Method and system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user three-dimensional websites for a computer system (3D Net Architecture)

• US 7,107,549 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gamehancement LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: 3DNA Corporation
• Inventors: Deaton, Kenneth, Gedeon, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/145,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763, 715/765, 715/853, 715/854, 715/419, 715/473, 715/757, 715/851, 715/782, 715/836, 715/850, 715/848
• US Class Current: 715/836
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/024 Multi-user, collaborative environment

Abstract

The present invention is a new 3D graphical user interface (3D GUI) technology that seamlessly integrates personal computer (PC) desktop, web portal, and data visualization functions in an intuitive 3D environment. This new paradigm in human computer interfaces provides a seamless and intuitive ability to create a 3D website, “walk” or navigate from one 3D website to another, and allows multiple users to collaborate and interact with each other and the website. The invention dynamically creates a customized 3D environment that allows intuitive access to complicated websites as well as seamless multi-user collaboration and interaction. —In a preferred embodiment of the invention—The 3D GUI installs as the active desktop on a PC, replacing the user'"'"'s “wallpaper” with the 3D GUI. —In another embodiment—The 3D GUI is accessed via a standard web browser window (i.e. using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer). —In either of these embodiments—, The user can simply “walk” from one 3D website to another, see and communicate with other users that are also at that website, access website information and share information with other users currently visiting the website. The invention also provides a method for reducing the file size normally associated with transmitting all the content in a 3D website.

Claims

1. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system including:

a. customizable 3D space containing scenes (rooms, sky, worlds), objects and icons;

b. means to navigate throughout the 3D space to view, manipulate, and click on the scene elements, objects, and/or icons;

c. means for the user to interface with the information, applications, web pages, files or underlying data through the icons in 3D space, wherein the 3D scene is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a seed file issued by a server that parametrically generates the 3D scene on the end user'"'"'s computer;

d. means for transmitting the scenes, navigation, and icons over the Internet.

2. A system for creating and distributing 3D web sites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D scene is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a template 3D scene already resident on the end user'"'"'s computer and the seed file that parametrically generates the remainder of the 3D scene.

3. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D scene is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a template 3D scene already resident on the end user'"'"'s computer and the seed file that generates the icons, objects and other information in the 3D scene.

4. A system for creating and distributing 3D web sites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D scene can be dynamically altered based on certain user-defined criteria.

5. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D scene seamlessly integrates content from the Internet.

6. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, including:

means for multiple users to navigate and interact with the scene and objects at the same time.

7. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication between end users is conducted using mediated peer-to-peer technology and the users need only send their avatars'"'"' basic information to each other once and then need only send seed information.

8. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 7, wherein the seed information is selected from a group of seed information consisting of:

position, movement direction, movement speed, walking, flying, actions and clicking on an icon.

9. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the users can collaborate with each other by viewing the same information at the same time.

10. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the users can collaborate with each other by bringing new files into the 3D space along with their avatars.

11. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the users can collaborate with each other by speaking with each other on-line text chat, instant messaging and/or using voice over IP (VoIP) or other verbal communication technology.

12. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the users can intuitively move from 3D website to 3D website by simply “

walking”

from one room into another.

13. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D website is platform independent and can be used on a PC, game console, set-top box, wireless device, mobile device, or virtual reality device.

14. A system for creating and distributing 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the 3D website is configured to be used for e-commerce, on-line shopping, stock market, financial, real estate, telco, or Internet service provider industries.

15. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system including:

a. customizable 3D space containing scenes (rooms, sky, worlds), objects and icons wherein the 3D space is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a seed file issued by a server that parametrically generates the 3D space on the end user'"'"'s computer;

b. means to navigate throughout the 3D space to view, manipulate, and click on the scene elements, objects, and/or icons;

c. means for the user to interface with the information, applications, web pages, files or underlying data through the icons in 3D space;

d. means for transmitting the scenes, navigation, and icons over the Internet;

e. means for multiple users to navigate and interact with the scene, objects, icons, and each other at the same time.

16. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D scene is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a template 3D scene already resident on the end user'"'"'s computer and a seed file issued by a server that parametrically generates the remainder of the 3D scene.

17. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D scene is automatically created on the end user'"'"'s computer based on a template 3D scene already resident on the end user'"'"'s computer and a seed file issued by a server that generates the icons, objects and other information in the 3D scene.

18. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D scene can be dynamically altered based on certain user-defined criteria such as selecting the desired color scheme or type of architecture desired.

19. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D scene seamlessly integrates content from the Internet.

20. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the communication between end users is conducted using mediated peer-to-peer technology and the users need only send their avatars'"'"' basic information to each other once and then need only send seed information such as position;

movement direction and speed;

movement information such as running, walking or flying; and

actions such as clicking on an icon.

21. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the users can collaborate with each other by viewing the same information at the same time.

22. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the users can collaborate with each other by bringing new files into the 3D space along with their avatars.

23. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

a. the users can collaborate with each other by speaking with each other on-line text chat, instant messaging and/or using voice over IP (VoIP) or other verbal communication technology.

24. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the users can intuitively move from 3D website to 3D website by simply “

walking”

from one room into another.

25. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D website is platform independent and can be used on a PC, game console, set-top box, wireless device, mobile device, or virtual reality device.

26. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D websites for a computer system according to claim 15, wherein:

the 3D website is used for e-commerce, on-line shopping, stock market, financial, real estate, telco, or Internet service provider industries.

27. A system for creating and distributing collaborative multi-user 3D Graphical User Interfaces (3D GUI) for a computer system including:

a. customizable 3D space containing scenes (rooms, sky, worlds), objects and icons;

b. means to navigate throughout the 3D space to view, manipulate, and click on the scene elements, objects, and/or icons;

c. means for the user to interface with the information, applications, web pages, files or underlying data through the icons in 3D space;

d. means for transmitting the scenes, navigation, and icons over the Internet;

e. means for multiple users to navigate and interact with the scene, objects, icons, and each other at the same time in a peer-to-peer manner;

f. means for the 3D GUI and underlying content to be accessed over the Internet.