International Business Machines Corporation

Ulysses Lamont Cannon

Ruthie D Lyle

Angela Richards Jones

Susan Stanford McVey

Al Chakra

Ruthie D Lyle-Cannon

A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user.

Activity triggered photography in metaverse applications

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to jargon usage in a location in a virtual world and provide a method, system and computer program product for location and event based dictionaries to facilitate communication in location in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for communication facilitation in a location within the virtual world can include identifying jargon in a message exchanged in a location in a virtual world, looking up a glossary entry for the jargon in a dictionary of jargon for the location in the virtual world, and rendering the glossary entry in connection with the jargon in the message.

Location/event based dictionaries to facilitate communication in a virtual world location

A static communication can be presented efficiently in different languages to facilitate propagation of the static communication across language boundaries. A static communication object that represents a static communication can be loaded with different language encodings of the static communication. When a trigger occurs (e.g., an avatar accesses the static communication object), a language encoding of the static communication that can be understood by the avatar is presented to the avatar. As the static communication propagates throughout the virtual universe, additional language encodings can be added to the static communication object.

Selecting a language encoding of a static communication in a virtual universe

Ordering content in social networking applications is described. A method includes receiving a plurality of shared content pieces that are viewable and accessible by at least one viewer, wherein the shared content pieces are received from a personal web page owner. The method includes displaying the shared content pieces in an initial order, wherein the displayed shared content pieces are accessed in a viewer order determined by an individual viewer. The method includes receiving and storing the viewer order and an identity of the individual viewer in a data store. The method includes receiving approval from the personal web page owner to change the initial order. The method includes, in response to receiving the approval from the personal web page owner, changing the initial order based at least in part upon at least one of the viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer, thereby providing an adjusted order.

Ordering content in social networking applications

Ordering content in social networking applications is described. A plurality of shared content pieces are received, that are viewable and accessible by at least one viewer, wherein the shared content pieces are configured for display in an initial order, wherein the shared content pieces are accessed in a viewer order determined by an individual viewer. The viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer are received and stored in a data store, and the initial order is changed based at least in part upon at least one of the viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer, thereby providing an adjusted order. The changing of the initial order is performed after a predetermined period of time and is based at least in part upon at least one of viewer orders and identities of individual viewers for a plurality of viewers in the data store.

A method, information processing system, and virtual environment, provide location information to users in the virtual environment. A first user is determined to be communicating with a second user in a virtual environment. One of the first user and the second user is determined to have entered a character set substantially matching a keyword in a database entry. Location information associated with the keyword is identified. The location information indicates a location within the virtual environment. The location information is linked to the character set. The character set is visually changed to indicate to the first user and the second user that location information has been linked to the character set.

Providing location based information in a virtual environment

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for ordering content in social networking applications are described. A plurality of shared content pieces are received, that are viewable and accessible by at least one viewer. The shared content pieces are displayed in an initial order, wherein the displayed shared content pieces are accessed in a viewer order determined by an individual viewer. The viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer are received and stored in a data store, and the initial order is changed based at least in part upon at least one of the viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer, thereby providing an adjusted order.

A method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for rating exchangeable gestures in a virtual world application. The method includes making a gesture owned by a first user of the virtual world application available to a second user of the virtual world application; in response to the second user providing a rating of the gesture, storing the rating in a repository of the first user, determining a rating metric of the gesture using at least the rating received from the second user, and communicating the rating metric to a third user of the virtual world application.

Method and system for rating exchangeable gestures via communications in virtual world applications

The present invention discloses a solution for a surface based computing device to return passed objects. That is, software of the surface based computing device can permit software objects appearing within a display of a surface based computing device to be passed among users positioned about the surface based computing device. The surface based computing device can also include software maintaining linkages between passed software objects and return positions defined for each of the passed software objects. Further software can be configured to automatically return at least one of the passed software objects from a current position on the display to an associated return position responsive to an occurrence of a return object event relating to that passed software object. Visual representation of the linkages can be optionally shown on the surface based computing device and the passing objects can be optionally animated.

Returning passed objects in a surface based computing environment using a virtual bungee

A meeting initialization request for a meeting can be identified. The meeting initialization request can specify a prompt time for attendance intentions. A programmatic trigger, referred to as a prompt trigger, can be established for the prompt time. A firing of this prompt trigger can occur when a current time equals the prompt time. At this time, at least one potential attendee for the meeting can be determined. A set of potential attendees is typically defined by the meeting initiator within the meeting initialization request. An intention message can be sent to the determined potential attendee responsive to a firing of the programmatic trigger. This intention message can be sent at a time close to the prompt time. The intention message can prompt the potential attendee to indicate whether the potential attendee intends to attend the meeting.

Specifying during meeting establishment when respondents are to be prompted for attendance intentions

A method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for exchanging gestures in a virtual world application. In one embodiment, the virtual world application determines whether a first avatar has a gesture exchange function enabled. If so, the virtual world application displays words communicated by a first user to a second user during the communication session and identifies a keyword among the communicated words corresponding to a gesture in a user inventory of the first avatar.

Gesture exchange via communications in virtual world applications

A method, system and computer program product for associating a virtual instant messaging client, of an avatar, with a standard instant messaging account. When a communication transcript is completed in a virtual instant messaging session, the communication transcript is stored. Wherein the stored communication transcript is an archived virtual world (VW) communication transcript. The archived VW communication transcript is associated with one or more instant messaging clients. A request is received to continue communication, with one or more avatars, when a virtual instant messaging session is completed. When the request is received a graphical user interface (GUI) is automatically displayed. One or more of the following selections are enabled: communicate via the instant messaging session or do not communicate via the instant messaging session. When the selection to communicate, with the one or more avatars, via the instant messaging session is received, the system dynamically initiates an instant messaging session. The GUI is automatically closed when a do not communicate via the instant messaging session selection is received. Access to the archived VW communication transcript is enabled during one or more instant messaging sessions. The content of the archived VW communication transcript is automatically displayed when the archived VW communication transcript is accessed during the instant messaging session.

Method to continue instant messaging exchange when exiting a virtual world

A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for initiating a session in a virtual world. An instant messaging system (IMS) comprises a registry of IMS user identifiers cross-referenced to their corresponding virtual world user identifiers. A first IMS user implements a virtual world invitation module as a result of an IMS session to invite a second IMS user to participate in a virtual world session. The first IMS user selects the IMS user identifier of the second IMS user, followed by selection of a target virtual world and a virtual world identifier. Once completed, the invitation is sent the IMS user identifier of the second IMS user, who receives the invitation and signifies their acceptance or declination. If accepted, the cross-referenced virtual world user identifiers of the first and second IMS users are used to log them into the agreed-upon virtual world venue and initiate a virtual world session.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Ulysses Lamont Cannon