Patent ID: 8676975

Claim:
A computer system for acquiring resources from a client computer during a user session with a virtual universe, comprising: at least one processing unit; memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; a resource access system storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the resource access system comprising: computer program code for invocating a local desktop session that displays a desktop interface onto a client computer during the user session with the virtual universe, wherein the desktop interface on the client computer has a boundary that is separate and distinct from a boundary associated with the virtual universe, the user session with the virtual universe being paused in response to invocating the local desktop session, wherein an avatar of a user from the virtual universe is rendered on the desktop interface; computer program code for enabling the avatar to navigate within the desktop interface using user-manipulated avatar controls; computer program code for permitting the avatar to acquire resources from the client computer by selecting a file from a window via the desktop interface through an action menu that allows the avatar to copy the selected file to an inventory associated with the avatar using the user-manipulated avatar controls, wherein the desktop interface displays the avatar acquiring the resources while rendered thereon; computer program code for enabling the avatar to return to the virtual universe session with the acquired resources from the desktop interface by selecting a return action from the action menu using the user-manipulated avatar controls; wherein the local desktop session is terminated when the user session with the virtual universe session is reestablished; and computer program code for managing acquired resources upon return to the virtual universe; wherein the computer program code for managing acquired resources assigns acquired resources a unique identifier and loads the acquired resources into a virtual universe database.