U.S. Pat. No. 9,770,661

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, avatars within a virtual environment may interact with each other in various ways. For instance, a number of users may work together to organize their avatars into various formations within the virtual world, such that the avatars are arranged to give the appearance of various words or shapes. As an example, a group of users could position their avatars such that the arrangement of avatars spells out the words “Happy B-Day!” As another example, a group of users could position their avatars such that the avatars form a smiley face in the virtual world. Such activity can be beneficial for the users and the virtual world, as it encourages creativity amongst the users and provides a fun activity for users to participate in within the virtual environment.

However, such positioning techniques may also be used by malicious users to create offensive content within the virtual world. That is, malicious users could organize their avatars in ways which spell out offensive words or draw offensive symbols within the virtual world. This may be particularly problematic in virtual worlds which are free to play, as a single user may use automation techniques to create and control a large number of avatars in such virtual worlds without incurring substantial costs. Additionally, traditional content filtering techniques may be unable to detect such offensive content, as the offensive content is not explicitly created content (e.g., a chat message, an avatar name, etc.) in the virtual world, but rather is implicit in the arrangement of a plurality of avatars within the virtual world. Nonetheless, the offensive content may be readily apparent when viewed by users of the virtual world.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide techniques for displaying user-controlled virtual objects (e.g., avatars) within a virtual environment in a way that avoids an appearance of offensive content. Embodiments receive a request from a first user specifying a first location within the virtual environment to move a first user-controlled virtual object to. Here, the first user-controlled virtual object is an object controlled by the first user in the virtual world. A zone encompassing the specified location is then identified. That is, the virtual environment may be divided into a number of different zones, with each of the zones corresponding to a separate portion of the virtual environment and with every location within the virtual environment corresponding to a single one of the zones. Upon identifying the zone that contains the specified location, embodiments determine a second location within the identified zone at which to display the first user-controlled virtual object at to a second user. In particular embodiments, the second location is determined randomly or pseudo-randomly. In other embodiments, the second location is selected from a predetermined set of locations within the identified zone. Embodiments then output the virtual environment for display to the second user, with the first user-controlled virtual object associated with the first user is displayed as positioned at the determined second location within the virtual environment. Advantageously, by adjusting the position at which the first avatar is displayed to other users of the virtual world, embodiments prevent the first avatar from participating in any formations that give the appearance of offensive content.

As used herein, a user-controlled virtual object generally represents any object within a virtual environment. Examples of such a user-controlled virtual object include, without limitation, avatars controlled by users of the virtual environment, furniture placed by users within the virtual environment (e.g., within a virtual house), exchangeable objects within the virtual environment (e.g., an umbrella that users may hold or trade with other users), and so on. As such, embodiments may be used to prevent users from arranging any virtual objects within the virtual environment in ways that create offensive shapes and/or words.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a system configured to operate an avatar positioning component, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the system100includes a plurality of client systems110connected to a server system140via a network130. Each of the client systems110is configured to operate a game client120. Examples of the client systems110include, without limitation, console gaming systems (e.g., the Microsoft Xbox 360®, the Sony Playstation® 3, etc.), handheld gaming systems (e.g., the Nintendo 3DS™ and DS™, the Sony PSP®, etc.), personal computer gaming systems and so on. Furthermore, although the depicted embodiment shows only a single server system140, such a depiction is for illustrative purposes only. Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art will quickly recognize that any number of physical and/or logical server systems may be used in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

The server system140is configured to operate a game server150, which includes an avatar positioning component160. Generally, the game server150is configured to receive connections from users (e.g., via the game clients120) and to manage a virtual world and interactions between the users within the virtual world. The avatar positioning component160is generally configured to manage the positions at which the avatars are displayed within the virtual world. For example, the avatar positioning component160may receive a request from a first user in the virtual world to move the first user's avatar to a specified location. As a result, the avatar positioning component160could output for display the first user's avatar at the specified location (e.g., through communications with the game client120on the client system110associated with the first user). Doing so ensures that the first user sees his avatar positioned at the location that the first user specified. Additionally, although the avatar positioning component160is shown as residing within the game server150on the server system140in the depicted embodiment, such a depiction is without limitation and is for illustrative purposes only. Moreover, it is broadly contemplated that the avatar positioning component160could reside elsewhere on the server system140, on the client systems110, on another computer system or on a combination of the aforementioned computer systems.

