U.S. patent application number 10/727799 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for information display.
Invention is credited to Brownlee, David, Collins, Matt, Gettman, David, Morris, Nicole.
Application Number | 20050022139 10/727799 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27772722 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050022139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gettman, David ; et
al. |
January 27, 2005 |
Information display
Abstract
A method for organizing and presenting material content on a
display to a viewer, the method comprising: mapping a plurality of
display windows within a virtual three-dimensional space so that
each display window is allocated a specific and predetermined
position in the space, rendering each display window in
three-dimensional perspective according to its position and angle
relative to a viewer's virtual position in the virtual space,
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of the material content that is designated to be rendered
in that particular display window at a particular time based on at
least one predetermined condition, allocating at least part of the
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer, selecting, retrieving and
preparing material content for possible subsequent display
according to a predetermined algorithm, selecting and rendering
prepared material content within its cross-referenced display
window according to a predetermined algorithm, providing a means of
virtual navigation that changes the viewer's position in the space
in such a manner as to simulate movement through a plurality of
predefined channels in the virtual space.
Inventors: |
Gettman, David; (London,
GB) ; Brownlee, David; (London, GB) ; Morris,
Nicole; (Monte Carlo, MC) ; Collins, Matt;
(London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HICKMAN PALERMO TRUONG & BECKER, LLP
1600 WILLOW STREET
SAN JOSE
CA
95125
US
|
Family ID: |
27772722 |
Appl. No.: |
10/727799 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/850 ;
707/E17.111; 715/708; 715/778; 715/782; 715/783; 715/789; 715/790;
715/803; 715/811; 715/851; 715/852; 715/854; 715/855 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/954 20190101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/850 ;
715/782; 715/783; 715/789; 715/811; 715/778; 715/708; 715/851;
715/852; 715/854; 715/855; 715/790; 715/803 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2003 |
GB |
0317493.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for organizing and presenting material content on a
display to a viewer, the method comprising: mapping a plurality of
display windows within a virtual three-dimensional space so that
each display window is allocated a specific and predetermined
position in the space, rendering each display window in
three-dimensional perspective according to its position and angle
relative to a viewer's virtual position in the virtual space,
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of the material content that is designated to be rendered
in that particular display window at a particular time based on at
least one predetermined condition, allocating at least part of the
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer, selecting, retrieving and
preparing material content for possible subsequent display,
according to a predetermined algorithm, selecting and rendering
prepared material content within its cross-referenced display
window, according to a predetermined algorithm, providing a means
of virtual navigation that changes the viewer's position in the
space in such a manner as to simulate movement through a plurality
of predefined channels in the virtual space.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display windows are
positioned in the three-dimensional virtual space in such a manner
as visually to represent exterior surfaces of three-dimensional
objects.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein a three-dimensional
virtual universe comprises at least two three-dimensional virtual
spaces.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein at least two of the
virtual spaces are connected.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the material content
comprises any one of HTML pages, XML pages, multimedia
presentations, VRML, data, numbers, text, still images such as
photographs or graphics, moving images, holograms, virtual control
panels and sound files.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein each display window
comprises one of a parallelogram, an ellipse, a scroll, a curved
concave and/or convex surface, a polygon with straight and/or
curved sides, a polyhedron with straight and/or curved edges, an
elliptical solid, and an empty or amorphous space.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein each unique position of a
display window is identified by numerical coordinates.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the numerical coordinates
refer to axes within the space.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the
material content is retrieved from a network.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the retrieving step
comprises retrieving at least some of the content from a local or
remote storage medium.
11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing an
interaction means that enables the viewer to interact with the
material content in at least one of the display windows.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the interaction with
material content occurs while the material content remains in situ
in its cross referenced display window within the three-dimensional
virtual space.
13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the interaction with
material content occurs by displaying the material content other
than in situ in its cross referenced display window.
14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined
condition for cross referencing comprises receiving financial
consideration from a real commercial concern.
15. A method according to claim 1 wherein a part of the
three-dimensional virtual space comprises cross-referenced content
material that is mainly determined by the viewer.
16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the channels may be
straight, curved, round or irregular.
17. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the
channels are arranged in a grid-like pattern.
18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space is a representation of a geographical landscape.
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the geographical
landscape is an urban landscape.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the urban landscape is a
visual representation of a town or city, the channels are visual
representations of roads, and at least one of the display windows
is a visual representation of a retail shop window arranged on
either side of a road.
21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the town or city is an
actual town or city that exists or did exist in the physical
world.
22. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space is a visual representation of the inside of a
department store and the channels are visual representations of
aisles in the store and the display windows are visual
representations of shop floor displays in the store.
23. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space is a visual representation of the inside of a
supermarket and the channels are visual representations of aisles
in the supermarket and the display windows are visual
representations of shelves in the supermarket.
24. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space is a visual representation of the inside of a
shopping mall and the channels are visual representations of
walkways in the shopping mall and the display windows are visual
representations of the shop-fronts in the mall.
25. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space is a visual representation of the inside of a library
and the channels are visual representations of aisles in the
library and the display windows are visual representations of
library shelves.
26. A method according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional
virtual space contains at least one navigational reference object
at a predetermined position.
27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the navigational
reference object comprises any one of a gateway, landmark, ambient
condition and advertisement.
28. A method according to claim 1 wherein the height of virtual
three-dimensional structures in the three-dimensional space is
varied to aid navigation.
29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the advertisement is
rendered in a way similar to the material content of a display
window and is specified by an actual commercial enterprise or other
organization or entity in exchange for actual financial
payments.
30. A method according to claim 1 whereby sets of material content,
associated by one or more characteristics, are cross referenced to
display windows that are spatially grouped together in the
three-dimensional virtual space.
31. A method according to claim 1 whereby the designation of
material content for rendering in a display window at a particular
position at a particular time is conditional upon one or more of
the following: the number, behavior and/or nature of viewers who
navigate to or near that position in the three-dimensional virtual
space; the nature of material content in other display windows near
that position; the availability of the display window at the
selected position; restrictions on the type of material content
being cross referenced; other requirements.
