Electronic Patent Application Fee Transmittal
`
`Application Number:
`
`Filing Date:
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USERS TO INTERACT IN A VIRTUAL
`SPACE
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Dave Leahy
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`AP019CON3
`
`Filed as Small Entity
`
`Utility under 35 USC111(a) Filing Fees
`
`Description
`
`Fee Code
`
`Quantity
`
`Sub-Total in
`USD($)
`
`Basic Filing:
`
`Fee (Electronicfiling
`
`Utility Search Fee
`
`Utility Examination Fee
`
`1
`
`2111
`
`2311
`
`I
`
`270
`
`270
`
`Claims:
`
`Miscellaneous-Filing:
`
`fee-
`
`(Group
`
`BUNGIE - EXHIBIT 1004 - PART 1 OF 2
`
`0001
`
`0001
`
`BUNGIE - EXHIBIT 1004 - PART 1 OF 2
`
`

`
`Description
`
`Fee Code
`
`Quantity
`
`Sub-Total in
`
`USD($)
`
`Patent-AppeaIs-and-Interference:
`
`Extenslon of-Time:
`
`Miscellaneous:
`
`Post-Allowance and-Post-Issuance:
`
`662
`
`Total in USD ($)
`
`0002
`
`0002
`
`

`
`Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt
`
`m—
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USERS TO INTERACT IN A VIRTUAL
`SPACE
`
`I—
`
`—
`
`Payment information:
`
`yes—
`Submitted with Payment
`
`Charge any Additional Fees required under 37 C.F.R. Section 1.16 (National application filing, search, and examination fees)
`
`—Auth°“zedUser
`The Director of the USPTO is hereby authorized to charge indicated fees and credit any overpayment as follows:
`
`0003
`
`0003
`
`

`
`File Listing:
`
`Document
`
`Information:
`
`Information:
`
`.
`
`.
`
`File Size(Bytes)/
`
`Multi
`
`Pages
`
`Preliminary Amendment
`
`_
`_
`AmendmentPre|ImInary-Image.
`pdf
`
`761720
`
`0424bfc1e857672985396f31bd032713eb4
`458d2
`
`Petition for review by the Office of
`Petitions.
`
`PetitionReAbsent|nventorP|usP
`
`2013749
`
`etitionFromGrand parent-
`I mag e. pdf
`
`68add
`95f886115779dbe9f7734ebc95620008298
`
`Assignee showing of ownership per 37
`CFR 3.73(b).
`
`Ru|e3dot73bStatement-Image.
`pdf
`
`356678
`
`097C812e8abe8905655b572e74dc7654763
`def48
`
`3740e051516c4138e8b229220b8bd7ac8fb
`48427
`
`Fee Worksheet (PTO-06)
`
`fee-info.pdf
`
`e712adf8accc743af1629f31d806f1a6214c6
`516
`
`0004
`
`

`
`This Acknowledgement Receipt evidences receipt on the noted date by the USPTO ofthe indicated documents,
`characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidence of receipt similar to a
`Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.
`
`New Applications Under 35 U.S.C. 111
`lfa new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary components for a filing date (see 37 CFR
`1.53(b)-(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown on this
`Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the filing date of the application.
`
`National Stage of an International Application under 35 U.S.C. 371
`lfa timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35
`U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT/DO/E0/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a
`national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.
`
`New International Application Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`lfa new international application is being filed and the international application includes the necessary components for
`an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 1810), a Notification of the International Application Number
`and ofthe International Filing Date (Form PCT/R0/105) will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`national security, and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the international filing date of
`the application.
`
`0005
`
`0005
`
`

