IP Library Granted Patent US 8,683,388
Granted Patent B2
US 8,683,388 · App. 12/216,607 · Granted Mar 25, 2014

Control of interactions within virtual environments

Inventors: Gershon Elber (Haifa, IL); Orit Shaked (Nofit, IL); Oded Shmueli (Nofit, IL)
Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,683,388
App. No.
12/216,607
Granted
Mar 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to further virtual objects having a relationship with a first virtual object, resulting from an interaction with said first virtual object. The method comprises: defining a maximum number of consequential interactions, counting consequential interactions, and stopping further interaction when the maximum number of consequential interactions is reached.

Claims (26)

1. A method for restricting an interaction order of consequential interactions of further virtual objects following a change applied to a first virtual object, said consequential interactions resulting from an interaction with said first virtual object, via a number of intermediate objects, said method being carried out on an electronic processor, the method comprising:

defining a maximum number of consequential interactions,

counting consequential interactions as they occur,

said counting comprising:

allowing a first interaction of a first virtual object with a first intermediate virtual object,

counting a first consequential interaction of said first intermediate object with a second intermediate object,

counting a second consequential interaction of said second intermediate object with a third intermediate object,

counting further consequential interactions of said third and further intermediate objects with further intermediate objects, and

stopping further interaction when said count reaches said maximum number of consequential interactions, thereby restricting said interaction order, wherein said consequential interactions are direct interactions without user intervention.

2. A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to related further objects as claimed in claim 1 wherein said related further objects have a causative relationship with said first object.

3. A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to related further objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a change applied to a first object causes consequential changes being at least one of a group comprising a color, a position, a shape, a timing factor, a movement, a size, a texture, a status, and an internal parameter of said further objects.

4. A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to related further objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said relationship is direct.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said relationships with said further objects comprise indirect relationships, being relationships involving at least one mediating interaction with at least one intermediate object.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said relationship with each said further object is defined by an order number, said order number being equal to the number of consequently interacting objects.

7. A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to related further objects as claimed in claim 6 , wherein allowable consequential interactions are restricted to a predetermined number of objects having first order relationships therewith.

8. A method for restricting the number of consequential interactions to related further objects as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said consequential interaction with said further object comprises a change in any one of a group comprising a color, a position, a shape, a timing factor, a movement, a size, a texture, a status and an internal parameter of at least one of said further objects.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said maximum number is at least two.

10. A method for restricting an interaction order of consequential interactions of further virtual objects following a change applied to a first virtual object, said consequential interactions resulting from an interaction with said first virtual object, via a number of intermediate objects, said method being carried out on an electronic processor, the method comprising:

defining a maximum number of consequential interactions,

counting consequential interactions as they occur,

said counting comprising:

allowing a first interaction of a first virtual object with a first intermediate virtual object,

counting a first consequential interaction of said first intermediate object with a second intermediate object,

counting a second consequential interaction of said second intermediate object with a third intermediate object,

counting further consequential interactions of said third and further intermediate objects with further intermediate objects, and

stopping further interaction when said count reaches said maximum number of consequential interactions, thereby restricting said interaction order, wherein said consequential interactions are direct interactions of said respective virtual objects to each other.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2013
From: GEOMCORE LTD.
To: TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031617/0763 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2013
From: ELBER, GERSHON; SHAKED, ORIT; SHMUELI, ODED
To: GEOMCORE LTD.
Reel/Frame 031617/0362 →
Continuity (3)
Division 09887026 · Jun 25, 2001
Provisional Application 60233478 · Sep 19, 2000
Related Publication 20080270947A1 · Oct 30, 2008