IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,237,310
Granted Patent B2
US 10,237,310 · App. 15/137,840 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Method and apparatus for controlling information in virtual world

Inventors: Seiya Hayano (Yokohama, JP); Shinji Iizuka (Yokohama, JP); Toshitaka Imai (Sagamihara, JP); Kohtaroh Miyamoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04L65/403H04L12/1822A63F2300/5533A63F2300/64H04L51/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,237,310
App. No.
15/137,840
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a method for controlling information shared in a virtual world by a server and a plurality of users' client terminals connected to each other through a network. In this information control method, a computer creates a third object between a first object and a second object in the virtual world when the first object and second object transmit communication information therebetween, and filters the information with the third object. In addition, when an object transmits visual information, the third object can be created around the object transmitting the visual information. The third object can be created as a pseudo wall.

Claims (37)

1. A method of controlling sharing of information in a virtual world by two or more computing devices connected to each other through a network of interconnected computing devices, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a third object between a first object and a second object in the virtual world when said first object and said second object transmit communication information therebetween; and

filtering said communication information with said third object according to a direction of transmission of the communication information between the first object and the second object.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

generating said third object around an object that transmits visual information.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said third object is created as a pseudo wall.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said third object performs different kinds of filtering according to moving directions of information and another object.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said third object has information defining whether or not to allow another object to pass through said third object.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein creating includes checking an authority level to determine whether creation of said third object is permitted.

7. A non-transitory computer readable article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for executing the steps of a method of controlling information shared in a virtual world by a server and a plurality of users' client terminals connected to each other through a network according to claim 1 .

8. A system for controlling, using a processor, sharing of information in a virtual world by two or more computing devices connected to each other through a network of interconnected computing devices, the system comprising:

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to control the sharing of information by:

generating a third object between a first object and a second object in the virtual world when said first object and said second object transmit communication information therebetween;

storing information on said third object; and

said communication information with said third object according to a direction of transmission of the communication information between the first object and the second object.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said third object creating unit creates said third object around an object that transmits visual information.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said third object storage unit holds filtering information for performing different kinds of filtering according to moving directions of information and another object.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said third object storage unit holds information defining whether or not to allow another object to pass through said third object.

12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said client terminal performs processing for visual information and information on a movement of an object.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said server performs processing for said communication information.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said third object creating unit checks an authority level for creating said third object to determine whether creation of said third object is permitted.

15. A server for controlling, using a processor, sharing of information in a virtual world by two or more computing devices connected to each other through a network of interconnected computing devices, the server comprising:

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to control the sharing of information by:

transmitting and receiving information to and from the two or more computing devices;

creating a third object between a first object and a second object when said first object and said second object transmit communication information therebetween;

storing information on said third object in the memory;

filtering the communication information received from said information update unit according to a direction of transmission of the communication information between the first and the second object; and

storing (i) said communication information received from said information update unit and (ii) said communication information filtered by said filtering processing unit in the memory.

16. The server according to claim 15 , wherein said third object creating unit creates said third object around said object that transmits visual information.

17. The server according to claim 15 , wherein said third object is created as a pseudo wall.

18. The server according to claim 15 , wherein said filtering processing unit performs different kinds of filtering according to moving directions of information and another object.

19. The server according to claim 15 , wherein the third object storage unit includes information defining whether or not to allow another object to pass through said third object.

20. The server according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a visual information storage unit;

a movement information storage unit; and

a communication information storage unit;

wherein said visual information storage unit, said movement information storage unit and said communication information storage unit respectively stores, through said information update unit, visual information, information on movements of objects, and said communication information received from said client terminals.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2016
From: HAYANO, SEIYA; IIZUKA, SHINJI; IMAI, TOSHITAKA; MIYAMOTO, KOHTAROH
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038372/0875 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-293646 · Nov 12, 2007 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13759670 · Feb 5, 2013
Continuation 12268488 · Nov 11, 2008
Related Publication 20160241613A1 · Aug 18, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,682,417