Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080307438 | STATUS HUB USED BY AUTONOMIC APPLICATION SERVERS - A method for serving applications including receiving a component status publication and acquiring a client request. The component status publication can specify a usage level for an application component. A server response for the client request can be selected from among a multitude of possible server responses based at least in part upon the component status publication. Each possible server response can differentially utilize application components. The client request can be response to by conveying the selected server response. | 12-11-2008 |
20090031081 | SYSTEM AND MODULE FOR MERGING ELECTRONIC AND PRINTED DATA - A system for merging electronic and printed information is provided. The system includes a computing device having a visual display. Additionally, the system includes a handheld electronic memory device containing at least one information file with information corresponding to printed information that is presented on a separate physical medium. The memory device also includes a processing file comprising stored computer-readable instructions. The system further includes an electrical connector that is attached to the handheld electronic memory device. The electrical connector connects to the computing device having the visual display so that the at least one information file and the processing file are conveyed via the electrical connector to the computing device when the electrical connector is connected to the computing device. | 01-29-2009 |
20090054043 | Future Location Determination Using Social Networks - A computer-implemented method of predicting a future location of a mobile node can include determining a current location of a first mobile node, determining a location of at least a second mobile node, wherein the second mobile node is associated with the first mobile node via a social network, and generating a list including at least one candidate destination determined, at least in part, according to the location of the first mobile node and the location of the second mobile node. For each candidate destination on the list, a probability that the first mobile node is in route to that candidate destination location can be calculated. A candidate destination can be selected, according to the probabilities, from the list as a predicted future location of the first mobile node. The predicted future location of the first mobile node can be output. | 02-26-2009 |
20090055093 | PICTORIAL NAVIGATION METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT - Methods, systems and program products provide pictorial information relevant to a geographic location, through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a user, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to a user in association with geographic locations. Characteristic include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs. Associated image data may indicate a distance and direction from a geographic location. Routing system applications are enabled to present pictorial information with each navigation route points. | 02-26-2009 |
20090083749 | RESTRICTING RESOURCES CONSUMED BY GHOST AGENTS - One aspect of the present invention can include a method for restricting resources consumed by ghost agents. The method can include the step of associating a ghost agent with a host. A resource utilization value can be ascertained for the ghost agent and the host combined. The ascertained resource utilization value can be compared with a usage threshold. A determination can be made as to whether operations of the ghost agent are to be executed based upon the previous comparison. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089434 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SAVING AND RETRIEVING CLIENT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM - A method of saving and retrieving client-specific information in an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A Serving Call Session Control Server (S-CSCF) receives information from a first client initiating a call to a second client. The information includes identification information corresponding to the first client and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite to the second client. If a profile of the first client in a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) includes a trigger value, the S-CSCF forwards the SIP invite to an Application Server (AS). If a local AS archive does not include valid profile information corresponding to the first client, the AS fetches valid profile information from the HSS, and the AS stores the profile information in the local archive. The AS sends the profile information corresponding to the first client from the local archive to the second client by embedding the profile information within the SIP invite. | 04-02-2009 |
20090099936 | USING VISUAL IMAGES TRANSFERRED FROM WIRELESS COMPUTING DEVICE DISPLAY SCREENS - Within a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce can include receiving a user input in the wireless computing device specifying an account to which a proposed transaction is to be billed and identifying contact information for a billing entity according to the user specified account. The billing entity can manage the account. An authorization can be requested from the billing entity via a wireless communications link established using the contact information. The method also can include receiving the authorization from the billing entity via the wireless communications link, generating a visual image which identifies the billing entity and represents the authorization received from the billing entity, and presenting the visual image upon the display screen of the wireless computing device. Accordingly, a visual image reader can read the displayed visual image. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106420 | GHOST AGENTS FOR APPLICATION DOMAINS WITHIN A GRID ENVIRONMENT - A method for evaluating system behavior of an application domain within a grid environment can include the step of identifying a host software object within the application domain. A software object can be associated with the host software object. Within the associated software object, host actions can be replicated. Replicated actions can be recorded. The host software object can move from one grid within the grid environment to a different grid. The associated software object can responsively move within the grid environment in accordance with movement of the host software object. | 04-23-2009 |
