Patent ID: 9258337
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: H04L,H04M

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method of including web content in a three-dimensional computer-generated virtual environment, the method comprising the steps of: running a first virtual environment client on a first computer; receiving, by the first virtual environment client from a virtual environment server, a first Uniform Resourced Locator (URL) and first browser state defining the web content that is to be associated with a three dimensional surface at a first location in a virtual environment implemented by the first virtual environment client when a first Avatar associated with a first user is proximate the first location in the virtual environment; passing the first URL and first browser state from the first virtual environment client to a first web browser running on the first computer; obtaining, by the first web browser, the first web content associated with the first URL and first browser state; passing the first web content from the first web browser to the first virtual environment client; rendering, by the first virtual environment client, the first web content onto the three dimensional surface at the first location in the three dimensional computer-generated virtual environment to allow the first user to view the first web content on the three dimensional surface at the first location in the virtual environment; receiving input, by the first virtual environment client from the first user, the input specifying a second URL that is to be associated with the three dimensional surface at the first location in the virtual environment; passing the second URL from the first virtual environment client to the first web browser; obtaining, by the first web browser, second web content and second browser state associated with the second URL; passing the second web content and second browser state from the first web browser to the first virtual environment client; passing the second URL and second browser state, but not the second web content, from the first virtual environment client to the virtual environment server; forwarding, by the virtual environment server, the second URL and second browser state to virtual environment clients of other users of the virtual environment when avatars associated with the other users of the virtual environment are proximate the first location in the virtual environment to enable the other users to independently obtain the second web content to be displayed on the three dimensional surface at the first location in the three dimensional computer-generated virtual environment.