Patent ID: 8341640
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for conserving resource consumption by a virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of: each of a plurality of virtual objects of the virtual universe detecting an indication to reduce the resource consumption by one or more degrees of resource reduction required for a computing resource that supports the virtual universe; a first virtual object, of the plurality of virtual objects, selecting a first setting encoded in the first virtual object, in response to said detecting the indication to reduce the resource consumption, wherein said first setting encoded in the first virtual object indicates a displayable characteristic of the first virtual object; the first virtual object calling instructions referenced by the first setting, wherein the instructions are associated with the displayable characteristic of the first virtual object, wherein the instructions referenced by the first setting are called based on an order of degrees of display quality reduction that corresponds to the one or more degrees of resource reduction required for the computing resource; the first virtual object reducing display quality for the displayable characteristic of the first virtual object in the order of the degrees of display quality reduction in response to said calling the instructions referenced by the first setting, wherein the first virtual object consumes less of the computing resource for the displayable characteristic of the first virtual object than if the display quality of the displayable characteristic of the first virtual object were to be reduced according to instructions referenced by a second setting encoded in the first virtual object; a second virtual object, of the plurality of virtual objects, selecting a third setting encoded in the second virtual object, in response to said detecting the indication to reduce the resource consumption, wherein said third setting encoded in the second virtual object indicates that the displayable characteristics of the second virtual object are not to be reduced in display quality; and the first virtual object being rendered in the order of the degrees of display quality reduction according to the first setting encoded in the first virtual object while, concurrently and independently, the second virtual object is rendered with no reduction in display quality according to the third setting encoded in the second virtual object.