20090112565 | TESTING APPLICATIONS WITHIN A GRID ENVIRONMENT USING GHOST AGENTS - A testing method including the step of identifying multiple hosts located within multiple grids of a grid environment, wherein each host is a software object. A ghost agent can be associated with each identified host. Actions of the host can be replicated within each ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded. Test input can be generated from the recorded data. Tests can be conducted within the grid environment using the test input. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119544 | GHOST AGENTS WITHIN A GRID ENVIRONMENT - A method for evaluating system behavior within a grid environment can include the step of identifying a host software object, wherein the host software object includes a user object, an application, and/or a process. The software object can be associated with the host software object. The host actions of the host software object can be replicated within the associated software object. Replicated actions can be recorded. The host software object can move from one grid within the grid environment to a different grid. In response to the moving of the host software object, the associated software object can move from the one grid to the different grid. | 05-07-2009 |
20090271205 | PREFERRED CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE PRESENTATION TO VIRTUAL UNIVERSE CLIENTS - The present invention is directed to presenting customer service representatives to a virtual universe client. A method for presenting a customer service representative (CSR) to a virtual universe client includes obtaining a preference(s) of the virtual universe client, and then presenting a virtual universe customer service representative (CSR) to the virtual universe client, based on the preference that was obtained. The invention allows virtual universe clients (“clients”), or customers, to experience consistent interaction quality with virtual universe CSR's, based on the client's stated preferences and/or interaction history in immersive support centers. This provides for consistency in the CSR experience for the client in that a virtual universe CSR may be staffed by varying human presences “behind” the avatar. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276704 | PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE HIERARCHIES WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention is directed to providing customer service hierarchies within a virtual universe. A method for providing customer service hierarchies within a virtual universe includes: receiving a customer need request from an avatar; presenting a virtual interactive menu and/or a web page after receiving the customer need request; and if the menu and/or web page does not satisfy the customer's need request, then providing a customer service representative avatar to the avatar in need of customer service. A system, a program product stored on a computer readable medium, and a method for deploying such an application are also disclosed. | 11-05-2009 |
20090307051 | CONSUMER RATING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BASED THEREON WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention is directed to providing consumer ratings and customer service based thereon within a virtual universe. A method for providing a consumer rating and customer service within a virtual universe includes: determining a consumer habit(s) of a customer in the virtual universe and then calculating a consumer rating, based on the determination of the consumer habit(s). From the calculated consumer rating, a particular consumer service is selectively providing in the virtual universe. | 12-10-2009 |
20090319286 | PERSONAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A method of providing personal service assistance in a virtual universe is disclosed. The method provides a customer avatar (CA) access to a personal assistance avatar or personal customer service representative (PCSR) avatar, hereinafter PCSR avatar. Through the PCSR avatar, the CA communicates a need or requests for personal service assistance from a business or organization. The communication of the received request is processed to identify an appropriate business, organization or vendor that meets the need or request. The identified business, organization or vendor is contacted for a representative from the business to accede to the request from the CA. The representative from the business is allowed to assume control of the PCSR avatar to conduct the session necessary for rendering the assistance or transaction. Upon completion of the session, control of the PCSR avatar is reverted to that prior to the session. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319390 | COMPETITIVE SALES ENVIRONMENT IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - The invention provides a method, system, and program product for providing a competitive sales environment in a virtual world. In one embodiment, the invention comprises receiving a request for product or service information from a consumer avatar, querying a database of vendors based on the request for product or service information, identifying at least one vendor relevant to the request for product or service information, notifying the at least one vendor of the request, and making available to the consumer avatar a sales environment based on the request for product or service information. | 12-24-2009 |
20100020100 | METHOD FOR EXTENDING A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH REGISTRATION - A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality and a base world list of base virtual world users, includes providing a virtual world layer, communicating to the base virtual world that the virtual world layer will overlay the base virtual world and adding the virtual world layer to the base world list in order to register the virtual world layer with the base virtual world. | 01-28-2010 |
20100020762 | CONVERSION OF VOICE-OVER-IP MEDIA CONTROL MESSAGING INTO MOBILE CONTROL CHANNEL SIGNALING USING A VOICE-OVER IP GATEWAY - A gateway serving as an interface between a mobile network and a wireless network can be configured to send a signal strength indicator to the mobile network thereby causing the mobile network to recognize the gateway as a valid path for handing off a call. The wireless network can be configured according to one of the 802.11 wireless communications protocols. The gateway can route the call from the mobile network to a wireless access point of the wireless network via a packet-switched network, such that the call is conducted via a wireless communications link with the wireless access point. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023879 | DISCERNING AND DISPLAYING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AVATARS - The invention relates generally to virtual universe environments and, more particularly, to discerning and displaying information regarding relationships between two or more avatars in a virtual universe environment. In one embodiment, the invention includes determining whether a first avatar and a second avatar have at least one relationship with one or more common avatars in response to the first avatar initiating an interaction with the second avatar, and in the case that the first and second avatars have at least one relationship with at least one common avatar, displaying information regarding the relationship with the common avatar to at least one of the first and second avatar. | 01-28-2010 |
