Abstract: Awards of value are awarded to residents of a virtual universe for consenting to be teleported in response to invitations for teleportation. The consent can be made conditional upon any of a variety of circumstances which can be specified by a resident of the virtual universe for a corresponding avatar and which form rules for auto-teleportation. These conditions can be stored and searched and avatar and location status monitored and compared to the conditions to control issuance of invitations to increase the likelihood that an invitation will be automatically accepted. A delay before acceptance is also preferably provided to provide for graceful conclusion or termination of current avatar activity.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes displaying an interactive collaboration plane along a time axis within a graphical user interface, automatically detecting a plurality of participation events each performed by one of a plurality of participants during a conference session between the plurality of participants, recording a time of occurrence of each of the participation events, and displaying graphical depictions of the participation events within the interactive collaboration plane. The graphical depictions are positioned along the time axis in accordance with the recorded times of occurrence of the participation events. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a generating apparatus including a display controller configured, on the basis of computer graphics description data for use in creating a computer graphics virtual space necessary for generating a computer graphics image, to display a plurality of element descriptors representative of a plurality of elements arranged in the computer graphics virtual space; and a specification information generator configured to generate specification information for specifying a parameter for defining an element corresponding to an element descriptor by a selecting operation by a user from among the displayed plurality of element descriptors as a parameter subject to adjustment that is adjusted by an adjusting operation by the user.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment in which user representations evolve. The method includes the following steps: monitoring at least one characteristic of each of the entities and/or at least one characteristic of a corresponding virtual environment; proposing to transfer and/or transferring at least one of the user representations from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment, as a function of the characteristic or characteristics monitored.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for presenting information related to a user's friends within a virtual environment. For example, when a user requests to view a friends list, the virtual environment may respond by identifying interactions between that user and their friends. From this, the virtual environment may determine an order to present the users in the list. For example, individual with whom the user interacts with frequently may be more prominently displayed. However, the user may fix or “pin” the position of certain users (e.g., a close friend with whom contact is infrequent). Further, in addition to displaying friends' names, the list may display an animation of a user's friend generated based on the then current activity, location, or appearance of that friend within a virtual environment.

Abstract: The invention provides a communications interface for communications between participants, said interface including a virtual space (1) and graphical avatars (2, 3) that firstly represent respective ones of said participants and secondly are designed to move in said virtual space (1), said communications interface also including control means for controlling the movement of each graphical avatar, said communications interface being characterized in that it is designed to set up a discussion channel automatically between two of said participants when either the distance (d) between the two graphical avatars (2, 3) representing respective ones of said two participants is less than or equal to a predetermined first value (D1), or the distances between a graphical object and each of the two graphical avatars (2, 3) are less than or equal to a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing a teleforum. The method includes generating simultaneous outbound invitation calls to multiple invitees and transmitting a message to each invitee, inviting him or her to become a teleforum participant. Teleforum participants who accept the invitation are connected to the teleforum in a listen-only mode. During the teleforum, a teleforum participant may request active participation in the teleforum. The method also includes allowing the participant to actively participate in the teleforum. Active participation may include but is not limited to such activities as: speaking to the teleforum, asking a question, responding to a poll, making a donation, providing information, leaving a message, being transferred to a subconference, receiving feedback from participants, leaving a voicemail, volunteering for future activities or receiving media transmitted outside of the teleforum.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world. There is provided a method for inducing a reply from a first client connected to a virtual world to facilitate a social interaction using a second client connected to the virtual world, the method comprising locating, in the virtual world, an avatar of the second client in a proximity of an avatar of the first client, executing a social action using the avatar of the second client such that the social action is observable by the first client but not observable by the second client, receiving the reply from the first client in response to the social action, and rendering the reply from first client using the avatar of the first client.

Abstract: Information related to art is provided in networked computing environments wherein users can participate in public or private online interactive video conferences, chat rooms and other online sessions led by art galleries or art gallery affiliates. User's may switch between public sessions and private sessions when ready to make a transaction related to an art object or artist presented in a public session. In private online sessions, potential consumers may also electronically provide the art gallery pictures, diagrams and photographs of an area in which they are interested in placing certain art objects. An image of the art object is shown within the picture to scale with other objects such as a wall, and angle of view. Users may also see the art objects to scale next to other stock images of familiar reference objects during the online session.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for database viewing, create a copy of a vendor view in a customer view layer that is present between an interface layer and the database layer. In certain embodiments this copy of the vendor view may contain no customer specific logic, simply serving as a 1:1 projection in the customer view allowing the vendor to track customer access to particular vendor views. According to some embodiments, the copy of the vendor view may be changed to create a modification view. Changes are applied to the modification view only, leaving the original vendor view unchanged with a link to the stored modification copy. This link can be used to adjust the modification copy whenever a hot fix or a new version of the ‘modified’ database content is installed to the customer system. Embodiments may support consumer extensions to the vendor views and/or to the database itself.

