EA049681B1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING RELATIONAL TERRAIN FOR SOCIAL WORLDS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a relational terrain for social (virtual) worlds. A user's real estate property (villa) may consist of one or more terrain arrays (tiles). Relational links may be established between the villa and several other villas. Relational maps display the villa and the villas with which it has relational links. Villas exist in a relational space that reflects the relationships between villas and allows a villa to be in multiple locations simultaneously, maximizing interaction and property value. To support specialized functionality/interaction, a portal may be created to enable the transfer and/or modification of data as the user moves from one villa to a target villa/another villa.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

This PCT patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16/914,252, filed June 26, 2020, System and Method for Creating a Relational Terrain for Social Worlds under 35 U.S.C. The contents of that related common patent application are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that such subject matter does not conflict with or limit this document.

Prerequisites for the creation of an invention

One or more embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the virtual definition of a terrain in a multidimensional space based on social relationships with respect to an adjacent and/or other virtual terrain, sacrificing a rigid binding to a traditional fixed terrain. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention relate to further developments in the field of relational databases implemented by software system programs and/or modules that are at least partially implemented by computer hardware. Directed relational links, for example in terms of providing a user and/or a player with access to certain virtual spaces, can be a standard program in database applications in which computer databases can reside in such a virtual space, providing accessibility to users and potentially subjecting them to certain rules governing their respective access to certain virtual spaces.

However, currently existing methods do not allow for the justification of the positioning of virtual worlds and/or terrains within them by generating maps using a relational approach and thus still rely on the fact that map locations are related or otherwise dictated by their once established physical positions, for example, possibly allowing for repositioning of map elements but still adhering to the original positioning based on the physical placement of the map. The notion of representing a virtual map as a type of freely reconfigurable mosaic based on the relationships between participants has yet to be discussed in the art. Generating and using virtual maps as dynamically changing mosaics may facilitate the next step of considering relationships, such as social relationships defined between individual tiles, whereby such definitions may also be flexible and relational rather than based on a rigid physical position.

Facebook is a specific example in which the use of relational space can be applied to establish relationships with other users. On Facebook, for example, almost all users are relatively social, and a huge number of games compete with each other for a tiny fraction of the smaller population of people interested in seriously playing games. The present invention defines more broadly - in virtual worlds of user-owned real estate, such as villas, which exist in a relational space. Villas are interconnected with each other not through physical location, but through relationships (relational links). Each villa can have relationships with many other villas of interest, which is functionally analogous to placing a villa near its points of interest. Thus, the present invention is applicable to social interactions and virtual real estate/social worlds.

Available video and/or computer games may provide for the creation of fictional empires for their players, such as Clash of Clans, where such empires do not have a true position or fixed positional relationships with other empires. Said empires may be periodically repositioned to be located next to another empire (often based on similar size/characteristics) for combat, but in such a scheme there is no possibility of establishing permanent, long-term relationships between empires, unlike what is proposed in the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, but rather there are short-term clusters of characters, objects and/or virtual lands, etc.

Available video games and popular social networking platforms do not provide for the creation of social worlds using relational space to facilitate the ownership of real estate owned by the user. Such a general-purpose social world, as envisaged herein, can be adapted to countless end-use cases and conditions. Moreover, such an environment is fundamentally different from social networking platforms such as Facebook®, which can be viewed as a vast virtual world built from text and images, functioning almost exclusively on social relationships, but with no provisions for navigation in its spatial dimension.

The following background information may contain examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., in particular, approaches, facts, or common sense) that, while expected to be useful in further educating the reader regarding additional aspects of the prior art, should not be construed as limiting the present invention or any of its

- 1 049681 embodiments, all that is stated or implied therein or follows from it. The systems and processes use pheromones, for example, defined as a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of a species, and dissemination to provide information about the direction and/or distance to a remote destination through the use of localized decision making processes. Locally available information can be exchanged and transmitted using global information through the use of a pheromone dictionary and multilayer network systems. Self-organizing sensor networks provide remote monitoring of space.

Based on the sum of the knowledge, another aspect of the prior art that is useful to know includes the transformation of spatial data into linear indexing for efficient computational storage, retrieval, integration, transmission, visualization, analysis, joint processing and modeling. Such innovations can be based on the decomposition of space into homogeneous discrete densely packed (hexagonal) cell regions. Each raster of densely packed cells can be further divided into incongruent, but denser clusters of densely packed cells. Spatial indexing can be applied to construct relationships with spatially close cells of any raster. Another aspect of the prior art relates to systems and methods for visualizing a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, wherein the system has a central processing unit, a plurality of user devices exchanging data with the central processing unit, a plurality of application servers exchanging data with the central processing unit, and software running on the central processing unit. The software creates and visualizes a 3D virtual environment, receives user data from each of a plurality of user devices, and displays the user data received from each of the user devices in the 3D virtual environment. The software then receives application data from each of the application servers, displays the application data received from each of the application servers in the 3D virtual environment, and outputs the visualized 3D virtual environment to each of the user devices. The 3D virtual environment serves as a direct user interface with the Internet, allowing users to visually navigate the World Wide Web.