However, for other users of the virtual world, the avatar positioning component160may display the first user's avatar at a different position within the virtual world. For instance, the avatar positioning component160may determine a zone which encompasses the specified location. That is, the virtual environment may be divided into a plurality of zones, such that every location within the virtual environment corresponds to one of the zones. Generally, such zones do not overlap with each other and may be of any shape and size. In one embodiment, the virtual environment is divided into a number of equally-sized rectangular zones. In other embodiments, the virtual environment is divided into zones of different shapes and sizes.

Upon determining the zone that encompasses the specified location to which the first user wishes to move his avatar, the avatar positioning component160selects a second location within the zone at which to display the first user's avatar to other users. For instance, the avatar positioning component160could randomly select the second location within the zone that is different from the specified location. As another example, the avatar positioning component160could select the second location from a predefined set of locations within the zone. Upon selecting the second location within the zone, the avatar positioning component160outputs for display the first user's avatar at the determined second location to the other users of the virtual world (e.g., through communications with game clients120on the client systems110associated with the other users). Advantageously, displaying the first user's avatar at a different position prevents the first user from positioning his avatar into a formation of avatars that gives the appearance of offensive content. Furthermore, by positioning the first user's avatar within the same zone of the virtual environment, embodiments ensure that the second location at which the first user's avatar is displayed is relatively close in proximity to the location specified by the first user.

In one embodiment, the avatar positioning component160pseudo-randomly selects the second location. For instance, the avatar positioning component160could first identify a number of prohibited areas within the zone. As an example, the provider of the virtual world may wish to prevent certain areas of the virtual environment from becoming cluttered with avatars. For instance, a virtual environment could contain a door which users can access to enter a particular area within the virtual world. As such, the virtual world provider may wish to prevent users from stacking on top of the door with their avatars, thus hiding it from the view of other users and/or preventing the other users from accessing the door. Accordingly, once the prohibited areas are determined, the avatar positioning component160may select (e.g., randomly) a location that is within the zone but is not included within any of the prohibited areas. Advantageously, doing so enables the provider of the virtual world to prevent certain areas of the virtual world from becoming crowded with avatars while still ensuring that users cannot create any offensive content through the formation of their avatars.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable for users to see the actual position of particular user's avatars. For instance, if a second user is participating in a group activity with a number of other users that the second user trusts, it may be desirable for the second user to be able to see the actual locations of the other users' avatars (i.e., rather than a different location for the avatars determined by the avatar positioning component160). As an example, if the second user is interacting with the other users in order to create a non-offensive avatar formation, the second user may not wish for the avatar positioning component160to adjust the displayed positions of the other users' avatars. However, the second user may still wish to avoid seeing offensive formations of avatars, made by other avatars that the second user does not know and/or does not trust. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, the avatar positioning component160may determine which other users the second user has a trusted relationship with, e.g., by determining which users are on a friends list of the second user.

As another example, the avatar positioning component160could analyze the network addresses associated with the users of the virtual environment to determine relationships between the users. For example, the avatar positioning component160could determine that a trusted relationship exists between three users, because all three users all have connected to the virtual world using the same internet protocol (“IP”) address. For instance, a family connecting to the virtual world using a single internet connection would all be associated with the same external IP address. Additionally, the avatar positioning component160may analyze the IP addresses associated with the users to determine similarities between the IP addresses. For example, the avatar positioning component160could determine a relationship exists between users of the virtual world when the IP addresses of the users all share a common subnet. Upon determining that the trusted relationship exists with particular other users, the avatar positioning component160may output for display the other users' avatars at their actual positions within the virtual world. Advantageously, such an embodiment allows users to view the actual locations of trusted avatars within the virtual world so that the users can still participate in activities involving avatar formations with the trusted users. Furthermore, such an embodiment still protects users from offensive formations of avatars created by non-trusted users within the virtual environment.

