Trigger event based data feed of virtual universe data

• US 9,268,454 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, Kozloski, James R., O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US12/120,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,841 Days
• Field of Search: 715757-758, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

Business owners in a virtual universe may want to create a data source that transmits a data feed when certain parameters are met. Functionality can be implemented within a virtual universe to create a data feed when a trigger event occurs. The data feed may include data about the trigger event itself and/or about an avatar that caused the trigger. Triggered data feeds can be used to derive statistics, monitor use of objects and space and bill for such use, etc. In such cases, the user may be notified, such as via email, of the new data feed, as well as instructions on how to subscribe to it in their RSS reader or other client. Alternatively, users may be given individual feeds wherein additional feeds are distributed as separate categories of the user'"'"'s feed as opposed to creating a separate feed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

responsive to determining that an owner of one or more virtual universe objects has granted permission to use the one or more virtual universe objects as a data source for a data feed;

determining that a trigger event occurs in a virtual universe, wherein the trigger event is associated with the one or more virtual universe objects, wherein the trigger event occurs after at least one condition has been satisfied, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of an avatar coming within a threshold distance of the one or more virtual universe objects, an avatar picking up the one or more virtual universe objects, and an avatar entering a building that is defined as the one or more virtual universe objects; and

responsive to the trigger event occurring in the virtual universe;

capturing data associated with an avatar that causes the trigger event in the virtual universe;

generating an update for the data feed utilizing the captured data associated with the avatar that causes the trigger event in the virtual universe, wherein the trigger event is associated with the data feed;

wherein the one or more virtual universe objects comprise a display of a product in the virtual universe;

wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of detection of an avatar stopping in front of the display, detection of an avatar touching the display, and detection of an avatar picking up the product from the display; and

wherein the at least one condition comprises nested conditions that are dependent on each other, wherein all of the nested conditions are required to be satisfied for the trigger event to occur.

2. A method comprising:

requesting permission from an owner of one or more virtual universe objects to use the one or more virtual universe objects as a data feed source; and

responsive to receiving the permission from the owner of the one or more virtual universe objects to use the one or more virtual universe objects as a data feed source;

associating one or more conditions that involve the one or more virtual universe objects in a virtual universe with an indication of a data feed source, wherein the one or more conditions comprise at least one of an avatar coming within a threshold distance of the one or more virtual universe objects, an avatar picking up the one or more virtual universe objects, and an avatar entering a building that is defined as the one or more virtual universe objects;

collecting data from the data feed source in response to the one or more conditions being satisfied;

updating a data feed to indicate the collected data;

wherein the one or more conditions comprise nested conditions that are dependent on each other, wherein the collecting of the data for the data feed source is in response to all of the nested conditions being satisfied.

3. A computer program product for updating a data feed, the computer program product comprising:

one more computer readable tangible storage devices; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices,

responsive to determining that an owner of one or more virtual universe objects has granted permission to use the one or more virtual universe objects as a data source for the data feed, to;

associate the one or more objects in a virtual universe with a trigger event, wherein the trigger event occurs after at least one condition has been satisfied, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of an avatar coming within a threshold distance of the one or more virtual universe objects, an avatar picking up the one or more virtual universe objects, and an avatar entering a building that is defined as the one or more virtual universe objects;

indicate the trigger event for the data feed;

responsive to the trigger event occurring in the virtual universe;

capture data associated with an avatar in the virtual universe that causes the trigger event;

update the data feed to indicate the captured data;

wherein the at least one condition comprises nested conditions that are dependent on each other, wherein all of the nested conditions are required to be satisfied for the trigger event to occur.

4. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable memories;

one or more computer readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to request permission from an owner of one or more virtual universe objects to use the one or more virtual universe objects as a source for a data feed; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to receipt of the permission from the owner of the one or more virtual universe objects to use the one or more virtual universe objects as the source for the data feed, to;

associate the one or more objects in a virtual universe with a trigger events wherein the trigger event occurs after at least one condition has been satisfied, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of an avatar coming within a threshold distance of the one or more virtual universe objects, an avatar picking up the one or more virtual universe objects, and an avatar entering a building that is defined as the one or more virtual universe objects;

indicate the trigger event for the data feed;

responsive to the trigger event occurring in the virtual universe;

capture data associated with an avatar in the virtual universe that causes the trigger event;

update the data feed to indicate the captured data;

wherein the at least one condition comprises nested conditions that are dependent on each other, wherein all of the nested conditions are required to be satisfied for the trigger event to occur.