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

Claim 7:
8. A computer program product adapted to automatically increase a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world, wherein the computer program product comprises computer readable program code stored in a memory of computer system and wherein, when executed by one or more physical processors, the computer readable program code:
receives 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, detects an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in the virtual world;
determines a current number of avatars for the virtual space;
determines a maximum allowable number of avatars for the virtual space based on a server capacity that is hosting the virtual space;
determines whether the current number of avatars in the virtual space has reached the maximum allowable number of avatars; and
after determining whether the current number of avatars in the virtual space has reached the maximum allowable number of avatars, automatically increases the capacity of the virtual space, up to the maximum expansion of a physical size, in response to the detection of said 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.