Patent ID: 6349301
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: A63F,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for updating a virtual world environment (VWE) that is displayed to a plurality of users to include a change in the VWE, comprising the steps of:(a) displaying at least part of the VWE to each user with a client computer that manages a local database defining at least a portion of the VWE, said local database containing an entry for each object that is disposed within said portion of the VWE; (b) in response to a change in a selected object occurring within the VWE, transmitting the change to a server computer; (c) updating the world database with the server computer to include the change in the selected object; (d) determining an affected object in a bystander region of the selected object, said affected object being at least potentially capable of perceiving the change to said selected object; (e) transmitting the change to each client computer associated with the affected object, said client computer having an entry in its local database for the affected object; and (f) entering the change to the selected object in the local database managed by the client computer of each user associated with the affected object.