Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-03
2001-01-16
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C345S215000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S202000, C709S206000, C709S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175842
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of this invention is providing three dimensional (3-D) multi-user virtual spaces in synchrony with hypertext browsing, and more particularly constructing and displaying a virtual three dimensional space based upon the determination that a user is browsing hypertext files at a network site, populating that space with other users who are visiting the site, using site-to-site transition data to construct portals between virtual three dimensional rooms comprising the space, and using avatar movement between three dimensional rooms to drive client software that displays the space to the user.
A known method for presenting information to users connected to a network uses hypertext techniques wherein the presented information includes user-selectable areas, called “links”, which function as gateways to further information. An example of a system that provides hypertext information to users is the World Wide Web (WWW) on the Internet. The WWW is a collection of websites. Each website includes a collection of hypertext files, often pertaining to a single theme. Website files are stored on a computer on the Internet called a web server, which is a server connected to the Internet and having an Internet Protocol (IP) address. A user connects to the Internet through a computer and executes software called a browser. The browser sends the user's request for hypertext information to a website, and receives, consolidates, and displays the requested hypertext information to the user.
The hypertext files stored on websites are usually presented in known systems to the user in a two-dimensional (2-D) format, although some known sites on the WWW present content in a 3-D format. Known 2-D browsers present a hypertext file to a user much as a document on a piece of paper is presented to a reader. The term “web page” denotes a hypertext file on the WWW as presented to a user. The principal difference between a hypertext page and a page on paper is that a hypertext page includes links to other pages. When a link is selected by a user using a mouse or other pointing device, the linked-to page is then automatically displayed by the browser to the user. The WWW user is able to navigate from web page to web page (and even across websites hosted on different computers) to view information that the user selects as pertinent to the user's needs. This mode of browsing to new hypertext pages using links is more flexible and interactive for the user than the printed document is for the reader.
Links in hypertext files can also be associated with files representing other media (i.e., besides other hypertext files) such as graphics, audio clips, video clips, animation, text, or any combination thereof. Selecting such links causes the appropriate software application to execute and display the alternative media files (for example, a QuickTime™ application will display a video clip). Links can also be associated with executable programs (e.g., common gateway interface programs) that carry out various functions. Streamed information (e.g., streamed audio, video, etc.) can also be associated with a link in a hypertext file. When selected, a streamed media application is executed that plays the streamed data (e.g., in the form of music, video, etc.) to the user.
An example of a known WWW browsing system is shown in FIG.
1
. Clients A
101
, B
102
and C
103
each execute browsers (not shown) and are connected to a network
104
, which in this case is the Internet. Web server computers A
105
and B
106
are also connected to the Internet
104
. A request for a hypertext file is sent from client A
101
to web server B
106
. Web server B sends the file to client A, where it is displayed as a two-dimensional page to the user
107
.
Known WWW browsers only support solitary browsing by individual users at their client computers. Users are not aware of each other and there is no supported interaction or communication between different users, even if they are browsing the same website, or even the same web page.
Other known systems present virtual reality environments to users through a network. A virtual reality (VR) environment is a computer-displayed three-dimensional environment with which a user is able to interact (e.g., “move” through, “kick” a virtual 3-D ball) using input and output devices at the user's computer. Known VR systems include VR browsing software that is executed on the user's computer. VR browsing software can be a stand-alone program, as in the VR browser made by the Oz Virtual Company of Iceland. Alternatively, VR browsing software can be software that executes in association with other software, such as the Cosmo Player by SGI, Incorporated which runs within the Netscape Navigator hypertext browser made by the Netscape Communications Company of California as a series of plug-ins, using Java as its user interface. The VR browser sends the user's request for VR data to a computer on a network (e.g., a VR server on the Internet) to send a VR file. A VR file describes a 3-D scene or environment. When the browser receives the VR file, it displays (renders) the described 3-D scene on the client computer. An example of a VR file is one that is written in Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML).
An example of a VR system is shown in FIG.
2
. Clients A
201
, B
202
and C
203
are connected to network
204
. VR servers A
205
and B
206
that store the layouts of VR environments are also connected to network
204
. Client A
201
executes a VR browser (not shown) through which it sends a request to VR server B
206
. VR server B
206
responds by sending VR data to client A
201
, which is displayed to the user
207
. User
207
provides input to client A
201
by which the user “moves” through the VR environment scene whose description is stored on server B
206
. These inputs are interpreted by the browser on client A
201
to change the view of the VR scene whose description was obtained from VR server B to the user
207
. When the user's input necessitates obtaining further VR description data from server B
206
, the browser on client A
201
sends a request to server B
206
for the needed information. Server B
206
responds by sending the data to client A
201
.
The system shown in
FIG. 2
allows the presentation of 3-D information to the user and allows the user to interact with the information by navigation, as if the user was “in” the environment. This enables a new and complementary set of user experiences over the network to that of conventional browsing.
However, the system shown in
FIG. 2
does not support social interactions among different users. Two users viewing the same VR environment cannot interact or communicate with each other using the system shown in FIG.
2
.
Certain known systems support social interaction among users viewing the same VR environment. In the system shown in
FIG. 3
, clients A
301
, B
302
and C
303
browse a VR environment whose description is stored on VR server
304
through network
305
. Clients A
301
, B
302
and C
303
send requests to server
304
for VR descriptive data, which is sent by server
304
to clients A
301
, B
302
and C
303
, where various views of the VR environment are displayed to users
306
,
307
and
308
. Each client executes multi-user software that is designed to interact with multi-user server
309
. This software is a part of the VR browser executed by each client, or else is a separate program that executes in tandem with the VR browser.
The multi-user software allows each user to select an avatar to represent the user in the displayed VR environment. An avatar is a virtual representation of a user in a VR environment. It usually appears as a figurine or just the head of a figure. The user is able to move and interact in the VR by providing input to the user's avatar using client input devices. Avatar locations are tracked by the multi-user server, and avatar update information is periodically broadcast to all of the clients. The multi
Kirk Thomas
Selfridge Peter Gilman
Alam Hosain T.
Alam Shahid
AT&T Corp.
Kenyon & Kenyon
LandOfFree
System and method for providing dynamic three-dimensional... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for providing dynamic three-dimensional..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for providing dynamic three-dimensional... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2529896