The prior art further relates to a method for placing game objects in a game, wherein the method includes receiving user input indicating a desired placement of a new game object in a target location in a virtual in-game environment of a computer-implemented game. The new game object is identified as a current game object for processing by using one or more computer processors, determining for the current game object a set of the nearest game objects that are within a threshold approach distance from the current game object; and adapting a property of the current game object based on the set of the nearest game objects within the threshold approach distance; and for each specific game object in the set of the nearest game objects, identifying this specific game object as the current game object and recursively processing the current game object. Based on the sum of knowledge within the framework of another prior art, a system is considered, a machine-readable medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for creating branded virtual objects in a virtual environment. A graphical user interface is provided to the applicant device, from which a request is received to provide a branded virtual object to a player of a multiplayer online game. During the process of visualizing the online game, a request is received from the player to place a virtual object in the player's virtual environment in the online game, and the player is given the opportunity to select a branded virtual object for placement in the virtual environment. The branded virtual object may be inserted into the virtual environment in the placement position in the virtual environment selected by the player, in response to the player's selection of the branded virtual object, and the selection counter associated with the branded virtual object is updated.

Taking into account the above, it is obvious that the indicated traditional methods are not perfect and provide the opportunity to find more optimal approaches.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, but not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals and in which:

Fig. 1 is an illustrative block diagram of a villa and any adjacent (connected) villas in a simple Villa View in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View of the Alpha Villa with three adjacent villas clustered around it, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an illustrative block diagram of a World View for the Beta villa of Fig. 2 showing its objects of interest, such as Alpha and Gamma, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

- 2 049681 Fig. 4 shows an illustrative block diagram of Villa View of Villa Alpha, fully displaying neighboring villas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an illustrative method for creating maps based on social relationships and/or graphical representations of user-owned real estate objects existing in a relational space, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an illustrative block diagram of a magic map of our villa and surrounding objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an illustrative block diagram of attracting the objects of interest shown in Fig. 6 to our villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is an illustrative block diagram of the magic map of Figs. 6 and 7 with objects of interest pulled up near our villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is an illustrative block diagram of a magic map for Rupert's colleague and his objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is an illustrative block diagram of Rupert's magic map shown in Fig. 9 with his objects of interest pulled toward his villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is an illustrative block diagram of another relational map showing the Wacky Widgets villa with a workspace, the workspace, and coworkers around the villa with a workspace in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is an illustrative block diagram of a WorldView looking out of our villa window at our objects of interest, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View for an illustrative educational institution, such as Edison High School, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View for Susie, a student at Edison High School, as shown in Fig. 13, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 15 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View for Bridget, Susie's mother, from the villa view shown in Fig. 13 with multiple satellite tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 is an illustrative block diagram of a WorldView looking out of a villa window at our objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 17 is an illustrative block diagram of the Villa View for Bridget as shown in Fig. 15 with private land holdings and/or private tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 18A is an illustrative block diagram of a villa structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 18B is an illustrative block diagram of a structure of a villa with multiple sub-villas, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 19A is an illustrative block diagram of a tile structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 19B is an illustrative block diagram of the structure of a list of villas in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 20 is an illustrative block diagram of a central tile surrounded by connected promo villas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 21 is an illustrative block diagram of relationship attributes from a linked villa (left) to a primary villa (right) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 22 is a block diagram of an exemplary method for associating villas with a central tile (also referred to as a terrain array) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 23A is an illustrative block diagram of the structure of a villa server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 23B is an illustrative block diagram of a villa structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 24 is an illustrative block diagram of the structure of a resource server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 25 is an illustrative block diagram of a WorldView with friends, points of interest, visitors, related points of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

- 3 049681 Fig. 26A is an illustrative block diagram of a sports website villa with tiles for multiple teams in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 26B is an illustrative block diagram of a Chicago Cubs® tile in a full-screen Tile View in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 27 is an illustrative block diagram of a Cubs Villa View with multiple theme tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 28 is an illustrative screenshot of a three-dimensional (3D) Villa View in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 29 shows an illustrative screenshot of a 3D Villa View with interacting avatars (incarnations, virtual characters) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 30 is an illustrative block diagram of Villa View for Microsoft® demonstrating scalability for large-scale applications in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 31 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View for selecting the villa C# shown in Fig. 30 with theme tiles and associated villas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 32 is an illustrative block diagram of a radial alternative embodiment of Villa View in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 33 is an illustrative portal that allows a user to navigate from a source villa to a target villa and transfer data from the source villa and transfer data from the target villa to change the environment, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 34 is an illustrative block diagram depicting an illustrative client/server system that may be used as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention implemented as a web application/network structure;