32. A method according to claim 1 wherein the viewer is prevented
from navigating into a restricted area of the three-dimensional
space unless the viewer fits a certain profile or fulfills certain
predetermined conditions.
33. A method according to claim 1 wherein the virtual space is
initially rendered such that the viewer is positioned at one of a
number of predetermined points of entry into the virtual space.
34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the point of entry is
the viewer's destination after leaving another three-dimensional
virtual space.
35. A method according to claim 1 comprising providing a first
system for rapid viewer movement through the three-dimensional
virtual space wherein there are predetermined start and stop
positions, so as to simulate travel via an underground railway, an
over-ground railway, or an elevated railway or cable-car.
36. A method according to claim 1 comprising providing a second
system for rapid viewer movement through the three-dimensional
virtual space wherein the viewer can determine the locations for
starting and stopping, so as to simulate travel via a taxi or
helicopter.
37. A method according to claim 35 or claim 36 wherein the viewer
can simulate movement through the three-dimension virtual space
only by the first or second system for rapid viewer movement and
via the channels and cannot transfer from one position to another
position other than by these mechanisms.
38. A method according to claim 1 comprising displaying to the
viewer the three-dimensional virtual space from an elevated
perspective looking downwards at an angle from a simulated height
or a bird's-eye perspective looking directly downwards from a
simulated height.
39. A method according to claim 1 comprising displaying the layout
of the three-dimensional virtual space on a two-dimensional or
three-dimensional topological map.
40. A method according to claim 39 wherein the map highlights any
one or more of the following: the predetermined points of entry
into the three dimensional virtual space, the fixed start and stop
locations of the rapid viewer movement mechanisms, and navigational
reference objects.
41. A method according to claim 1 in which the predetermined
algorithm for rendering (or for the preparation for rendering) of
material content for the display windows in the three-dimensional
virtual space comprises the dynamic selection of a subset of the
display windows, rendering their cross-referenced material content
to memory, and then copying the rendered material content into
their designated display windows.
42. A method according to claim 41 further comprising identifying a
current position and navigation direction of the viewer and using
said position and said direction as an input to the algorithm for
selecting the subset of display windows to be rendered to
memory.
43. A method according to claim 41 further comprising recording one
or more movements and speed of the viewer and using said movements
and speed as an input to the algorithm for selecting the subset of
display windows to be rendered to memory.
44. A method according to claim 41 comprising recording all or part
of a history of viewer activities and using this data as an input
to the algorithm for the purposes of selecting the subset of
display windows to be rendered to memory.
45. A method according to claim 41 comprising the recording of the
last modification date and time of rendered material content and
using this data as an input to the algorithm for the purposes of
selecting the subset of display windows to be rendered to
memory.
46. A method according to claim 41 whereby the updating of display
windows with animated or interactive material content which are out
of view or far from the viewer, but which the algorithm determines
are soon likely to be in view and near to the viewer, are put
temporarily into a suspended state so that the animation or
interactivity can be rapidly resumed when needed.
47. A method according to claim 1 and claim 41 comprising limiting
or suspending computer resources allocated to the rendering of a
subset of display windows to memory whenever the viewer's position
is changing.
48. A method according to claim 1, claim 41 and claim 47 whereby
priority is given to display windows with material content that is
less computer-resource intensive, so that these display windows are
more likely to be selected as part of the subset of display windows
to be rendered to memory, are more likely to remain part of the
subset, and are allocated more computer resources while part of the
subset.
49. A method according to claim 1 comprising a two part security
key to protect the integrity of the cross references for a
particular virtual space, wherein the public key is provided to the
viewer in order to decrypt the cross references that have been
encrypted with the private key.
50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the cross references
are signed with the private key and the public key is provided to
the viewer in order to verify the authenticity of the cross
reference signature.
51. A method according to claim 1, further comprising recording for
subsequent access by the viewer, the display window position and/or
network address or storage location of material content chosen by
the viewer.
52. A method according to claim 1, further comprising recording
and/or storing data about the position, simulated movements and
interactions executed by the viewer.
53. A method according to claim 1 and claim 52 comprising the
storage of data representative of the movements and interactions
executed by viewers, the collation of this data from multiple
viewers, and the representation of the data in a graphical
format.
54. A method according to claim 53 wherein the graphical format is
a contour map.
55. Apparatus for organizing and presenting material content on a
display to a viewer, the apparatus comprising: a display, means for
mapping a plurality of display windows within a three-dimensional
virtual space so that each display window is allocated a specific
and predetermined position, means for rendering each display window
in three-dimensional perspective according to its position and
angle relative to the viewer's position in the virtual space, means
for cross referencing the position of each display window to the
network address or storage location of the material content that is
designated to be rendered in that particular display window at a
particular time based on at least one predetermined condition,
means for selecting, retrieving and preparing material content for
possible subsequent display, according to a predetermined algorithm
means for selecting and rendering prepared material content within
its cross-referenced display window, according to a predetermined
algorithm means for navigation controlled by the viewer that
changes the viewer's position in such a manner as to simulate
movement through a plurality of predefined channels in the virtual
space.
56. Apparatus according to claim 55 further comprising interaction
means to enable the viewer to interact with the material content
displayed in at least one of the display windows.
57. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein the navigation means is
adapted to change the viewer's position at different rates,
simulating movement at different speeds through the
three-dimensional virtual space.
58. A virtual space manager comprising a content configurator that
includes the interface for the creation, maintenance and updating
of the configuration, which incorporates a plurality of cross
references of content material to render in display windows.
59. A virtual space manager according to claim 58, further
comprising a display window registry tool for the management of the
ownership and transfer of, and transactions relating to, display
windows.
60. A virtual space manager according to claim 58, further
comprising an auction tool enabling the competitive bidding for
transactions relating to display windows and other objects.
61. A virtual space manager according to claim 58, further
comprising a browser download manager enabling the monitoring of
the browser downloads and adjustment of the default configuration
of the downloaded browser.
62. A virtual space manager according to claim 58, further
comprising a map manager tool enabling the creation, maintaining
and updating of the map of the virtual space.
63. Apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising means for
allocating fixed numerical coordinates to each unique position of a
display window in order to specify its location in the virtual
space.
64. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein the display comprises
any one of a computer screen, a television screen, a screen
attached to or part of a games console, a personal digital
assistant screen, a cell phone display, a projection, a pair of
projection spectacles, a cerebral implant display, a pair of
virtual reality spectacles, and other digital display
mechanisms.
65. Apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising interaction
means to enable the viewer to interact with the material content
displayed in at least one of the display windows.
66. Apparatus according to claim 65 wherein the interaction means
comprises at least one of a computer keyboard, a mouse, a joystick,
a game pad, a games console controller, virtual reality gloves, a
trackpad, a trackball, a cerebral implant, an eye movement
detection device, a motion detection device, and a touchscreen.
67. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein the navigation means
comprises any one or more of a computer keyboard, a mouse, a
joystick, a game pad, a games console controller, virtual reality
gloves, a trackpad, a trackball, a cerebral implant, an eye
movement detection device, a motion detection device, and a
touchscreen.
68. A browser for organizing and presenting material content on a
display to a viewer, comprising one or more stored sequences of
instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause
the one or more processors to perform the steps of: mapping a
plurality of display windows within a virtual three-dimensional
space so that each display window is allocated a specific and
predetermined position in the space, rendering each display window
in three-dimensional perspective according to its position and
angle relative to a viewer's virtual position in the virtual space,
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a network
address or storage location of the material content that is
designated to be rendered in that particular display window at a
particular time based on at least one predetermined condition,
allocating at least part of the three-dimensional virtual space to
display windows whose content is not chosen or determined by the
viewer, selecting, retrieving and preparing material content for
possible subsequent display, according to a predetermined
algorithm, selecting and rendering prepared material content within
its cross-referenced display window, according to a predetermined
algorithm, providing a means of virtual navigation that changes the
viewer's position in the space in such a manner as to simulate
movement through a plurality of predefined channels in the virtual
space.
69. A browser according to claim 68 in which the viewer is not able
to edit the cross-references.
70. A browser according to claim 68 in which the viewer is not able
to alter the position of display windows in the virtual space.
71. A browser according to claim 68 comprising a first part adapted
to run at high priority to control the display of a virtual
three-dimensional space, and a second part, adapted to run at a
lower priority, which controls the updating of material content in
display windows.
72. A browser for retrieving pages of material content over a
computer network, comprising: means for selecting material content
for display, according to a predetermined algorithm, means for
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of selected material content based on at least one
predetermined condition, means for allocating at least part of a
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer, and means for retrieving
and rendering selected material content within its cross-referenced
display window, according to a predetermined algorithm.
73. A method of facilitating the navigation and display of material
content, the method comprising providing a means for performing the
steps of: mapping a plurality of display windows within a virtual
three-dimensional space so that each display window is allocated a
specific position in the space; rendering each display window in
three-dimensional perspective according to its position and angle
relative to a viewer's virtual position in the virtual space;
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of the material content that is designated to be rendered
in that particular display window at a particular time based on at
least one predetermined condition; allocating at least part of the
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer; selecting, retrieving and
preparing material content for possible subsequent display;
selecting and rendering prepared material content within its
cross-referenced display window; providing virtual navigation that
changes the viewer's position in the space to simulate movement
through a plurality of channels in the virtual space; receiving a
financial payment from a third party content provider; and
granting, to the third party content provider, a right to specify a
network address or storage location of the material content.
74. A method according to claim 73, further comprising enabling and
recording a transfer of the right in exchange for financial
payment.
75. A method according to claim 73, further comprising the steps
of: providing an auction system inviting financial bids for the
right; and awarding the right to a highest bidder, provided
predetermined conditions are met.
76. A method according to claim 1 or 73 comprising providing
advertising opportunities in the three-dimensional virtual space in
exchange for financial payments.
77. A method according to claim 1 or 73 comprising providing
services of any description in exchange for financial payments.
78. A method according to claim 1 or 73 wherein a viewer's
navigation into a restricted area of the three-dimensional virtual
space is allowed for a particular period of time in exchange for
financial payment.
79. A method according to claim 1 or 73 comprising providing, in
exchange for financial payment, added-value services for viewers
comprising one or more of: avatar companions, guides to navigation,
the ability to navigate simultaneously and interactively with one
or more other actual viewers, e-commerce support, and financial
services including foreign exchange, credit and budget
planning.
80. A method according to claim 1 or 73 comprising imposing charges
on transactions between viewers and display window rights holders
that were initiated within or mediated by the three-dimensional
virtual space.
81. A method according to claim 73, wherein the means for
performing the steps is a browser provided for download from a
computer network or delivered on physical storage media.
82. A method according to claim 1 comprising utilizing the
three-dimensional virtual space to enable: Internet browsing,
virtual stores, virtual supermarkets, virtual shopping malls,
virtual retail catalogues, knowledge management, virtual
exhibitions, medical records management, virtual hospital patient
management, virtual galleries, virtual museums, entertainment
choices, tourist guides, TV guides, news digests,
travel/hospitality option guides, virtual trade fairs and photo
libraries.
83. A method according in claim 1, wherein at least some of the
material content itself comprises one or more three-dimensional
virtual objects or spaces.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS; PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims benefit of prior United Kingdom
application 0317493.5, filed Jul. 25, 2003, entitled "Information
Display," the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein, under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent & Trademark Office
patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
whatsoever. Copyright .COPYRGT.2003 Purple Interactive Ltd.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to data processing.
The invention relates more specifically to information display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The approaches described in this section could be pursued,
but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously
conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein,
the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the
claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by
inclusion in this section.
[0005] Modern display or presentation devices typically include
computer apparatus such as networked, desktop, laptop, handheld or
tablet personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants
(PDAs), interactive television terminals, gaming apparatus and cell
phones. Each item of apparatus usually has a single display, and
this may be in the form of a traditional computer, television or
cell phone display screen or may take the form of projection
equipment, virtual reality goggles, projection spectacles,
holographic projections, electronic paper or cerebral implants.
