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 method of shifting users between a plurality of different virtual reality environments, said method comprising the steps of:
determining that a user group containing at least one user has been created, said user group associated with a departure virtual reality environment, wherein each of the at least one user is associated with a host device;
facilitating establishment of network communication between a host device associated with each of the at least one user of the user group;
determining a destination virtual reality environment for the user group;
determining a destination server host device associated with the destination virtual reality environment;
transmitting data representing the destination virtual reality environment to each host device associated with each of the at least one user of the user group; and
facilitating establishment of network communication between the destination server host device and the host device associated with each of the at least one user of the user group, thus enabling each user of the user group to interact with the destination virtual reality environment.
2. The method of claim 1 , which includes causing a display of a teleporter within the departure virtual reality environment to each user of the user group; and establishing the continuous network communication between the host device of each user of the user group after each user of the user group has provided an indication of an association with the teleporter.
3. The method of claim 2 , which includes enabling at least one user to indicate the association of said host device with the teleporter by inputting at least one indication to move an avatar associated with that user into an area of the virtual reality environment associated with the teleporter.
4. The method of claim 3 , which includes causing a display of an avatar associated with each of the users of the user group within the tele porter.
5. The method of claim 1 , which includes defining the user group based on a plurality of users who have provided an indication of a desire to shift virtual reality environments.
6. The method of claim 1 , which includes determining the destination virtual reality environment based on at least one user group preference.
7. The method of claim 6 , winch includes determining the at least one user group preference based on a plurality of inputs by the users of the user group.
8. The method of claim 1 , which includes determining the destination virtual reality environment based on a random determination.
9. The method of claim 1 , which includes determining the destination virtual reality environment based on a characteristic of the departure virtual reality environment.
10. The method of claim 9 , which includes storing a static association between the departure virtual reality environment and the destination virtual reality environment as the characteristic of the departure virtual reality environment.
11. A virtual reality environment shifting system comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one network interface device; and
at least one memory device that 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) determine that a user group containing at least one user has been created, said user group associated with a departure virtual reality environment, wherein each of the at least one user is associated with a host;
(b) facilitate establishment of network communication between a host associated with each of the at least one user of the user group;
(c) determine a destination virtual reality environment for the user group;
(d) determine a destination server host associated with the destination virtual reality environment;
(e) transmit data representing the destination virtual reality environment to each host associated with each of the at least one user of the user group; and
(f) facilitate establishment of network communication between the destination server host and the host associated with each of the at least one user of the user group, thus enabling each user of the user group to interact with the destination virtual reality environment.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause a display device to:
display a teleporter within the departure virtual reality environment to each user of the user group; and
establish the continuous network communication between the host associated with each user of the user group after each user of the user group has provided an indication of an association of that host with the teleporter.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the indication of the association of said host with the teleporter includes at least one input by the user using at least one input device to move an avatar associated with the user into an area of the virtual reality environment associated with the teleporter.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause a display device to display an avatar associated with each of the users of the user group within the teleporter.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user group is defined based on a plurality of users who have provided an indication of a desire to shift virtual reality environments.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the destination virtual reality environment based on at least one user group preference.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one user group preference is based on a plurality of inputs by the users of the user group.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the destination virtual reality environment based on a random determination.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the destination virtual reality environment based on a characteristic of the departure virtual reality environment.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the characteristic of the departure virtual reality environment includes a static association between the departure virtual reality environment and the destination virtual reality environment.