Indicating physical site energy usage through a virtual environment
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- determining comprehensive energy usage at a physical site where a client accessing a virtual universe is located;
determining that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds an energy usage threshold;
notifying a virtual universe user account associated with the client that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds the energy usage threshold; and
awarding the virtual universe user account for conserving comprehensive energy usage at the physical site.
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Abstract
Real world energy usage can be reduced using a virtual environment. A virtual universe energy conservation system (“system”) can determine comprehensive energy usage at a physical site where a client accessing a virtual universe is located. The system can determine that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds an energy usage threshold. The system can also notify a virtual universe user account associated with the client that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds the energy usage threshold.
170 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining comprehensive energy usage at a physical site where a client accessing a virtual universe is located; determining that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds an energy usage threshold; notifying a virtual universe user account associated with the client that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds the energy usage threshold; and awarding the virtual universe user account for conserving comprehensive energy usage at the physical site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product for monitoring comprehensive energy usage associated with a virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:
- a machine readable tangible device;
first program instructions to determine that the comprehensive energy usage at a physical site where a client accessing the virtual universe is located;
second program instructions to determine that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds an energy usage threshold; and
third program instructions to provide a notification to a virtual universe user account associated with the client that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds the energy usage threshold, said notification comprising one or more of a message sent through a virtual universe interface, a message sent to a client device at the physical site using contact information stored in the virtual universe user account, an indicator presented within a region of the virtual universe, and a communication sent to an avatar associated with the virtual universe user account, and wherein the first, second and third program instructions are stored on the machine readable storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a machine readable tangible device;
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15. A system, comprising:
a client configured to access a virtual universe at a physical site, wherein the client comprises an energy conservation module configured to determine comprehensive energy usage at the physical site where the client is accessing the virtual universe, and determine that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds an energy usage threshold; and a server configured to support the virtual universe, wherein the server comprises an energy usage module configured to notify a virtual universe user account associated with the client that the comprehensive energy usage at the physical site exceeds the energy usage threshold, wherein an energy producing device at the physical site is configured to provide energy from a renewable energy source, and an incentives module configured to award the virtual universe user account for using the energy producing device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification