Aging and elimination of avatars and associated objects from computer simulated displayed virtual universes

• US 8,234,579 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Lydia Mai, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Paterson, Kevin Glynn, Seaman, James Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Rashedul
• Application Number:
  US12/505,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757, 715/751, 715/706, 705/14.12, 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/27.2, 345/473
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score

Abstract

Aging of avatars and objects toward eventual removal or removal from the displayed virtual universe through enabling the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space; and predetermining a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled displayed virtual universe space including avatars and objects respectively owned by a plurality of users having interactive access, a method for the aging of objects and avatars comprising:

enabling the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space;

predetermining a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects; and

modifying the aging of at least one of said avatars and objects responsive to the occurrence of one of said predetermined events;

wherein one of said defined parameters is associated with the frequency of user login into the virtual universe space, and one of said events includes a user login into the virtual universe space, and said modifying the aging of at least one of the said avatars and objects includes decelerating aging of at least one of said avatars and objects owned by a user based upon the frequency of said user login into the virtual universe space.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

enabling a system manager of said virtual universe space to set said parameters for aging; and

enabling a user to determine said set of events modifying said aging for the avatars and objects.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the modifying of said aging decelerates the aging.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the deceleration of said aging comprises reversing said aging.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said eventual removal of said aged avatars and objects puts said avatars and objects into a dormant state renewable by a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an avatar or object in said dormant state is maintained in the virtual universe space as a low resolution version of the original avatar or object.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein:

a user owns virtual land in said virtual universe space; and

said aging of said avatars and objects of said user in said owned land is decelerated by activity within said owned land.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said aging of avatars and objects owned by a user are decelerated based upon the frequency of said user visitation to the virtual universe space.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said aging of avatars and objects is decelerated by advertiser related activity in the area where said avatars and objects are located.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the modifying of said aging accelerates the aging.

11. A computer usable storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable program for the aging of objects and avatars in a computer controlled displayed virtual universe space including avatars and objects respectively owned by a plurality of users having interactive access, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

enable the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space;

predetermine a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects; and

modify the aging of at least one of said avatars and objects responsive to the occurrence of one of said predetermined events;

wherein one of said defined parameters is associated with the frequency of user login into the virtual universe space, and one of said events includes a user login into the virtual universe space, and said modifying the aging of at least one of the said avatars and objects includes decelerating aging of at least one of said avatars and objects owned by a user based upon the frequency of said user login into the virtual universe space.

12. The computer usable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program when executed further:

enables a system manager of said virtual universe space to set said parameters for aging; and

enables a user to determine said set of events modifying said aging for the avatars and objects.

13. The computer usable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the modifying of said aging either decelerates or accelerates the aging.

14. The computer usable storage medium of claim 13, wherein

a user owns virtual land in said virtual universe space;

and

said aging of said avatars and objects of said user in said owned land is decelerated by activity within said owned land.

15. The computer usable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said aging of avatars and objects is decelerated by advertiser related activity in the area where said avatars and objects are located.

16. In a computer controlled displayed virtual universe space including avatars and objects respectively owned by a plurality of users having interactive access, a system for the aging of objects and avatars comprising:

a processor;

a computer memory holding computer program instructions which when executed by the processor perform a method for the aging of objects and avatars comprising;

enabling the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space;

predetermining a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects; and

modifying the aging of at least one of said avatars and objects responsive to the occurrence of one of said predetermined events;

wherein one of said defined parameters is associated with the frequency of user login into the virtual universe space, and one of said events includes a user login into the virtual universe space, and said modifying the aging of at least one of the said avatars and objects includes decelerating aging of at least one of said avatars and objects owned by a user based upon the frequency of said user login into the virtual universe space.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said performed method further includes:

enabling a system manager of said virtual universe space to set said parameters for aging; and

enabling a user to determine said set of events modifying said aging for the avatars and objects.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the modifying of said aging decelerates the aging.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the modifying of said aging accelerates the aging.

20. The system of claim 16, further including means for putting said eventually removed objects into a dormant state renewable by a user.