20100026681 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING PARALLEL AUGMENTED FUNCTIONALITY FOR A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having a base virtual world functionality, includes providing first, second and third virtual world layers having respective first, second and third virtual world layer functionalities beyond the base virtual world functionality and providing user access to the base virtual world functionality and to the first and second virtual world functionalities by the second virtual world layer. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030854 | VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT MODULE BUNDLE - A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality, includes providing a virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyond the base virtual world functionality, encapsulating the virtual world layer to provide a virtual world module and transmitting the virtual world module to virtual world layer infrastructure to provide a transmitted virtual world module. The transmitted virtual world module is executed to provide user access to the base virtual world functionality and the virtual world layer functionality. | 02-04-2010 |
20100031164 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL WORLD LAYER - A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality, including providing a virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyond the base virtual world functionality, coupling the virtual world layer to the base virtual world and coupling the virtual world layer to the user. User access to the base virtual world functionality and to the virtual world layer functionality by the virtual world layer is provided. | 02-04-2010 |
20100058208 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TAGGING OBJECTS FOR HETEROGENEOUS SEARCHES - A system and method in a virtual universe system for tagging objects in one virtual world so that avatars in other virtual worlds can search for, review, purchase, and exchange real goods and virtual objects. In a virtual universe having more than one virtual world, an object in one virtual world may be tagged with a seller identification, an advertising location, an item type, and details of the item. The object may then be externalized to other virtual worlds within the virtual universe for searching. | 03-04-2010 |
20100281433 | Computer Method and Apparatus Specifying Avatar Entrance and Exit - Computer method and apparatus controls avatar relative to a subject virtual environment, in particular entrance to and/or exit from the subject environment. An entrance/exit specification engine provides a plurality of characteristics of the subject environment and/or of an avatar representing a corresponding user in the subject environment. A script generator responsive to the entrance/exit specification engine generates scripts as a function of the plurality of characteristics. The generated scripts form a script collection executable with the avatar. Execution of the generated scripts on a processor of the corresponding user controls avatar entrance to and/or exit from the subject environment. | 11-04-2010 |
20100321378 | Computer Method and Apparatus Providing Interactive Control and Remote Identity Through In-World Proxy - Computer method and apparatus render views of a computer generated virtual world to a remote viewer. The invention method and apparatus establish an avatar of a resident user as a proxy on behalf of the remote viewer. The computer node of the resident user exports proxy avatar views of the virtual world to the remote viewer. The remote viewer computer renders the exported virtual world views without executing virtual world application programs. | 12-23-2010 |
20110078088 | Method and System for Accurate Rating of Avatars in a Virtual Environment - A method and system applies a rating adjustment to ratings by avatars in a virtual universe. The rating adjustment offsets mutual rating collusion between avatars. The ratings may be adjusted based on a weighted value of indicia of association, and may also be adjusted based on rating frequencies between the same avatars. In a rating system having a fee structure, the ratings may be adjusted by scaling the rating/fee payoff to favor higher fees. Where indicia of association are weighted, the weightings are mapped to discrete levels of association between avatars, from no association to close association, with greater reduction of ratings for closer association. | 03-31-2011 |
20110131508 | INFORMING USERS OF A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE OF REAL WORLD EVENTS - The present invention provides various approaches for disseminating emergency broadcasting messages or other messages of importance (hereinafter “alerts”) within virtual world environments such that interested virtual world residents can be made aware of matters of importance based on their physical world locations (e.g., without respect to the locale of their current virtual world presence). | 06-02-2011 |
20110131517 | EVALUATING ADVERTISING EFFECTIVENESS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - Aspects of this invention are directed toward determining the effectiveness of advertising in a virtual universe. Specifically, under the present invention, a visit by an avatar to a region of the VU that includes targeted advertising content is registered. Then, the following avatar attributes are determined: a proximity to the target advertising content by the avatar; an avatar directionality of the avatar with respect to the target advertising content; a camera directionality of a camera object associated with the avatar; and a time with respect to which the avatar may be exposed to the target advertising content in the region. Thereafter, at least one score is assigned to the visit, the proximity, the directionality, and the time. An effectiveness score is then calculated based on the at least one score. The overall effectiveness of the target advertising content is then calculated based on the at least one score. | 06-02-2011 |