`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`AP Ol9CON3
`Patent
`
`In re Application of:
`'
`Dave Leahy er al.
`
`Serial No.: To Be Assigned
`
`Filed:
`
`January 13, 2009
`
`For:
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING
`USERS TO INTERACT IN A VIRTUAL
`SPACE
`
`Group Art Unit:
`
`To Be Assigned
`
`Examiner:
`
`To Be Assigned
`
`Attomey File No.: AP 0l9CON3
`
`Office Action Mailed On: N/A
`
`Confirmation No.:
`
`Mail Stop Petition
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`PETITION BY ASSIGNEE FOR FILING PATENT APPLICATION UNDER 37
`
`C.F.R.
`
`1.47 a
`
`The above-referenced application is filed herewith with signed § 1.63 declarations (from the
`
`original utility parent application) of three of the four joint inventors. The remaining joint inventor,
`
`S. [Mitra] Ardon, refuses to sign a § 1.63 declaration, notwithstanding the fact that he is under an
`
`obligation to do so at the request of the Assignee of the signing inventors‘ interests, Worlds Inc.
`
`("Worlds"). Therefore, Worlds petitions that it be allowed to proceed with prosecution of this
`
`application without Mr. Ardon's signature, as allowed under 37 CFR §l.47. The reasons are fully set
`
`Transmitted electronically to the Patent and Trademark Office.
`
`ELECTRONIC FILING
`
`I)epositor's Name: Anatoly S. Weiser
`
`Date:
`
`January I3, 2009
`
`Signature: /Anatoly S. Weiserl
`
`0006
`
`0006
`
`

`
`forth in the analogous petition filed in August of 2000 in the parent application serial number
`
`08/747,420; and in the analogous petition of November 2, 2006,
`
`in the parent application serial
`
`number I l/591,878. Both petitions in the parent applications were granted or entered, and Assignee
`
`requests Ofiicial Notice to be taken of those petitions and the decisions thereon.
`
`AP 0l9CON3
`Patent
`
`Payment of the petition fee under 37 CFR. l.l7(g) is made together with the filing of the
`
`present petition, and any shortfall is also authorized to be charged to Deposit Account Number 50-
`
`3196.
`
`Dated: March l8 2009
`
`Respectfully submitted,‘
`
`/Anatoly S. Weiser/
`Anatoly S. Weiser, Reg. No. 43,229
`3525 Del Mar Heights Road, #295
`San Diego, CA 92130
`(858)720-9431
`
`0007
`
`0007
`
`

`
`
`
`
`UNITED S'l'IlTES,PATENT AND TRADElAARK 0l‘l~"lCE
`Commissioner for Patent:
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`v-~:sm
`
`. TOWNSEND & TOWNSEND & CREW
`8TH FLOOR
`
`TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
`SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834
`
`_
`
`In re Application of
`Leahy, Challinger, Adler, and Ardon
`Application No. 08/747,420
`Filed: 12 November, 1996
`Attorney Docket No. 17376-5
`
`Paper No. 29
`
`0OPYVM.AlLElZ.)
`A SEP 1 9 2000
`
`SPECIAL PBOGRAlVlS OFFICE
`DAG FOR PATENTS
`
`DECISION ACCORDING STATUS
`: UNDER 37 CFR 1.47(a)
`
`This is in response to the renewed petition under 37 CFR 1.4-7(a)‘ filed on 7 and
`supplemented by facsimile on 18 August, 2000.
`
`The petition is _GBAN I ED.
`
`Petitioner has shown that the non-signing inventor has refused to join in the filing
`of the above-identified application after having been presented with the application
`papers. Specifically, the declaration of facts of Philip R. Albert establishes that the
`non—signing inventor was presented with a copy of the application papers but
`refused to execute the declaration.
`'
`
`The above-identified application and papers have been reviewed and found in
`compliance with .37 CFR 1.47(a). This application is hereby accorded Rule ],9¢Z(a)
`status.
`
`As provided in Rule 1.47la), this Office will forward notice of this application's
`filing to the non—signing inventor at the address given in the Declaration. Notice of
`the filing of this application will also be published in the Official Gazette.
`
`
`'A grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.47(a) requires:
`(1) proof that the non-signing inventor cannot be. reached or refuses to sign the oath or declaration after having
`been presented with the application papers (specification, claims and drawings);
`(2) an acceptable oath or declaration in compliance with 35 U.S.C.
`§§115and115;
`'
`(3) the petition tee; and
`(4) a statement of the last known address of the non-signing inventor.
`
`’
`
`0008
`
`0008
`
`

`
`Application No. 08/747,420
`
`After this decision is mailed, the application will be forwarded to the Office of
`lnitial Patent Examination for correction of the bibliographic data sheet and
`issuance of a corrected Filing Receipt as requested in the facsimile supplement to
`the petition filed on 18 August, 2000. Thereafter, the file will be forwarded to
`~ Publishing Division for processing into a patent.
`
`'
`
`It is noted that petitioner has withdrawn the petition to correct the non-signing
`inventor's name.
`
`Telephone inquiries related to this decision should be directed to Petitions Attorney
`Douglas I. Wood at 703-308-6918..
`
` y.‘,‘/ ., 7/é ;,-,‘ . 4.»- g__
`
`/
`‘
`
`
`. Flanagan
`Beverly
`Supervisory Petitions Examiner
`Office of Petitions
`
`Of-fice of the Deputy Commissioner
`for Patent Examination Policy
`
`0009
`
`0009
`
`

