Patent · US Active

Relationship based presence indicating in virtual area contexts

US8756304B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by

67References

31Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Social Communications Company · US

Inventors

Matthew Leacock · Sunnyvale, US
David Van Wie · Eugene, US
Paul J. Brody · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 9, 2011
Grant date	Jun 17, 2014
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 2, 2032

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA63F2300/5573
WIPO fieldDigital communication
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A user's presence is established in a particular zone of a virtual area that is assigned to the user. An indication of the user's presence in the particular zone is transmitted to each communicant who has a respective relationship tie with the user that satisfies a governance rule that is associated with the particular zone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.