Fig. 35 is an illustrative block diagram depicting an illustrative client/server communications system that may be used for a cryptographic security system using data partitioning and configurable key-based encryption and/or decryption in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 36 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary method for creating virtual objects in a relational space of a virtual environment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Unless otherwise stated, illustrations in drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention

The present invention is best understood with reference to the detailed drawings and the description of the invention set forth in detail hereinafter. Embodiments of the present invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the detailed description provided herein with respect to these drawings is for explanatory purposes, since the invention extends beyond the limited embodiments shown. For example, those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will recognize many alternative and suitable approaches, depending on the needs of a particular application, for implementing the functionality of any detail described herein, beyond the specific implementation choices in the embodiments described and illustrated below. In other words, there are modifications and variations of the invention too numerous to list herein, but all are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, words in the singular should be read as plural and vice versa, and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that they are mutually exclusive. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methods, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, methods of use and application described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology as used in the present context is used solely to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, a reference to an element is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to a step or means is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subsidiary means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the widest possible inclusive sense. Thus, the word or is to be understood as having the definition of a logical or, rather than a logical exclusive.

- 4 049681 or, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The structures described in this document are to be understood as also referring to functional equivalents of such structures. Wording that may be construed as expressing approximation is to be so understood unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

All words used for approximation in the present invention and claims are to be construed as approximate rather than perfect, and accordingly may be used as a meaningful modifier of any other word, specified parameter, quantity, quality or concept. Words for approximation include, but are not limited to, such terms as actual, approximately, nearly, roughly, generally, substantially, essentially, best approximated, and the like.

As will be discussed in detail below, it has been established as far back as 1939 that words for approximation are not undefined in a claim even if such limitations are not defined or indicated in the description of the invention.

For example, see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App. 1941), in which the court held: The examiner finds that most of the claims are imprecise because it is obvious that the laminar film will not be completely removed. The claims state that the film has been substantially removed and suggest that the small amount of film remaining is negligible for the intended purpose. Accordingly, we find that the claims may be considered sufficiently precise.

It should be noted that to satisfy the requirement of definiteness, a claim need only adequately inform those skilled in the art of its scope. See Energy Absorption Sys. Inc. v. Roadway Safety Servs., Inc., Ci v. App. 96-1264, slip op. at 10 (Fed. Cir. July 3, 1997) (unpublished) Hybridtech v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d 1367, 1385, 231 USPQ 81, 94 (Fed. Cir. 1986), cert denied, 480 U.S. 947 (1987). Furthermore, the use of modifiers such as generally and actually in a claim does not, by itself, render the claim uncertain. See Seattle Box Co. v. Industrial Crating & Packing, Inc., 731 F.2d 818, 828-29, 221 USPQ 568, 575-76 (Fed. Cir. 1984). Moreover, the ordinary and common meaning of terms such as essentially includes permissibly close to: about, nearly, approximately, implying an approximation term. See in Appeal No. 2009-006013, 94 USPQ2d 1072, 1077, 2010 WL 889747 (B.P.A.I. 2010). Depending on the usage, the word essentially can denote either an approximation or a quantity term. Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (recognizing the dual ordinary meaning of the term [substantially] as meaning an approximation term or an amount term). In the present context, when referring to the limitation substantially midway, the specification uses the word approximately as a substitute for the word substantially. The ordinary meaning of the term substantially midway is thus reasonably close to or near the midpoint between the most anterior point of the upper or lower shoe and the most posterior point of the upper or lower shoe. Similarly, it is well established in case law that the term substantially has a dual ordinary meaning as meaning an approximation term or an amount term. See Dana Corp. v. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc, Ci v. App. 04-1116, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 18265, *13-14 (Fed. Cir. August 27, 2004) (unpublished). The term substantially is commonly used by patent claimants to mean an approximation. See Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (Patents do not establish any numerical standard by which to determine whether a wall surface thickness is substantially uniform). The term substantially, as used here, means an approximation. Thus, the walls must be substantially or approximately the same thickness.); see also Deering Precision Instruments, LLC v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022, 1031 (Fed. Cir. 2002). We believe that the term has been used substantially in this manner in the claims of the patents at issue: substantially uniform wall thickness means wall thickness that is approximately uniform. It should also be noted that such approximation words as noted above clearly limit the scope of the claim, such as the phrase generally parallel, so that an adverb generally does not extend the meaning of parallel. Accordingly, it is well established that such approximation words as noted above (e.g., the phrase generally parallel) allow for some departure from perfection (e.g., not exactly parallel), and that such approximation words as noted above are descriptive terms commonly used in patent claims to avoid a strict numerical limit on the stated parameter. To the extent that the plain language of the claims, relying on such approximation words as discussed above, is clear and is not contradicted by anything in the exhaustive description herein or in the drawings herein, it is not appropriate to rely on this exhaustive description, the drawings or the examination histories to add limitations to any of the claims of the present invention with respect to such words.