`
` UNITED S'i'A'l‘ES PATENT AND TIIADEMARK Orncs
`
`S. Mitre Ardon
`1056 Noe
`San Fransisco, CA 94114
`
`\
`
`~
`-
`L”e;?w“§l’L1i.“"°”°’
`Application No.‘ 08/747,420
`_
`Filed: 12 November, 1996
`For: Scalable Virtual Word Chat Client-Server System
`
`.
`
`Dear Mr. Ardon:
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`United States Patent and _Trademan< Office
`Washington. D.C. 20231
`wiuw.uxDp::>°gg
`
` Paper No. 30
`
`
`
`SEP 1 9 2000
`
`pmeeuuvis UFFICE
`sP‘°i*:cloa»Arems
`
`You are named as a joint inventor in the above identified United States patent application, filed
`under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 116 (United States Code), and 37 CFR 1.47(a), Rules of Practice
`in Patent Cases. Should a patent be granted on the application you will be designated therein as a
`joint inventor.
`-
`
`As a named inventor you are entitled to inspect any paper in the file wrapper of the application,
`order copies of all or any part thereof (at a prepaid cost per 37 CFR 1.19) or make your position of
`record in the application. Alternatively, you may arrange to do any of the preceding through a
`registered patent attorney or agent presenting written authorization from you.
`If you care to join.
`the application, counsel of record (see below) would presumably assist you. Joining in the
`application would entail the filing of an appropriate oath or declaration by you pursuant to 37 CFR
`1.63.
`'
`
`Telephone inquiries regarding this communication should be directed to Petitions Attorney Douglas
`1. Wood at 703/308-6918. Requests for information regarding your application should be directed
`to the File information Unit at 703/308-2733.
`Information regarding how to pay for and order a
`copy of the application, or. a specific paper in the application. should be directed to Certification ‘
`Division at 703/308-9726 or 1-800-972-6382 (outside the Washington D.C. area).
`
`. Flanagan
`Beverly
`Supervisory Petitions Examiner
`Office of Petitions
`Office of the Deputy Commissioner '
`for Patent Examination Policy
`
`TOWNSEND & TOWNSEND & CREW
`8TH FLOOR
`TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
`SAN FRANSICO, CA 94111-3835}
`
`0010
`
`0010
`
`

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`STATEMENT UNDER.37'CFR-23173 b '
`
`
`
`ApplicantIPate'nI-‘Owner? Lgggg‘ 1;; 3; _ ~ - '
`
`
`
`
`
`App|ic,a'tio‘nNo./Pageoc‘No.:. _t§p________ Ffledllssue Date:
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`
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`‘
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`
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`assignee-,was.— or concurrently is-befng,:_siabmit_t‘ed (or r_eeo_rdatién”[Sursuant to 37 CFR 3.-311.
`
`(NOTE: A-separate copy ({;e.. a type Qopy q! the odginal assignment documen1(s))'mus| be submitted l_o.’Assignment
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`0011
`
`0011
`
`

