Method and apparatus for collaboration among individuals

• US 9,088,425 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Alok S. Raghunath, Meena, Ashok K., Ramakrishnan, Raju T., Sankaranarayan, Ramakrishnan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/505,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,260 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 35, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/34 using peer-to-peer connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/847 Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Method and systems for establishing a collaboration among individuals and an imaginary character in a virtual world are disclosed. An exemplary method may include establishing an internet protocol channel between a first individual and a program represented by the imaginary character. The exemplary method may also include establishing a non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character.

Claims

1. A method for collaborating in a virtual world, comprising:

establishing a first internet protocol channel between a first individual at a first terminal and a program, the program represented by an imaginary character in the virtual world, wherein the first terminal includes a gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world;

establishing a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world;

receiving a request from the second individual to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual;

determining, responsive to the request to establish the third channel, whether the first individual is participating in a collaboration with the imaginary character in the virtual world in which the imaginary character provides information to the first individual;

responsive to determining that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, routing the request to establish the third channel to a first communication device connected to the gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world; and

responsive to determining that the first individual is not participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, alerting, at the first terminal, the first individual of the request to establish the third channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the virtual world to the second individual.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second terminal includes at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is controlled by the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character autonomously establishes at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

11. A system for collaborating in a virtual world, comprising:

a collaboration management server adapted to establish a first internet protocol channel between a first individual at a first terminal and a program, the program represented by an imaginary character in the virtual world, wherein the first terminal includes a gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world;

a gateway operably connected to the collaboration management server and adapted to;

establish a second non-internet protocol channel between a second individual and the program represented by the imaginary character in the virtual world;

receive a request from the second individual to establish a third channel between the second individual and the first individual;

determine, responsive to the request to establish the third channel, whether the first individual is participating in a collaboration with the imaginary character in the virtual world in which the imaginary character provides information to the first individual;

responsive to a determination that the first individual is participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, route the request to establish the third channel to a first communication device connected to the gaming terminal used by the first individual to participate in the virtual world; and

responsive to a determination that the first individual is not participating in the collaboration in the virtual world, alert, at the first terminal, the first individual of the request to establish the third channel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is interactive.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to promote participation in the collaboration to the second individual.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second non-internet protocol channel is at least one of a PSTN voice channel, a CDMA voice channel, and a GSM voice channel.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second terminal includes at least one of a mobile telephone and a stationary telephone.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the third channel is a non-internet protocol voice channel.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the collaboration in the virtual world enhances participation in a game.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the collaboration among the individuals and the imaginary character is initiated by the program represented by the imaginary character.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to receive instructions from the first individual to establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the program represented by the imaginary character is adapted to autonomously establish at least one of the first internet protocol channel and the second non-internet protocol channel.