US 8,514,249 B2 · Collapsing areas of a region in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources

Abstract

Described herein are processes and devices that coalesced and/or collapse areas in a region of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. Some embodiments are directed to detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe and, in response, determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe. In some embodiments, the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects. Some embodiments are further directed to selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area, coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area, and, in response, collapsing the first area of the virtual universe.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of coalescing and collapsing a first area of a virtual universe into a second area of the virtual universe, the method comprising:

a computer detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe;
the computer determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe in response to said computer detecting the indication to reduce usage of the computing resource in the virtual universe, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects;
the computer selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area;
the computer coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area;
and
the computer collapsing the first area of the virtual universe in response to said computer coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area.

3 more elements

A computer system for coalescing and collapsing a first area of a virtual universe into a second area of the virtual universe, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more machine-readable memories and one or more machine-readable tangible storage devices;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area responsive to detecting the indication to reduce usage of the computing resource in the virtual universe, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to select a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects to move from the first area into the second area;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to coalesce the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area;
and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to collapse the first area of the virtual universe responsive to coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area.

4 more elements

A computer program product for coalescing and collapsing a first area of a virtual universe into a second area of the virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:

one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage devices;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe responsive to detecting the indication to reduce usage of the computing resource in the virtual universe, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to select a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to coalesce the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area;
and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to collapse the first area of the virtual universe responsive to coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsing areas of a region in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources

Life of this patent

Collapsing areas of a region in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18