System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space
First Claim
1. A client computer configured to enable a first user controlling a first avatar in a virtual space to perform actions in the virtual space, the virtual space comprising a plurality of avatars of a plurality of other users, each user of the plurality of other users being associated with an avatar representing said each user in the virtual space, the first user being associated with the first avatar, the client computer comprising:
- an input device;
a display;
non-transitory data storage storing;
instructions, anda rooms database defining constraints on movements of the first avatar in the virtual space, the rooms database comprising data defining appearances of a plurality of objects in the virtual space, the plurality of objects comprising a first object;
andat least one processor programmed using the instructions to;
move the first avatar in the virtual world in response to first avatar positioning data,determine one or more avatars of the other users to be displayed on the display, andcause an action to be performed in response to a selection of the first object through the input device, wherein the first object comprises a portion having an appearance conveying a message, and the message refers to the action.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user'"'"'s avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user'"'"'s avatar.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A client computer configured to enable a first user controlling a first avatar in a virtual space to perform actions in the virtual space, the virtual space comprising a plurality of avatars of a plurality of other users, each user of the plurality of other users being associated with an avatar representing said each user in the virtual space, the first user being associated with the first avatar, the client computer comprising:
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an input device; a display; non-transitory data storage storing; instructions, and a rooms database defining constraints on movements of the first avatar in the virtual space, the rooms database comprising data defining appearances of a plurality of objects in the virtual space, the plurality of objects comprising a first object; and at least one processor programmed using the instructions to; move the first avatar in the virtual world in response to first avatar positioning data, determine one or more avatars of the other users to be displayed on the display, and cause an action to be performed in response to a selection of the first object through the input device, wherein the first object comprises a portion having an appearance conveying a message, and the message refers to the action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for a first user at a client computer controlling a first avatar of a virtual space to act in the virtual space, the virtual space comprising a plurality of avatars of a plurality of other users, each user of the plurality of other users being associated with an avatar of the plurality of avatars representing said each user in the virtual space, the first user being associated with the first avatar, the virtual space further comprising the first avatar, the method comprising steps of:
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storing in the client computer a rooms database defining constraints on movements of the first avatar in the virtual space, the rooms database further comprising data defining appearances of a plurality of objects in the virtual space, the plurality of objects comprising a first object; executing instructions on the client computer to move the first avatar in the virtual world in response to first avatar positioning data received through an input device of the client computer; executing instructions on the client computer to determine one or more avatars of the other users to be displayed on a display device of the client computer; executing instructions on the client computer to receive through the input device a selection of the first object; and executing instructions on the client computer causing an action to be performed in response to the selection, wherein the first object comprises a portion having appearance conveying a message, and the message refers to the action. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An article of manufacture comprising a machine readable memory device storing computer code for performing a method for a first user controlling a first avatar of a virtual space to act in the virtual space, the virtual space comprising a plurality of avatars of a plurality of other users, each user of the plurality of other users being associated with an avatar representing said each user in the virtual space, the first user being associated with the first avatar, the method comprising steps of:
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storing at a client device a rooms database comprising data defining constraints on movements of the first avatar in the virtual space, the rooms database further comprising data defining appearances of a plurality of objects in the virtual space, the plurality of objects comprising a first object; moving the first avatar in the virtual world in response to first avatar positioning data received through a human interface device of the client computer; determining at the client device one or more avatars of the other users to be displayed on a display device of the client device; receiving by the client device through the human interface device a selection of the first object; and causing an action to be performed in response to the selection, wherein the first object comprises a portion having an appearance conveying a message, and the message refers to the action.
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Specification