“provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. A plurality of users can interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbours of the user viewing the virtual world. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server which provides position updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.”
A Worlds.com spokesman said:
"Our intention is to market this technology to our current partners as well as to organisations, companies and other sites that have been looking for new and unique ways to involve mass audiences in their products, applications and services. We will also review other 3D sites who may be using our technology to ensure we are fully compensated."
Wired News reports that the popular 3D game EverQuest is “first on the list” for evaluation by Worlds.com to see if it infringes the patent.