U.S. patent application number 14/147429 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for personal digital assistance and virtual reality.
The applicant listed for this patent is John Cronin. Invention is credited to John Cronin.
Application Number | 20140282113 14/147429 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51525576 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140282113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cronin; John |
September 18, 2014 |
PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANCE AND VIRTUAL REALITY
Abstract
A virtual reality network provides access to a number of virtual
reality representations, each virtual reality representation
representing a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR
data stored on the network. The VR data can be in a simplified data
format and include data from an intelligent personal assistant and
knowledge navigator (IPAKN). A database stores the network address
and the location in the universe of each virtual reality
representation. A database server provides access to the database.
The database server generates a list of locations in response to a
location query from a visitor, and provides the network address of
the virtual reality representation of a selected location. A
visitor connects to the database server with a client host to visit
the locations in the virtual universe.
Inventors: |
Cronin; John; (Williston,
VT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cronin; John |
Williston |
VT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51525576 |
Appl. No.: |
14/147429 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61786572 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/757 ;
709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/157 20130101;
H04L 65/403 20130101; H04N 7/183 20130101; H04L 67/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/757 ;
709/203 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06 |
Claims
1. A system for enabling a visitor to access virtual reality (VR)
representations authored by different authors of locations in a
virtual universe via a computer network, the system comprising:
memory for storing a plurality of VR data sets, each VR data set
defining a VR representation of a location, each VR data set
independently authored by a respective author different from the
other authors, wherein the VR data sets comprise data from an
intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator (IPAKN) or
other web source specifically queried by the independent authors;
one or more VR data servers adapted to access and transmit the VR
data sets, each VR data set associated with a VR data server for
access to the VR data set; a domain server adapted to access and
transmit domain data comprising the location within the universe of
each VR representation and the network address of the VR data
server associated with the VR representation; and a client host
adapted to communicate with the domain server to receive the domain
data representing the network address of the VR data server
associated with a selected VR representation, the client host
further adapted to communicate with that VR data server to access
the VR data set defining the VR representation without leaving the
virtual universe.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the domain server, the one or
more data servers, and the client host comprise a plurality of
computers and wherein at least one domain server connects to a
IPAKN hosted by a cloud server.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more data
servers stores a database of the locations of the virtual reality
representations accessible through the data server and the network
addresses of the VR data sets defining such virtual reality
representations, whereby the IPAKN VR data sets can be stored
remotely from the data server.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the VR data sets comprise one VR
data set in a first file format and a second VR data set in a
second file format different from the first file format, wherein at
least one dataset is stored from a download of an interaction with
a cloud based IPAKN.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the VR data sets
comprise first data representing a plurality of photographs taken
from a geographical location, each photograph taken in a respective
viewing direction, and second data representing the viewing
direction of each photograph and where at least one image or
dataset (voice, text, etc) is stored from a download of an
interaction with an cloud based IPAKN.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the client host generates a
virtual reality presentation utilizing the accessed IPAKN VR data
set.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the domain server is adapted to
communicate with a plurality of client hosts whereby a plurality of
client hosts can simultaneously visit the universe, where at least
one domain server connects to a cloud IPAKN.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the domain data in the domain
server is updated based on author submission of information
regarding the network address of the data server and the location
in the virtual reality universe associated with the IPAKN VR data
set.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the VR data sets
comprise data representing a photograph taken from a geographical
location, and wherein at least one data source was stored from a
download of an interaction with a cloud based IPAKN.
10. A method for enabling a visitor utilizing a computer to visit a
selected location within a virtual reality universe using virtual
reality data authored by different authors where the datasets
include data from a IPAKN or other web source specifically queried
by the independent authors, the method comprising: providing a
plurality of data servers and a domain server interconnected with
the data servers, the data servers providing access to sets of VR
data of virtual representations of locations within the universe,
each set of VR data authored by a respective different author
independently of the other authors, the VR data comprising data
from an IPAKN or other web source specifically queried by the
independent authors, the domain server providing access to domain
data for selecting the location to visit and the network address of
the data server providing access to the VR data for the selected
location; receiving data from the visitor representing a selected
location in the universe; accessing the domain data in response to
the received data and obtaining therefrom the network address of
the data server that provides access to the VR data for the
selected location; and transferring the VR data for the selected
location from the data server to the visitor's computer for
generation of a VR presentation of the selected location without
leaving the virtual universe.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transferring the
IPAKN VR data comprises: transferring the network address of the
data server to the visitor's computer; and directing a request to
transmit the IPAKN VR data from the visitor's computer to the data
server associated with the IPAKN VR data whereby the data server
communicates with the visitor's computer to transfer the IPAKN VR
data.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving IPAKN data from the
visitor representing a selected location in the universe comprises:
transmitting a list of locations to the visitor's computer for
display of the list; and receiving data from the visitor
representing the selected location from the list.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the list represents a path in
the virtual universe.
14. A virtual reality viewing system for viewing virtual locations
in a virtual universe accessed through a computer network, the
viewing system comprising: memory for storing: a plurality of data
sets, each data set representing a location in a virtual universe,
each data set independently authored by a respective author
different from the other authors, each data set comprising data
from a IPAKN or other web source specifically queried by the
independent authors; and data representing a map of the locations
in the virtual universe represented by the plurality of data sets;
a display for displaying an image of a map from the map data; an
interface for: receiving visitor input for selecting a location
displayed on the map, the location represented by one of the
plurality of data sets; transmitting the one data set representing
the selected location through the network; receiving data
representing the network address of a network data server providing
access to the one data set; and communicating with the network data
server to receive the one data set; and a processor for executing
instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the
instructions by the processor generates a virtual reality
presentation from the one data set without leaving the virtual
universe.