- 5,049,681 approximations discussed above. In other words, under such circumstances it is impermissible to rely on an exhaustive description and examination history to override the ordinary and customary meanings of the words themselves. See, e.g., Liquid Dynamics Corp. v. Vaughan Co., 355 F.3d 1361, 69 USPQ2d 1595, 1600-01 (Fed. Cir. 2004). The plain language of sentence 2 would read substantially spiral flow. The term substantially is a meaningful modifier implying approximate rather than ideal. In Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE, Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2003), the district court imposed a precise numerical limitation on the term substantially uniform thickness. We have noted that the proper interpretation of this term is substantially or approximately uniform thickness unless the examining record clearly and unambiguously disclaims the extent necessary to narrow the plain language interpretation beyond that interpretation. Id. In Anchor Wall Systems v. Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc., 340 F.3d 1298, 1311 (Fed. Cir. 2003). Id. at 1311. Similarly, the plain language of paragraph 1 requires neither a perfectly spiral flow nor a flow that returns exactly to the center after one revolution (a limitation that arises only as a logical consequence of the perfectly spiral flow requirement).

Approximation words, as provided above, may also be used in phrases setting forth approximate ranges or limits where the end points are inclusive and approximate rather than ideal; see, for example, AK Steel Corp. v. Sollac, 344 F.3d 1234, 68 USPQ2d 1280, 1285 (Fed. Cir. 2003), in which the court concluded that the ordinary meaning of the phrase up to approximately 10% includes the approximately 10% end point. As AK Steel pointed out, when the object of the preposition up to is not non-numerical, the most natural meaning is to exclude the object (e.g., painting a wall up to a door). On the other hand, as Sollac points out, when the object is a numerical limit, the normal meaning is to include that upper numerical limit (e.g., counting to ten, seating capacity up to seven passengers). Since in this case we have a numerical limit - approximately 10% - the usual value is to include this end point.

In the present specification and claims, the purpose of using such approximation words as provided above is to avoid a strict numerical limit for the modified specified parameter, as approved in Pall Corp. v. Micron Separations, Inc. d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995), which states: It is well settled that when a term is used primarily to meaningfully describe the subject matter in a manner that makes its scope clear to those skilled in the art and to distinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, the term is not vague. See also Verve LLC v. Crane Cams Inc., 311 F.3d 1116, 65 USPQ2d 1051, 1054 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Expressions such as substantially are used in patent documents when warranted by the nature of the invention, to account for minor modifications that may be appropriate to protect the invention. Such use may well satisfy the charge to specifically point out and clearly claim the invention, 35 U.S.C. §112, and may indeed be necessary to provide the inventor with the benefit of his invention. In Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847 F.2d 819, 821-22, 6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988), the court explained that uses of terms such as substantially equal and as close as possible may serve to describe an invention with precision consistent with the art and without infringing on the prior art. In Ecolab Inc. v. Envirochem, Inc., 264 F.3d 1358, 1367, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179 (Fed. Cir. 2001), the court again explained that, like the term approximately, the term generally is a descriptive term commonly used in a patent claim to avoid a strict numerical boundary for a given parameter; see Ecolab Inc. v. Envirochem Inc, 264 F.3d 1358, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179 (Fed. Cir. 2001), where the court found that using the term generally to modify the term uniform did not make the phrase so unclear that it lacked a means of establishing the scope of the claims.

Similarly, other courts have noted that, like the term approximately, the term essentially is a descriptive term commonly used in a patent claim to avoid a strict numerical limit on a given parameter; see, e.g., Pall Corp. v. Micron Seps., 66 F.3d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995); e.g., Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847 F.2d 819, 821-22, 6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (noting that terms such as approximate, close to, substantially equal, and as close as possible are commonly used in patent claims and that such uses of the terms, when used to reasonably describe the claimed subject matter to those skilled in the art and to distinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, have been accepted in patent examination and upheld by the courts). In this case, the strict 100% nonuniformity threshold is largely avoided.

Of course, the above approval of such words of approximation as provided above was established as early as 1939, see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App. 1941), where, for example, the court held: The claims state that the removal of the film is essentially provided, and for the intended field of application it is considered that a small portion of the remaining film is

- 6,049,681 is considered negligible. Accordingly, we find that the claims may be considered sufficiently precise. Similarly, in Hutchison, 104 F.2d 829, 42 U.S.P.Q. 90, 93 (C.C.P.A. 1939), the court stated: It is clear that significant distance is a relative and somewhat vague term or phrase, but terms and phrases of this nature are not uncommon in patents where the relevant art indicates that the meaning can be determined with reasonable certainty. Therefore, at least for the foregoing reason, applicants contend that any examiner is not entitled to regard as vague any claim of the present patent that uses any words of approximation.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Preferred methods, technical solutions, devices and materials are described, although any methods, technical solutions, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. The structures described herein should also be understood as referring to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention is described in detail below with reference to its embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

