Method for describing objects in a virtual space

• US 6,950,791 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antarti CA Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Antarti CA Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Ashworth, David G., Bray, Tim W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/712,544
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 703/22, 345/420, 345/850, 345/717, 463/32, 700/118
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A method for describing objects in a virtual space. In one embodiment, each object is a URL, which has been assigned to a system of hierarchical categories. The objects have been mapped to a map region, each object having been given a location within the map region. Each category within the map region is defined as a polygon area covering all of the category'"'"'s objects as well as all of the category'"'"'s subcategories. A client computer can request a portion of the map to be visualized. A host computer receives the request and retrieves the appropriate objects and categories from a database. The host computer forms the response to the request using a protocol which describes facts, location, and metadata about the objects and categories. The encoded response is delivered to the client. The client decodes the response and renders the objects and categories for the user. Different types of clients can concurrently request object descriptions from the server.

Claims

1. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing how much graphical material each of the plurality of objects contains.

2. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects, where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a page count of the number of pages contained within each of the plurality of objects.

3. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a out-links count of the number of links pointing away from each of the plurality of objects.

4. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects, where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a in-links count of the number of links pointing to each of the plurality of objects.

5. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects, where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a rating for each of the plurality of objects.

6. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects, where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a logo for a company associated to each of the plurality of objects.

7. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing contact information for a company associated to each of the plurality of objects.

8. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing an Industry SIC code for a company associated to each of the plurality of objects.

9. A method for describing a plurality of objects in a map of a virtual space, the method comprising:

expressing an world position for each of the plurality of objects, where the object position defines the location of the object within the virtual space; and

listing object metadata for each of the plurality of objects, where the object metadata characterizes detail information about each of the plurality of objects;

wherein the step of listing object metadata comprises listing a trading symbol for a company associated to each of the plurality of objects.