15. The viewing system of claim 14, wherein the display further
displays the generated virtual reality presentation.
16. The viewing system of claim 15, wherein the display displays
both the map and the virtual reality presentation
simultaneously.
17. The viewing system of claim 15, wherein the display further
displays widgets for navigation to different locations in the
universe, and wherein at least one of the widgets allows access to
the datasets from an IPAKN or other web source specifically queried
by the independent authors.
18. The viewing system of claim 15, wherein the display further
displays widgets for navigation directly to an IPAKN or other web
source, and wherein the geo-location of the selected location was
automatically added to the automatic query of the IPAKN.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having
embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a
method for enabling a visitor utilizing a computer to visit a
selected location within a virtual reality universe using virtual
reality data authored by different authors where the datasets
include data from a IPAKN or other web source specifically queried
by the independent authors, the method comprising: providing a
plurality of data servers and a domain server interconnected with
the data servers, the data servers providing access to sets of VR
data of virtual representations of locations within the universe,
each set of VR data authored by a respective different author
independently of the other authors, the VR data comprising data
from an IPAKN or other web source specifically queried by the
independent authors, the domain server providing access to domain
data for selecting the location to visit and the network address of
the data server providing access to the VR data for the selected
location; receiving data from the visitor representing a selected
location in the universe; accessing the domain data in response to
the received data and obtaining therefrom the network address of
the data server that provides access to the VR data for the
selected location; and transferring the VR data for the selected
location from the data server to the visitor's computer for
generation of a VR presentation of the selected location without
leaving the virtual universe.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
provisional application 61/786,572 filed Mar. 15, 2013 entitled,
"Personal Digital Assistance and Virtual Reality," the disclosures
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to
computer-generated virtual reality representations of locations.
Specifically, the present invention relates to storing, organizing,
and providing access to a number of virtual reality representations
via a computer network that obtains input from an intelligent
personal assistant and knowledge navigator as well as uses the
intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator to interface
with the visitor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Virtual reality (VR) models and simulates views from a
location in virtual space. The visitor perceives the view from
virtual space on a computer monitor or specialized display, and
experiences "movement" by changing position or orientation within
the virtual space. The visitor may even be "teleported" to
different points in the virtual space.
[0006] Although recognized as having substantial potential, virtual
reality has remained limited mainly to computer games and expensive
training simulations. As explained below, virtual reality
representations model a single virtual space, and authoring virtual
reality representations requires specialized computer programming
or graphics skills. These factors have hindered broader adoption of
virtual reality. Also, data inputted into the VR systems is limited
to users who obtain data and make the effort to load that data into
a VR universe, thus slowing progress of the "depth of knowledge" of
the VR Universe.
[0007] A virtual reality representation models a single volume,
area, or point within virtual space. The representation may model
physical space, such as a location or region on the Earth, or may
model imaginary space in a video game. The visitor can move around
in the virtual space, but is limited to remaining in that virtual
space.
[0008] Two human authors may create virtual reality representations
of the same location, or of related locations. These
representations may exist on different websites, servers, or
computers. There is no comprehensive way of organizing or searching
these representations and offering them to the visitor so that they
may be logically viewed together.
[0009] Intelligent personal assistants and knowledge navigator
(IPAKN) are applications that use a natural language user interface
to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by
delegating requests to a set of Web services. Software such as
SIRI, from Apple Inc., demonstrates that the software adapts to the
user's individual preferences over time and personalizes results,
and performing tasks such as finding recommendations for nearby
restaurants, or getting directions. Intelligent personal assistants
and knowledge navigator (IPAKN) when asked questions can also
create virtual reality representations of the same location, or of
related locations by being available when a visitor enters into a
VR space and when asked questions can be used to answer questions.
The answers to these questions can be later used as reference from
the next visitor without the need for directly interacting with the
IPAKN.
[0010] In particular, it would be desirable that the human authors
and the IPAKN representations be connected together in a way that
enables the visitor to experience both representations. For
example, if the locations modeled the same physical location, the
visitor could choose which representation to experience. If the
locations modeled adjacent physical locations, the visitor could
experience moving from one virtual location to another. This
creates a "virtual universe" made of separate virtual reality
representations that can be toured by visitors. The data available
to the human author can be greatly enhanced by interacting with and
saving data from the IPAKN. Also, the visitors experience can be
greatly enhanced by having an IPAKN available for interacting.
[0011] Even if representations generated by different authors (one
being a IPAKN) can be logically connected together in a virtual
universe, there remains an additional need to simplify authoring of
virtual reality representations. The programming and graphic skills
required by conventional VR software makes creation of virtual
reality representations a relatively complex and expensive process.
The easier and faster virtual reality representations can be
created, the easier and faster a rich and varied virtual universe
can be created and offered to visitors.
[0012] Thus there is a need for logically connecting virtual
reality representations together to form a virtual universe. In
addition to conventional virtual reality software, a simplified
method of creating virtual reality presentations is needed to
encourage creation of the virtual universe.
[0013] There is further a need to broaden the knowledge available
(beyond the human author) of the spaces in a VR Universe.
SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION
[0014] The claimed invention is a network capable of connecting
virtual reality representations together to form a virtual
universe. The virtual reality representations can be in a
simplified virtual reality format that requires no special computer
programming or graphics skills to create.
[0015] A network in accordance with the present invention includes
a number of virtual reality representations, each virtual reality
representation representing a location in a virtual universe and
defined by VR data stored on the network at a network address.
