Patent ID: 8493386

Claim:
A method of operating executable scripts on a virtual worlds system to enable automation of actions on the virtual worlds system, the method comprising: maintaining, on computer-readable media, a data representation of a virtual space, the data representation including a hierarchical representation of objects within the virtual space, the hierarchical representation including an executable script associated with a first object within the hierarchical representation, the hierarchical representation including a plurality of nodes, one of the plurality of nodes including the first object, the hierarchical representation identifying a relationship between the plurality of nodes, wherein an executable script included in a first node having a higher position in the hierarchical representation is configured to alter a second node having a lower position in the hierarchical representation; executing the executable script on one or more computer processors in communication with the computer-readable media; enabling the executable script to modify a second object within the hierarchical representation, based on a determination that the second object is in a node with the first object or a descendant node of the first object with which the executable script is associated; and preventing the executable script from modifying a third object within the hierarchical representation, based on a determination that the third object is not in a node with the first object or a descendant node of the first object with which the executable script is associated.