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:
Oct. 16, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2009
Cary L. Bates, Rochester, MN (US);
Jim C. Chen, Rochester, MN (US);
Zachary A. Garbow, Rochester, MN (US);
Gregory E. Young, South St. Paul, MN (US);
Cary L. Bates, Rochester, MN (US);
Jim C. Chen, Rochester, MN (US);
Zachary A. Garbow, Rochester, MN (US);
Gregory E. Young, South St. Paul, MN (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for protecting a user from being followed by an avatar within an immersive virtual environment. To detect a following avatar, any avatars within a specified range of the user may be identified. Historical data may then be examined to determine if any of the identified avatars has been in the same recent virtual locations as the user. In order to rule out coincidental movements, the likelihood of both avatars being in the same places at the same time may be evaluated. Further, the following avatar may be tested by transporting the user to another location, and then monitoring to determine whether the following avatar also transports to the same location. Upon confirming that the following avatar is actually following the user, avoidance actions may be performed in order to avoid the following avatar.