[0016] A database stores the network address and the location in
the universe of each virtual reality representation. A database
server provides access to the database. The database server
generates a list of locations in response to a location query from
a visitor, and provides the network address of the virtual reality
representation of a selected location.
[0017] The visitor connects to the network using a client host
adapted to communicate with the domain server. The host receives
data representing the network address of the VR data server
associated with a selected VR representation. The host is also
adapted to communicate with the VR data server to access the VR
data set defining the VR representation.
[0018] In using the network, the visitor is preferably presented
with a map displaying locations in the virtual universe. Each
location is associated with a virtual reality representation
accessible through the network. The visitor selects a location on
the map he or she desires to visit. The domain server receives the
selected location and retrieves from the database the network
location of the data server providing access to the selected
virtual reality representation. The domain server transmits the
network address of the data server to the host, and the host
communicates with the data server to receive the VR data defining
the virtual reality representation. The domain server also sends
the location to a IPAKN server that collects information available
in a formatted way back through the network along with the selected
virtual reality representation.
[0019] In one possible embodiment, the client host includes a
monitor that displays both the map and the virtual reality
presentation generated from the VR data as well as the data from
the IPAKN server. In other possible embodiments the virtual reality
presentation can utilize specialized hardware separate from the map
display.
[0020] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the
network stores data representing paths in the virtual universe. A
path is defined by at least two different locations in the
universe. When the domain server receives a message from the host
requesting virtual movement from a first location to a second
location, the domain server communicates the network address of the
data server associated with the second location to the host. The
host then communicates with that data server and transitions from
the first VR presentation to the VR presentation of the second
location. The visitor perceives a substantially continuous movement
along the path from the first location to the second location
without leaving the virtual universe.
[0021] Paths can be defined in different ways in alternative
embodiments of the network. The domain server can store predefined
path definitions by storing a list of the locations defining the
path. Alternatively, the domain server stores a data record for
each location in the universe. The data set records the adjacent
locations in the universe to define a path from each location to
adjacent locations. In other alternative embodiments the path is
defined in response to system events and then made available to the
visitor.
[0022] The network preferably includes administrative software that
enables new virtual reality representations to be added to the
network. The virtual reality representations can be stored on
existing data servers on the network, or stored on data servers
that are themselves added to the network. The database is updated
to reflect the new locations in the virtual universe and the
network addresses of the data servers accessing the
representations. The administrative software also enables new data
to be available from the IPAKN to add to the virtual reality
representations. This can take the form of loading that data
directly to the VD database or it can provide a link directly to
the IPAKN pre-loaded with information about the virtual reality
location selected.
[0023] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the
virtual universe is divided into public and private regions. Any
author can add to the network a virtual reality representation of a
location in the public region of the universe. Only authorized
authors can add representations in private regions of the
universe.
[0024] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention,
the network is operated as a self-regulating virtual reality
universe. The network preferably provides visitor access to a
number of virtual reality representations, each authored by a
different author. The domain server receives ratings from visitors
to the quality of the virtual reality representations they visited,
and assesses the quality of each virtual reality representation
based on the ratings provided by the visitors. The network also
provides visitor access to a number of virtual reality
representations, authored by an IPAKN author. The domain server
receives ratings from visitors to the quality of the virtual
reality representations of the IPAKN they used, and assesses the
quality of each virtual reality representation based on the ratings
provided by the visitors.
[0025] Action is then taken regarding a virtual reality based on
the assessed quality of the virtual reality representation. The
quality can be rated as a running average of visitor ratings. If
the rating falls below a predetermined score, visitor access to the
representation can be removed or the representation can be removed
from the network. Preferably the action is taken automatically and
without human intervention so that the network is
self-regulating.
[0026] To simplify creation of virtual reality representations, the
VR data can be stored in a simplified file format that stores
digital photographs taken from a specific geographic location. An
author takes a number of photographs from the location with a
digital camera. The photographs are preferably in JPG format but
other "digital film" formats can be used. Each photograph
preferably is taken in a different viewing direction, preferably
viewing north, south, east, and west. The images are uploaded to
the network along with geographical data (for example, latitude and
longitude) that identifies where the photographs were taken. The
human author also interacts with the IPAKN systems provided, asking
it questions and then decides which of the response of data, images
or other files should be stored along with the specific geographic
location. In this way the knowledge of the data of the specific
location is expanded.
[0027] The domain server stores the images and any data from the
IPAKN accepted by the author as well as stores the viewing
direction associated with each image, and geographical data in a
single data file on a data server. The domain server updates its
database, associating the geographical location with a virtual
location in the virtual universe. The virtual representation is now
accessible to visitors, and the photographs and images and IPAKN
data are displayed when generating the virtual reality presentation
of the virtual location.
[0028] A virtual reality network in accordance with the present
invention offers many advantages. A number of different virtual
reality representations are made available to visitors through a
single, centrally accessible domain server. The knowledge of the VR
universe is greatly enhanced by use of the IPAKN. The domain server
enables visitors to experience virtual reality representations
created by different authors as well as data from a knowledgeable
IPAKN, and to tour a virtual universe created by logically
organizing and connecting the separate representations.
[0029] Authors can easily add new virtual reality representations
and new IPAKN response to the network, enabling visitors to
experience a virtual reality universe that grows richer and richer
with time. With the simplified VR file format, users may share with
others their travels to places around the world, or may easily
create their own virtual universe for business or private use.