FIG. 2is a screenshot of a virtual environment, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the screenshot200includes a plurality of avatars210positioned at various locations within a virtual environment. In the depicted embodiment, each avatar210is a graphical representation representing a respective user of the virtual world. Furthermore, each avatar could be associated with a respective avatar name. As an example, the avatar2101could be associated with the avatar name “User Name1” while the avatar2103could be associated with the avatar name “User Name3”. Additionally, the depicted embodiment shows several of the avatars210interacting via chat bubbles. For instance, the avatar2101is shown asking if any of the other avatars “Want to play Sled Racing?” Of course, the screenshot200only shows one virtual world in which embodiments of the present invention may be used. More generally, it is broadly contemplated that embodiments may be used with any sort of virtual world that can be configured with an avatar positioning component160.

As discussed above, a group of users may interact with each other to position their respective avatars210into various formations. In many situations, such behavior is beneficial, as it promotes creative thinking and interactions between the users of the virtual world. However, one difficulty faced by virtual world providers is that malicious users may organize their avatars into formations that give the appearance of offensive content (i.e., an offensive word(s) or an offensive image). This is particularly problematic in virtual worlds that are free to play, as a single user could use automation techniques to create and control a plurality of avatars within the virtual world. Furthermore, such offensive formations may go undetected by conventional content filtering tools, as they are not explicitly-defined offensive content (e.g., as an offensive chat message would be). As such, a conventional text filter would not be able to detect an offensive word spelled out by a formation of avatars, even though such a word could easily be seen by users of the virtual world.

As such, embodiments of the present invention may divide the virtual environment into zones and adjust the position at which other avatars are displayed based on these zones. An example of this is shown inFIG. 3, which is a screenshot of a virtual environment divided into a plurality of zones, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the screenshot300includes a plurality of zones310. Of note, although shown for illustrative purposes inFIG. 3, the zones310are typically not visible to users of the virtual world (although they may be in some embodiments). Generally, the virtual environment is divided up into zones310that do not overlap with each other. In one embodiment, the entire virtual environment is divided into zones310, such that every location within the virtual environment is encompassed by a single zone310. In other embodiments, only certain areas of the virtual environment may be divided into zones310.

In a particular embodiment, the zones310are pre-defined by an administrator of the virtual world. For example, the avatar positioning component160could provide a graphical user interface through which the administrator may draw the zones310in the virtual environment. As another example, the administrator could define the zones in a coordinate-based map file that could then be read by the avatar positioning component160. In other embodiments, the avatar positioning component160automatically generates the zones310. For example, in such embodiments, the avatar positioning component160could divide the virtual environment into a number of equal-sized, rectangular zones. More generally, any technique for creating the zones consistent with the functions described herein may be used.

As discussed above, embodiments may use the zones310to adjust the position at which various avatars are displayed within the virtual world. For instance, embodiments may determine such an adjusted display position for an avatar in response to a move request from the user associated with the avatar. An example of such movement is illustrated inFIG. 4, which shows a screenshot of a virtual environment illustrating a request to reposition an avatar, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the screenshot400depicts the avatar2106moving to the location410within the virtual environment. Of note, although the location410is marked with an “X” for illustrative purposes in the screenshot400, such a marking would typically not be visible to all the users of the virtual world.

Additionally, as shown, the avatar2106is located within the zone3103. Such a movement request may be generated, for example, responsive to the user clicking on the location410in a game client120. As another example, the movement request may be based on the user accessing a particular representation of a location within the virtual world. For instance, the game client120may provide a predefined textual list of locations within the virtual world. When the user selects one of the textual location descriptions, such a game client120could be configured to move the user's avatar to the described location within the virtual world. Furthermore, the avatar positioning component160is configured to not adjust the position of the avatar for the user associated with the avatar. As such, the game client120may display the user's avatar at the exact location specified by the user. Of course, these examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any number of other techniques may be used for moving avatars within the virtual world.

Upon receiving the request to move the avatar2106to the specified location410, the avatar positioning component160may determine a second location within the zone3103at which to display the avatar2106to other users of the virtual world. In one embodiment, the avatar positioning component160determines the second location by randomly selecting another location within the zone3103. In another embodiment, the avatar positioning component160pseudo-randomly determines the second location within the zone3103. For example, the avatar positioning component160could first identify any prohibited areas within the zone3103. As discussed above, the provider of the virtual world may wish to limit avatar congestion around certain areas of the virtual world (e.g., a door to a particular area of the virtual world). Continuing the example, once any prohibited areas within the zone3103are determined, and then randomly select a location within the zone3103that does not fall within any of the prohibited areas. In other embodiments, the avatar positioning component160selects the second location from a predefined list of locations within the zone3103. Such predefined locations may be defined, for example, by an administrator of the virtual world.

