Method and apparatus for referencing between three dimensional computer-generated virtual environments
First Claim
1. A method of referencing between three dimensional computer-generated virtual environments, the method comprising the steps of:
- instantiating a first virtual environment client software application on a user'"'"'s machine, the first virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in a first virtual environment;
accessing the first virtual environment using the first virtual environment client software application;
referencing a link to a second virtual environment in the first virtual environment, the link enabling an Avatar associated with the user in the first virtual environment to move from the first virtual environment to the second virtual environment;
upon referencing the link, instantiating a second virtual environment client software application on the user'"'"'s machine, the second virtual environment client software application being a separate process from the first virtual environment client software application and not a separate instance of the first virtual environment client software application, the second virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in the second virtual environment;
wherein the first virtual environment and second virtual environment are unrelated virtual environments accessed using different virtual environment client software applications and implemented as separate and independent virtual environments not forming part of the same virtual world.
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Accused Products
Abstract
References between three dimensional computer-generated virtual environments may be used to enable objects, activities, and Avatars to move between and within multiple virtual environments hosted by multiple different virtual environment servers/server systems. Links may be used to reference particular locations and orientations within target virtual environments. Vistas may also be created to allow a view into a target virtual environment to be presented to a user in a resident virtual environment. Links and vistas may be combined to create portals, whereby a user may be presented with a view of a target virtual environment in the resident virtual environment. The view of the target virtual environment may be caused to change as the user approaches the vista or moves relative to the vista to make it appear like the user is seeing into the target virtual environment. If the user goes through the vista the link may transport the user into the target virtual environment.
15 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of referencing between three dimensional computer-generated virtual environments, the method comprising the steps of:
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instantiating a first virtual environment client software application on a user'"'"'s machine, the first virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in a first virtual environment; accessing the first virtual environment using the first virtual environment client software application; referencing a link to a second virtual environment in the first virtual environment, the link enabling an Avatar associated with the user in the first virtual environment to move from the first virtual environment to the second virtual environment; upon referencing the link, instantiating a second virtual environment client software application on the user'"'"'s machine, the second virtual environment client software application being a separate process from the first virtual environment client software application and not a separate instance of the first virtual environment client software application, the second virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in the second virtual environment; wherein the first virtual environment and second virtual environment are unrelated virtual environments accessed using different virtual environment client software applications and implemented as separate and independent virtual environments not forming part of the same virtual world. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of enabling a partial representation of a target virtual environment to be presented to a user in a resident virtual environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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instantiating a resident virtual environment client software application on a user'"'"'s machine, the resident virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in the resident virtual environment; accessing the resident virtual environment using the resident virtual environment client software application; instantiating a target virtual environment client software application on the user'"'"'s machine, the target virtual environment client software application being a separate process from the resident virtual environment client software application and not a separate instance of the resident virtual environment client software application, the target virtual environment client software application enabling the user machine to participate in the target virtual environment; defining a location and orientation within the target virtual environment, the location and orientation being used by the target virtual environment client software application to create a display of the partial representation of the target virtual environment; and generating the partial representation of the target virtual environment for the user of the resident virtual environment based on a location of the user in the resident virtual environment relative to a vista that is to be used to display the partial representation of the target virtual environment in the resident virtual environment; wherein the target virtual environment and resident virtual environment are unrelated virtual environments implemented as separate and independent virtual environments not forming part of the same virtual world and having different coordinate spaces and access controls, and requiring that different virtual environment client software applications be used to access the respective virtual environments. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An amalgamated virtual environment, comprising:
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a first server comprising; a memory device storing executable instructions; a processor in communication with the memory device, wherein the processor, when executing the executable instructions; implements a first three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment which is distinct from a second three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment implemented by a second server;
the first and second three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environments being implemented as separate and independent virtual environments, not forming part of the same virtual world, and having independent coordinate spaces and access controls, and requiring that different virtual environment client software applications be used to access the respective virtual environments; andthe first three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment comprising one or more links to the second three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment to allow users to move from the first three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment to the second three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment; wherein the different virtual environment client software applications are separate processes and not separate instances of the same virtual environment client software application.
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Specification