[0030] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken
in conjunction with the accompanying eight drawing sheets
illustrating an embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a virtual reality universe
realized as a distributed location network in accordance with the
present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a virtual reality
representation record used in the network shown in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a virtual reality record used
in the network shown in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a visitor
utilizing a client host communicating with the network shown in
FIG. 1 to view a location in the virtual universe;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a view of the client host display displaying a map
of the universe and a virtual reality presentation of a location in
the virtual universe;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram similar to FIG. 4 illustrating
a visitor moving along a path in the virtual universe;
[0037] FIGS. 7a and 7b represent paths in the virtual universe
extending between adjacent locations in the universe;
[0038] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate other paths in the virtual universe;
and
[0039] FIG. 11 represents photographs that define a simplified
virtual reality representation of a physical location modeled in
the virtual universe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are a system and method
for enabling a user and/or visitor utilizing a computer or other
client device to visit a selected location within a virtual reality
universe using virtual reality data authored by different authors
where the datasets include data from a IPAKN or other web source
specifically queried by the independent authors. The system and
method provide a plurality of data servers and a domain server
interconnected with the data servers. The data servers provide
access to sets of VR data of virtual representations of locations
within the universe, each set of VR data is authored by a
respective different author independently of the other authors. The
VR data includes data from an IPAKN or other web source
specifically queried by the independent authors. The domain server
provides access to domain data for selecting the location to visit
and the network address of the data server providing access to the
VR data for the selected location. The data is received from the
visitor representing a selected location in the universe. The
domain data is accessed in response data received from the visitor
and obtains therefrom the network address of the data server that
provides access to the VR data for the selected location. The VR
data for the selected location is transferred from the data server
to the visitor's computer or other client device for generation of
a VR presentation of the selected location without leaving the
virtual universe.
[0041] Users or visitors may use any number of different electronic
computing client devices, which can include, but is not limited to,
general purpose computers, mobile phones, smartphones, personal
digital assistants (PDAs), portable computing devices (e.g.,
laptop, netbook, tablets), desktop computing devices, handheld
computing device, or any other type of computing device capable of
communicating over a communication network. Such devices are
preferably configured to access data from other storage media, such
as, but not limited to memory cards or disk drives as may be
appropriate in the case of downloaded services. Such devices
preferably include standard hardware computing components such as,
but not limited to network and media interfaces, non-transitory
computer-readable storage (memory), and processors for executing
instructions that may be stored in memory.
[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed location network 10 in
accordance with the present invention.
[0043] The network 10 enables a visitor to visit and explore a
virtual universe. FIG. 1 illustrates a map 12 of the virtual
universe displayed on a visitor's computer monitor by a software
program or virtual reality browser (VR browser) 14 running on a
visitor's computer 16 connected as a network client. The universe
can model a real or tangible space, such as the surface of the
Earth, with the universe representing real or tangible locations in
physical space. Alternatively, the universe can model an imaginary
space, such as L. Frank Baum's Oz or a stick model of a protein
molecule, with the universe representing imaginary locations in
nonphysical space.
[0044] The network 10 is preferably a local, proprietary network
(e.g., an intranet) and/or is alternatively a part of a larger
wide-area network (e.g., the cloud). The network 10 can be a local
area network (LAN), which is communicatively coupled to a wide area
network (WAN) such as the Internet. The Internet is a broad network
of interconnected computers and servers allowing for the
transmission and exchange of Internet Protocol (IP) data between
users connected through a network service provider. Examples of
network service providers are the public switched telephone
network, a cable service provider, a provider of digital subscriber
line (DSL) services, or a satellite service provide.
[0045] The visitor explores the universe by selecting and viewing
virtual reality presentations of virtual locations or points 18 on
the map 12. Each point 18 represents a location in the universe
that has at least one virtual reality representation available for
a visitor to access and experience. A point 18 can model a point,
area or volume in the virtual universe, and a visitor may be
capable of moving about the area or volume if the virtual reality
presentation enables it.
[0046] The VR browser 14 retrieves the data for the virtual reality
representations from virtual reality data servers (VR data servers)
20. VR data servers 20 are connected to the browser 14 by network
connections 22. The network connections 22 may be through a Local
Area Network (LAN) or a global network such as the Internet. VR
data servers 20 may include any type of server or other computing
device as is known in the art, including standard hardware
computing components such as network and media interfaces,
non-transitory computer-readable storage (memory), and processors
for executing instructions or accessing information that may be
stored in memory. The functionalities of multiple servers may be
integrated into a single server. Any of the aforementioned servers
(or an integrated server) may take on certain client-side, cache,
or proxy server characteristics. These characteristics may depend
on the particular network placement of the server or certain
configurations of the server.
[0047] Each VR data server 20 provides access to VR data 24 for a
virtual reality representation of the selected point 18. Data can
be stored in conventional virtual reality file formats such as
QUICKTIME, X3D, VRML, and the like, or can be stored as separate
digital image files. VR data 24 can be stored on the VR data server
20 or stored on additional network data servers (not shown)
distributed through the network 10.
[0048] The entire network 10, including the network client 16 and
the servers 20 and 26, may also be hosted on a single computer if a
distributed network is not required.
[0049] A point 18 may have a number of different virtual reality
representations served by a number of different VR data servers 20.
These representations may be stored in different file formats, may
represent the point in different seasons of the year or in
different historical eras, or may provide an alternative or
augmented visitor interface or sensory experience. Of course, a
particular data server 20 could serve a number of virtual reality
representations of a point 18 or different points 18.
[0050] A domain server 26 hosts a universe database 30 for
displaying the map 12 and the points 18 on the map 12. The database
30 preferably includes graphic files, image files, and other data
for generating and displaying the map 12. The universe database 30
may also include the network addresses or network paths to the VR
files associated with the virtual reality representations.
