Explicit use of user context objects in a virtual universe

A method for performing a search for a resource in a virtual universe using selectable and modifiable user context objects, comprising:

• presenting a plurality of user context objects determined for an avatar that is online in the virtual universe, wherein the presenting of the plurality of user context objects to the avatar includes deriving the plurality of user context objects from all of the following:
• inventory items belonging to the avatar, teleportation history of the avatar, motion history of the avatar and social tagging behavior exhibited by a user of the avatar in the real world;
• receiving a user context object selection from the avatar, wherein the user context object selection contains one of the plurality of user context objects determined for the avatar and any desired modifications made to the selected user context object;
• receiving a query from the avatar;
• and
• performing a resource search for the query in accordance with the selected user context object;
• and
• providing results from the search to a robot avatar that is configured to allow the avatar to interact anonymously and semi-autonomously within the virtual universe in response to a modification made by the avatar to the selected user context object.

A computer system for facilitating use of a plurality of user context objects determined for an avatar that is online in a virtual universe, comprising:

• at least one processing unit;
• memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit;
• and
• a user context object tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the tool comprising:
• a user context object retrieving component configured to retrieve the plurality of user context objects for presentation to the avatar, wherein the retrieved plurality of user context objects are derived from all of the following:
• inventory items belonging to the avatar, teleportation history of the avatar, motion history of the avatar and social tagging behavior exhibited by a user of the avatar in the real world;
• a user context object selection and modification component configured to receive a user context object selection and any desired modifications made to the user context object selection;
• and
• a user context object permissions component configured to permit the avatar to interact with the virtual universe in accordance with the user context object selection, wherein the user context object permissions component is configured to permit applying the user context object selection to a robot avatar that is configured to allow the avatar to interact anonymously and semi-autonomously within the virtual universe.

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to facilitate use of a plurality of user context objects determined for an avatar that is online in a virtual universe, the computer instructions comprising:

• presenting the plurality of user context objects to the avatar, wherein the presenting of the plurality of user context objects to the avatar includes deriving the plurality of user context objects from all of the following:
• inventory items belonging to the avatar, teleportation history of the avatar, motion history of the avatar and social tagging behavior exhibited by a user of the avatar in the real world;
• receiving a user context object selection from the avatar, wherein the user context object selection contains one of the plurality of user context objects determined for the avatar and any desired modifications made to the selected user context object;
• and
• permitting the avatar to interact with the virtual universe in accordance with the user context object selection, wherein the permitting of the avatar to interact with the virtual universe includes instructions for applying the user context object selection to a robot avatar that is configured to allow the avatar to interact anonymously and semi-autonomously within the virtual universe.

A method for deploying a user context object tool for use in a computer system that facilitates use of a plurality of user context objects determined for an avatar that is online in a virtual universe, comprising:

• providing a computer infrastructure operable to:
• present the plurality of user context objects to the avatar, wherein the presenting of the plurality of user context objects to the avatar includes deriving the plurality of user context objects from all of the following:
• inventory items belonging to the avatar, teleportation history of the avatar, motion history of the avatar and social tagging behavior exhibited by a user of the avatar in the real world;
• receive a user context object selection from the avatar, wherein the user context object selection contains one of the plurality of user context objects determined for the avatar and any desired modifications made to the selected user context object;
• and
• permit the avatar to interact with the virtual universe in accordance with the user context object selection, wherein the permit of the avatar to interact with the virtual universe includes applying the user context object selection to a robot avatar that is configured to allow the avatar to interact anonymously and semi-autonomously within the virtual universe.