References to a device, apparatus, system, etc. in the preamble of the claims shall be interpreted broadly and mean any design that satisfies the terms of the claims, with the exception of any specific design(s)/type(s) that has been/are expressly disavowed, excluded, or acknowledged/confirmed as prior art in the present description of the invention or is/are incapable of achieving the aim/implementing an aspect/fulfilling the objective of the invention. Moreover, if the description of the present invention discloses an object, aspect, function, task, result or advantage of the invention that a particular structure and/or method step of the prior art is capable of providing in a similar but entirely different manner, the disclosure of the present invention contemplates and should also implicitly include and cover additional corresponding alternative embodiments that are otherwise identical to those expressly disclosed except that they exclude such structure(s)/step(s) of the prior art, and are accordingly deemed to provide sufficient disclosure to support the corresponding negative limitation in the claims claiming such alternative embodiment(s) that exclude such entirely different structure(s)/step(s) of the prior art.

After reading the description of the present invention, other variations and changes will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such variations and changes may include equivalent and other features that are already known in the art and that can be used instead of or in addition to the features already described in this document.

Although the present application has been formulated with reference to a particular combination of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any new feature or any new combination of features explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein, or any generalization thereof, regardless of whether they relate to the same invention as claimed in the present application and whether they contribute to solving any or all of the same technical problems as the present invention.

Features described in the context of separate embodiments of the present invention may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment of the invention may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. Applicants hereby acknowledge that, during the course of the present application or any other application resulting therefrom, new claims may be formulated taking into account such features and/or combinations of such features.

References to one embodiment, an embodiment, an illustrative embodiment, various embodiments, some embodiments, embodiments of the present invention, etc. may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the present invention necessarily includes a particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, repeated use of a phrase in one embodiment or in an illustrative embodiment, embodiment does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may refer to one. Moreover, any use of phrases such as embodiments in connection with the invention is in no way intended to characterize that all embodiments of the present invention must include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but should instead be understood as meaning that at least some embodiments of the present invention include the specified feature, structure, or characteristic.

References to the term user or any similar term in accordance with the meaning,

- 7 049681 as used in the present context may mean a human user or a non-human user. Moreover, a user or any similar term as used in the present context, unless expressly stated otherwise, means users at any stage of the use process, including, without limitation, direct user(s), intermediate user(s), indirect user(s) and end user(s). The meaning of the term user or any similar term used herein shall not otherwise be inferred or implied from any example(s) of the description, embodiments, examples or references to the prior art that may (or may not) be presented in this patent. References to an end user or any similar term as used in the present context generally mean a user(s) at a later stage, as opposed to a user(s) at an early stage. It is therefore contemplated that there may be many different types of end user at the end stage of the use process. Where appropriate, particularly with respect to distribution channels of embodiments of the present invention involving consumable retail products/services (as opposed to retailers/suppliers or original equipment manufacturers), examples of an end user may include, without limitation, a consumer, purchaser, client, buyer, shopper, user, viewer, or an individual or non-human being who benefits in any way, directly or indirectly, from using or interacting with some aspect of the present invention.

In certain situations, some embodiments of the present invention may be useful in relation to more than one stage or type of use in the above-mentioned process of use. In such cases, where several embodiments are described that are aimed at different stages of the process of use, references to an end user or any similar term used therein are generally intended to exclude the user furthest in the above-mentioned process of use from the end user in the process of an embodiment of the present invention. Where applicable, particularly with respect to retail distribution channels in embodiments of the present invention, the intermediate user(s) may include, without limitation, any individual or non-human entity that derives any benefit, directly or indirectly, from the use of or interaction with a particular aspect of the present invention in terms of sales, vending, OEM manufacturing, marketing, merchandising, distribution, provision of services, and the like.

References to the term person, individual, human, party, animal, being or any similar term in accordance with the meaning used in the present context, even if the context or a particular implementation implies a living user, producer or participant, it should be understood that such characterizations are given solely by way of example and not by way of limitation, in that it is intended that any such use, creation by a living subject or participation of a living subject in connection with the creation, use and/or participation, in any way, with embodiments of the present invention may be replaced by a similar, executed and suitably configured non-living subject, including, in particular, automatic machines, robots, humanoids, computing systems, information processing systems, artificial intelligence systems, etc. It is further intended that those skilled in the art will readily recognize practical situations in which such living creators, users and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention may be replaced, in whole or in part, by such non-living creators, users and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention. Likewise, when those skilled in the art determine such practical situations in which such living creators, users and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention can be replaced in whole or in part by such non-living creators, it will be apparent in light of the teachings of the present invention how the described embodiments can be adapted so that they are suitable for such non-living creators, users and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the invention also covers all such modifications, equivalents and alternatives that do not depart from the spirit and scope of such adaptations and modifications, at least in part, for such non-living entities.