[0006] There is a desire amongst viewers accessing a large volume
of material content to be able to browse and navigate the full set
of content in order to find a subset or single unit of content
which is relevant or interesting to the viewer. Currently such
browsing and navigation is typically conducted by means of
descriptive text typed into search engine software and thereby
matched to text contained in the material content itself or to text
which a content provider has used to label the content. Browsing
and navigation is also sometimes aided by third-party content
categorisers who provide directories and sub-directories of content
labels and descriptions.
[0007] However, these techniques for browsing and navigating large
volumes of material content for display inevitably rely upon the
individual viewer's skills in language and logic, as well as that
of the content providers. With directory searching, the viewer must
guess and replicate the logic followed by the third-party content
categorizers, who must categorize and describe material content
accurately and in a way which will readily be found by the intended
viewers. With text entry searching, viewers need a good verbal
memory to think of appropriate search terms, an extensive
vocabulary, and skills in using Boolean logic in order to enter the
most effective text, and content providers must accurately guess
which keywords will be entered by viewers searching for their
material content.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be
made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 are views of a screen display generated by
one embodiment of a method according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the sequence of steps
of the method of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] In the following description, for the purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will
be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block
diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present
invention.
[0012] The invention is a method of organizing and displaying a
large volume of material content in a manner that can be easily
browsed and accurately navigated by a viewer without relying upon
the viewer's, nor the content providers', skills in language or
logic.
[0013] The material content may be information in any form, for
example: data, numbers, text, still images such as photographs and
graphics, moving images, virtual control panels and sound. It may
be retrieved from a local computer disk or removable storage media
or any form of network such as a local area network, a wireless
network, a cell phone network, a wide area network, an internet,
extranet or the Internet. The invention may, for example, be used
for displaying material content on a computer screen and navigating
through the type of material content typically found on the
Internet.
[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method for organizing and presenting material content on
a display to a viewer, the method comprising: mapping a plurality
of display windows within a virtual three-dimensional space so that
each display window is allocated a specific and predetermined
position in the space, rendering each display window in
three-dimensional perspective according to its position and angle
relative to a viewer's virtual position in the virtual space,
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of the material content that is designated to be rendered
in that particular display window at a particular time based on at
least one predetermined condition, allocating at least part of the
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer, selecting, retrieving and
preparing material content for possible subsequent display,
according to a predetermined algorithm, selecting and rendering
prepared material content within its cross-referenced display
window, according to a predetermined algorithm, and providing a
means of virtual navigation that changes the viewer's position in
the space in such a manner as to simulate movement through a
plurality of predefined channels in the virtual space.
[0015] A browser adapted to perform this method is also provided,
as is apparatus programmed to operate the browser.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided apparatus for organizing and presenting material
content on a display to a viewer, the apparatus comprising: a
display, means for mapping a plurality of display windows within a
three-dimensional virtual space so that each display window is
allocated a specific and predetermined position, means for
rendering each display in three-dimensional perspective according
to its position and angle relative to the viewer's position in the
virtual space, means for cross referencing the position of each
display window to the network address or storage location of the
material content that is designated to be rendered in that
particular display window at a particular time based on at least
one predetermined condition, means for selecting, retrieving and
preparing material content for possible subsequent display
according to a predetermined algorithm, means for selecting and
rendering prepared material content within its cross-referenced
display window according to a predetermined algorithm, and means
for navigation controlled by the viewer that changes the viewer's
position in such a manner as to simulate movement through a
plurality of predefined channels in the virtual space.
[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention there
is provided a virtual space manager comprising a content
configurator that includes the interface for the creation,
maintenance and updating of the configuration which incorporates a
plurality of cross references of content material to render in
display windows.
[0018] According to a fourth aspect of the invention the method of
the first aspect may be adapted as a business method for example
when used to supply in exchange for financial payment the right to
specify the network address or storage location of material content
that is to be rendered in a particular display window at a
specified location at a particular time, and optionally enabling
and recording the transfer of rights in exchange for financial
payment, and/or providing an auction system inviting financial bids
to the current holder of rights and awarding the rights to the
highest bidder provided predetermined conditions are met, and/or
providing advertising opportunities in the three-dimensional
virtual space in exchange for financial payments.
[0019] In addition, a viewer's navigation into a restricted area of
the three-dimensional virtual space is allowed for a particular
period of time in exchange for financial payment. Added value
services may also be provided in exchange for financial payments,
e.g. avatar companions, guides to navigation, the ability to
navigate simultaneously and interactively with one or more other
actual viewers, e-commerce support, and financial services
including foreign exchange, credit and budget planning.
[0020] The method of the invention may be used to enable any one or
more of Internet browsing, virtual stores, virtual supermarkets,
virtual shopping malls, virtual retail catalogues, knowledge
management, virtual exhibitions, medical records management,
virtual hospital patient management, virtual galleries, virtual
museums, entertainment choices, tourist guides, TV guides, news
digests, travel/hospitality option guides, virtual trade fairs and
photo libraries.
[0021] According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is
provided a browser for retrieving pages of material content over a
computer network, comprising means for selecting material content
for display according to a predetermined algorithm, means for
cross-referencing the position of each display window to a storage
location of selected material content based on at least one
predetermined condition, means for allocating at least part of the
three-dimensional virtual space to display windows whose content is
not chosen or determined by the viewer, and means for retrieving
and rendering selected material content within its cross-referenced
display window according to a predetermined algorithm.
[0022] According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is
provided a business method comprising offering to download a
browser (according to the fifth aspect) to a plurality of potential
viewers and offering the display windows in the virtual space for
rent to potential rights owners in the form of business and
commercial enterprises.
[0023] The present invention has advantages because it does not
rely upon language and logic in browsing and navigating large
volumes of content. Instead of relying upon language and logic, the
invention makes it possible to indicate the relevance of content to
a viewer by applying a rule of spatial proximity. Specifically, if
content A is relevant to the viewer, and content B is similarly
relevant, then A and B can be positioned near to one another, so
that the viewer of content A is likely also to see content B with a
minimum of navigation.
[0024] In order to apply the rule of spatial proximity to material
content in displays, the present invention may utilize and uniquely
combine three methods:
[0025] (1) The creation of a three-dimensional virtual space
containing many display windows in fixed, specified positions,
[0026] (2) The realistic topographical navigation of this world by
viewers, which prevents them jumping instantly from one display
window to any other, but instead forces them to travel smoothly
along surface channels that expose the viewer to other display
windows along the way, and
[0027] (3) The operation of a self-organising allocation process in
which content providers compete for the most beneficial display
window positions for their content.