In any event, upon determining the second location, the avatar positioning component160may display (or output for display by a game client120) the avatar2106at the second location within the virtual world to other users of the virtual world. An example of this is shown inFIG. 5, which illustrates a screenshot of a virtual environment configured with an avatar positioning component, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. Of note, the screenshot500illustrates a view of the virtual world from the perspective of the other users of the virtual world (as opposed to the perspective of the user associated with the avatar2106). As shown, the screenshot500illustrates the zone3103and the specified location410. However, although the user associated with the avatar2106has moved his avatar to the specified location410, the avatar is depicted at the determined second location510within the virtual world to the other users of the virtual world.

Advantageously, by displaying the avatar2106at the second location510, embodiments prevent malicious users from arranging pluralities of avatars into formations that give the appearance of offensive content. That is, because a particular user will see other users' avatars at different locations within the virtual world than they are actually located, embodiments prevent any such formations of avatars from forming. Additionally, by using zones310to select the second location510that is in close proximity to the specified location410within the virtual world, embodiments ensure that the avatars are not displayed far away from their actual position. This, in turn, may ensure that interactions between the second avatar and the other avatars are not affected by the adjustment in the displayed position of the second avatar. Furthermore, because each user sees his avatar positioned at the specified location (rather than at the determined second location), embodiments ensure that users will not be confused by any adjusted positioning of their own avatars.

As an additional advantage, by allowing the zones to be defined by the administrators of the virtual world, embodiments allow for precise play interaction within the virtual world. For instance, an administrator could create a small number of zones in areas where location matters to the users. As an example, the administrator could create only a small number of zones near a snow fort during a snow ball fight, so as to avoid confusion by the users (e.g., resulting from avatars appearing in random places during the snowball fight). As another example, an administrator could create a smaller zone near a prop on a stage, to ensure that users specifying locations near the prop are always displayed near the prop, even if they are displayed in a different location than specified. Doing so ensures the speech of the avatars near the prop makes sense in the context of the location. However, in broader areas like open fields within the virtual world, the administrators could create larger zones, as these open fields within the virtual world are key targets for malformed alignments of avatars.

FIG. 6is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying avatars in a virtual environment, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the method600begins at step605, where a game server150provides a virtual world to a plurality of users, with each user controlling a respective avatar within the virtual world. The avatar positioning component160within the game server150then receives a request to move a first avatar associated with a first user to a first location within the virtual world (step610). Such a request could be generated by a game client120, e.g., responsive to a user clicking on the specified first location within the game client120.

Upon receiving the request, the avatar positioning component160identifies a zone encompassing the specified first location (step615). As discussed above, a virtual environment may be divided into a plurality of zones, such that each location within the virtual environment corresponds to one of the zones. Upon identifying the zone which includes the first location, the avatar positioning component160determines a second location within the identified zone at which to display the first avatar to a second user (step620). As discussed above, the second location may be determined in a number of different ways, e.g., randomly, pseudo-randomly, selected from a pre-defined set of locations, and so on.

Upon determining the second location, the avatar positioning component160outputs the virtual environment for display to the first user (e.g., using the game client120associated with the first user), such that the first avatar of the first user is displayed at the specified location (step625). Additionally, the avatar positioning component160outputs the virtual environment for display to the second user (e.g., using the game client120associated with the second user), such that the first avatar of the first user is displayed at the second location (step630). Once the virtual environment is displayed to the users, the method600ends. Advantageously, adjusting the position at which the first user's avatar is displayed to the second user prevents the first user from positioning his avatar into a formation alongside other avatars that gives the appearance of offensive content. Furthermore, by displaying the first user's avatar at the specified position where the first user moved the avatar, embodiments prevent any confusion on the part of the first user (i.e., confusion caused by the first avatar appearing to travel to the second location, rather than the specified location).

Additionally, as discussed above, in a particular embodiment the avatar positioning component160could reside on client systems (e.g., within the game client120). In such an embodiment, the avatar positioning component160for the second user could receive the actual position of the first avatar (e.g., the location specified by the first user) from a game server and then determine the second position at which to display the first avatar based on a zone containing the specified location for the first avatar. Advantageously, by including the avatar positioning component160within the game client120, embodiments may allow the client to make use of locally-stored trust-related information, such as a list of known friends within the virtual world and a predefined safety level for the second user.

