Steven A Harrison

US Patent:

7921128, Apr 5, 2011

Filed:

Feb 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/026045

Inventors:

Steven Mark Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian Marshall O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford Alan Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith Raymond Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707758, 707769, 707912, 715706

Abstract:

A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.

US Patent:

8127236, Feb 28, 2012

Filed:

Sep 12, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/209601

Inventors:

Steven M. Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715757, 715706

Abstract:

Methods, devices and systems are provided for enabling virtual universe users to find and engage subject matter experts within a virtual universe by defining a virtual universe subject matter expert conduit within the virtual universe. A virtual universe user avatar engages the conduit and a user indicates a subject matter expert search term. A data storage is searched for a tag relevant to the search term, and an expert-avatar is identified and located through the relevant tag. The user is enabled to directly communicate with the identified expert-avatar through a conduit communication medium entirely within the virtual universe, without requiring the user to engage a resource outside of the virtual universe or without requiring the user to engage an interface outside of the virtual universe.

US Patent:

8140982, Mar 20, 2012

Filed:

Nov 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/936900

Inventors:

Steven Mark Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian Marshall O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford Alan Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith Raymond Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 3/048

US Classification:

715757

Abstract:

Systems and methods for allowing an administrator or program to select a region or set of avatars in a virtual universe grid for splitting into another, separate and distinct virtual universe grid. If a region is selected, all of the avatars and virtual universe resources associated with the region are locked, their data is retrieved, and another separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create and insert the avatars and resources in it. If avatars are selected, all of the resources, scripts, histories, and information regarding the selected avatars are retrieved, and the avatars are locked in the source universe. Then, another, separate virtual universe grid is commanded to create universe user identifiers for the avatars, and they are inserted into the separate VU grid. Cleanup includes deleting the region and/or avatars from the first (source) virtual universe grid.

US Patent:

8332781, Dec 11, 2012

Filed:

Feb 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/030422

Inventors:

Peter G. Finn - Brampton, CA
Steven M. Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Ian D. Smith - Ikley, GB

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 3/048
G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

715848, 705 1466

Abstract:

A solution for conducting a marketing activity is provided. Activities in a virtual environment are monitored and descriptions of a virtual object involved in the activities are collected. A tag may be assigned to the virtual object based on the characteristic of the activities and/or the descriptions of the virtual object. The tag may be used in marketing activities conducted in relation to the virtual environment.

US Patent:

8648875, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

May 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/120492

Inventors:

Steven M. Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06T 1/00
G06T 15/00
G06G 5/00
G06F 15/16
G06F 3/00
G06F 3/048

US Classification:

345619, 345418, 345419, 709203, 715700, 715706

Abstract:

A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system comprises a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method comprises providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object.

US Patent:

20090037905, Feb 5, 2009

Filed:

Aug 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/833426

Inventors:

Steven Mark Harrison - Bremerton WA, US
Brian Marshall O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford Alan Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith Raymond Walker - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 9/455

US Classification:

718 1

Abstract:

The present invention provides a computer implemented method for transferring an item from a source virtual universe to a target virtual universe. A target virtual universe host opens a session between a source virtual universe host and itself. Next, it determines that the source virtual universe host is authorized to transmit the item to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives a command from a client computer to transfer the item from the source virtual universe host to the target virtual universe host. Next, it receives item data in the target virtual universe host.

US Patent:

20190294304, Sep 26, 2019

Filed:

Mar 28, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/367943

Inventors:

- Armonk NY, US
Steven M. HARRISON - Bremerton WA, US
Brian M. O'CONNELL - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. PICKOVER - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. WALKER - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/0482
G06Q 30/02
G06T 15/00
G06T 19/20
G06T 19/00
G06T 5/00

Abstract:

A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system includes a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method includes providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object.

US Patent:

20170131860, May 11, 2017

Filed:

Jan 26, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/415930

Inventors:

- Armonk NY, US
Steven M. HARRISON - Bremerton WA, US
Brian M. O'CONNELL - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. PICKOVER - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. WALKER - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/0482
G06T 5/00
G06T 15/00
G06T 19/00

Abstract:

A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system includes a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method includes providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object.