[0028] Corresponding to these three methods are three forms of
prior art which make clear the novelty of the present
invention:
[0029] (1) The creation of a virtual three-dimensional world of
display in fixed, specified positions.
[0030] A browser that also configures display windows in three
dimensions is described in International Patent Application
Publication Number WO 01/82295. This describes a browser that
arranges HTML pages on the back, top, bottom, left and right inside
faces of a cube, with the viewer positioned just inside the nearest
(sixth) face. Each of the five navigable inside faces can open into
a further cube. The aim is to enable the viewer simultaneously to
see several pages selected by the viewer. This could be especially
useful where the content on the five pages is being compared or
contrasted.
[0031] The present invention differs from this disclosure in
several respects: in particular because the display windows in the
present invention have fixed, specified positions in the space
rather than being subject to manipulation by the viewer, and the
content on display is predetermined by cross-references rather than
by the viewer.
[0032] (2) The realistic topographical navigation forcing the
viewer to travel smoothly along the surface and thus be exposed to
display windows on the way.
[0033] Another method for searching and presenting information in a
geography-based configuration which also provides realistic
navigation is described in U.S. patent application Publication No.
2002/0059207 A1. This method converts multiple aerial photos of an
actual city into a three-dimensional stereoscopic aerial view, and
allows the viewer to move across this view, simulating a
`sight-seeing flight`, and to request information pertaining to his
or her location. This is done by linking the latitude and longitude
of the viewer's position with `landmark databases` compiled using
conventional Internet searches based on keywords or other verbal
expressions. Multiple viewers can interact and be tracked.
[0034] The present invention differs from this disclosure in
several respects: the content being presented in the present
invention is organized by predetermined cross references rather
than by reference to their physical property locations, and
material content is directly displayed in windows forming part of
the landscape being viewed rather than indirectly displayed as
separate page data.
[0035] (3) A self-organizing allocation process in which content
providers compete for the most beneficial display window positions
for their content.
[0036] Another method comprising a self-organizing allocation
process for the display of large volumes of material content is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,202. This method invites each
primary content provider on the Internet to select one or more of
thousands of verbal categories to describe their content and then
allows other secondary content providers, for example advertisers,
to supply relevant additional information to anyone viewing the
primary categorized content. By allowing both primary and secondary
content providers to determine the categories they believe are most
relevant to their content, the allocation of secondary information
to interested viewers is optimized. The present invention differs
from this disclosure in several respects, particularly since
material content in the present invention is displayed in
predetermined cross-referenced display windows. In embodiments of
the present invention: content providers select relative positions
in a virtual space to describe their content rather than use verbal
categories; the exposure of viewers to relevant secondary content
is achieved by virtue of the required realistic method of
navigation, rather than it being imposed as a separate unrequested
display of content; and due to the competitive nature of the
self-organising process, the `description` (i.e. the position in
the virtual space) assigned to any particular material content
reflects not just its meaning but also the value ascribed to that
content by its provider.
[0037] The present invention benefits both content providers and
content viewers:
[0038] Content providers using embodiments of the invention have
control over where and how their content is seen in the context of
all content, rather than granting that control to third-party
content categorizers or the rule-makers of search engine software.
Content providers using embodiments of the invention also need not
rely on verbal descriptions (e.g. domain names, meta-text,
directory entries, or descriptive advertisements) to attract
interested viewers, but instead can attract relevant viewers to
their content by means of its contextual position and the quality
of its visual treatment. Because the self-organizing is
competitive, the prominence of displayed content is commensurate
with the importance of the communication to the content
provider.
[0039] Viewers using embodiments of the invention can rely upon the
naturalistic, non-verbal experience of perceiving the relatedness
of two entities by their spatial proximity, rather than relying
upon terms or names they happen to recall, or entering topics into
search engines in accordance with Boolean logic. Viewers can also
more rapidly decide the relevance of content by relying on quick
visual impressions rather than reading lists of arbitrary text
excerpts. Lastly, viewers using embodiments of the invention can
experience the serendipity of discovering new, hitherto-unknown
content, or content that its provider considers to be of interest
to them, rather than being limited to content that the viewer has
had to search for and therefore must already know about.
[0040] The present invention enables the designation and fixing of
the association of material content with other material content in
a three-dimensional space containing display windows that are each
rendered in three-dimensional perspective. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the configuration of these display windows, each
containing material content, is analogous to shop windows on a city
street.
[0041] To populate this system with content, content providers may
be invited to specify their material content to appear in a
particular window which by virtual spatial proximity associates
their material content with what they consider to be related
material content in surrounding and nearby display windows. In this
way, associated content, presented in display windows, will
self-organize into virtual neighborhoods of related content that
the user can browse as one would the shop windows along streets of
a city. Having located a display window with content of interest to
the user, the user may without verbal or logical discernment easily
find other content in nearby windows that its providers have
decided would also be of interest to the user.
[0042] In FIG. 1 a display 1, which may be a screen of a computer,
is shown, on which is depicted an image of a virtual street 2 seen
in three-dimensional perspective from the middle of the street 2.
Buildings 3 are located on each side of the street 2, and each has
one or more virtual display windows 4 facing the street 2. The
buildings and the street decrease in size, appearing to recede, as
they get further from the nominal position of the viewer. The angle
of recession is chosen so that the perspective appears natural but
so that content displayed in the display windows on the sides of
the buildings is clear. The relative width w and height h of each
display window 4 is chosen to match the content to be displayed,
but in the embodiment using Internet pages is chosen to match that
of the normal visible HTML page area in a traditional Internet
browser, i.e., the standard screen size minus the space used by
scrollbars and tool bars. This gives the viewer the impression that
he is standing in a street having shops with shop windows on each
side. Each virtual display window 4 shows a page of content
retrieved from an Internet HTML page. These may be the home pages
of commercial concerns or pages specially generated for display in
this format.