The headings provided herein are provided for convenience and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention in any way.

A numbered listing of items does not imply that any or all items are mutually exclusive unless explicitly stated otherwise.

It should be understood that the use of specific names of components, devices and/or parameters is provided solely as an example and does not imply any limitations of the invention. Thus, the invention can be implemented with other nomenclature/terminology used to describe mechanisms/assemblies/structures/components.

- 8 049681 products/devices/parameters in this document, without limitation. Each term used in this document shall be given the broadest interpretation given the context in which the term is used.

Terminology.

The following paragraphs provide definitions and/or context for terms used in the present invention (including the appended claims):

Including and containing and variations thereof - these terms are open-ended terms and mean including, without limitation. When used in the appended claims, the term does not exclude additional structures or steps. Consider the claims that state the following: A memory controller including a system cache......

Such a claim does not exclude the inclusion of additional components (e.g., a memory communication channel unit, a switch) in the memory controller. Configured for. Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or claimed as being configured to perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, the phrase configured for or suitable for is used to denote a structure, indicating that the mechanisms/units/circuits/components include a structure (e.g., a circuit and/or mechanisms) that performs the task or tasks during operation. It can be stated that the mechanisms/units/circuits/components, as such, are configured (or suitable) to perform a task even when said mechanisms/units/circuits/components are not currently operating (e.g., not turned on). The mechanisms/units/circuits/components used with the wording configured for or suitable for include hardware - for example, mechanisms, structures, electronics, circuits, a memory device storing software instructions executable to perform an operation, etc. An indication that a mechanism/assembly/circuit/component is configured to perform or is suitable for performing one or more tasks expressly does not imply a reference to the sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. sctn. 112 with respect to that mechanism/assembly/circuit/component. Configured to may also include adaptation of a manufacturing process to produce devices or components that are adapted to perform or accomplish one or more tasks.

Based on. As used in the present context, this term is used to describe one or more factors that influence a determination. The term does not exclude additional factors that may influence the determination. In other words, the determination may be based solely on those factors, or at least in part on those factors. Consider the phrase determine A based on B. While B may be a factor in determining A, such a phrase does not exclude that A may also be determined based on C. In other cases, A may be determined solely on B.

All terms referring to introductory words before an example (e.g., including, but not limited to, such as, similar, for example, for instance, analogous, etc.) do not exclude any other, potentially unrelated types of examples; thus, are implicitly meant by way of example, but not by way of limitation... unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing conditions, concentrations, sizes, etc., used in the description of the invention and the claims are to be understood as modified in all instances by the term approximately. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters specified in the following description of the invention and the claims are approximate values and may vary depending at least on the particular analytical method. The term including, which is synonymous with including, containing or characterized, is an inclusive or open-ended term and does not exclude additional, unreported elements or method steps.

The term "including" is a term used in a claim and means that the named elements of the claim are essential, while other elements of the claim may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the claim.

As used in this context, the phrase "consisting of" excludes any element, step, or ingredient not recited in the claims. When the phrase "consisting of" (or variations thereof) appears in a claim in the body of a claim rather than immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element recited in that claim; other elements are not excluded from the claims as a whole. As used in this context, the phrases "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of" limit the scope of the claims to the recited elements or method steps, as well as those elements and steps that do not materially affect the basis and novel feature(s) of the claimed subject matter (see Norian Corp. v. Stryker Corp., 363 F.3d 1321, 1331-32, 70 USPQ2d 1508, Fed. Cir. 2004). Moreover, with respect to any claim of the present invention that claims an embodiment of the invention consisting essentially of or consisting of a specific set of elements of any of the elements described herein before

- 9 049681 embodiment document, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention also covers all possible variants of various scopes of any described embodiment(s), each of which is exclusively (i.e. consisting essentially of) functional subsets or functional combinations thereof, such that each of the specified set of exclusive variants of various scopes consists essentially of any functional subset(s) and/or functional combination(s) of any set of elements of any described embodiment(s), excluding any others not specified in the embodiments of the invention. In other words, it is believed that it will be obvious to those skilled in the art how to construct many alternative embodiments of the present invention simply by consisting essentially of a specific functional combination of the elements of any embodiment(s) described, excluding any other elements not specified in the embodiments, and the invention thus encompasses all such exclusive embodiments as if described herein.

With respect to the terms including, consisting of and consisting essentially of, when using one of these three terms in the present context, the disclosed and claimed subject matter may involve the use of any of the other two terms. Thus, in some embodiments, unless otherwise expressly stated, any use of the term comprising may be replaced by the term consisting of or, alternatively, consisting essentially of, and thus, for the purposes of supporting and constructing the claims with respect to the format of the consisting of claim, such substitutions provide for other alternative embodiments of the present invention consisting essentially of only the elements recited in the original inclusive embodiment of the present invention, to the exclusion of all other elements.

