readable instructions for locating missing items in a virtual universe by:
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instructing a computer hosting a virtual universe to employ a unique identifier readable by said computer to designate an item as property of a user; instructing said computer to interact with a database containing said unique identifier as metadata for said item in the virtual universe; instructing said computer to look up said unique identifier for said item in said database; instructing said computer to determine the location of said item in the virtual universe by scanning the virtual universe for an item having the same unique identifier; and instructing said computer to send output to a user interface to inform the item'"'"'s owner as to the item'"'"'s location when the location of the item is determined. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of operating a virtual universe comprising a plurality of networked data processors, said method comprising providing to a selected client data processor with the capability of
instructing a computer hosting a virtual universe to employ a unique identifier readable by said computer to designate an item as property of a user; -
instructing said computer to interact with a database containing said unique identifier as metadata for said item in the virtual universe; instructing said computer to look up said unique identifier for said item in said database; instructing said computer to determine the location of said item in the virtual universe by scanning the virtual universe for an item having the same unique identifier; and instructing said computer to send output to a user interface to inform the item'"'"'s owner as to the item'"'"'s location when the location of the item is determined.
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19. A method of operating a virtual universe comprising a plurality of networked data processors, said method comprising a step of
configuring at least one data processor of said plurality of said data processors to provide: -
a computer hosting a virtual universe, said computer being connected to a network to which one or more user terminals for users of the virtual universe are also connected; a database storing data accessible by said computer hosting the virtual universe, said database containing metadata for an item in the virtual universe, said metadata comprising a unique identifier designating said item as owned by a user, and said database being in communication with the computer to exchange information enabling the computer to use the metadata to scan the virtual universe for the unique identifier of the item; a user interface connected to one of said one or more user terminals, said user interface being capable of informing an owner of said item as to the location of said item in response to output received from the computer when the location of the item is determined.
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Specification