[0043] The actual number of visible display windows will be chosen
so that the overall view looks realistic and so that a reasonable
number of the windows are clearly visible. The number can be
variable in dependence upon the performance of the computer or
adjustable by the viewer to enhance performance or to enhance the
detail of rendering of content in the windows. For example, it may
be appropriate to display two blocks of the street at a time and
three windows on each side in each block but to replace the more
distant windows with a low-resolution rendering or even a small
icon.
[0044] The viewer's viewpoint can be moved up or down the street 2
and as it is moved, the display changes to bring other windows 4
into view and to change the relative sizes of the displayed
buildings 3. The changes must be accomplished realistically and
smoothly. The viewer can also turn left or right to face a
particular window to inspect more carefully the content displayed
there. If the content comprises Internet HTML pages then at that
point the HTML page displayed in that window can be opened by the
viewer to fill a separate Internet browser of more traditional
two-dimensional appearance. Optionally the viewer can then interact
with the chosen HTML page in the traditional manner, for example by
using mouse clicks on a part of it to access another page of
information or to make a choice such as initiating a purchase from
a shopping system represented on the page.
[0045] The street 2 is part of a larger virtual space such as an
urban landscape in the form of a town or city set out in a
grid-like city block layout although the layout of the landscape
need not necessarily be in the form of a uniform perpendicular
grid: "curved roads" and "traffic circles" may be incorporated and
narrow "paths" may lead off from wider "streets". "Hilly" surfaces
and "ravines" or other geographic representations may be included.
The virtual space may be limited or infinite or limited in some
directions and may be on more than one plane. The display windows
will typically have straight edges as shown in FIG. 1, but may be
made more eye-catching with decorated frames.
[0046] The viewer can navigate through the landscape by making
appropriate key strokes on the keyboard, by mouse movements or by
using a joystick, track pad, trackball, touch screen, remote
control or virtual reality gloves or a steering wheel, in manners
known to persons skilled in the art. Several navigation speeds are
envisaged which would generally be under the control of the viewer.
For example the viewer may "move" at walking speed through the
"streets" or may choose to move at the equivalent speed of a taxi,
within the same plane as the display windows. The viewer may also
opt to move at an even higher speed in a different plane to the
display windows, for example in a manner analogous to a subway
system or a helicopter. However it is intended that limits would be
applied to the viewer's "movement" through the landscape to avoid
the possibility of the viewer instantly jumping to a specified
display window location in the landscape because such a movement
would undermine the organizational principle that enables the
viewer to find relevant content: namely, content providers locating
their content in virtual spatial proximity to associated
content.
[0047] Each display window 4 may be sold or rented to a commercial
concern or other organization and has a fixed position in the
landscape, in a similar manner to the fixed addresses of shops or
businesses in a real town or city. In this way the viewer becomes
familiar with the positions of his or her favored windows and can
easily search and select relevant "neighborhoods" of material
content.
[0048] The display is organized by a controlling browser program
operating locally, e.g. on the viewer's computer terminal. The
browser program controls the display of the virtual landscape,
navigation of the viewer's position through the landscape, and the
retrieval, preparation and rendering of content displayed in each
window. In an internal or external cross-referencing file, the URL
of the Internet HTML page of each relevant commercial concern
owning or renting a display window is associated in the program
with the specific display window the concern has reserved.
Periodically, bitmap screenshots of a set of HTML pages relevant to
the windows in the local vicinity of the viewer in the landscape
(e.g. those associated with all of the display windows in the
blocks and streets adjacent to or around the corner from the
viewer) are cached in local memory. In one implementation, this
uses an adapted HTML page-rendering engine which can import live
HTML pages in a way in which their contents are reproduced
dynamically. Thus a set of live HTML pages is continuously saved in
memory at the viewer terminal. The number of HTML pages thus saved
will depend upon the available memory and the processing power of
the terminal as well as the number of windows displayed on the
screen at any one time, but might typically be 9.
[0049] When a window first becomes visible in the viewer's screen,
the corresponding cached HTML page is copied by the program from
the internal memory and rendered in the window. The page is not
rendered dynamically until the viewer turns toward it (and "clicks"
on it or remains in that position for a set period of time), at
which stage the dynamically cached page may be displayed in a two
dimensional, conventional-style browser display box. Totally live
dynamic rendering of all visible HTML pages in-situ on a street
would be possible with sufficient processing power.
[0050] As the viewer "moves" along the street, distant windows come
into view and close-by ones pass out of sight "behind" the viewer.
Thus the program carefully selects the set of HTML pages to cache
and store in memory to ensure a smooth and fast appearance of
rendered display windows as the viewer "moves", by ensuring that
HTML pages corresponding to approaching windows are downloaded into
memory in time. A certain amount of predictive programming must be
built-in to anticipate the next likely "movements" of the viewer,
for example on the basis of previous navigation patterns.
[0051] It is envisaged that facilities will be provided on an
administration Internet site to allow the registration of the
rights of content providers to own or rent particular display
windows, to manage transactions (e.g. taxes and fees), and to allow
a display window owner or tenant to upload directly their network
address or storage location and maintain their display window. The
rights holder may test the appearance of their display window and
view statistics or contour maps indicating the number and frequency
of visits to their window and/or simulations of corresponding
virtual "property values".
[0052] There may be a number of different neighborhoods or
districts in the virtual city, each with its own distinctive layout
and look and feel, just as in a real city. For example, there may
be an area in which HTML pages of interest to young people
predominate, or an area which specializes in public sector content.
In one embodiment, a particular area of the "city" is designated as
the viewer's "hometown" area and is populated, for example, with
the viewer's own favorites or bookmarked HTML pages, or with pages
found from a conventional search.
[0053] Different sections of the virtual city could be designated
"gated" areas which would be accessible only to users with a
special subscriber pass: given either by virtue of payment made by
the viewer in advance or for example on condition that the viewer
has proven that they have a sufficient credit rating for financial
transactions within the "gated" area or are a member of a club.
[0054] The layout of the "city" is detailed in a standard format
XML file in the form of plot data, which in the example given is
for a three window by three window city block grid layout, although
other layouts are possible. The XML file may be contained in the
control program loaded on the viewer's computer (the client) or may
be retrievable from a remote server via a standard HTTP connection
in which case there will be security to protect the integrity of
the file.