Abstract: In the field of satisfaction of human necessities, the system for meeting people over an Internet network includes client devices interconnected by means of the Internet network and at least one server having a module for forming virtual likenesses, a module for searching and comparing virtual likenesses, a module for displaying and storing results and a module for communication between virtual likeness. The system can be used in allowing users of social networks to meet each other. The system includes a module for forming and operating virtual meetings scenes. The achieved technical result is a broadening of functional capabilities of the system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to directed communication in a virtual environment. A method for method for providing directed communication between avatars in a virtual environment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: determining a relative location of a first avatar and a second avatar in a virtual environment; and adjusting an aspect of a communication between the first avatar and the second avatar based on the relative location.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to selecting textures for a user-supplied photographic image in image-based three-dimensional modeling. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes a method for inputting a user-supplied photographic image that uses a photogrammetry algorithm to adjust a plurality of camera parameters for the user-supplied photographic image. In the method, a user-supplied photographic image inputted by a user is received. A set of geographic characteristics inputted by the user that correspond to a geographic location of a camera that took the user-supplied photographic image is received. A plurality of camera parameters that correspond to the geographic location of the camera that took the user-supplied photographic image is determined. The user-supplied photographic image to be texture mapped to the three-dimensional model is enabled.

Abstract: Affiliations between users may be facilitated across multiple virtual spaces accessible via virtual environments. Affiliations may be established within individual ones of two or more virtual spaces. A given affiliation within a given virtual space may include a discrete group of users with a relationship having a functional significance within the given virtual space. The affiliations may include a first affiliation within a first virtual space between a group of users including a first user and a second user. A recommendation may be provided for potential affiliations to users in the two or more virtual spaces such that responsive to the first user having an account in a second virtual space, and responsive to the second user creating an account in the second virtual space, the first user may be recommended to the second user for a potential affiliation in the second virtual space based on the first affiliation.

Abstract: Exemplary implementations may facilitate effectuating modifications within an instance of a virtual space presented via multiple disparate client computing platforms responsive to detection of a token associated with a single client computing platform. In some implementations, tokens may be detected based on signals received from token readers associated with individual ones of the multiple client computing platforms. A given token may be a standalone physical object. The given token may be detectable based on a signal conveying information associated with the given token. The information associated with the given token conveyed by the signal may be devoid of virtual space content.

Abstract: Information related to art is provided in networked computing environments wherein users can participate in public or private online interactive video conferences, chat rooms and other online sessions led by art galleries or art gallery affiliates. User's may switch between public sessions and private sessions when ready to make a transaction related to an art object or artist presented in a public session. In private online sessions, potential consumers may also electronically provide the art gallery pictures, diagrams and photographs of an area in which they are interested in placing certain art objects. An image of the art object is shown within the picture to scale with other objects such as a wall, and angle of view. Users may also see the art objects to scale next to other stock images of familiar reference objects during the online session.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for splitting an avatar a split point in a virtual world. In one embodiment, a location in the virtual world may be designated as the split point. It may be determined that a first avatar has encountered the split point. The user may be prompted to specify whether to split the first avatar in a virtual world. Responsive to a request to split the first avatar, a second avatar may be created from the first avatar. The first avatar and the second avatar may be controlled independently in the virtual world and in response to user input. A user may also request to merge the first avatar and the second avatar. A third avatar may be created from the first avatar and the second avatar, responsive to the request to merge. The third avatar may include assets of both the first avatar and the second avatar.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an input image of a real space captured with an imaging device, a user interface unit configured to display the input image on a screen of a display device and detect a designated position designated by a user on the screen, a computation unit configured to compute a three-dimensional position of a virtual object in an augmented reality space from the designated position detected by the user interface unit, and an authoring unit configured to associate the three-dimensional position of the virtual object computed by the computation unit with the virtual object to store the three-dimensional position in a storage medium.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths. More particularly, the method and system detects an item associated with an avatar of a virtual universe (VU) user in a VU and determine information associated with the item. Additionally, the method and system are operable to display the information in the VU in a high-resolution component of the VU.

Abstract: A display apparatus for depicting a three-dimensional scenario includes a first and a second projection device, and a holographic display device having a first and a second holographic unit. A depiction apparatus includes a number of the display apparatuses for the depiction and cooperative processing of a three-dimensional scenario by a number of users that each observe the three-dimensional scenario from an individually determinable perspective.

