Patent ID: 8678922
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A63F,C04B

Abstract:
1. A server arranged to administer a plurality of substantially similar instances of an on-line virtual environment, the server comprising: a data communication arrangement operable to receive a signal from a first entertainment device in data communication with an instance of the on-line virtual environment, the signal indicating that a user of the first entertainment device has performed a predetermined action; and a processor operable to determine the availability of a second entertainment device; the processor operable being to switch the second entertainment device from a second instance of the on-line virtual environment to the first instance of the on-line virtual environment; the data communication arrangement being operable, if the second entertainment device is available, to transmit a signal to the first entertainment device indicating that a software controlled avatar within that instance of the on-line virtual environment should change mode to represent a user of the second entertainment device; the processor being operable to transfer control of a previously software controlled avatar within that instance of the on-line virtual environment to the second entertainment device.