Patents by Inventor Steven Mark Harrison

Steven Mark Harrison has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for transferring inventory between virtual universes
    Patent number: 8713181
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method for transferring an item from a source virtual universe to a target virtual universe. A target virtual universe host opens a session between a source virtual universe host and itself. Next, it determines that the source virtual universe host is authorized to transmit the item to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives a command from a client computer to transfer the item from the source virtual universe host to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives item data in the target virtual universe host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Method and system for splitting virtual universes into distinct entities
    Patent number: 8140982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Method and system for merging disparate virtual universes entities
    Patent number: 8019797
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MERGING DISPARATE VIRTUAL UNIVERSES ENTITIES
    Publication number: 20110113018
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Method and system for merging disparate virtual universes entities
    Patent number: 7921128
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MERGING DISPARATE VIRTUAL UNIVERSES ENTITIES
    Publication number: 20090198664
    Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SPLITTING VIRTUAL UNIVERSES INTO DISTINCT ENTITIES
    Publication number: 20090125819
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker
  • METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING INVENTORY BETWEEN VIRTUAL UNIVERSES
    Publication number: 20090037905
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method for transferring an item from a source virtual universe to a target virtual universe. A target virtual universe host opens a session between a source virtual universe host and itself. Next, it determines that the source virtual universe host is authorized to transmit the item to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives a command from a client computer to transfer the item from the source virtual universe host to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives item data in the target virtual universe host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Steven Mark Harrison, Brian Marshall O'Connell, Clifford Alan Pickover, Keith Raymond Walker