Abstract: Objects in a virtual space may be non-traversable such that traversal by characters of the virtual space through such objects is not permitted by the physics of the virtual space. Objects may be relocated during interactive gameplay. A navigation map of the virtual space is updated interactively, e.g. after an object has been relocated, by determining which regions are traversable or non-traversable, the boundaries of these regions, and which boundaries separate adjacent traversable regions. The updated navigation map may be queried on behalf of a non-player character in the virtual space, e.g. to determine where to go and/or how to get there.

Abstract: The information-processing device according to the present invention, if a subject operation direction is “rightward,” specifies in a coordinate axis across a rightward direction, a range that overlaps an area between coordinates (Yamin to Yamax) of an area where selected window Wa is displayed, and each of areas between coordinates (Y1min to Y1max and Y2min to Y2max) of areas where non-selected windows Wb1 and Wb2 are displayed, and determines a window that is selectable subsequently on the basis of the overlapping range. The information-processing device displays a guide image at a position between a window that is selectable subsequently and selected window Wa, and is also within a range that overlaps both an area where a window that is selectable subsequently is displayed, and an area where window Wa is displayed, to guide a subject operation direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing information on an object by using viewing frustums. The method includes the steps of: (a) specifying at least two viewing frustums whose vertexes are visual points of respective user terminals; and (b) calculating a degree of interest in the object by referring to the object commonly included in both a first viewing frustum whose vertex is a visual point of a first user terminal and a second one whose vertex is a visual point of a second user terminal.

Abstract: Communications may be facilitated among users belonging to affiliations spanning two or more virtual spaces accessible via virtual environments. In exemplary implementations, affiliations within individual virtual spaces may be managed. A given affiliation within a given virtual space may comprise a discrete group of users with a relationship having a functional significance within the given virtual space. A communications interface may be provided for presentation to individual users. The communications interface may be configured to enable a given user to observe in-coming communications and provide out-going communications. Synchronous and/or asynchronous communications may be facilitated via the communications interface between users belonging to one or more common affiliations. The communications may be facilitated among users belonging to a common overarching affiliation, which may encompass two or more affiliations from different virtual spaces that include substantially the same group of users.

Abstract: A virtual reality network provides access to a number of virtual reality representations, each virtual reality representation representing a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR data stored on the network. The VR data can be in a simplified data format and include data from an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator (IPAKN). A database stores the network address and the location in the universe of each virtual reality representation. A database server provides access to the database. The database server generates a list of locations in response to a location query from a visitor, and provides the network address of the virtual reality representation of a selected location. A visitor connects to the database server with a client host to visit the locations in the virtual universe.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to facilitate group activities in a virtual environment. An indication is conveyed of a region surrounding a first avatar as being a group activity region, upon detecting that the first avatar is leading a first group activity in the virtual environment. The region is defined by proximity to the first avatar. A second avatar is allowed to participate in the first group activity with the first avatar in the region, only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for unifying coordinate systems in an augmented reality application or system are disclosed. User devices capture an image of a scene, and determine a location based on the scene image. The scene image may be compared to cartography data or images to determine the location. User devices may propose an origin and orientation or transformation data for a common coordinate system and exchange proposed coordinate system data to agree on a common coordinate system. User devices may also transmit location information to an augmented reality system that then determines an a common coordinate system and transmits coordinate system data such as transformation matrices to the user devices. Images presented to users may be adjusted based on user device locations relative to the coordinate system.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for automating avatar selection for groups are disclosed. A representative method includes providing a software application accessible to multiple users, and a database of available avatar characteristics that are selectively combinable to create user-specific avatars with which the users can represent themselves to each other in the application. User(s) associated with a group provide an instruction that associates a first set of the available avatar characteristics with the group. For users associated with the group, access is then restricted to the first set of avatar characteristics, and for users not associated with the group, access is restricted to a different second set of available avatar characteristics. Avatar characteristics in the first set may be selected by an automated procedure that analyzes user-specific avatars of some users, and selects which of the available avatar characteristics to include in the first set based on the analysis.

Abstract: A computerized server managing a Virtual Environment (VE) has a network port for communicating with remote computerized appliances, a plurality of virtually-defined rigid objects in the VE, including one or more avatars representing persons in the VE, a physics simulation engine executing from a machine-readable medium, for calculating object states and properties, including motion of virtually-defined rigid objects, and a mechanism for assigning and tracking identification of remote computerized appliances connected via the network port, each remote appliance capable of physics simulation. The server responds to signals from the remote computerized appliances to assign individual ones of the virtually-defined rigid objects to individual ones of the remote computerized appliances for physics simulation, and the server simulates all virtually-defined objects in the VE that are not assigned to at least one of the remote computerized appliances.

