Scalable virtual world chat client-server system

An apparatus for interaction between a plurality of users in a three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of client processes, wherein each client process is executed on a digital computer distinct from the digital computers executing others of the plurality of client processes;
• (b) a central server comprising at least one process and executed by at least one digital computer, wherein the central server comprises:
• (1) a plurality of user objects, wherein a user object is instantiated for each user in the plurality of users;
• (2) a plurality of room objects, wherein a room object is instantiated for each occupied room in the virtual environment;
• and
• (3) a plurality of world objects, wherein each world object includes a list of users, a list of rooms and communication connections with the plurality of user objects and the plurality of room objects;
• (c) a network coupling the central server to the digital computers which execute the plurality of client processes, thereby coupling the plurality of client processes to the central server;
• (d) means for communicating room, position and orientation information relating to a particular user in the graphical space from the particular user's client process to the central server;
• (e) means for synchronously disseminating from the server to each of the client processes a packet of information updating a list of avatars displayable for that particular client;
• (f) means for determining from said list of avatars a set of avatars to be displayed at each client process, wherein said means for determining is located at each client process;
• (g) means for routing client communications to a particular server process according to which room the client is currently in;
• and
• (h) means, on the digital computer executing the particular user's client process, for rendering a three-dimensional view from a viewpoint of the location of the particular user.