Moreover, any limitation of a claim couched in functional limitation terms encompassed by 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) that has a preamble referring to the closed terms "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of" shall be understood to mean that the corresponding structure(s) disclosed herein defines the precise boundaries and limits of what the embodiment(s) of the claimed invention consist of or consist essentially of, to the exclusion of any other elements that do not materially affect the intended purpose of the claimed embodiment(s).

The devices or system modules at least in general communication with each other do not necessarily have to be in continuous communication with each other, unless explicitly stated otherwise. In addition, the devices or system modules at least in general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more proxies. Moreover, it is understood that any system components described or named in any embodiment or claimed herein may be grouped or sub-grouped (and, accordingly, implicitly renamed) in any combination or sub-combination that those skilled in the art may conceive of as suitable for a particular application, without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed embodiments of the present invention. By way of example and to clarify what this means, it should be noted that if the invention is an engine controller and a valve, and in the embodiments and in the claims the said components are clearly stated as separately grouped and connected, the application of the above means that such invention and claims also implicitly cover a valve grouped inside the engine and a controller that is a remote controller without direct physical connection to the engine or the internal valve, since the claimed invention is intended to cover all ways of grouping and/or adding intermediate components or systems that nevertheless substantially ensure the achievement of the intended result of the invention.

The description of an embodiment with several components interacting with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, various additional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is generally necessary to carefully consider and take into account numerous factors and make trade-offs in the design for the optimal production or commercialization of any system, and in particular, embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention can be configured to meet the needs of a particular application, and any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es) or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention can and may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, combined

- 10 049681 van(s) and selected or improved and/or optimized by persons skilled in the art, using their average skills and known methods, to achieve the desired implementation satisfying the needs of a particular application.

The term computer refers to one or more devices and/or one or more systems that are capable of accepting structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing the results of the processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: a computer; a desktop and/or laptop computer; a computer with a single processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors that may operate in parallel and/or non-parallel; a general-purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a superminicomputer; a minicomputer; a workstation; a microcomputer; a server; a client; interactive television; a web-based device; a telecommunications device with Internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and interactive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer (PC); a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone; hardware for emulating a computer and/or software such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), a chip, chips, a system on a chip or a set of chips; a data acquisition device; an optical computer; a quantum computer; a biological computer; and in general, a device capable of receiving data, processing the data in accordance with one or more stored programs of a software system, generating results and, as a rule, includes input devices, output devices, data storage, an arithmetic logic unit and a control unit.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, where appropriate, some embodiments of the present invention may find practical application in networked computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, portable devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, networked PCs, minicomputers, mainframes, and so forth. Where appropriate, embodiments of the present invention may also find application in distributed computing environments in which tasks are performed by local and remote data processing devices that are linked (either by hard-wired wiring, or by wireless communication, or by a combination of both) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

The term software can mean the prescribed rules for the operation of a computer. Examples of software may include: code segments in one or more machine-readable languages; graphical and/or text instructions; application mini-programs; precompiled code; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs.

Although embodiments herein may be described in terms of a processor having a certain number of bit instructions/data, those skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments that may be suitable, such as 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit, 128- or 256-bit processors or processing, which may generally be used as an alternative. Where a certain logical sense is used, the opposite logical sense is also considered to be included. The exemplary embodiments described herein may be implemented in an operating environment that includes computer-executable instructions (e.g., software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware. The computer-executable instructions may be written in a computer programming language or may be implemented in firmware. By writing commands in a programming language that conforms to a recognized standard, such commands can be executed on a variety of hardware platforms and interface with a variety of operating systems. Although not limited thereto, the computer software code for performing operations with respect to aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more suitable programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages and/or traditional procedural programming languages, and/or programming languages such as, for example, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Dynamic HTML, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL), Document Style Semantics and Specification Language (DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java™, Jini™, C, C++, Smalltalk, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual Basic Script, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion™, or other compilers, assemblers, interpreters, or other computer languages or platforms.

Computer program code for performing operations in relation to aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages,

- 11 049681 including an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or similar, and traditional procedural programming languages such as the C programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may be executed 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 a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

A network is a collection of communication channels and nodes (e.g., several computers and/or other devices connected together) arranged to allow information to be transmitted from one part of the network to another over several communication channels and through different nodes. Examples of networks include the Internet, the public switched telephone network, the Telex global network, computer networks (e.g., intranets, extranets, local area networks, or wide area networks), wired networks, and wireless networks.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networks designed to enable easy and reliable exchange of information between computer users. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide have access to computers connected to the Internet through Internet service providers (ISPs). Internet content providers (such as website owners or operators) place multimedia information (such as text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and other forms of data) in specific locations on the Internet called web pages. Web sites are collections of web pages that are linked or otherwise connected. The collection of all web sites and their corresponding web pages on the Internet is commonly referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), or simply the Internet.