Abstract: Facilitating display of, and interaction with, secure user-centric information via a user platform operated by a user. A user identity is transmitted to an external computing device hosting an identity management server to authenticate the user. After authenticating, a desktop channel grid framework is displayed on the user platform. The channel grid framework includes multiple channels having respective contents represented as multiple user-selectable items, through which respective portions of the secure user-centric information are presented. At least some of the secure user-centric information in at least one channel is based on the user identity, and in displaying the at least one channel as a selectable item, the at least one channel is authenticated by the identity management server.

Abstract: The language-based video game places a player avatar into a game environment contained within a display field following a story narrative or an adventure for completing an objective. The gameplay reinforces pronunciation and writing of a given language. The display field includes a minor head graphic, as can be highlighted text in the given language, interactive text objects, and can include a control icon and a progress icon. The minor head graphic is a representation of a human head, or portion thereof, animated to show pronunciation of the highlighted text. As the player progresses through the game, the player encounters the interactive text objects that, upon activation, transform into useful objects for overcoming challenges present in the game environment, the interactive text object being the same as, substantially the same as, or corresponding to the highlighted text. Avatar movement and interactions are controlled through a control scheme via an interface.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling an image display thereof are disclosed. A display module for a mobile terminal as disclosed herein may include a display for displaying an image that includes one or more objects, a user input interface to receive an input to change the image between a 2D display and a 3D display, and a controller configured to change the displayed image between the 2D display and the 3D display based on the received input. The controller may control the display to sequentially display one or more intermediate images in order to gradually change an extent in which at least one of the one or more objects is perceived to protrude or recede into the display during the change in the displayed image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected via a network to both an MFP and a virtual-space management server that manages a virtual space that contains a virtual device that is created by virtualizing the MFP. The information processing apparatus includes a display control unit that displays map information on a display unit, wherein a device symbol that corresponds to the MFP is present in the map information at a position corresponding to the position of the MFP in the real world; a receiving unit that receives a selected device symbol in the map information; an output control unit that outputs image data to either a first data storage unit of the MFP that corresponds to the selected device symbol or to a second data storage unit for the virtual device that is created by virtualizing the MFP and corresponds to the selected device symbol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing avatars in a virtual reality environment (VRE) are provided. More particularly, different avatars can be defined for application to different VREs. A particular avatar can be selected or modified for application to a VRE in view of the context of the VRE, including but not limited to the avatar format required by the VRE, the topic of a meeting hosted by the VRE, the identity or other characteristics of other meeting participants, presence information, or the like.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to enhance the presentation of a virtual environment for certain users, e.g., a visually impaired user. Because users may visit, and revisit, locations within the virtual environment, the state of elements in the virtual environment may change. Accordingly, audible descriptions of an object, person or environment, may be adjusted to prevent redundant or unnecessary descriptions. For example, when the user encounters a given element a second time, rather than describe each characteristic of the element, only changes to the characteristics of the element are described.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments are described. At least some of these systems and methods provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports realtime communications between the communicants. At least some of these systems and methods provide an interface that includes navigation controls that enable a user to navigate virtual areas and interaction controls that enable the user to interact with other communicants in the one or more virtual areas.

Abstract: System, method, and computer program product to trigger events in a virtual environment, by monitoring a communication in the virtual environment between at least a first user represented by a first avatar and a second user represented by a second avatar, the communication having an explicit meaning to the first and second users, determining whether the communication is predefined as a trigger associated with a corresponding event based on the communication having a secondary meaning not discernible from the explicit meaning, and upon determining that the communication is predefined as the trigger, triggering the corresponding event in the virtual environment.

Abstract: Location-based augmented reality systems configured exchange of items based on location sensing and associated triggering icons, and methods and devices related thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, a first, provider user identifies a specific physical location; associates a triggering icon representing a value item with the specific physical location; and, transmits the existence of the triggering icon and specific physical location to a second, mobile recipient user computing device. The second, mobile recipient user receives the triggering icon and specific physical location from the first, provider user computing device, then finds the specific physical location, activates the triggering icon and receives the value item.

