Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for rule-based procedural generation of terrain in real time for a virtual world. Using the terrain editor tool, the terrain system allows defining and modifying the terrain height, color, shaders, textures, flora, and environment, for example. Additionally, generating the terrain procedurally allows for detail by changing the parameters used to create the terrain geometry. These rules can also be added and removed dynamically, leading to terrain modification in real time. In addition, resources are managed for the terrain generation system, such as memory allocation and deallocation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transferring privileges in a computer system. In one implementation, a system for transferring online privileges includes: a game server having a network connection and storing data providing an online game and game environment; a game database connected to said game server, said game database storing data representing one or more game items, data representing a first user game account, and data representing a second user game account, said game item associated with said first user game account; an auction server having a network connection and connected to said game server though said network connections, and storing data providing an online auction for game items; and an auction database connected to said auction server, said auction database storing data representing one or more game items received from said game server, data representing a first user auction account, and data representing a second user auction account.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for at least partially automating generation of video clips chronicling a character's interaction with a video game. The same may combine automatic video clip generation with automatic or user-generated and/or user-edited or created narrative. Multiple video clips may be combined into a video reel prior to or subsequent to uploading the same to a file-sharing site. The video game may be a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for rule-based procedural generation of terrain in real time for a virtual world. Using the terrain editor tool, the terrain system allows defining and modifying the terrain height, color, shaders, textures, flora, and environment, for example. Additionally, generating the terrain procedurally allows for detail by changing the parameters used to create the terrain geometry. These rules can also be added and removed dynamically, leading to terrain modification in real time. In addition, resources are managed for the terrain generation system, such as memory allocation and deallocation.

Abstract: Transitioning between a plurality of display applications, including: retrieving a device identifier when a first device is selected using a first display application running on a second device; enabling the first display application to launch a second display application using the device identifier of the first device, launching the second display application customized to automatically select the first device, wherein the automatic selection of the first device using the device identifier allows to bypass a device selection process.

Abstract: A software error subsystem is provided that can log, report, and may optionally correct defective interactive objects in a virtual game environment. The subsystem may form part of a larger and more general logging and error catching system. By automatically correcting certain defects, recourse to redevelopment efforts can be postponed or eliminated. Even if error correction is not automatically performed, a more specific and helpful error message may be generated and displayed to the player, increasing player satisfaction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing the generation of names. In one implementation, a system for generating a name includes: a user interface that receives user input including values for corresponding characteristics and name lengths; a rule dictionary that indicates one or more rules, each rule indicating a relationship between a phoneme and a characteristic; a phoneme selector that selects a phoneme using a value for a characteristic received through said user interface and a rule corresponding to that characteristic; a phoneme compiler that combines selected phonemes to form a name, wherein said name includes a number of letters based on said name length; storage storing data, including data representing said user input and said rule dictionary; and a processor for executing instructions providing said user interface, said first phoneme selector, said second phoneme selector, and said phoneme compiler.

Abstract: A system and method for generating grammatically correct text in a target language based on one or more text templates and corresponding context in a source language comprises a software module configured to select one or more source language text templates and corresponding context in the source language. The system also includes a localization engine configured to obtain the selected one or more source language text templates and corresponding context in the target language from memory, apply the target language context to the one or more target language text templates, and apply one or more grammatical rules for the target language, thereby generating a grammatically correct text string in the target language. The system further includes a display configured to display the grammatically correct text string in the target language.

Abstract: A system and methods for distributing a new file from a server connected through a network to a client. Rather than downloading an entirely new file from the server, the system makes use of reference files already resident on the client. A new delta file corresponding to a reference file is sent to the client. The client generates the new file by modifying the corresponding reference file according to the change instructions in the new delta file.

Abstract: Generating words and/or names, comprising: receiving at least one corpus based on a given language; generating a plurality of N-grams of phonemes and a plurality of frequencies of occurrence using the corpus, such that each frequency of occurrence corresponds to a respective pair of phonemes and indicates the frequency of the second phoneme in the pair following the first phoneme in the pair; generating a phoneme tree using the plurality of N-grams of phonemes and the plurality of frequencies of occurrence; performing a random walk on the phoneme tree using the frequencies of occurrence to generate a sequence of phonemes; and mapping the sequence of phonemes into a sequence of graphemes.

