Abstract: A client computer program provides instructions for a processor to locate and retrieve rich media and HTML files for running in a three-dimensional graphical user interface. The program provides instructions for the processor to generate a three-dimensional (3D) graphical user interface on a display. Then, the processor generates a metaphorical user object for navigating and interacting in the three dimensions within the environment via navigational and interactional inputs, respectively, from a user. The processor also integrates an HTML object into the environment, and interacts the user object with the HTML object in response to an interactional input from the user. Preferably, the processor generates one or more additional user objects for additional users. Each of the additional user objects can also interact with the HTML object, the first user object and/or each other within the environment in response to interactional inputs from the additional users.

Abstract: A method and a software program running on a server computer coupled to a network, such as the internet, includes a three-dimensional (3D) viewing environment generating module. When a resource locator identifying a requested hypermedia resource, probably input by a pc user logged onto the network, is received from the network by a server computer, the 3D viewing environment generating module generates a 3D viewing environment corresponding to and preferably including the requested hypermedia resource. The 3D viewing environment is sent over the network to the user's pc enabling the user to view the requested hypermedia resource in an overlay 3D viewing environment, probably already running on the user's pc. A software program also provides instructions for a computer running a 3D browser to provide a viewing environment in a 3D space having one or more displays including a conventional hypermedia resource identifiable by a conventional resource locator.

Abstract: A method for use in a three dimensional browsing environment is described. The method, in one embodiment, includes receiving a jump request from one viewing point to another. The method also includes determining a destination from the current viewing point with respect to the jump request. The method further includes calculating a trajectory to the destination from the current viewing point. The method stills includes displaying a set of views in animation form along the trajectory and displaying a view corresponding to the destination.

Abstract: A network communications protocol program includes an active protocol stack and an inactive protocol stack, wherein a component from the inactive stack may be called into the active stack when a particular data communications type is detected. The component may be deactivated when the particular data communications type is finished. The program preferably includes socket layer, channel layer and message handling layer components for permitting and extracting communications over a network. The socket layer component receives data from a sender over a network, and defragments and reassembles the data for multiplexing and distributing data portions into multiple channels according to the data formats the data portions resemble. The channel layer component includes channels arranged according to the multiple data formats. The channel layer receives the data portions processed by the socket layer and multiplexes and distributes new data portions according to which of multiple APIs the data is directed to.

Abstract: A method, software program and computer network allow multiple users to communicate in a shared virtual environment while efficiently using available data transmission capabilities for providing to each user efficient communications access to interesting entities such as other users and generalized information. The network preferably includes a host interactivity server and multiple client computers. The method includes establishing a connection and a context between the server and each client computer and negotiating an interest expression of a client based on information relating to a subject user, and based on available bandwidth and network traffic. Transmission is, based the interest expression, then permitted to the client of interesting entities, while uninteresting entities are filtered.