IP Library Granted Patent US 9,398,078
Granted Patent B1
US 9,398,078 · App. 14/248,233 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Annotations of objects in multi-dimensional virtual environments

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,398,078
App. No.
14/248,233
Granted
Jul 19, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computer-implemented method of enabling participation by a first client and a second client in a communication session in a multi-dimensional virtual environment, the multi-dimensional virtual environment having first and second avatars respectively associated with the first and second clients and a plurality of objects distinct from the avatars. The method includes receiving from the first client a first annotation associated with a first object of the plurality of objects, transmitting the first annotation to the second client for display at the second client in association with the first object, receiving from the second client a second annotation associated with a second object of the plurality of objects, and transmitting the second annotation to the first client for display at the first client in association with the second object.

Claims (60)

1. A method comprising:

at a server system:

enabling participation by a first client and a second client in a multi-dimensional virtual environment, the multi-dimensional virtual environment having first and second avatars respectively associated with the first and second clients and a plurality of objects distinct from the avatars, including:

receiving from the first client a first annotation associated with a first object of the plurality of objects;

transmitting the first annotation for display at the first client and the second client in association with the first object;

receiving from the second client a second annotation associated with a second object of the plurality of objects;

transmitting the second annotation for display at the first client and the second client in association with the second object;

storing the first annotation and the second annotation in a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of annotations associated with objects in at least one multi-dimensional virtual environment;

receiving a search query from the first client or the second client, the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation; and

searching the database to identify one or more multi-dimensional virtual environments from a group of multi-dimensional virtual environments comprising one or more objects having respective annotations matching the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-dimensional virtual environment includes one of a virtual gaming environment and a virtual online store environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting respective annotation information to the first and the second clients, wherein the annotation information includes an annotation text and information identifying a predefined condition that must be met to display the annotation text.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predefined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

a correct password being entered;

proximity of a user controlled pointer to the first object;

performance of a predefined action by a user of the second client with respect to the first object; and

an avatar of the second client performing a predefined action with respect to the first object.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving from the second client a third annotation associated with the first object in the first multi-dimensional virtual environment; and

transmitting the third annotation to the first client and the second client for display in association with the first object.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-dimensional virtual environments connects to one another by a portal object, the portal object enable the avatars to move from one multi-dimensional virtual environment to another.

7. A system comprising:

a server system, comprising:

a network communication module configured to enable participation by a first client and a second client in a multi-dimensional virtual environment, the multi-dimensional virtual environment having first and second avatars respectively associated with the first and second clients and a plurality of objects distinct from the avatars;

the network communication module further configured to receive from the first client a first annotation associated with a first object of the plurality of objects;

the network communication module further configured to transmit the first annotation to the second client for display at the first client and the second client in association with the first object;

the network communication module further configured to receive the second client a second annotation associated with a second object of the plurality of objects;

the network communication module further configured to transmit the second annotation for display at the first client and the second client in association with the second object;

a database configured to store the first annotation and the second annotation, wherein the database comprises a plurality of annotations associated with objects in a plurality of multi-dimensional virtual environments;

the network communication module further configured to receive a search query from the first client or the second client, the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation; and

the network communication module further configured to search the database to identify one or more multi-dimensional virtual environments from a group of multi-dimensional virtual environments comprising one or more objects having respective annotations matching the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the multi-dimensional virtual environment includes one of a virtual gaming environment and a virtual online store environment.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the network communication module further configured to transmit respective annotation information to the first and the second clients, wherein the annotation information includes an annotation text and information identifying a predefined condition that must be met to display the annotation text.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the predefined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

a correct password being entered;

proximity of a user controlled pointer to the first object;

performance of a predefined action by a user of the second client with respect to the first object; and

an avatar of the second client performing a predefined action with respect to the first object.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the network communication module further configured to receive from the second client a third annotation associated with the first object in the first multi-dimensional virtual environment and transmit the third annotation to the first client and the second client for display in association with the first object.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of multi-dimensional virtual environments connects to one another by a portal object, the portal object enable the avatars to move from one multi-dimensional virtual environment to another.

13. A non-transitory computing device usable medium including instructions that when executed on a computer device causes the computer device to:

at a server system:

enabling participation by a first client and a second client in a multi-dimensional virtual environment, the multi-dimensional virtual environment having first and second avatars respectively associated with the first and second client and a plurality of objects distinct from the avatars;

receiving from the first client a first annotation associated with a first object of the plurality of objects;

transmitting the first annotation for display at the first client and the second client in association with the first object;

receiving from the second client a second annotation associated with a second object of the plurality of objects;

transmitting the second annotation for display at the first client and the second client in association with the second object;

storing the first annotation and the second annotation in a database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of annotations associated with objects in a plurality of multi-dimensional virtual environment;

receiving a search query from the first client or the second client, the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation; and

searching the database to identify one or more multi-dimensional virtual environments from a group of multi-dimensional virtual environments comprising one or more objects having respective annotations matching the search query including one or more terms from the first annotation or the second annotation.

14. The computing device usable medium of claim 13 , wherein the multi-dimensional virtual environment includes video game and online store.

15. The computing device usable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computing device usable medium including further instructions that when executed on a computer device causes the computer device to:

transmit respective annotation information to the first and the second clients, wherein the annotation information includes an annotation text and information identifying a predefined condition that must be met to display the annotation text.

16. The computing device usable medium of claim 15 , wherein the predefined condition is selected from the group consisting of:

a correct password being entered;

proximity of a user controlled pointer to the first object;

performance of a predefined action by a user of the second client with respect to the first object; and

an avatar of the second client performing a predefined action with respect to the first object.

17. The computing device usable medium of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of multi-dimensional virtual environments connects to one another by a portal object, the portal object enable the avatars to move from one multi-dimensional virtual environment to another.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044566/0657 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2014
From: MENDES DA COSTA, ALEXANDER; WANG, NINIANE; LIAW, JOEY CHIU-WEN
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 033974/0341 →