`
`'
`
`'
`
`DECLARATION
`
`r - As atbelow named inventor. I declare lh“
`My residence. post office address and citizuiship are as stated below next to my name; I belibel am the original, first and sole inventor
`(if only one name is listed below) or an original. first and joint inventor (if plural inventors are named below) of the subject matter which
`is claimed and for which a patent is sought on the invention entitled: SCALABLE VIRTUAL WORLD CHAT CLIEN'l‘~SERVER
`SYSTEM the specification of which _ is attached hereto or __ was filed on __ as Application No. ____ and was amended
`on _ (if applicable).
`I have reviewed and understand the contents of the above identified specification. including the claims. as amended by any amendment
`referred to above.
`I acknowledge the duty to disclose information which is material to the examination of this application in accordance
`with Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations. Section 1.56.
`I claim foreign priority benefits under Title 35, United States Code. Section
`119 of any foreign applications(s) for patent or inventor's certificate listed below and have also identified below any foreign application
`for patent or inventor's certificate having a filing date before that of the application on which priority is claimed.
`
`
`
`
`
`Prior Foreign Application(s)
`
`
`
`
`
`Priority Claimed
`
`we ssuscus
`°“‘°°”"‘"g
`~
`Y
`mm
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`
`
`
`
`
`I hereby claim the benefit under Title 35. United States Code § ll9(e) of any United States provisional application(s) listed below:
`
`Ap lication No.
`Filing Date
`60/020,296 / 7 75'
`
`
`
`I claim the benefit under Title 35. United States Code. Section 120 of any United States application(s) listed below and, insofar as the
`subject matter of each of the claims of this application is not disclosed in the prior United States application in the manner provided by
`the first paragraph of Title 35. United States Code. section ll2. I acknowledge the duty to disclose material information as defined in
`Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations. section 1.56 which occurred between the filing date of the prior application and the national or
`PC!‘ international filing date of this application:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`0012
`
`,
`
`
` —— Patented __ Pending _ Abandoned
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`»
`
`— _ Patented __ Pending __ Abandoned
`Full Name
`Last Name
`Fits! Name
`‘
`Middle Name or Initial
`of inventor 1
`Leah
`Dave
`.
`‘
`Residence &
`City
`State/Foreign Country
`Country of Citizenship
`Citizenshi
`Oakland
`CA '
`USA
`Zip Code
`Post Office
`Post Office Address
`City
`StateICountry
`94618
`Address
`6056 Romany Road
`Oakland
`CA
`Full Name
`Last Name
`First Name
`Middle Name or Initial”
`of inventor 2
`Challinger
`Judith
`Residence &
`City
`State/Foreign Country
`Citizenshi
`Santa Cruz
`CA
`Post Office
`Post Office Address
`City
`Address
`244 Northrop Place
`Santa Cruz
`Full Name
`Last Name
`First Name
`of Inventor 3
`Adler
`B.
`Residence &
`City
`State/Foreign Country
`Citizenshi -
`San Francisco
`CA
`Post Office
`Post Office Address
`City
`Address
`510 Third Street, Suite 530
`San Francisco
`Full Name
`Last Name
`First Name
`of inventor 4
`Ardon
`S.
`
`
`
`
`.
`
`i
`
`.
`
`Country of Citizenship
`USA
`Zip Code
`State/Country
`95060
`CA
`Middle Name or Initial
`Thomas
`Country of Citizenship
`USA
`Zip Code
`state/Country
`94107
`' CA
`Middle Name or initial
`[Mitra]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Residence and
`Citizenshi
`
`City
`San Francisco
`
`Address
`
`
`
`Post Office Address
`
`1056 Noe -
`
`State/Foreign Counu-y
`CA
`
`Countxy of Citizenship
`USA
`
`City
`
`San Francisco
`
`'
`
`
`
`Stare/Counuy
`
`CA
`
`
`
`Zip Code
`
`94114
`
`0012
`
`

`
`,
`,__.._____..__.__
`ate uu: auu uldl on .n.m.u........ ......... ... ..............o.. t..... .,....,,
`‘
`_
`I f\Jl'U‘lC|: CICCMIC U131 all statements maue llfiltlll Ol tny own tutowteuge
`‘are believed to be true; and further that these statements were made with the knowledge that willful false statements and the like so made
`are fiunishable by fine or imprisonment.
`-oth. under Section 1001 of Title 18 of the Ur’
`4 States Code. and that such willful false
`statements may jeopardize the validity ot -./ application or any patent issuing thereon.
`-V
`
`'
`
`Signature of Inventor 1
`
`Signature of Inventor 2
`
`Signature of Inventor 3
`
`Dave Leahy
`
`Signature of Inventor 4
`
`B."I'homas Adler
`
`S. [Mltra] Ardon
`
`p:\0I71l&l!X13\f0ldo:l
`
`(Page 2 of 2)
`
`.
`
`0013
`
`0013
`
`

