The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2007
Li-te Cheng, Malden, MA (US);
Steven L. Rohall, Winchester, MA (US);
John F. Patterson, Carlisle, MA (US);
Masato Ikura, Holmdel, NJ (US);
Phuong B. Le, Bloomington, IL (US);
Li-Te Cheng, Malden, MA (US);
Steven L. Rohall, Winchester, MA (US);
John F. Patterson, Carlisle, MA (US);
Masato Ikura, Holmdel, NJ (US);
Phuong B. Le, Bloomington, IL (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Computer method and apparatus represent users by respective avatars in a subject virtual environment. The invention system displays the avatars in the virtual environment, and for each avatar, displays in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects. The respective trail of virtual contact objects is associated with the user represented by the avatar and serves as a visual indication of presence and activeness (level of activity) of the user in the subject virtual environment. Each virtual contact object in the respective trail stores and provides user contact data of the user and is persistable upon end-user command.