Method and apparatus for spawning projected avatars in a virtual universe

1. A computer implemented method for projecting an avatar in a virtual universe, comprising:

receiving a command to project the avatar to form a projected avatar, the command having a projection point in the virtual universe, wherein the avatar represents a user and can interact with objects in the virtual universe;

copying a geometry of the avatar to form a projected avatar, wherein the projected avatar occupies the projection point;

applying a rendering effect to the projected avatar, the rendering effect being distinct from a rendering effect applied to the avatar, wherein the rendering effect applied to the projected avatar is transmitted to a client computer;

receiving a command to swap the avatar with the projected avatar, the avatar having a departure point;

teleporting the avatar to the projection point; and

teleporting the projected avatar to the departure point.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein teleporting the avatar comprises: associating the avatar

with the projection point to form an association of the avatar with the projection point;

transmitting the association of the avatar with the projection point to a client computer; and

transmitting an avatar attitude to the client computer.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying physics to the projected avatar such that a virtual universe object interacts with the projected avatar according to a conservation of momentum.

4. A data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein computer usable code is located in the storage device;

a communication unit connected to the bus;

a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to receive a command to project the avatar, to form a projected avatar, the command having a projection point, wherein the avatar represents a user and can interact with objects in a virtual universe;

copy a geometry of the avatar to form a projected avatar, wherein the projected avatar occupies the projection point;

apply a rendering effect to the projected avatar, the rendering effect being distinct from a rendering effect applied to the avatar, wherein the rendering effect applied to the projected avatar is transmitted to a client computer;

receive a command to swap the avatar with the projected avatar, the avatar having a departure point;

teleport the avatar to the projection point; and

teleport the projected avatar to the departure point.

5. The data processing system of claim 4 , wherein in executing the computer usable code to teleport the avatar, the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to associate the avatar with the projection point to form an association of the avatar with the projection point; transmit the association of the avatar with the projection point to a client computer; and transmit an avatar attitude to the client computer.

6. The data processing system of claim 4 , wherein the processing unit further executes computer usable code to apply physics to the projected avatar such that a virtual universe object interacts with the projected avatar according to a conservation of momentum.

7. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and computer-readable program instructions which are stored on the one or more storage devices and when executed by one or more processors, perform the method of claim 1 .

8. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions which are stored on the one or more storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via the one or more memories and when executed by the one or more processors perform the method of claim 1 .