[0051] The domain server 26 also maintains a network database 32
that stores information about each point 18 and the network
addresses of the one or more VR data servers 20 that provide access
to VR representations of the point 18.
[0052] A domain server 20 may be modified hosts access to the IPAKN
that is stored in the cloud.
[0053] The network database 32 holds a number of virtual reality
representation records (VRR records) 34.
[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical VRR record 34. The VRR record
34 is a data structure that provides information enabling the VR
browser 14 to locate the VR data server 20 providing access to a
specific VR representation. A VRR record 34 includes the location
of the point 18 and the network address of the VR data server 20
associated with the VR representation of the point 18.
[0055] The VRR record 34 preferably also includes metadata
providing additional information about the point 18, the associated
VR data server 20, and the virtual reality representation of the
point 18. Metadata can include the author, VR file format, or a
description of the VR representation. Other metadata can include
digital rights management (DRM) information, initial orientation or
direction of the default opening view of the virtual reality
representation, or the like. Metadata can include saved IPAKN data
from the interaction between the human author and the response of
the human authors questions from the IPAKN.
[0056] Each VR data server 20 maintains a local database 36 that
records the location or locations of the VR data 24 accessed
through the VR data server 20 (see FIG. 1). The local database 36
holds a virtual reality record (VR record) 38 for each
representation accessed through the VR data server 20.
[0057] The structure of FIG. 2 may be modified to include saved
IPAKN data and for example could be location data of a link to
IPAKN data (such as voice response from the IPAKN answering the
question "tell me something about the "City of New York" location,
such as any text that comes back from the answering the question
"search the internet on the empire state building" or and video
data, such as an video that comes back on "show me a video of the
lobby of the empire state building").
[0058] It is contemplated that other data that can be saved from
the IPAKN data, for example, "background" voice data is saved from
the guestion asked "tell me about what the empire state building is
made of, or "history data" saved from the question "when was the
empire state building built" and/or "author defined data" such as
answers from the question "how many people work in the empire state
building". In this way, a series of logical and personal
information for each virtual reality location is save.
[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates a typical VR record 38. The VR record 38
is a data structure that includes the location of the point 18, the
location of the VR data 24 for the representation of the point, and
metadata containing further information about the VR data 24. For
example, such metadata may include the author and digital rights
management (DRM) information, VR data format, or descriptive
information about the VR representation.
[0060] The universe database 30, the network database 32, or a
local database 36 can be realized as a single-file relational
database, object database, or hierarchal XML database.
Alternatively, a database 30, 32, 36 can be realized as a number of
separate data files, wherein each data record is stored in a
respective data file. The data file can be in structured text file
format, XML format, or other conventional data format. The
selection of database schema and format is based on conventional
software engineering considerations, including the network
architecture, the network load, and available software.
[0061] Each VR record also has saved IPAKN data which is either the
data itself or a link to that data.
[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates a first visitor session wherein a visitor
39 explores the virtual universe point-by-point. For clarity only
one visitor is shown connected to the network 10, but it should be
understood that a number of visitors can simultaneously explore the
universe.
[0063] The VR browser 14 retrieves the map data 30 from the domain
server 26 and begins the visitor session by displaying the map 12
shown in FIG. 1. The map 12 displays the points 18, and the visitor
interface of the VR browser 14 enables the visitor 39 to select
which point 18 and the representation of the selected point 18 he
or she would like to experience.
[0064] It should be understood that the universe database 30 may
include or enable generation of a number of different maps
representing different regions or sub-regions of the universe. The
VR browser 14 may simultaneously or sequentially display different
maps during a visitor session. For example, the visitor is
initially presented with a "master map" or model of the entire
universe. If the virtual universe is sufficiently extensive, the
visitor interface of the VR browser 14 enables visitors to "drill
down" and select more detailed maps or models of sub-regions (for
example, maps representing a continent, a country, a city, and then
a city block) to select a desired point 18.
[0065] Map 12 should therefore be understood to represent all
possible maps the VR browser 14 may display as part of its visitor
interface. Maps may be representations of one-dimensional,
two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or n-dimensional space as is
appropriate for the virtual universe such maps represent.
[0066] The map 12 may also display additional information that
assists the visitor in selecting a point or a VR representation of
the point. For example, the map might indicate points of historical
interest or the number and types of virtual reality representations
available for each point.
[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the visitor selects a desired
point 18a from the map 12 by clicking the mouse (see FIG. 1). The
browser 14 determines the location of the selected point 18a on the
map and requests a list 40 of VRR records 34 associated with that
point from the domain server 26 (see FIG. 2).
[0068] The domain server 26 queries the network database 32 for the
list of VRR records of points at or proximate to the selected point
18a. The domain server 26 returns the VRR list 40 to the VR browser
14. The VR browser 14 generates a list of available VR
representations from the VRR list 40, and displays the list for the
selected point 18a.
[0069] The display list can include information from the metadata
to assist the visitor in selecting a VR representation to
experience. For example, the VR browser 14 might display an icon
for each representation indicating some characteristic of the
representation (such as season of the year, its VR file format, or
quality moderation value (discussed in further detail below)).
Also, the VR browser 14 might display whether IPAKN data for
location (voice, text, video) or other data (background, history,
author defined) is available.
[0070] The visitor selects from the display list the desired
virtual reality representation to experience. If there is only one
representation associated with the selected point, the steps of
displaying and selecting from the list can be eliminated.
[0071] The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated with the
selected representation to look up the network address of the VR
data server 20 providing access to the virtual representation. The
VR browser 14 requests the VR record 38 for the selected
representation from the VR data server 20. The VR browser 14 uses
the returned VR record 38 to fetch the VR data file 24 and
initialize a virtual reality presentation that will be perceived
and experienced by the visitor 39. For example, the VR browser 14
could start one helper application to display a QUICKTIME
presentation and another helper application to display a VRML
presentation.
[0072] In the illustrated embodiment, the VR browser 14 displays
the map 12 in a first window and the virtual reality presentation
in a second window (discussed in greater detail later). In other
embodiments, virtual reality presentations could be displayed
independently of the VR browser 14 through more specialized or
augmented VR hardware, such as a headset.
[0073] During the VR presentation, the VR browser 14 receives input
from the visitor and communicates with the VR data server 20 to
fetch the VR data 36. The visitor can change the point of view and
move about the presentation as permitted by the virtual reality
representation being experienced. When the visitor ends the VR
presentation, the window displaying the VR presentation closes or
goes blank. The visitor 39 can then select a new point 18 or quit
the application.
[0074] In addition to exploring selected points 18, the network 10
enables the visitor 39 to explore paths through the universe. See,
for example, path 42 shown in FIG. 5. A path is defined as
extending along a set of points or extending between start and end
points in the universe. The network 10 supports multiple types of
paths as will be described in further detail below.
[0075] A visitor sequentially experiences virtual reality
presentations of the points 18 on the path. The VR browser 14
automatically moves from displaying one VR presentation to the next
in response to visitor input indicating movement along the path.
This provides the visitor with the perception of walking through or
being "immersed" in the universe. If the points 18 are sufficiently
close together, the visitor will essentially perceive continuous or
seamless movement through the virtual universe.
[0076] Path 42 represents a pre-defined path. A pre-defined path is
defined prior to the visitor session and may, for example,
represent a virtual river, highway, or historical trail through the
universe. Pre-defined paths are preferably defined in the universe
database 30 and represented on the map 12 for selection by the
visitor 39.
[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates the VR browser 14 with a first display
window 46 and a second display window 50. Display window 46
displays the map 12, the path 42, and the points 18 along the path
42 as shown. The second window 50 displays the virtual reality
presentation of the active, or currently visited, point 18b.
[0078] When displaying a virtual reality presentation of a point
18, the VR browser 14 preferably displays an icon 48 indicating the
active point 18. Also, icon 48A and 48B shows the IPAKN data is
available. The illustrated icon 48 is an arrow that also indicates
the approximate direction of the current line of view of the
virtual reality presentation shown in the second window 50. Icon 48
is shown indicating that point 18b is the active point and that the
direction of the current line of view is west.
[0079] Navigation widgets 52 associated with the first window 46
enable the visitor to move along the path 42 or to move to a
different path (such as a second path 54). Navigation widgets 56
associated with the second window 50 enable the visitor to change
the line of view of the VR presentation in the second window 50.
Widgets 52 and 56 can be combined into a single control if desired,
and alternative known interface controls (including the mouse) or
other interface widgets may replace or be used with the widgets 52,
56. Also, in more modern interfaces, a mouse control can be used to
select the regions.
[0080] Second window 50 may have data added by the author from the
IPAKN, for instance a road may be added and an advertisement sign
added. In this way more knowledge than the authors images are
available in the VR experience.
[0081] Also, a widget may be included which is a link to sub
widget. When the visitor selects the sub-widget, they can
initialize any of the data, for instance any of the previously
stored IPAKN data for location (voice, text, video) or other data
(background, history, author defined) is available.
[0082] It is contemplated that a widget may be included, which when
activated, sends geo location data selected in second window 50 is
sent directly to an online IPAKN cloud through the structure of
FIG. 1, providing for efficient real time interaction with the
IPAKN. In this way, the IPAKN automatically returns whatever basic
querry is sent to the IPAKN. Not limited to, but for example, the
selection of a widget could be a voice response by the system 10 of
FIG. 1. That says "tell me what you know of" and then geolocation
is inserted. In this way, the IPAKN automatically answers the
question so that the visitor does not need to know how to use the
IPAKN or even know how to access the IPAKN. In this way, one widget
may have many sub-widgets to further query the IPAKN directly.
[0083] FIG. 6 illustrates a second visitor session in which the
visitor moves along and explores the path 42 (the database 36 and
VR data 24 are omitted from the drawing). The VR browser 14
retrieves the map and path data from the universe database 30 and
displays the map 12 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0084] The visitor selects the desired path 42, and the VR browser
14 obtains the VRR record list 40 for the points 18 on the path 42
from the domain server 26. For simplicity, it is assumed that each
point 18 on the path 42 has only one virtual reality
representation; so each VRR record 34 is associated with a single
point 18 on the path 42.
[0085] The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated with the
path's starting point 18c to look up the network address of the
appropriate VR data server 20 and retrieves the VR record 38 from
that server 20. The VR record data is used to initialize and
display the virtual reality presentation of the first, or starting
point 18c (see FIG. 5). Widgets 56 control the line of view of the
virtual reality presentation as described.
[0086] Widgets 52 move the visitor to the next, or second point on
the path 42. The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated
with the next point to retrieve VR data for the next point. If the
points 18 along the path 42 are sufficiently close, the transition
from point to point appears to the visitor as a continuous movement
along the path.
[0087] In moving from the virtual reality representation of one
point to another, the VR browser 14 may also maintain (as closely
as possible) the same line of view to maintain the appearance of
continuous movement. For example, if the visitor is looking south
and moves to the next point, the initial line of view for the next
point is also viewing south. In alternative embodiments, however,
the VR browser 14 can initialize each virtual reality presentation
with a pre-determined or default line of view.
[0088] A second type of path preferably supported by the network 10
is a connection path. A connection path is a dynamic path generated
from an active point 18 to adjacent points 18 during the visitor
session.
[0089] FIG. 7a illustrates the map 12 displaying connection paths
58 extending between an active point 18d and adjacent points
18e-18i. Connection paths 58 connect two adjacent or neighboring
points 18, enabling the visitor to pick and choose his or her own
route through the universe.
[0090] The connection paths 58 typically provide multiple routes
between points. For example, the visitor can move from point 18d to
point 18h directly, or can move first to point 18g and then to
point 18h. FIG. 7b illustrates the connection paths 59 when the
visitor reaches point 18h. The paths 59 start from point 18h and
end at points 18d, 18g, and 18i.
[0091] The VRR record(s) 34 for each point 18 preferably includes a
connection data set (see FIG. 2) that lists adjacent points 18. For
example, the connection data set for point 18d (shown in FIG. 7a)
includes points 18e-18i and the direction to each point. This
enables the VR browser 14 to display the connection paths 58
available to the visitor; the VR browser 14 can also iteratively
retrieve the VRR records of adjacent points to display a network of
available paths on the map 12. The connection data set also allows
the VR browser 14 to efficiently respond and display the next
virtual reality presentation after receiving a visitor request to
move in a given direction from active point 18d.
[0092] The domain server 26 generates the connection data set when
a new point 18 is added to the network. The adjacent points 18 are
retrieved from the universe database 30 to generate the connection
data set for the new point 18.
[0093] The domain server 26 also modifies the connection data set
of adjacent points 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The maps 12
in FIGS. 8 and 9 are otherwise identical to the map 12 in FIG. 7a,
but include a later-added point 18j or 18k, respectively. In FIG.
8, point 18j is inserted between points 18d and 18h. Point 18j is
now adjacent to point 18d instead of point 18h. The connection data
set associated with point 18d is modified to remove point 18h and
to insert point 18j for the connection path 58 extending between
points 18d and 18j. In FIG. 9, point 18k is an additional point
adjacent to point 18d. Point 18k is added to the data connection
set associated with point 18d for the connection path 58 extending
between points 18d and 18k.
[0094] A visitor can also preferably edit the connection data set
for a point 18 to add or subtract connection paths extending from
the point. The visitor can add a remote point 18 to the data set,
creating a connection path to that remote point. A point can be
removed from the data set, eliminating a connection path. The
modified data set can be stored on the visitor's machine 16 for use
only by the visitor's browser 14, or the modifications can be saved
in the network database 32 to be made available to all
visitors.
[0095] A third type of path supported by the network 10 is the
event path. An event path is a dynamic path generated by the
network in response to an event or visitor query. For example, the
visitor 39 may request the path from his or her current location to
another location in the universe. The VR browser 14 queries the
universe database 30 and displays the points 18 along the path on
the map 12.
[0096] FIG. 10 illustrates an event path 60 generated by an event.
The domain server 26 maintains a list of active visitors on the
network 10 and the current location of each visitor in the
universe. The map 12 displays the positions of all the visitors 39
and the path to each visitor. For clarity only two active visitors
39a, 39b and one path 60 between them are shown in FIG. 10. Paths
60 are automatically updated as visitors move about in the universe
and as visitors join and leave the network.
[0097] A fourth type of path supported by the network is the
visitor-defined path. Path 54 (see FIG. 5) represents a
visitor-defined path. The visitor defines the end points and the
points 18 of the path 54. The path can be created, for example, by
inputting a list of the points 18 defining the path or by having
the VR browser 14 maintain and store a history of the points 18
visited by the visitor in prior visits.
[0098] The definition of the visitor-defined path 54 may be stored
on the visitor's machine 16 for use only by the visitor 39.
Alternatively, the path definition is stored in the universe
database 30 and made available to all network visitors.
[0099] As described above, the domain server 26 provides a single
point of access for the VR browser 14 to initiate a visitor session
and display a map of available points 18 in the universe. This
enables new points 18 to be added to the universe and new virtual
reality representations of new or existing points 18 to be made
available to all VR browsers 14 on the network 10 by updating the
domain server databases 30 and 32.
[0100] An author creating a virtual reality representation for a
new or existing point 18 stores the data on his or her own VR data
server 20 and then connects the VR data server to the network 10.
The author remotely invokes an administrative program on the domain
server 26 that adds the location to the universe database 30 and
adds a new VRR record 34 to the network database 32. The new VRR
record 34 includes the location of the new point 18 and the network
address of the associated VR data server 20. The VR browser 14
automatically generates an up-to-date map 12 when it retrieves the
map data from the universe database 30.
[0101] If desired, the client machine 16 can cache VR data 34 as
well as records from the databases 30, 32, and 36 for improved
performance. The VR browser 14 uses the local data cache to display
the map and to retrieve VR data from the network 10. However, the
data cache should be refreshed regularly or at the visitor's
command to prevent stale data. Alternatively, the database records
can include a "Time to Live" field for automatic updating of the
data caches.
[0102] To facilitate creation of VR representations of points 18,
the universe is preferably divided into a public region and a
private region. Authors are free to add virtual reality
representations of any point in the public region. Only authorized
authors can add virtual representations of private regions.
[0103] To illustrate the concept of public and private regions in
more concrete terms, the map 12 is a virtual representation of the
Gettysburg National Military Park 62 and the adjacent borough of
Gettysburg, Pa. 64. See FIG. 1; the borough of Gettysburg is
represented schematically as a circular area. The Military Park 62
is a public region of the universe and the borough of Gettysburg 64
is a private region of the universe.
[0104] Tourists or Civil War buffs can author a virtual reality
representation for a new point 18 in the Military Park 62 or author
an additional virtual reality representation for an existing point
18. The author can provide visitor access to the representation
through a publicly or privately available VR data server 20. The
author updates the domain server databases 30, 32 through the
administrative software as previously described and updates the
local database 36 and stores the VR data 24 on the data server 20.
The new point and its representation are now available to all
visitors.
[0105] Over time, the number of points in the universe having
virtual reality representations increases and the number of
representations for a given point increases. This enables visitors
to select points and view presentations that provide them with a
rich and varied virtual visit to the virtual Military Park 62.
[0106] To further encourage the creation and selection of
high-quality virtual presentations, each representation of a public
point 18 is preferably assigned a quality moderation value. A
quality moderation value represents the quality of the
representation and assists visitors in selecting which
representations to view. The quality moderation value is preferably
stored in the representation's VRR record 34 (see FIG. 2) and is
displayed on the map 12.
[0107] For example, a representation can be assigned a quality
moderation value between 0 and 10, where 0 represents a low quality
representation and 10 represents a high quality representation. A
visitor can rate the quality of the representation after
experiencing the virtual reality presentation. A running average of
visitors' ratings is stored as the representation's quality
moderation value. This mechanism enables the network 10 to be
self-moderating in that representations whose quality falls below a
minimum value can be automatically removed from the network or not
listed for selection.
[0108] Virtual reality representations of points within Gettysburg
borough 64, however, are limited to authorized authors. Examples of
such authors may include owners of commercial establishments who
wish to control the content of the virtual reality representation
of their store or business. A private representation may be hosted
on a VR data server 20 whose access is controlled by the author and
may or may not be assigned a quality moderation value.
[0109] Virtual reality representations of public points are
preferably created in a simple, standardized format to encourage
those without technical or computer expertise to contribute virtual
reality representations to the network 10.
[0110] FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred, simplified virtual reality
format. Four images 66 are taken with a digital camera from a
point, each photograph having a line of view facing north, south,
east, and west, respectively. The administrative program uploads
the four image files and presents an on-line form requesting the
location of the point and associated metadata. The administrative
program stores the image files as VR data 24 on a VR data server
20, updates the universe database 30, adds the appropriate VRR
record to the network database 32, and adds the appropriate VR
record to the local database 36.
[0111] Because the illustrated public region 62 represents an area
of the Earth, the latitude and longitude of the corresponding
physical location of an actual point on the Earth's surface
provides a convenient way of identifying the location of a point 18
on the map 12. The administrative program requests the latitude and
longitude of the point, which can be obtained, for example, by a
GPS reading when the digital photographs are taken.
[0112] It is understood that other kinds of metadata, data fields,
data keys, or data formats can be used for or stored in the
databases 30, 32, and 36 and that other VR data 24 can be stored in
other file formats. The data can be distributed on other servers on
the network 10. But the VR browser 14 preferably accesses the
network 10 initially through the single domain server 26 regardless
of how the data itself is distributed throughout the network
10.
[0113] FIG. 11 also shows IPAKN data for location (voice, text,
video) is available. For instance, 66T shows and image that was
downloaded from the results of the IPAKN query "show me a picture
of Gettysburg borough", which shows more detail of what the web has
stored on that location. Also shown are more detailed data 66U that
was downloaded from the results of the IPAKN query "show me a
picture of the monument on at th Gettysburg borough. Further detail
can be shown 66V that was downloaded from the results of the IPAKN
query "show me how many soldiers died in the war at the Gettysburg
borough. In this way specific data was saved from the IPAKN.
[0114] FIG. 11 also shows IPAKN data for location for other data
(background, history, author defined) is available. For instance,
66W was downloaded from the results of the query "show me a picture
of a sunny day at the Gettysburg borough". In this way specific
authored data is saved that was queried from the IPAKN. It is
contemplated that embodiments of the virtual reality network 10
will be customized for particular industries or visitors. For
example, a real estate network would host virtual reality
representations of houses available for sale. The seller's real
estate agent takes photographs of each room in a house and uploads
them to the real estate network, along with the floor plan and
other metadata. A buyer's real estate agent selects the house to
visit, and the VR browser displays the floor plan and the paths
through the house. The visitor moves along the paths in the house,
in effect taking a virtual reality tour through each room in the
house.
[0115] The present invention may be implemented in an application
that may be operable using a variety of devices. Non-transitory
computer-readable storage media refer to any medium or media that
participate in providing instructions to a central processing unit
(CPU) for execution. Such media can take many forms, including, but
not limited to, non-volatile and volatile media such as optical or
magnetic disks and dynamic memory, respectively. Common forms of
non-transitory computer-readable media include, for example, a
floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any other
magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), any other
optical medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM, and any other
memory chip or cartridge.
[0116] Various forms of transmission media may be involved in
carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU
for execution. A bus carries the data to system RAM, from which a
CPU retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions
received by system RAM can optionally be stored on a fixed disk
either before or after execution by a CPU. Various forms of storage
may likewise be implemented as well as the necessary network
interfaces and network topologies to implement the same.
[0117] While we have illustrated and described preferred
embodiments of our invention, it is understood that this is capable
of modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the
precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such
changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following
claims.
* * * * *