20110191365 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBJECT SEARCHING IN VIRTUAL WORLDS - A system and method enabling the search for a three-dimensional virtual world object across the universe of virtual worlds by utilizing a two-step search process to first identify the object and second, to actively locate and generate a URI to all presently manifest instances of that object. | 08-04-2011 |
20110231781 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL OBJECT SHARING AND MANAGEMENT IN VIRTUAL WORLDS - A system, method, and program storage device for sharing and exchanging virtual objects from different virtual worlds are disclosed. Virtual objects are centrally managed by an inventory service. The inventory service performs data transmission related to virtual objects and data translation related to virtual objects. The inventory service has a repository for storing virtual objects and applies cache policy(s) to local cache memories in virtual worlds to maintain data consistency across the virtual worlds. Based on a publish/subscribe mechanism, each virtual world publishes and subscribes topic notifications related shared virtual objects. The system, method and program storage device are also used for a separate state management of a shared/exchanged virtual object within identical virtual world(s). | 09-22-2011 |
20110317593 | Conferencing that Bridges Virtual World and Real-World Meeting Places - Mechanisms are provided for conference call communication in a virtual world environment. The mechanisms establish a hybrid conference call by establishing a hybrid conference call communication connection between a data based communication conference call server, that handles data based communications with client computing devices, and a telephone conference call server, that handles telephone protocol communications with telephone devices external to the virtual world environment. Communications between client computing devices and telephone devices are converted from data based communications to telephone protocol communications and vice versa using a data based communication conference call server and a telephone conference call server. | 12-29-2011 |
20120303660 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBJECT SEARCHING IN VIRTUAL WORLDS - A system and method enabling the search for a three-dimensional virtual world object across the universe of virtual worlds by utilizing a two-step search process to first identify the object and second, to actively locate and generate a URI to all presently manifest instances of that object. | 11-29-2012 |
20130007636 | Security Enhancements for Immersive Environments - In some example embodiments, a method includes defining a tracking area for a first avatar in an online immersive environment, wherein the tracking area encompasses the first avatar and some defined area beyond the first avatar. The first avatar represents a first person who is a guardian of a second person in the real world and external to the online immersive environment. A second avatar represents the second person in the online immersive environment. The method includes tracking a path through the online immersive environment of the tracking area for the first avatar. The method includes marking a region in the online immersive environment as a safe zone for the second avatar, after the path of the tracking area for the first avatar has traversed the region. The method includes authorizing access to the region marked as the safe zone for the second avatar in the online immersive environment. | 01-03-2013 |
20130018579 | PICTORIAL NAVIGATION - Pictorial information is provided relevant to a geographic location through selecting characteristics relevant to geographic locations, searching pictorial image databases for images having an embedded tags associated with the characteristics, retrieving image files from databases having embedded tags correlated to characteristics and visually depicting a physical appearance or an attribute of a location, analyzing characteristics image files and responsively selecting preferred image data, formatting preferred image data for presentation to a traveler, associating formatted preferred data with geographic locations, and presenting associated formatted data to the traveler in association with geographic locations. Characteristics include global positioning satellite coordinates. Image data may be selected having preferred image resolutions or perspectives. Formatting pictorial information may comprise synthesizing photographs into a constructs. Associated image data may indicate a distance and direction from a geographic location. Routing system applications are enabled to present pictorial information with navigation route points. | 01-17-2013 |
20130275271 | EXTERNALIZING VIRTUAL OBJECT TAGS RELATING TO VIRTUAL OBJECTS - A system and method in a virtual universe system for tagging objects in one virtual world so that avatars in other virtual worlds can search for, review, purchase, and exchange real goods and virtual objects. In a virtual universe having more than one virtual world, an object in one virtual world may be tagged with a seller identification, an advertising location, an item type, and details of the item. The object may then be externalized to other virtual worlds within the virtual universe for searching. | 10-17-2013 |
20130282529 | EXTERNALIZING VIRTUAL OBJECT TAGS RELATING TO VIRTUAL OBJECTS - A system and method in a virtual universe system for tagging objects in one virtual world so that avatars in other virtual worlds can search for, review, purchase, and exchange real goods and virtual objects. In a virtual universe having more than one virtual world, an object in one virtual world may be tagged with a seller identification, an advertising location, an item type, and details of the item. The object may then be externalized to other virtual worlds within the virtual universe for searching. | 10-24-2013 |
20140164182 | PERSONAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A method of providing personal service assistance in a virtual universe is disclosed. The method provides a customer avatar (CA) access to a personal assistance avatar or personal customer service representative (PCSR) avatar, hereinafter PCSR avatar. Through the PCSR avatar, the CA communicates a need or requests for personal service assistance from a business or organization. The communication of the received request is processed to identify an appropriate business, organization or vendor that meets the need or request. The identified business, organization or vendor is contacted for a representative from the business to accede to the request from the CA. The representative from the business is allowed to assume control of the PCSR avatar to conduct the session necessary for rendering the assistance or transaction. Upon completion of the session, control of the PCSR avatar is reverted to that prior to the session. | 06-12-2014 |