Patent ID: 11972086
Assignee: ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  G  H | IPC A  G  H

Claim 10:
11. A method for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world, the method being implemented on a computer system comprising one or more physical processors executing one or more computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:
receiving a maximum expansion of a physical size of a virtual space, wherein the maximum expansion of a physical size is set by a manager of the virtual space and is representative of a number of avatars that would cause overcrowding of the virtual space;
after receiving the maximum expansion of a physical size of the virtual space, detecting, by the computer system, an attempt by an avatar to enter the virtual space in a virtual world;
determining, by the computer system, a current number of avatars in the virtual space;
determining, by the computer system, a maximum allowable number of avatars for the virtual space based on a server capacity that is hosting the virtual space;
determining, by the computer system, whether the current number of avatars in the virtual space has reached the maximum allowable number of avatars; and
after determining, by the computer system, whether the current number of avatars in the virtual space has reached the maximum allowable number of avatars, automatically increasing, by the computer system, the capacity of the virtual space, up to the maximum expansion of a physical size, in response to the detection of the attempt and the determination that the current number of avatars in the virtual space has reached the maximum allowable number of avatars, wherein the increased capacity of the virtual space allows the avatar to occupy the virtual space together with the determined current number of avatars in the virtual space.