Interfacing with a spatial virtual communication environment
US8397168B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/131
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A spatial layout of zones of a virtual area in a network communication environment is displayed. A user can have a respective presence in each of one or more of the zones. Navigation controls and interaction controls are presented. The navigation controls enable the user to specify where to establish a presence in the virtual area. The interaction controls enable the user to manage interactions with one or more other communicants in the network communication environment. A respective presence of the user is established in each of one or more of the zones on response to input received via the navigation controls. Respective graphical representations of the communicants are depicted in each of the zones where the communicants respectively have presence.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.