Networked computer system for communicating and operating in a virtual reality environment
First Claim
1. A method of shifting users between a plurality of different virtual reality environments, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining that a user group containing a plurality of users has been created, said user group associated with a departure virtual reality environment, wherein each of the plurality of users is associated with a host;
facilitating establishment of network communication between the hosts associated with each of the plurality of users of the user group;
determining a destination virtual reality environment for the user group;
determining a destination server host associated with the destination virtual reality environment;
causing a display of a teleporter within the departure virtual reality environment to each user of the user group;
after each user has provided an indication of an association with the teleporter;
(a) transmitting data representing the destination virtual reality environment to each host associated with each user of the user group; and
(b) facilitating establishment of network communication between the destination server host and the host associated with each user of the user group, thus enabling each user of the user group to interact with the destination virtual reality environment.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server.
89 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of shifting users between a plurality of different virtual reality environments, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining that a user group containing a plurality of users has been created, said user group associated with a departure virtual reality environment, wherein each of the plurality of users is associated with a host; facilitating establishment of network communication between the hosts associated with each of the plurality of users of the user group; determining a destination virtual reality environment for the user group; determining a destination server host associated with the destination virtual reality environment; causing a display of a teleporter within the departure virtual reality environment to each user of the user group; after each user has provided an indication of an association with the teleporter; (a) transmitting data representing the destination virtual reality environment to each host associated with each user of the user group; and (b) facilitating establishment of network communication between the destination server host and the host associated with each user of the user group, thus enabling each user of the user group to interact with the destination virtual reality environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A virtual reality environment shifting system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one network interface device; and at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one network interface device to; (a) determine that a user group containing a plurality of users has been created, said user group associated with a departure virtual reality environment, wherein each of the plurality of users is associated with a host; (b) facilitate establishment of network communication between the hosts associated with each of the plurality of users of the user group; (c) determine a destination virtual reality environment for the user group; (d) determine a destination server host associated with the destination virtual reality environment; (e) cause a display of a teleporter within the departure virtual reality environment to each user of the user group; (f) after each user has provided an indication of an association with the teleporter; (1) transmit data representing the destination virtual reality environment to each host associated with each user of the user group; and (2) facilitate establishment of network communication between the destination server host and the host associated with each user of the user group, thus enabling each user of the user group to interact with the destination virtual reality environment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification