Method of managing a set of virtual environment control entities, device, and corresponding computer program product

1. A computer implemented method for managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment of a plurality of virtual environments in which user representations are acting, wherein the computer is programmed to perform the steps of the method, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:

monitoring at least one of:

at least one characteristic of each of said entities; or

at least one characteristic of said corresponding virtual environment, and

said monitoring step comprises a sub-step of checking distribution of the user representations in each of said plurality of virtual environments according to at least one predetermined distribution parameter,

controlling a possibility of transferring said at least one representation of a user from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment of the plurality of virtual environments, and

after controlling the possibility of transferring, performing at least one of proposing to transfer or transferring at least one of said user representations from the first virtual environment to the second virtual environment, according to said at least one monitored characteristic, comprising:

making a proposal to said user to transfer the user's representation from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment;

processing a response received from said user following said step of making a proposal so as to determine the user's assent to or refusal of a transfer of the user's representation; and

in an event of assent by said user, transferring the representation of said user from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling comprises the following sub-steps:

detecting existence of a communication engaged between said user representation and at least one other user representation; and

authorizing said step of proposing a transfer or transferring if said detection is negative.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein monitoring comprises the following sub-steps:

obtaining at least one piece of information representing a characteristic of said user, called a piece of user data;

comparing said piece of user data with corresponding data of at least one other user present in each of the virtual environments; and

selecting said second virtual environment in which a transfer must be made according to results of said comparison.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein comparing implements a computation of a distance between said piece of user data to determine, in each of said environments, at least one set of user representations that are proximate, according to said distance, to the representation of the user to be transferred,

and wherein selecting selects a virtual environment in which said set or sets determined at the comparison step comprise the largest number of representations.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined distribution parameter belongs to the group consisting of:

a number of user representations per virtual environment;

a parameter representing a predefined distribution in terms of number of representations between at least two groups of users each having at least one similar characteristic; and

a parameter for distributing load of at least one entity for managing at least one virtual environment.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one monitored characteristic belongs to the group comprising at least:

one piece of information representing consumption of a resource, by said entity, that is above a determined ceiling;

one piece of information representing consumption of a resource, by said entity, that is below a determined threshold;

a number of user representations below a determined threshold in said first virtual environment;

a number of user representations above a determined threshold in said first virtual environment;

a periodically programmed activation moment; and

a randomly programmed activation moment.

7. A device for managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment of a plurality of virtual environments in which representations of a user are acting, wherein the device comprises:

a part of a processing unit configured to monitor at least one of:

at least one characteristic of each of said entities; or

at least one characteristic of said corresponding virtual environment, and

said monitoring step comprises a sub-step of checking distribution of the user representations in each of said plurality of virtual environments according to at least one predetermined distribution parameter,

a part of the processing unit configured to control a possibility of transferring said at least one representation of a user from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment of the plurality of virtual environments; and

a part of the processing unit configured to perform, after controlling the possibility of transferring, at least one of proposing to transfer or transferring at least one of said user representations from the first virtual environment to the second virtual environment, according to said at least one monitored characteristic, comprising:

making a proposal to said user to transfer the user's representation from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment;

processing a response received from said user following said step of making a proposal so as to determine the user's assent to or refusal of a transfer of the user's representation; and

in an event of assent by said user, transferring the representation of said user from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable carrier comprising a computer program product recorded thereon and executable by a processor, the program comprising program code instructions for configuring the processor to execute a method of managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment of a plurality of virtual environments in which user representations are acting, when the instructions are executed by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise:

instructions configured to cause the processor to monitor at least one of:

at least one characteristic of each of said entities; or

at least one characteristic of said corresponding virtual environment, and

said monitoring step comprises a sub-step of checking distribution of the user representations in each of said plurality of virtual environments according to at least one predetermined distribution parameter,

instructions configured to cause the processor to control a possibility of transferring said at least one representation of a user from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment of the plurality of virtual environments; and

instructions configured to cause the processor to perform, after controlling the possibility of transferring, at least one of proposing to transfer or transferring at least one of said user representations from the first virtual environment to the second virtual environment, according to said at least one monitored characteristic, comprising:

making a proposal to said user to transfer the user's representation from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment;

processing a response received from said user following said step of making a proposal so as to determine the user's assent to or refusal of a transfer of the user's representation; and

in an event of assent by said user, transferring the representation of said user from said first virtual environment to said second virtual environment.