In an alternate embodiment, the avatar positioning component160may reside on both the client systems and the game server system, with each instance of the avatar positioning component160being responsible for certain operations. For instance, the avatar positioning component160on the server system could determine a zone containing the specified position for the first avatar and transmit the determined zone information to the game client for the second user (i.e., rather than transmitting the specified position). An avatar positioning component160within the game client for the second user could then select a position within the received zone at which to display the first avatar.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying avatars in a virtual environment, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the method700begins at step705, where the avatar positioning component160receives a request to move a first avatar associated with a first user to a first location with a virtual environment. Upon receiving the request, the avatar positioning component160determines whether the first user has a trusted status for a second user (step710). For example, the avatar positioning component160could determine whether the first user appears on a friends list of the second user within the virtual world. As another example, the second user could maintain a separate list of trusted users within the virtual world and the avatar positioning component160could determine whether the first user appears on such a list.

Upon determining the first user has a trusted status for the second user, the avatar positioning component160displays (or outputs for display using a game client120) the first avatar at the specified first location to the second user (step715) and similarly displays the first avatar at the specified first location to the first user (step735), after which point the method700ends. That is, in the depicted example, the avatar positioning component160does not adjust the position at which the first avatar is displayed to the second user if the first user has a trusted status to the second user. Doing so enables the first user and the second user to participate in activities together within the virtual world, such as creating non-offensive avatar formations with their avatars.

On the other hand, if the avatar positioning component160determines the first user does not have a trusted status with the second user, the avatar positioning component160identifies a zone encompassing the specified location within the virtual environment and further identifies any prohibited areas within the zone (step720). As discussed above, in certain virtual environments, a virtual world provider may wish to prevent certain areas (e.g., a door used to access another area of the virtual world) from becoming cluttered with a high density of avatars. As such, the avatar positioning component160in the depicted embodiment is configured to identify these prohibited areas within the zone and to determine a second location within the zone that is not within any of the prohibited areas at which to display the first user's avatar to the second user (step725). Once the second location is determined, the avatar positioning component160displays the first avatar to the second user at the determined second location (step730). However, in such an embodiment, the avatar positioning component160still displays the first user's avatar at the first location specified by the first user (step735), so as to prevent any confusion and frustration on the part of the first user. Once the avatar is displayed to both users, the method700ends.

FIG. 8is a block diagram illustrating a system configured to operate an avatar positioning component, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure. As shown, the system800includes a plurality of client systems810and a server system850, communicatively coupled via a network880. In one embodiment, the client systems810may include existing computer systems, e.g., desktop computers, server computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, gaming consoles, hand-held gaming devices and the like. The client systems810illustrated inFIG. 8, however, are merely examples of computer systems in which embodiments of the present invention may be used. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented differently, regardless of whether the computer systems are complex multi-user computing systems, such as a cluster of individual computers connected by a high-speed network, single-user workstations, or network appliances lacking non-volatile storage. Moreover, it is explicitly contemplated that embodiments of the invention may be implemented using any device or computer system capable of performing the functions described herein.

As shown, each client system810includes, without limitation, a processor815, which obtains instructions and data via a bus820from a memory830and storage825. Processor815is a programmable logic device that performs instruction, logic, and mathematical processing, and may be representative of one or more CPUs. Storage825is representative of hard-disk drives, flash memory devices, optical media and the like. Generally, the storage825stores application programs and data for use by the client system810. The client systems810are operably connected to the network880, e.g., via network interfaces.

The memory830is any memory sufficiently large to hold the necessary programs and data structures. Memory830could be one or a combination of memory devices, including Random Access Memory, nonvolatile or backup memory (e.g., programmable or Flash memories, read-only memories, etc.). In addition, memory830and storage825may be considered to include memory physically located elsewhere; for example, on another computer coupled to the client system810via bus820. The memory830includes a game client120and an operating system (“OS”)835. Operating system835is software used for managing the operation of the client system810. Examples of OS835include UNIX, versions of the Microsoft Windows® operating system and distributions of the Linux® operating system. Additional examples of operating system715include custom operating systems for gaming consoles, including the custom operating systems for systems such as the Microsoft Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii® and Sony PlayStation® 3.

