SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING USER INTERACTION BETWEEN MULTIPLE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20130014033A1
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WOGO LLC
• Original Assignee: WOGO LLC
• Inventors: Mitham, Nicholas John, Warneford, Matthew Peter, Hamick, Timothy John, Thompson, Sean Rodger, Loter, Kelly Wade
• Application Number:
  US13/179,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130014033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

An interaction system for facilitating user interaction between users using different virtual environments may generate a user interaction interface for the first user. The user interaction interface may present status information regarding a second user currently participating in a second virtual environment to the first user, while the first user may be participating in a first environment that is different from the second environment. The user interaction interface may facilitate real time or near real time interaction between the first user and the second user.

Claims

1. A system configured to facilitate user interaction between multiple virtual environments, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising;

a user account module configured to manage user accounts that include account information of users, wherein the account information of the users includes a plurality of account identifiers corresponding to a plurality of virtual environment accounts organized on a per-user basis within the user account module, and wherein the user accounts comprise;

a first user account that corresponds to a first user, the first user account including a first set of virtual environment account identifiers for a plurality of virtual environment accounts in different virtual environments, the first set of virtual environment account identifiers including a first account identifier for a first virtual environment account in a first virtual environment; and

a second user account that corresponds to a second user, the second user account including a second set of virtual environment account identifiers for a plurality of virtual environment accounts in different virtual environments, the second set of virtual environment account identifiers including a second account identifier for a second virtual environment account in a second virtual environment that is different from the first virtual environment; and

an interface module configured to generate, responsive to the first user participating in the first virtual environment through the first virtual environment account, and responsive to the second user participating in the second virtual environment through the second virtual environment account, a first user interaction interface for presentation to the first user, wherein the first user interaction interface is configured to facilitate real time or near real time interaction between the first user and the second user, and wherein the first user interaction interface is further configured to present status information regarding participation of the second user in the second virtual environment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a relationship module configured to establish mutual relationships between users of virtual environments, wherein the relationship module has established a mutual relationship between the first user and the second user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the relationship module is configured such that establishment of mutual relationships between users of virtual environments is further configured based on an analysis of relationships of the first user with other users in the first virtual environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein account information of the first user includes access authorization information of the first virtual environment account, and wherein generation by the interface module is pursuant to authorization through the access authorization information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein status information regarding participation of the second user in the second virtual environment includes an indication whether the second user is currently participating in the second virtual environment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface module is configured such that generation of the first user interaction interface is further responsive to the first user initiating participation in the first virtual environment by authorizing transmission of communications to a virtual environment server and/or a client computing platform external to the system, wherein the communications cause presentation of views from an instance of the first virtual environment to the first user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user interaction interface is configured such that facilitation of real time or near real time interaction includes one or more of instant messaging, chat, text messaging, multi-media messaging, video-over-IP calling, or voice-over-IP calling.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein status information regarding the second user includes an indication whether the second user is currently available for real time or near real time interaction facilitated through the first user interaction interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein account information includes access authorization information, and wherein generation of the first user interaction interface is pursuant to authorization through the access authorization information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first account identifier for the first virtual environment is included in the account information of the first user account.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the launch module is configured to present the first user interaction interface to the first user via a client computing platform external to the system.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a launch module configured to transmit communications to virtual environment servers and/or client computing platforms external to the system, wherein the communications cause:

presentation of the first user interaction interface to the first user; and

presentation of a first user environment interface to the first user, wherein the first user environment interface includes views from an instance of the first virtual environment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the presentation of the first user interaction interface by the launch module is performed using a window separate from the presentation of the first user environment interface, such that the window including the first user interaction interface lacks presentation of native navigation controls for manual navigation of a network.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the presentation of the first user interaction interface is performed in combination with the presentation of the first user environment interface, such that a window including the combination includes presentation of native navigation controls for manual navigation of a network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the window including the combination is configured such that the first user interaction interface has an appearance as a toolbar in the first user environment interface.

16. A method to facilitate user interaction between multiple virtual environments, the method comprising:

managing user accounts that include account information of users, wherein the account information of the users includes a plurality of account identifiers corresponding to a plurality of virtual environment accounts organized on a per-user basis, and wherein the user accounts comprise;

a first user account that corresponds to a first user, the first user account including a first set of virtual environment account identifiers for a plurality of virtual environment accounts in different virtual environments, the first set of virtual environment account identifiers including a first account identifier for a first virtual environment account in a first virtual environment; and

a second user account that corresponds to a second user, the second user account including a second set of virtual environment account identifiers for a plurality of virtual environment accounts in different virtual environments, the second set of virtual environment account identifiers including a second account identifier for a second virtual environment account in a second virtual environment that is different from the first virtual environment;

determining that the first user is participating in the first virtual environment through the first virtual environment account;

determining that the second user is participating in the second virtual environment through the second virtual environment account;

generating status information regarding participation of the second user in the second virtual environment;

generating, responsive to both determinations, a first user interaction interface for presentation to the first user, wherein the first user interaction interface is configured to facilitate real time or near real time interaction between the first user and the second user, and wherein the first user interaction interface is further configured to present the status information; and

transmitting first communications to one or more virtual environment servers and/or client computing platforms, wherein the first communications cause presentation of the first user interaction interface to the first user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting second communications to one or more virtual environment servers and/or client computing platforms, wherein the communications cause presentation of a first user environment interface to the first user, wherein the first user environment interface includes views from an instance of the first virtual environment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the presentation of the first user interaction interface is performed using a window separate from the presentation of the first user environment interface, such that the window including the first user interaction interface lacks presentation of native navigation controls for manual navigation of a network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the presentation of the first user interaction interface is performed in combination with the presentation of the first user virtual environment interface, such that a window including the combination includes presentation of native navigation controls for manual navigation of a network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the window including the combination is configured such that the first user interaction interface has an appearance as a toolbar in the window containing the combination.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

establishing a mutual relationship between the first user and the second user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein establishing a mutual relationship between the first user and the second user is based on an analysis of relationships of the first user with other users in the first virtual environment.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein account information of the first user includes access authorization information of the first virtual environment account, and wherein generating the first user interaction interface is pursuant to authorization through the access authorization information.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the status information includes an indication whether the second user is currently participating in the second virtual environment.