[0055] Any of the pages may incorporate sounds but it is most
practical to suppress sounds from pages other than those closest to
the viewer. For example sound on the pages in the windows directly
to the left and the right of the viewer's nominal position could
each be set at a volume of 50% in the left and the right stereo
channels respectively. If a viewer turns to face a page then that
page plays at 100% volume. When a page is more than half way out of
view the volume is lowered to 25%, and the volume of the next page
is increased to 25%.
[0056] As already mentioned, navigation may be performed by
keyboard strokes, mouse movements or a joystick. Traditionally the
arrow keys on a keyboard are used for movement e.g. in one
implementation when the "up" key is depressed the viewpoint moves
forward at a predetermined pace, and releasing the "up" key stops
the viewpoint at the next full window, i.e. at the point when the
nearest vertical edges of the windows abut the left and right
vertical edges of the display area. Pressing the "down" key moves
the viewer back (while facing forward) and the "left" key makes the
viewer turn to face the window to the left. Likewise the "right"
key is used for a right turn. At intersections of "streets" the
"right" key turns the user right onto the perpendicular "street"
and the "left" key turns the user left onto that "street".
[0057] More advanced forms of navigation can be incorporated, for
example using a variety of keys, mouse-movement controls and
right-click shortcuts and these are well known, particularly in the
field of video game programming and usage.
[0058] In one embodiment there is an experience simulating
transport by underground train built into the virtual city. Several
display windows throughout the virtual city are rendered to appear
as underground train stations and the viewer can "enter" a station
by turning to face the relevant display window, using an
appropriate navigation technique. A diagrammatic map of all
"underground train stations" is then displayed to the viewer "in"
the station and he can then select a destination station by
"clicking" on the appropriate part of the map to travel to a
different part of the "city". A typical long distance "journey"
might take 10 to 15 seconds and during this simulated journey the
control program activates the display to the viewer of a series of
advertisements which would typically be paid for by the owners of
the display windows near the destination station. This would be
analogous to advertising hoardings at real underground train
stations and on real underground trains. At the destination station
in a different part of the virtual town, the viewer would "exit"
the station through another window rendered as a train station and
emerge into a street rendered with the HTML pages chosen by owners
of display windows in that part of the "city".
[0059] The virtual city is typically entered only via designated
gateways or portals to facilitate the viewer's familiarity with and
navigation through the landscape. There is a single major "default"
gateway, and a series of secondary gateways which can be selected
from a map or menu or randomly offered to a viewer. The underground
train stations would comprise some of the secondary gateways.
Gateways could be depicted in striking or memorable designs to aid
navigation.
[0060] The selection of which gateway is used to enter the virtual
city can be made by a viewer each time the program is launched but
if no selection is made then the entry gateway will default to the
main gateway.
[0061] A bird's-eye view topological map of the whole virtual city
or the neighborhood or district in which the viewer is located at
any one time is displayed, either adjacent to or behind the main
viewing window. The path taken by the viewer may be highlighted on
this map, either for the current session alone or for the current
and at least one previous session. A zoom option would also be
provided, leading to the display of larger, more detailed maps.
Such a map may have certain "landmark" display windows marked,
these possibly being determined by the owners having paid a fee to
appear on the large scale maps. When navigating the main window in
the usual way, the viewer may also be allowed to rise up above the
virtual space to get an overview of his current location and
environs in the virtual city.
[0062] Locations visited by a viewer could be "bookmarked" or
"searched for" in the traditional manner. However, the viewer is
unable to jump directly to a bookmarked or search result location
but must instead travel along the streets to reach it, in one
embodiment guided by the most efficient route being highlighted on
the map or automatically led there through the streets. In this way
the viewer will find his or her way around the virtual landscape
and will learn the positions of particular Internet sites. In
addition, this inability to jump means that the viewer must pass
many display windows and the owners or tenants of those windows
will have the advantage of more viewers seeing their content.
[0063] An avatar may represent the viewer and/or a shopping
companion; for example an amusing pet or an attractive imaginary
friend may be depicted on the screen. Such a companion could move
just in front of the notional position of the viewer and might
point out new window displays, changes, promotions, sales or
windows which are considered likely to interest the viewer on the
basis of past navigational behavior. Several viewers can
"window-shop" together if they are logged on simultaneously. In
this embodiment there is a system for assigning navigation control
to one of the group. A means of communicating between the viewers,
such as a text or voice chat line for conversation, or an on-screen
messaging facility, may also be incorporated and the technology for
such features is well known.
[0064] Viewers could also be given a visual representation of the
number of other viewers in their current vicinity: for example a
translucent silhouette of one person representing one thousand, or
one million, other viewers. This would serve to indicate the
relative popularity of neighborhoods, streets and windows and would
also assist window owners or tenants to determine the effect of a
change in their display or to assess the advantage of paying more
"rent" or a higher "purchase price" for a display window in a
busier, more popular part of the city.
[0065] The virtual buildings could have several stories, allowing
different levels of windows, analogous to different stories of a
shopping mall in real life. To the elevations of these virtual
buildings where a display is not practicable could be affixed
advertisements or virtual signs relating to the display windows
immediately below them, providing a means of attracting viewers to
navigate their way towards the advertiser's display window.
[0066] Streets and neighborhoods may be assigned names to assist in
navigation for the viewer and to facilitate the sale or rental of
prime locations. Landmarks may also be incorporated to assist the
viewer in navigation. For example statues, architecturally
interesting buildings such as distinctively decorated or designed
buildings, fountains and parks may be used to identify specific
areas of the landscape.
[0067] Adjacent windows could be merged to create larger windows
and several different virtual cities could be created and linked by
a rapid transport system in a similar way to the underground
railway described above.
[0068] In a more advanced embodiment viewers will pass "through"
the windows and the screen will then display a virtual rendering of
the "inside" of an associated establishment. Thus, for example, the
display window of a supermarket can be a gateway into the virtual
supermarket itself and on "entering" the window the viewer would
see the virtual "streets" become virtual aisles of the supermarket.