Abstract: Determining influential and/or popular participants in a network using messages exchanged among a group of participants. One method includes: representing the group of participants and the messages exchanged among the group of participants as nodes and links, respectively; analyzing the messages to produce message relevant data for each node; and propagating the message relevant data of the each node out to other nodes in the network to produce a corresponding influence value for each node, wherein the corresponding influence value indicates relative size and strength of social activity or connections of a participant corresponding to each node.

Abstract: Determining the extent of a personal network and/or social activity of a participant in a communication network. On method includes: representing contacts between the participant and communication partners of the participant as a time sequence order; determining an instant strength value over time using the representation of contacts as a time sequence order; and charting a direction of the extent of the personal network and/or social activity of the participant by monitoring a change in the instant strength value over time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of reverse engineering items in a computer game, including: selecting a first loot item; selecting a reverse engineering tool; placing the first loot item in the reverse engineering tool; and implementing a reverse engineering function on the reverse engineering tool. Keywords include MMO, crafting, reverse engineer, and custom modifier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating enhancements in a computer game for a recipient experiencing a performance, the method including: selecting an enhancement to apply to a recipient; modifying the enhancement; and applying the modified enhancement to the recipient, wherein the modified enhancement is effective for a fixed duration of time proportional to the time spent by the recipient experiencing the performance. Keywords include MMO, buffs, packages and performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that involve a player to a significant degree with an advertisement and its accompanying product or service. One setting of the system and method may be a network application that is adjunct to an online simulation such as an MMO game. The system and method may be implemented in either or both, or in video games that are embodied in just one of these. The system and method provide a convenient way to tie advertising to game content. By use of advertisements, the user (through the player character) can become aware of and can access in-game items, player character attribute modifications, and rewards. Such advertisements may be banner advertisements or any other type of advertising. By taking advantage of the offers presented in the advertisements, a user of the network application may obtain items for their own use or for that of a corresponding MMO character.

Abstract: A method of generating a markup language text template comprises identifying a variable text element in a source language text string and assigning a first predefined symbol to the variable text element, identifying a grammatical rule for the variable text element and assigning a second predefined symbol to the variable text element based on the identified grammatical rule, determining whether to assign supplemental information to the variable text element, wherein the first predefined symbol, the second predefined symbol, and the supplemental information if assigned represent a token, and repeating the identification of a grammatical rule, assignment of first and second predefined symbols, and determination of whether to assign supplemental information for remaining variable text elements in the source language text string so as to complete a markup language text template comprising one or more tokens.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement a technique for generating interactive events in a simulation, such as creating encounters in an online computer game. In one implementation, encounters are created based on the players and the environment and allow for interaction that is different for different players. Players can select encounters for interaction and choose how to handle the encounter. Encounters may have one or more objectives for participating players to resolve. The objectives for the same encounter may be different for different characters depending on the characteristics of the player characters. If multiple player characters interact with the same encounter, they may each be presented with different objectives, some or all of which may be competing. In addition, the objectives for an encounter may change depending on how other objectives are resolved.

Abstract: Measuring and converting physical activities to benefits, including: measuring a physical activity of a user using a measuring device; converting the measurement made by the measuring device to service benefits using predetermined formulas, wherein the service benefits are consistent and balanced to time needed to attain a similar reward from engaging only in a target activity; and providing the benefits.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to integrate, within a first application, a second application. In this way, multiple client systems, each running a first application, can access other players and mutually consume a second application. A lobby facility is provided to which client systems may access. First and second client systems may then be associated so that the same are configured to mutually consume a second application. The systems and methods also provide for cross-platform consumption of a second application by a plurality of client systems, each running respective first applications. The system includes a lobby facility module situated on a network-accessible server, the lobby facility module configured to allow communications between the network-accessible server and each of a first client system and a second client system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement a technique for managing physics interactions in a computer simulation, such as the interactions of objects in an online computer game. Objects in the simulation are or can become physics objects that then behave according to the rules of the physics simulator in operation. Different implementations can use different rules for how items become physics objects and for what rules are used to manage physics objects. Since physics object interactions are determined on the basis of their physical properties rather than adherence to predefined interactions, the resulting interactions are emergent and not scripted.