Multi-instance, multi-user virtual reality spaces
A multi-instance, multi-user animation platform includes a plurality of modeled parallel dimensions in a computer memory. Each of the parallel dimensions may be an independent model of a physical, three-dimensional space having corresponding features such that the parallel dimensions are recognizable as counterparts to each other. Avatars are located within corresponding ones of the parallel dimensions so as to prevent over-population of any one of the parallel dimensions by avatars. Avatars are animated within different ones of the parallel dimensions using input from respective users to provide virtual-reality data. A common space is modeled in the computer memory configured in relation to the plurality of parallel instances so that an object located inside the common space is visible from viewpoints located inside each of the plurality of parallel instances. Remote clients may output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel dimensions and avatars therein.
1. A method for populating parallel instances of a virtual space, comprising:
modeling, in computer memory, a plurality of parallel instances of a virtual space, wherein each parallel instance of the plurality of parallel instances replicates at least a portion of the virtual space;
assigning, in the computer memory, each avatar of a plurality of avatars to one of the parallel instances so that each avatar populates one of the parallel instances and each of the parallel instances is populated by a subset of the plurality of avatars, wherein the assigning limits a total number of the plurality of avatars in each of the subsets; and
modeling actions of each avatar of the plurality of avatars in response to input from respective corresponding ones of a plurality of client devices to provide data in the computer memory, the data configured to enable the client devices to output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel instances and avatars assigned thereto.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modeling a common space in the computer memory configured in relation to the plurality of parallel instances so that at least one object located inside the common space is visible from viewpoints located inside each of the plurality of parallel instances.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising modeling the common space in the computer memory so that the at least one object is capable of passing into the replicated at least a portion of the virtual space of each of the plurality of parallel instances.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising modeling the common space in the computer memory so that when the object passes into the replicated at least a portion of the virtual space of each of the plurality of parallel instances the at least one object is replicated into multiple instances of itself.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a communication channel between avatars populating different ones of the plurality of parallel instances.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising relocating an avatar from a first one of the parallel instances to a second one of the parallel instances.
7. A method for populating parallel instances of a virtual space, comprising:
storing, in computer memory, data for a plurality of parallel instances of a virtual space, wherein each parallel instance of the plurality of parallel instances comprises a copy of at least a portion of the virtual space;
assigning, in the computer memory, each avatar of a plurality of avatars to one of the parallel instances so that each avatar populates one of the parallel instances and each of the parallel instances is populated by a subset of the plurality of avatars, wherein the assigning limits a total number of the plurality of avatars in each of the parallel instances; and
in response to receiving data indicating actions of each avatar of the plurality of avatars from respective corresponding ones of a plurality of client devices, providing data in the computer memory, the data configured to enable the client devices to output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel instances and avatars assigned thereto.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising modeling a common space in the computer memory configured in relation to the plurality of parallel instances so that at least one object located inside the common space is visible from viewpoints located inside each of the plurality of parallel instances.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising modeling the common space in the computer memory so that the at least one object is capable of passing into each copy of the at least a portion of the virtual space of each of the plurality of parallel instances.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising modeling the common space in the computer memory so that when the object passes into each copy of the at least a portion of the virtual space of each of plurality of parallel instances the at least one object is replicated into multiple instances of itself.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing a communication channel between avatars populating different ones of the plurality of parallel instances.
12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising relocating an avatar from a first one of the parallel instances to a second one of the parallel instances.