Instead of displaying HTML pages of internet sites in the windows
lining the aisles, HTML pages of sets of product images are
displayed and a "click" on an individual product initiates a dialog
box to display product details as supplied by the retailer: for
example, ingredients or other details or the sizes, prices or
colors available. A transparent interface with the retailer's own
existing shopping cart may be provided in the control program.
[0069] The virtual town may be replaced by other virtual
three-dimensional spaces in addition to the above example of a
virtual department store, supermarket or retail catalogue
establishment. A virtual shopping mall would be populated with
display windows representing a variety of shop fronts or a virtual
museum with exhibition cases or exhibits. Other applications are
envisaged such as virtual tours of representations of actual
cities, virtual trade fairs, virtual photo libraries, entertainment
choices (e.g. videogame selection), TV program selection, or
business or academic libraries. It would also be possible to use
this method to access technical data or medical records.
[0070] Viewers are requested to register their details and their
navigation behavior could be collected for sale to display window
owners or tenants.
[0071] Display window owners or tenants can utilize the top portion
of the window for a display sign or banner of their name label or
brand for the convenience of the viewers.
[0072] Many further advertising "signs" and "hoardings" could be
incorporated such as to resemble hanging signs and sandwich signs
outside a shop window, as well as display advertisements on the
floor of the street outside a window or directing viewers to a
particular window.
[0073] From a technical point of view, the browser software
preferably comprises two sections. A first section, running at high
priority, controls the display of the virtual three-dimensional
environment (e.g., the virtual city) and the navigation of the
viewer around that environment. A second section, running at lower
priority, updates the content for display windows.
[0074] Steps taken by one embodiment of such a browser will now be
described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 2 for
operation of the software when installed on a network with the
viewer using a client computer terminal connected via HTTP to a
remote server computer.
[0075] In step A, the browser is first initiated and may run
several brief benchmarking tests to determine the optimal settings
that will ensure a smooth and responsive display. This benchmarking
is determined by assessing the resources available, i.e. the
computing speed, graphics card, and memory capabilities of the
client computer.
[0076] In step B, the browser then retrieves the layout of the
virtual space or world to be displayed (e.g. the virtual city) from
the remote server computer or a file saved locally.
[0077] In step C, the retrieved layout is used by the software to
map the virtual city for internal use by the viewer's computer (the
client) and the browser generates a simulated three-dimensional
environment depicting display windows closest to the nominal
position of the viewer, for example at the default gateway. The
perspective is adjusted to ensure that items closer to the nominal
position of the viewer are larger. Each display window 4 has a
relative width and height to match (or have similar proportions to)
that of the visible HTML page area in a traditional Internet
browser. This would typically be the standard screen size minus the
space used by scroll bars and toolbars. The size of the display
windows, resolution of the graphical textures in the display
windows and number of rendering threads depends upon the benchmark
conditions established in the initialization process. For
illustration purposes, blocks of three display windows length and
width are considered as shown in FIG. 1, but any configuration
would be possible. The browser then assigns addresses, typically
URL addresses for HTML pages, to each window according to the
retrieved layout.
[0078] In step D, cached HTML pages stored as textures in the
client computer memory are used to populate the display windows in
memory.
[0079] In step E, the browser displays the three-dimensional
environment on the display.
[0080] In step F, the viewer can move around in the area of the
street or corridor 2 between the display windows 4 and the viewer
can interact with individual display windows 4. The browser also
enables the viewer to interact with an underground railway station
and in that case displays a map of available underground railway
destinations from which the viewer can make a selection.
[0081] In step G, the browser has several threads running
simultaneously, each processing material content and updating the
texture used for the respective display windows. These threads
comprise the following procedures:
[0082] an algorithm running in a control thread determines which
display windows require updating based on a number of factors
including the locality of the user and the age of displayed
content,
[0083] the browser may initiate a connection to download the source
data,
[0084] source data is used to generate an invisible window,
[0085] the contents of the invisible window are transferred into a
texture,
[0086] the textures are periodically cached to a local storage
medium to permit a rapid repopulation of the environment when the
browser is next run,
[0087] display windows closest to the viewer which contain moving
images or sound may be kept active so that changes are continually
reflected on the display window in real time.
[0088] Log files may be used for recording the frequency with which
viewers pass-by, draw close to, or interact with any display
window, and thus data can potentially be provided in summary to
commercial owners and tenants either free or for consideration.
Such data can be displayed as a contour map indicating traffic
densities across the virtual space.
[0089] The technical approach described here involves the textures
used for the display windows being rendered by the client program.
In an alternative technical approach, a centralized cluster of
servers could create the textures, and these could be downloaded by
the client program.
[0090] It will be seen that the display and navigation methods of
the present invention can be used in business methods to raise
revenues.
[0091] For example, the virtual space may be used in an analogous
way to any property space and new properties can be sold or leased,
ground rents and service charges imposed, property tax applied to
transfers of window rights, an administration charge made for
sales, and procedures adapted to re-possess voided leases. In
addition, advertising space, markings and signage can be leased,
virtual moving advertising carriers included (e.g. vans or floating
items), avatar shopping guides provided, and coupons could be
distributed to viewers passing a particular window. Advertising
agencies can act as virtual property agents for clients and virtual
outdoor media owners can act as display window aggregators.
Multiple interlinked three-dimensional "worlds," each containing
one or more "cities," can be represented, and technology companies
could each host separate such "worlds."
[0092] In addition, road tolls, gateway tolls, admission fees and
transport charges could be built into any model.
[0093] By analogy with e-commerce business methods, a sales tax
could be imposed on viewers transacting with content providers. An
auction system could be used to enable display window rights owners
to buy or sell their rights to others. The presentation, display
and navigation method has many possible applications. Apart from
the HTML browsing and virtual shopping embodiments described in
detail above, virtual entertainment guides, tourist guides, trade
fairs and travel/hospitality guides could be created. The method
also finds application in displaying the contents of libraries,
photo libraries, scientific data, and medical records and it could
play a role in virtual government.
[0094] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show alternative views of the
three-dimensional space. For example in FIG. 3 the viewer is at a
"corner" of a "street" with a "side street" running off to the
left. In FIG. 4 the viewer is facing a display window and could
potentially interact with the window in the manner of a
conventional two-dimensional browser.
* * * * *