Additionally, the client systems810each are coupled to display devices840and input devices845. The display devices840may include output devices such as monitors, touch screen displays, and so on. For instance, the display devices840may include a display device used to visually depict a virtual environment. As an example, the display840may provide a touch sensitive surface allowing the user to select different locations within the virtual environment and control the movement of an avatar within the virtual environment. The input devices845represent a wide variety of input devices, including keyboards, mice, controllers, and so on. Furthermore, the input devices845may include a set of buttons, switches or other physical device mechanisms for controlling the client system810. For example, the input devices845could include a set of directional buttons used to navigate an avatar through a virtual environment presented on the display840.

As shown, the server system850includes, without limitation, a processor855, which obtains instructions and data via a bus860from a memory870and storage865. Processor855is a programmable logic device that performs instruction, logic, and mathematical processing, and may be representative of one or more CPUs. Storage865is representative of hard-disk drives, flash memory devices, optical media and the like. Generally, the storage865stores application programs and data for use by the server system850. The server system850is operably connected to the network880, e.g., via a network interface.

The memory870is any memory sufficiently large to hold the necessary programs and data structures. Memory870could be one or a combination of memory devices, including Random Access Memory, nonvolatile or backup memory (e.g., programmable or Flash memories, read-only memories, etc.). In addition, memory870and storage865may be considered to include memory physically located elsewhere; for example, on another computer coupled to the server system850via bus860. The memory870includes a game server150and an operating system (“OS”)875. Operating system875is software used for managing the operation of the server system850. Examples of OS875include UNIX, versions of the Microsoft Windows® operating system and distributions of the Linux® operating system. Additional examples of operating system875include custom operating systems for gaming consoles, including the custom operating systems for systems such as the Microsoft Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii® and Sony PlayStation® 3.

The game server, in turn, contains an avatar positioning component160. As discussed above, upon receiving a request to move a first avatar to a first location, the avatar positioning component160may determine a second location at which to display the first avatar to other users of the virtual world. That is, the avatar positioning component160may identify a zone encompassing the first location and determine a second location within the identified zone at which to display the first avatar. The avatar positioning component160may determine the second location using a variety of techniques. Examples of such techniques include random selection, pseudo-random selection, selection from a predefined list of locations, and so on. After the second location is determined, the avatar positioning component160may output for display (e.g., through the game client120and ultimately on the display device840) the virtual world with the first avatar positioned at the determined second location to the other users of the virtual world. Advantageously, doing so prevents the first avatar from participating in any formations of avatars that give the appearance of offensive content when viewed by users of the virtual world.

In the preceding, reference is made to embodiments of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to specific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the following features and elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice the invention. Furthermore, although embodiments of the invention may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the preceding aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to “the invention” shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an element or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s).

Aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Embodiments of the invention may be provided to end users through a cloud computing infrastructure. Cloud computing generally refers to the provision of scalable computing resources as a service over a network. More formally, cloud computing may be defined as a computing capability that provides an abstraction between the computing resource and its underlying technical architecture (e.g., servers, storage, networks), enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. Thus, cloud computing allows a user to access virtual computing resources (e.g., storage, data, applications, and even complete virtualized computing systems) in “the cloud,” without regard for the underlying physical systems (or locations of those systems) used to provide the computing resources.

Typically, cloud computing resources are provided to a user on a pay-per-use basis, where users are charged only for the computing resources actually used (e.g. an amount of storage space consumed by a user or a number of virtualized systems instantiated by the user). A user can access any of the resources that reside in the cloud at any time, and from anywhere across the Internet. In context of the present invention, a user may access applications (e.g., a game server150configured with an avatar positioning component160) or related data available in the cloud. For example, the avatar positioning component160could execute on a computing system in the cloud and receive a request from a user to move to user's avatar to a specified location (e.g., from a game client120associated with the user). In such a case, the avatar positioning component160could determine a zone that encompasses the specified location and could select a second location within the zone at which to display the user's avatar to other users in the virtual world. Doing so prevents users from creating formations of avatars within the virtual world that have the appearance of offensive content when viewed by another user accessing the virtual world from a computing system attached to a network connected to the cloud (e.g., the Internet).

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special-purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.