High Fidelity, Inc.

Linden Research, Inc.

Philip Rosedale

Brad Hefta-Gaub

Stephen Birarda

Andrzej Kapolka

Ryan Karpf

Cory Rudolph Ondrejka

Freddy Heiberger

Andrew L Meadows

Irena Freidrica Heiberger

Certain technology disclosed herein relates to a server, that supports a portion of a computer implemented virtual reality (VR) environment, submitting negative reports on behalf of users in order to reduce the probability of users of the VR environment retaliating against one another in response to receiving negative ratings. Certain technology described herein relates to using ring signatures to sign the negative reports that are to be submitted to a public database, which technology is also used to reduce the probability of users retaliating against one another in response to receiving negative ratings.

Enabling negative reputation submissions in manners that reduce chances of retaliation

Embodiments described herein reduce the probability that a user of a VR environment can nefariously rig a system to positively and/or negatively influence another user's reputation score. Information indicative of a positive or negative interaction between an avatar of a first user and an avatar of a second user is received from a client computing device used by the first user. Further information is received from a client computing device used by a third user of the VR environment, and based thereon, there is a determination whether the positive or negative interaction is corroborated or contradicted. If corroborated, a reputation score associated with the second user is increased or decreased. If contradicted, the reputation score associated with the second user is not adjusted, and the reputation score of the first user may be decreased. Such reputation scores can be accessed and used by a user using a client computing device.

Use of corroboration to generate reputation scores within virtual reality environments

Described herein are systems and methods for providing a computer-generated virtual environment that is at least partially supported by user contributed computing devices. In an embodiment, an indication is received, from each of a plurality of user contributed computing devices, that the computing device is available to contribute at least a portion of its computational resources to support the virtual environment. At least some of the computing devices, from which the indications are received, are assigned computational tasks that are used to support the virtual environment. Credits are provide to users associated with the computing devices that are assigned and perform the assigned computational tasks. A record of the credits provided to users is maintained. Users that interact with the virtual environment can use their credits to pay for computational tasks performed to support the users' interactions with the virtual environment and/or to pay for virtual goods and/or virtual services.

Systems and methods for implementing distributed computer-generated virtual environments using user contributed computing devices

Described herein are systems and method for providing an immersive audio experience in a computer-generated virtual environment. An audio-mixer is placed at a location in a domain of the virtual environment and receives a separate audio feed from each of the audio source nodes directly connected to the audio-mixer. The audio-mixer mixes the received audio feeds in dependence on corresponding location, position and intrinsic loudness information to generate a separate spatialized mixed audio feed for each of the directly connected audio listener nodes. The audio-mixer sends, to each of the audio listener nodes directly connected to the audio-mixer, the separate spatialized mixed audio feed generated for the audio listener. An audio-mixer also receives and sends non-spatialized mixed audio feeds to/from other audio-mixers. The location of the audio-mixer is preferably moved to account for audio source nodes moving and/or changes to which audio source nodes are directly connected to the audio-mixer.

Systems and methods for providing immersive audio experiences in computer-generated virtual environments

Distributed continuous simulation of a three dimensional simulation space is provided using a set of simulation servers. The simulation space is partitioned into a set of regions. In one embodiment, each simulation server is responsible for simulating one of the regions of the simulation space. Users interacting with the simulation communicate directly with the simulation server responsible for simulating the region that the user is currently interacting with.

System and method for distributed simulation in which different simulation servers simulate different regions of a simulation space

An input and feedback system for use with simulator devices immobilizes a portion of the user's body using a securement device which holds the immobilized portion in a fixed position. Pressure sensors are disposed upon the securement device to detect the force resulting from any attempted motion of the immobilized body part. Signals describing these forces are sent to a processing unit which applies this information to a simulated environment and provides sensory feedback to the user of the this simulated environment. Feedback is provided via vibrating elements which provide a sensation to the user corresponding to the motion of the user's muscles which occur in the simulated environment. Feedback is also provided via a screen which is disposed in front of the head of the user. Such immobilizing devices may be used to allow input and feedback based on the motion of various parts of the user's body, such as the head, arms, legs, and torso.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Philip Rosedale