`
`--—..-.. ...... .....-
`I Iutunal u\.s.I-u\o,|uuL an élutlulllbtlui llluuv Itwlblll vn tn} v--u~ as--V"-\--bu -nu new --~— -..—. -.. -....-..
`the like so made
`are believ.-it to be true; and further that these statements were made with the knowledge that willful false
`are punishable by fine or imprisonment,
`~oth. under Section 1001 of Title 18 of the Un‘
`1 States Code. and that such willful false
`statements may jeopardize the validity o“\_.. application or any patent issuing thereon.
`-
`
`Sigrtziturc of Inventor 1
`
`Signature of Inventor 2
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`S. [Mitre] At-don
`
`Dave Leahy
`
`‘Judith Challinger
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`Signature of Inventor 4
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`r-:tot7I16\000s\tot<m:1
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`(Page 2 of 2)
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`_
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`0014
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`0014
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`. . . . . . . . ._ .. . . . ..... u-....
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`are believed’ to be true; anti further that these statements were made with the knowledge that yvillful false statements and the |ik_e so made
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`‘am. under Section 1001 of Title 18 of the Un“ * States Code. and that such wtllful false
`\-I
`statements may jeopardize the validity o. -._,. application or any patent issuing thereon.
`
`Signature of Inventor 2
`
`Sigttamre of Inventor 3
`
` Signature of Inventor l
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`9 F 5
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`Dave Leahy " M 6' ‘ Judith Challinger
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`‘Signature of Inventor 4
` S. [Mitra] Ardon
`
`B. Thomas Adler
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`
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`p:\0l737G@S\!OI<Iul
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`(Page 2 of 2)
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`0015
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`0015
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`
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`Attorney Docket No.
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`AP019CON3
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`PATENT
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`.SCALABLE VIRTUAL WORLD CHAT CLIENT-SERVER SYSTEM
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`10
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`QACKGROUND OF THE INVENT;Qfl
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`The present invention relates to the field of packet
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`communications. More specifically,
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`in one embodiment
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`the
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`invention provides an efficient communications network for
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`client-server networks with large numbers of clients.
`
`A client-server network is a network where one or
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`more servers are coupled to one or more clients over a
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`communications channel. Typically, each server and each
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`client is assigned an address so that each can determine which
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`network messages are directed to it. While such a system may
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`have only one server, it typically has many clients.
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`A server
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`object is one which waits for a request from a client object
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`and then performs some service in response to the client
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`request.
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`A client is an object that makes the request.
`
`The
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`20
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`designation of a particular object
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`(computer hardware and/or
`
`software process) as a "server" object or a "client" object is
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`not fixed.
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`Thus, a given object can be a server for some
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`services and a client of other services.
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`‘LA typical computer network has one or more file and
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`25
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`print servers with a number of clients, where the clients are
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`the desktop computers or workstations of the computer users,
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`all coupled to a high—speed network cable. Client-server
`communications in such a network are easily handled for
`when
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`clients are not all communicating with
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`several reasons.
`
`30
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`the server at once the
`
`4 all the clients at one
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`server need not be designed to handle
`time. Another reason is that the
`
`network traffic is much less than the network capacity
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`furthermore,
`
`the clients in a typical computer network need
`
`not necessarily be communicating in real—time with the server.
`
`35
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`However, where many client machines or processes are
`
`communicating with each other in real-time through the server,
`several problems arise.
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`0016
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`0016
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`2
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`For example, where a client-server system is used
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`for real—time exchange of information, such as a distributed
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`virtual reality network where users at client machines
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`visually and aurally interact with other users at other client
`machines, communication is much more difficult, especially
`
`where the information is high-bandwidth data such as audio
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`streams, graphic images and image streams.
`
`one application of
`
`such a client-server system is for game playing, where the
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`positions and actions of each user need to be communicated
`between all the players to inform each client of the state
`changes (position, actions, etc.) which occurred at the other
`clients.
`The server might maintain global state information
`
`and serve as a data server for the clients as they request
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`visual, program and other data as the game progresses.
`
`Some game systems use a peer-to—peer architecture.
`
`In a peer-to—peer architecture, a copy of the data which is
`
`common to all clients is kept by the client and information
`which needs to pass between clients is broadcast over the
`This limits the number of clients which can be
`"network.
`connected to the network, because the number of messages
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`passing between clients is on the order of the square of the
`
