Rule-based content filtering in a virtual universe

• US 8,918,728 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, Moskowitz, Paul A., O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US12/492,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A system that enables individuals or companies to allow an avatar'"'"'s transits and communications within a virtual universe. The system enables the selection of regions and/or content. Additionally, companies can use this system to prevent accidental communication of proprietary material. Also provided are a method and a computer readable medium containing a program product including the method to enable individuals or companies to allow an avatar'"'"'s transits and communications within a virtual universe.

Claims

1. A method for filtering content in a virtual universe (VU) by a computer apparatus, comprising:

receiving a request, by said computer apparatus, for content exposure restrictions for an avatar in the VU, the content exposure restrictions being based on employment data associated with the avatar;

generating a set of rules, by said computer apparatus, that reflect the content exposure restrictions;

establishing, by said computer apparatus, a virtual shield around content according to the content exposure restrictions, the virtual shield restricting the avatar from approaching a distance, from the content, beyond a predetermined threshold;

tagging the avatar, by said computer apparatus, with at least one tag;

comparing, by said computer apparatus, an action attempted by the avatar to the set of rules;

determining, by said computer apparatus, whether the action will be allowed based on the set of rules and the at least one tag;

evaluating, by said computer apparatus, whether the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to a distance, from the content, beyond the predetermined threshold; and

preventing, by said computer apparatus, access by the avatar to the content when a result of the evaluation is that the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to the distance beyond the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a rating, by said computer apparatus, for a region of the VU; and

preventing access, by said computer apparatus, to the region by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable region rating established for the avatar.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

setting a rating, by said computer apparatus, for content in the VU; and

preventing access, by said computer apparatus, to the content by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable content rating established for the avatar.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

establishing, by said computer apparatus, a virtual shield around content that the avatar is prevented from accessing.

5. The method of claim 1, the at least one tag being selected from a group consisting of:

an age, a content type, and a maximum allowable rating.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

storing, by said computer apparatus, the set of rules and the at least one tag in a database.

7. A system for filtering content in a virtual universe (VU), comprising:

a processor;

a request processing module for receiving a request for content exposure restrictions for an avatar in the VU, the content exposure restrictions being based on employment data associated with the avatar;

a rules processing module for generating a set of rules that reflect the content exposure restrictions;

a shield processing module for establishing a virtual shield around content according to the content exposure restrictions, the virtual shield restricting the avatar from approaching a distance, from the content, beyond a predetermined threshold;

a tagging processing module for tagging the avatar with at least one tag;

a comparison processing module for comparing an action attempted by the avatar to the set of rules;

a decision processing module for;

determining whether the action will be allowed based on the set of rules and the at least one tag, and evaluating whether the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to a distance, from the content, beyond the predetermined threshold; and

a content access processing module for preventing access by the avatar to the content when a result of the evaluation is that the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to the distance beyond the predetermined threshold,

wherein said modules are components of said system.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a rating processing module for setting a rating for a region of the VU; and

a region access processing module for preventing access to the region by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable region rating established for the avatar.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a content processing module for setting a rating for content in the VU; and

wherein the content access processing module is further configured for preventing access to the content by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable content rating established for the avatar.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the shield processing module is further configured for establishing a virtual shield around content that the avatar is prevented from accessing.

11. The system of claim 7, the at least one tag being selected from a group consisting of:

an age, a content type, and a maximum allowable rating.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a storing processing module for storing the set of rules and the at least one tag in a database.

13. A computer readable storage device containing a program product for filtering content in a virtual universe (VU), the computer readable storage device comprising program code for causing a computer apparatus to perform the steps of:

receive a request for content exposure restrictions for an avatar in the VU, the content exposure restrictions being based on employment data associated with the avatar;

generate a set of rules that reflect the content exposure restrictions;

establish a virtual shield around content according to the content exposure restrictions, the virtual shield restricting the avatar from approaching a distance, from the content, beyond a predetermined threshold;

tag the avatar with at least one tag;

compare an action attempted by the avatar to the set of rules;

determine whether the action will be allowed based on the set of rules and the at least one tag;

evaluate whether the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to a distance, from the content, beyond the predetermined threshold; and

prevent access by the avatar to the content when a result of the evaluation is that the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to the distance beyond the predetermined threshold;

wherein said steps are executed by said computer apparatus.

14. The computer readable storage device containing the program product of claim 13, the computer readable storage device further comprising program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of:

set a rating for a region of the VU; and

prevent access to the region by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable region rating established for the avatar.

15. The computer readable storage device containing the program product of claim 14, the computer readable storage device further comprising program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of:

set a rating for content in the VU; and

prevent access to the content by the avatar if the rating exceeds a maximum allowable content rating established for the avatar.

16. The computer readable storage device containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable storage device further comprising program code for causing the computer apparatus to establish a virtual shield around content that the avatar is prevented for accessing.

17. The computer readable storage device containing the program product of claim 13, the at least one tag being selected from a group consisting of:

an age, a content type, and a maximum allowable rating.

18. The computer readable storage device containing the program product of claim 13, the computer readable storage device further comprising program code for causing the computer apparatus to store the set of rules and the at least one tag in a database.

19. A method for deploying a system for filtering content in a virtual universe (VU), comprising:

providing a computer apparatus infrastructure to;

receive a request for content exposure restrictions for an avatar in the VU, the content exposure restrictions being based on employment data associated with the avatar;

generate a set of rules that reflect the content exposure restrictions;

establish a virtual shield around content according to the content exposure restrictions, the virtual shield restricting the avatar from approaching a distance, from the content, beyond a predetermined threshold;

tag the avatar with at least one tag;

compare an action attempted by the avatar to the set of rules; and

determine whether the action will be allowed based on the set of rules and the at least one tag;

evaluate whether the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to a distance, from the content, beyond the predetermined threshold; and

prevent access by the avatar to the content when a result of the evaluation is that the action, if allowed, would bring the avatar to the distance beyond the predetermined threshold

wherein said steps are executed by said computer apparatus infrastructure.

20. The method of claim 19, the at least one tag being selected from a group consisting of:

an age, a content type, and a maximum allowable rating.