Patents by Inventor William B. Nicol, II

William B. Nicol, II 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).

  • Patent number: 11972086
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Publication number: 20200084133
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Patent number: 10284454
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Patent number: 10176450
    Abstract: A method for mapping transactions between a real world and a virtual world may include receiving information associated with a real world item at a virtual business object (VBO) controller. Information associated with a user is received at the VBO controller. In response to receiving by the VBO controller a decision to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO, which includes the information associated with the real world item. In response to receiving at the VBO controller a decision not to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO light, which includes the information associated with the real world item. Either the generated VBO or the VBO light is transmitted to a VBO inventory database associated with the user based on the user's information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9927868
    Abstract: A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The system may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170178062
    Abstract: A method for mapping transactions between a real world and a virtual world may include receiving information associated with a real world item at a virtual business object (VBO) controller. Information associated with a user is received at the VBO controller. In response to receiving by the VBO controller a decision to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO, which includes the information associated with the real world item. In response to receiving at the VBO controller a decision not to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO light, which includes the information associated with the real world item. Either the generated VBO or the VBO light is transmitted to a VBO inventory database associated with the user based on the user's information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9586149
    Abstract: Collaborative virtual business object (VBO) social sharing that may include generating a VBO responsive to an avatar performing a transaction, and providing access to the VBO to other avatars desiring access. Access to the VBO may be provided by registering information regarding accessing the VBO in an inventory of the avatar, registering information regarding accessing the VBO in a centralized registry, allowing some portions of the VBO to be searchable, or uploading a modified copy of the VBO to a centralized VBO data upload facility. Portions of the VBO may be identified as private or public and access provided to only the public portions. An apparatus for collaborative virtual business object (VBO) social sharing may include an interface configured to access virtual world and a processor configured to generate a VBO responsive to a transaction in the virtual world and provide access to the VBO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Andrew B. Smith, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Christopher J. Dawson
  • Patent number: 9454737
    Abstract: A process definition entered into a user interface that is coupled with an instant messaging client application can be identified. The process definition can represent an ad hoc business process. The process definition can utilize entities defined in a contact of the instant messaging (IM) client application. The process definition can execute. Upon reaching a terminating condition defined within the process definition, results of executing the process definition can be presented via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160267431
    Abstract: A method for mapping transactions between a real world and a virtual world may include receiving information associated with a real world item at a virtual business object (VBO) controller. Information associated with a user is received at the VBO controller. In response to receiving by the VBO controller a decision to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO, which includes the information associated with the real world item. In response to receiving at the VBO controller a decision not to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO light, which includes the information associated with the real world item. Either the generated VBO or the VBO light is transmitted to a VBO inventory database associated with the user based on the user's information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160164769
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter F. HAGGAR, Brian R. BOKOR, Daniel E. HOUSE, William B. NICOL, II, Andrew B. SMITH, Luis J. OSTDIEK
  • Patent number: 9323856
    Abstract: Mapping of a universal resource locator (URL) to a virtual world location may include receiving a URL for access to an entity, accessing a mapping of the URL to coordinates of a location of the entity in a virtual world, and providing access to the entity in the virtual world. A device that may include a network interface, the network interface being configured to receive a URL and provide access to a virtual world, and a memory, the memory containing at least one mapping of a URL to coordinates in the virtual world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Peter F. Haggar, Andrew B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160034028
    Abstract: A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The system may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9152914
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Patent number: 8756530
    Abstract: Generation and synchronization of offline three-dimensional (3D) virtual world content that include hosting 3D virtual world content, providing access to a portion of the 3D virtual world content, allowing storing offline of a copy of the accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content, and receiving changes made in the stored offline copy of the accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content and synchronizing the received changes with the hosted 3D virtual world content. The accessed portion of the 3D virtual world content may be recreated offline using a rendering engine on a processing device offline from the hosted 3D virtual world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Nicol, II, Brian R. Bokor, Andrew B. Smith, Daniel E. House, Peter F. Haggar
  • Patent number: 8606628
    Abstract: Providing traceability in a Virtual Business Object (VBO) may include generating a VBO comprising components and actions that may be performed using the VBO, attaching traceability information regarding an avatar to the VBO and providing the VBO to the avatar. Also, a network entity configured to access a virtual world environment may include a network interface configured to provide access to the virtual world environment and a controller configured to perform a transaction with an avatar in the virtual world environment, generate a Virtual Business Object (VBO) related to the transaction, attach traceability information regarding the avatar to the VBO, and provide the VBO to the avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew B. Smith, Brian R. Bokor, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Christopher J. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20120124189
    Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: PETER F. HAGGAR, BRIAN R. BOKOR, DANIEL E. HOUSE, WILLIAM B. NICOL, II, ANDREW B. SMITH, LUIS J. OSTDIEK
  • Patent number: 8151191
    Abstract: A method of and system for managing objectionable content in a virtual world associates a tag with an attribute associated with an avatar in the virtual world. The method places a limitation on the avatar in the virtual world based upon information in the tag while the tagged attribute is associated with the avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Nicol, II
  • Publication number: 20120072822
    Abstract: User data is integrated with services for management by the user. User selected data is annotated with a processor. The processor maps the annotated selected data to a user selected service provider. The annotated data is transmitted to a user selected service provider. The annotated user selected data is stored in a memory at the user selected service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRIAN R. BOKOR, HAN T. N. NGUYEN, WILLIAM B. NICOL, II, ANDREW B. SMITH
  • Patent number: 8127235
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world. It is determined if an allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space, and a capacity of the virtual space is increased when the allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may be increased by spawning a replicate new virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may also be increased by expanding a size of the virtual space. The virtual space may include any type of virtual space such as for example, a store, a business, an arena, a building, a land area, a room, etc. The allowable number of avatars may be a maximum avatar capacity for the virtual space, or may be an ideal avatar capacity for the virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter F. Haggar, Brian R. Bokor, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Andrew B. Smith, Luis J. Ostdiek
  • Publication number: 20100179871
    Abstract: Providing traceability in a Virtual Business Object (VBO) may include generating a VBO comprising components and actions that may be performed using the VBO, attaching traceability information regarding an avatar to the VBO and providing the VBO to the avatar. Also, a network entity configured to access a virtual world environment may include a network interface configured to provide access to the virtual world environment and a controller configured to perform a transaction with an avatar in the virtual world environment, generate a Virtual Business Object (VBO) related to the transaction, attach traceability information regarding the avatar to the VBO, and provide the VBO to the avatar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew B. Smith, Brian R. Bokor, Peter F. Haggar, Daniel E. House, William B. Nicol, II, Christopher J. Dawson