`number of clients. with true broadcasting, one message is-
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`sent and all clients listen for it, but not all network
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`topologies can handle broadcasts.
`
`Jwhere less than all the.
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`clients are participating in a game, for example, messages
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`cannot be broadcast because there are clients which should not
`
`be receiving the broadcast message.
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`Instead,
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`the broadcast
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`between the players is handled by generating one message to
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`each player client.
`
`This architecture is further limited where the
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`network is not a dedicated network, but is an open network,
`
`the term "Internet"
`such as the Internet. As used herein,
`refers to the global
`inter-network of networks which
`
`communicates primarily using packets sent according to TCP/IP
`
`(gransport gontrol grotocol/Lnternet grotocol) standards well
`With
`
`known in the art of computer intercommunication.
`
`Internet communications,
`true broadcasting is not even
`possible because thk network's extent is not known or fixed.
`'0
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`0017
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`0017
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`1
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`Thus, messages to all players must be sent as separate
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`messages. An additional problem with Internet communications
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`is that packet delivery is not guaranteed nor is it even as
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`reliable as a dedicated network.
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`5
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`-
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`Therefore, what is needed is an efficient system for
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`communication between many client systems over dedicated or
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`open networks to provide graphical interaction between users
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`operating the client systems.
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`10
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a highly scalable
`architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user;
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`interactive virtual world system.
`
`In a preferred embodiment a
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`plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional,
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`15
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`computer—generated graphical space where each user executes a
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`client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of
`
`that user.
`
`The virtual world shows avatars representing the
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`other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual
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`word.
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`In order that the view can be updated to reflect the
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`20
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`motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is
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`transmitted to a central server process which provides
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`positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the-
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`user at that client process.
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`The client process also uses an
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`environment database to determine which background objects to
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`25
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`render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.
`
`A further understanding of the nature and advantages
`
`of the inventions herein may be realized by reference to the
`
`remaining portions of the specification and the attached
`
`30
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`drawings.
`
`sagas DE§CRIPTION gs gag DRAWLNGS
`
`FIG.
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`1 is a client screen view in a virtual world
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`system according to the present
`
`invention.
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`35
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`FIG. 2 is a logical block diagram of the hardware
`elements of a virtual world system.
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`‘A
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`0018
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`or‘ ‘
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`
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`4
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`3 is a block diagram of the elements of one
`FIG.
`_
`embodiment of a virtual world system, showing two clients and
`one server.
`
`FIG.
`
`4 is a more detailed block diagram of a client
`
`system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIG.S is an illustration of an avatar.
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`DESCRIPTION OF EHE EREFEREED EMBODIMENT
`
`Although the preferred embodiment of the present
`
`invention can be used in a variety of applications, as will be
`
`apparent after reading the below description,
`the preferred
`.
`embodiment is described herein using the example of a
`client-server architecture for use in a virtual world "chat"
`
`system.
`
`In this chat.system, a user at each client system
`
`interacts with one or more other users at other client systems
`
`by inputting messages and sounds and by performing actions,
`where these messages and actions are seen and acted upon by
`
`other clients.
`
`FIG.
`
`1 is an example of what such a client
`
`might display.
`
`Each user interacts with a client system and the
`
`client system is networked to a virtual world server.
`
`The
`
`client system are desktop computers,
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`terminals, dedicated game
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`Controllers, workstations, or similar devices which have
`
`graphical displays and user input devices.
`
`The term "client"
`
`generally refers to a client machine, system and/or process,
`
`but is also used to refer to the client and the user
`
`controlling the client.
`
`FIG.
`
`1 is an illustration of a client screen display
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`10 seen by one user in the chat system.
`
`Screen display 10 is
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`30
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`shown with several stationary objects (wall, floor, ceiling
`
`Each avatar 18
`and clickable object 13) and two "avatars" 18.
`is a three dimensional figure chosen by a user to represent
`the user in the virtual world.
`Each avatar 18 optionally
`
`includes a label chosen by the user.
`
`In this example,
`
`two
`
`35
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`users are shown: "Paula"
`
`and "Ken", who have chosen the
`
`"robot" avatar and the penguin avatar, respectively.
`user interacts with a client machine (not shown) which
`produces a display similar to screen display 10, but from the
`‘I
`
`Each
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`0019
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`0019
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`

