Modifying environmental chat distance based on avatar population density in an area of a virtual world
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining, at a server system, a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar;
determining, at the server system, a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; and
modifying, at the server system, the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat.
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Abstract
A mechanism for modifying a chat distance associated with an environmental chat based on the avatar population density of an area of a virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. An initial environmental chat distance may be determined based on the avatar population density, i.e., the number of avatars, in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified in response to a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. The environmental chat distance may be modified such that the environmental chat distance is inversely proportional to the detected number of avatars in the virtual universe area associated with the environmental chat.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, at a server system, a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determining, at the server system, a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; and modifying, at the server system, the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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determining, at a server system, a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determining, at the server system, a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat such that the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; modifying, at the server system, the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat; determining, at the server system, whether the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat comprises an environmental chat obstruction; and in response to determining that the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat comprises an environmental chat obstruction, modifying, at the server system, the chat distance associated with the environmental chat based on a location of the environmental chat obstruction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product for implementing an environmental chat in a virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured to, determine a number of avatars in an area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat associated with an avatar; determine a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; and modify the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; a network interface coupled with the processor; and an environmental chat distance unit operable to, determine a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determine a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the numbeer of avatars; and modify the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification