System and method for providing dynamic three-dimensional multi-user virtual spaces in synchrony with hypertext browsing

A method for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a message indicating a request from a client for a hypertext file;
• b. constructing a virtual three dimensional room description based upon the requested hypertext file, wherein the virtual three dimensional room description comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room;
• c. sending the three dimensional room description to the requesting client;
• and
• d. displaying a hypertext file in a conventional two dimensional format at the client, wherein the conventionally displayed hypertext file corresponds to and is displayed substantially synchronously with the three dimensional room.

A method for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a message indicating a request from a client for a hypertext file;
• b. constructing a virtual three dimensional room description based upon the requested hypertext file, wherein the virtual three dimensional room description comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room;
• c. sending the three dimensional room description to the requesting client;
• and
• d. displaying a hypertext file in a conventional two dimensional format at the client,
• e. receiving a synchrony toggle message from the client;
• f. if, when the synchrony toggle message is received, the conventionally displayed hypertext file corresponds to and is displayed substantially synchronously with a three dimensional room, then conventionally displaying a subsequently requested hypertext file independently from the display of any three dimensional room;
• and
• g. if, when the synchrony toggle message is received, the conventionally displayed hypertext file is displayed independently from the display of any three dimensional room, then conventionally displaying a subsequently requested hypertext file substantially synchronously with a corresponding three dimensional room.

A method for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a message indicating a request from a client for a hypertext file;
• b. constructing a virtual three dimensional room description based upon the requested hypertext file;
• c. sending the three dimensional room description to the requesting client;
• and
• d. receiving a message indicating that a client is a group leader and receiving a message is received indicating that a client is a group follower.

A method for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a message correlating a hypertext file to a predetermined virtual three dimensional room description;
• b. receiving a message indicating a request from a client for the hypertext file of step a;
• and
• c. sending the predetermined virtual three dimensional room description to the requesting client, wherein the virtual three dimensional room description comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room.

A method for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a plurality of messages from clients indicating requests for hypertext files from a correlated set of hypertext files;
• b. if the number of clients requesting hypertext files from the correlated set of hypertext files is below a predetermined threshold, then sending a single virtual three dimensional room description to the requesting clients, wherein the virtual three dimensional room description comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room;
• and
• c. if the number of clients requesting hypertext files from the correlated set of hypertext files is above a predetermined threshold, then sending a virtual three dimensional room description to each client that corresponds to the hypertext file requested by each such client.

An apparatus for providing clients connected to a network shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising:

• a. a receiver that receives a message sent from a client;
• b. a virtual three dimensional room builder that constructs a three dimensional virtual room based upon a hypertext file requested by a client in a message, wherein the description of the virtual three dimensional room comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room;
• and
• c. a sender that sends the virtual three dimensional room description to a client that requested a hypertext file.

A system for providing clients connected on a network shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing, comprising:

• a. means for receiving a message indicating a request from a client for a hypertext file;
• b. means for constructing a virtual three dimensional room description based upon the requested hypertext file, wherein the virtual three dimensional room description comprises portal data that is rendered at the client to a user as a doorway from a first virtual three dimensional room to a second virtual three dimensional room;
• and
• c. means for sending the virtual three dimensional room description to the requesting client.