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`“'4'.
`
`
`
`5
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`Screen‘
`perspective of the avatar for that client/user.
`display 10 is the view from the perspective of a third user,
`
`D, whose avatar is not shown since D's avatar is not within
`
`D's own view. Typically, a user cannot see his or her own
`avatar unless the chat system allows "our of body" viewing or
`
`the avatar's image is reflected in a mirrored object in the
`
`virtual world.
`
`Each user is free to move his or her avatar around
`
`10
`
`In order that each user see the correct
`in the virtual worlds
`location of each of the other avatars, each client machine
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`sends its current location, or changes in its current
`
`location,
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`to the server and receives updated position
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`information of the other clients.
`
`While PIG.
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`1 shows two avatars (and implies a
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`15
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`third),
`
`typically many more avatars will be present.
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`A
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`typical virtual world will also be more complex than a single
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`room.
`
`The virtual world view shown in FIG.
`
`1 is part of a
`
`virtual world of several rooms and connecting hallways as
`
`indicated in a world map panel 19, and may include hundreds or
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`20
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`users and their avatars.
`
`So that the virtual world is
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`25
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`30
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`scalable to a large number of clients,
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`the virtual world
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`server must be much more discriminating as to what data is~
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`provided to each clients.
`
`In-the example of FIG. 1, although
`
`a status panel 17 indicates that six other avatars are
`present, many other avatars are in the room, but are filtered
`out for crowd control.
`
`FIG.
`
`2 is a simplified block diagram of the physical
`
`architecture of the virtual world chat system. Several
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`clients 20 are shown which correspond with the users
`
`controlling avatars 18 shown in screen display 10.
`clients 20 interact with the virtual world server 22 as well
`
`These
`
`as the other clients 20 over a network 24 which,
`
`in the
`
`is a TCP/IP network such
`specific embodiment discussed here,
`Typically,
`the link from the client is
`as the Internet.
`
`35
`
`narrowband, such as 14.4 kbps (kilobits/second).
`
`Typically, but not always, each client 20 is
`
`implemented as a separate computer and one or more computer
`systems are used toéimplement virtual world server 22. As
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`0020
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`0020
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`6
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`used here,
`
`the computer system could be a desktop computer as
`
`are well known in the art, which use CPU's available from
`Intel Corporation, Motorola, SUN Microsystems, Inc.,
`International Business Machines (IBM), or the like and are
`
`5
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`— controlled by operation systems such as the Windows@ program
`
`which runs under the MS—DOS operating system available from
`
`Microsoft Corporation,
`
`the Macintosh® O/S from Apple Computer,
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`or the Unix® operating system available from a variety of
`
`vendors. Other suitable computer systems include notebook
`computers, palmtop computers, hand—held programmable computing
`
`those
`devices, special purpose graphical game machines (e.g.,
`sold by Sony, SEGA, Nintendo, etc.), workstations,
`terminals,
`
`and the like.
`b
`..The virtual world chat system is described below
`with reference to at least two hypothetical users, A and B.
`
`the actions of the system are described with
`Generally,
`reference to the perspective of user A.
`It is to be
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`10
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`15
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`understood that, where appropriate, what is said about user A
`applies to user B, and vice versa,_and that the description
`
`20
`
`below also holds for a system with more than two users (by
`
`having multiple users A and/or B). Therefore, where an
`interaction between user A and user B is described,
`implied
`therein is that the interaction could take place just as well
`with users A and B having their roles reversed and could take
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`25
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`place in the same manner between user A and user C, user D,
`
`etc.
`
`The architecture is described with reference to a system
`
`where each user is associated with their own client computer
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`system separate from the network and servers, however a person
`
`of ordinary skill in the art of network configuration would
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`30
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`understand, after reading this description, how to vary the
`
`architecture to fit other physical arrangements, such as
`
`multiple users per computer system or a system using more
`
`complex network routing structures than those shown here.
`
`A
`
`person of ordinary skill in the art of computer programming
`
`35
`
`will also understand that where a process is described with
`
`reference to a client or server,
`
`that process could be a
`
`-program executed by a CPU in that client or server system and
`the program_could be stored in a permanent memory, such as a
`n
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`7.
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`hard drive or read-only memory (ROM), or in temporary memory,
`
`such as random access memory (RAM).
`
`A person of ordinary
`
`skill in the art of computer programming will also understand
`
`how to store, modify and access data structures which are
`
`shown to be accessible by a client or server.
`
`Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram is shown of
`
`a world system 54 in which a user A, at a first client system
`60 (client A),
`interacts with a user B at a second client
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`10
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`syste