NETWORKED COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING AND OPERATING IN A VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT
The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server.
1 . A data server for facilitating network communication between a plurality of hosts within a virtual reality environment, said data server comprising:
at least one memory device storing data representing the virtual reality environment; and
at least one network interface device to enable the data representing the virtual reality environment to be transmitted to a host computer, such transmission enabling the host computer to establish a networked communication session with a plurality of other hosts within the virtual reality environment based on the received virtual reality data.
2 . The data server of claim 1 , wherein data representing the virtual reality environment includes static virtual reality data.
3 . The data server of claim 1 , wherein the at least one network interface device enables the data representing the virtual reality environment to be transmitted to the host computer in a single transmission.
4 . A session server for facilitating network communication between a plurality of hosts within a virtual reality environment, said session server comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one network interface device; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one network interface device to:
(a) enable dynamic data representing the virtual reality environment to be transmitted between the plurality of hosts; and
(b) store and transmit informational data to locate the hosts.
5 . The session server of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable dynamic data to be transmitted between the plurality of hosts by enabling multi-cast messaging between the hosts.
6 . The session server of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable dynamic data to be transmitted between the plurality of hosts by enabling uni-cast messaging.
7 . The session server of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to register each of the hosts.
8 . A networked computer system having a plurality of hosts each capable of communicating within a virtual reality environment, said networked computer system comprising:
a server host configured to activate one or more virtual reality environments; and
a client host configured to access one or more of the virtual reality environments activated by the server host, the client host including at least one network interface device to receive dynamic data representing the virtual reality environment from the server host via a session server associated with the client host and to receive static data representing the virtual reality environment from a data server that stores the static data.
9 . A tangible medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one network interface device to:
access data representing a virtual reality environment;
execute a plurality of commands to activate the virtual reality environment;
provide at least one user with access to the virtual reality environment once activated; and
enable at least one host device to establish a network communication with at least one other host.