Patent ID: 8082297
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: A63F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of managing an audio communication session between a group of participants in a virtual environment, each of the group of participants being represented in the virtual environment by at least one Avatar, the method comprising the steps of: determining a center of mass of the audio communication session according to locations of the Avatars representing each of the group of participants to the audio communication session within the virtual environment; and causing the center of mass of the audio communication session to adjust according to movement of any of the Avatars representing the group of participants to the audio communication session as the Avatars representing the group of participants to the audio communication session move within the virtual environment; wherein a connect distance is used to determine whether a new participant may join the audio communication session, the connect distance being calculated as a distance between the center of mass of the audio communication session and an Avatar representing the new participant in the virtual environment; and wherein a participant to the audio communication session may be disconnected from the audio communication session if a distance between an Avatar associated with the participant and the center of mass of the audio communication session exceeds a disconnect distance.