Abstract: An interactive, customizable, user interaction data analysis system is disclosed. The system may be configured to provide cohort-based analysis and/or graphical visualizations of user interaction data to a system operator. User interaction data may be obtained, for example, as users interact with one or more software applications. In various embodiments, interactive and customizable visualizations and analysis provided by the system may be based on user interaction data aggregated across groups of users (also referred to as cohorts of users), across particular time frames, and/or from particular software and/or computer-based applications. According to various embodiments, the system may enable insights into, for example, user interaction patterns, the frequency of software application features accessed, the performance of various aspects of software applications, and/or crashes of software applications, among others.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the visualization of a complex system such as a software offering using a set of buildings. A method for generating a visualization of a complex system using a set of buildings in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: representing each of a plurality of complex systems using a respective set of buildings in a virtual city environment. The set of buildings in the virtual city environment is displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for allowing multiple users to collaboratively edit 3-D assets in real-time, using a distributed 3-D editing/rendering software application. The software application may include a lightweight, browser-based user interface that is able to run on computing devices with relatively little memory and processing power. The software application may further include a progressive rendering engine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining collaboration data from at least one data source, and mapping the collaboration data into a visual representation in a collaboration space. The visual representation is arranged to be manipulated to cause details associated with the collaboration to be displayed in the collaboration space. Finally, the method includes enabling manipulations of the visual representation.

Abstract: An image display apparatus and an image display method where the image display apparatus according to an embodiment displays a main screen and a sub-screen having a different depth or slope from the main screen so as to create the illusion of depth and distance.

Abstract: An approach that facilitates explicit use of user context objects in a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is a user context object tool that includes a user context object retrieving component configured to retrieve the plurality of user context objects for presentation to the avatar. A user context object selection and modification component is configured to receive a user context object selection and any desired modifications made to the user context object selection. A user context object permissions component is configured to permit the avatar to interact with the virtual universe in accordance with the user context object selection.

Abstract: A single instance of a virtual space may be provided that can be simultaneously represented in at least two dimensions or three dimensions on separate client computing devices. Virtual space information used to facilitate presentation of the virtual space may be agnostic as to whether the virtual space will be represented in two or three dimensions. That is, the same virtual space information may be sent to one or more client computing platforms regardless of the dimensionality of virtual space representations presented by any given client computing platform. A determination may be made at individual client computing platforms as to whether to present the virtual space representation in two dimensions or three dimensions based on one or more metrics associated with the individual client computing platforms. Such metrics may include a computing power of the one or more processors, a communication bandwidth, a screen size, and/or other metrics.

Abstract: The present invention enables a user to perform an operation of closing a software keyboard displayed on a display unit by an operation to a predetermined input item with use of a hardware keyboard. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus includes receiving an input to a predetermined input item via a software keyboard displayed on a display unit, receiving an input to the predetermined input item via a hardware keyboard connected to the information processing apparatus, inputting a character to the predetermined input item according to the key input received via the software keyboard or the hardware keyboard, and closing a display of the software keyboard displayed on the display unit if the input to the predetermined input item which is received via the hardware keyboard satisfies a predetermined condition during the display of the software keyboard.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.

Abstract: Techniques are described for aggregating information from multiple network-accessible service providers (such as multiple social networking service providers) using virtual objects to represent information, media and services in a plurality of rendered virtual environments, each of which may be associated with one or more users of the multiple service providers. A virtual environment associated with one or more particular users may be presented as any of a variety of internal or external spaces. Users may be represented in the room by virtual avatars, which may move or otherwise operate within one or more of the provided virtual environments. Virtual environments, virtual objects and avatars may be displayed as two- or three-dimensional.

Abstract: A virtual world controller receives an identifier of a detected interaction by a user within another world, separate from a particular virtual world environment accessible by the user, from a device that detects and reports user interactions within the other world. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular trigger tag name assigned to the identifier of the detected interaction from among a plurality of separate detectable user interactions in a trigger tag database. The virtual world controller identifies at least one particular asset class from among a plurality of asset classes specified with the particular trigger tag name within a particular trigger asset coupling from among at least one trigger asset coupling in a trigger asset coupling database. The virtual world controller accesses at least one particular asset assigned to the at least one particular asset class in an asset class database.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of computer and network software, and more particularly it relates to a method and apparatus for promoting and facilitating interactions between users in virtual worlds. According to some aspects, the invention provides a way of allowing a user to easily identify other users that the user may want to connect with for any purpose. According to other aspects, the invention allows users to specify items, interests, friends, demographics and/or preferences, and the system automatically identifies other users who meet those criteria. The system can further provide mechanisms to alert and/or introduce users who share similar interests, demographics and/or meet other matching criteria, and allow them to interact with each other. According to still further aspects, the invention can automatically determine criteria for motivating and/or facilitating interactions between users.