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to illustrative structural diagrams and/or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems) and computer program products in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each structural diagram and/or block diagrams, as well as combinations of blocks in the illustrative structural diagrams, can be implemented using computer program instructions. Said computer program instructions can be transmitted to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or another programmable data processing device, to create a machine in such a way that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device provide for the creation of means for implementing the functions/actions indicated in the structural diagram and/or block diagram or blocks.

The block diagrams and flow charts in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the block diagram or flow charts may represent a module, segment or portion of code including one or more executable instructions for implementing the indicated logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in a block may not appear in the order indicated in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in sequence may actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may in some cases be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality used. It should also be noted that each block of the illustrated flow charts and/or flow charts and combinations of the illustrated flow charts and/or flow charts may be implemented by special-purpose hardware systems performing the indicated functions or actions, or by combinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The specified computer program instructions may also be stored on a machine-readable medium that can instruct a computer, other programmable data processing device or other devices to operate in a certain way so that the instructions stored on the machine-readable medium ensure the creation of a product including instructions implementing the function/action specified in the structural diagram and/or block diagram or modules.

In addition, although the process steps, method steps, algorithms, and so forth may be described in a sequential order, these processes, methods, and algorithms may be configured to operate in an alternating order. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily imply a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes described herein may be performed in virtually any order. In addition, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

It is obvious that the various methods and algorithms described in this document can be

- 12 049681 are implemented, for example, by suitably programmed general-purpose computers and computing devices. Typically, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions from a memory device or similar device and executes said instructions, thereby implementing the process specified by these instructions. In addition, programs implementing such methods and algorithms can be stored and transmitted using various known storage media.

It is obvious that when describing one device or article in this document, several devices/articles (regardless of whether they interact or not) may be used instead of one device/article. Similarly, when describing more than one device or article in this document (regardless of whether they interact or not), it is obvious that one device/article may be used instead of several devices or articles. The functionalities and/or features of the device may alternatively be implemented by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionalities/features. Thus, other embodiments of the present invention do not necessarily have to include the device as such.

Definitions.

As used in this context, the term computer-readable medium means any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer, processor, or similar device. Such a medium may take various forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and data transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other non-volatile memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which is typically the main memory. Data transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wires, and fiber optic cable, including wires that include a system bus connected to a processor. Data transmission media may include or transmit acoustic waves, light waves, and electromagnetic radiation, such as those generated in radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data transmission. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a diskette, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, a DVD, any other optical media, punched cards, paper tape, any other physical media with a pattern of holes, random access memory, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EEPROM, removable media, flash memory, a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described below, or any other media from which a computer can read data.

Various forms of machine-readable media may be involved in transmitting instruction sequences to the processor. For example, instruction sequences: (i) may be transmitted from RAM to the processor, (ii) may be transmitted over a wireless data transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted in accordance with numerous formats, standards, or protocols, such as Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.

In cases where a description of databases is given, it should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that (i) alternative database structures to the described databases can be directly used, (ii) other memory structures in addition to databases can be directly used. Any schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of any examples of databases presented herein are illustrative configurations for storing information. Any number of other configurations can be used, except for those suggested in the presented tables. Likewise, any illustrated database records represent illustrative information only; it should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the number and content of records can differ from those illustrated herein. In addition, although the databases are depicted as tables, an object-oriented model can also be used to store and manipulate the data types of the present invention, and similarly, object methods or characteristics can be used to implement the processes of the present invention.

A computer system is a system consisting of one or more computers, in which each computer may include a computer-readable medium implementing software for operating the computer or one or more of its components. Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer system for processing information across computer systems linked by a network; two or more computer systems linked together by a network for transmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems; a computer system including two or more processors in a single computer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems capable of receiving data, processing the data in accordance with one or more stored programs, generating results, and typically including input, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.

The digital environment and/or digital media environment may refer to integrated communications

- 13 049681 digital environments in which electronic or digital devices are the tools that enable communication and control of content and actions within them. The concept is based on digital electronic systems integrated and implemented for a global community. The main component of the digital environment typically includes a comprehensive Internet presence, including: websites, cloud servers, search engines, social networks, mobile applications, audio and video, and other web resources.

A network is a set of computers and related devices that may be connected by means of communication. A network may include permanent connections, such as cables, or temporary connections, such as telephone or other communication lines. A network may also include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twisted pair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections (e.g., radio frequency waves, free-space optical signals, acoustic signals, etc.). Examples of a network may include: the Internet, such as the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as the Internet and an intranet.

As used in this context, a client-side application is to be understood broadly as an application, a page associated with that application, or any other resource or function invoked by a request from a client-side application. The term browser as used in this context is not intended to refer to any particular browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari, FireFox, etc.), but is to be broadly construed to refer to any client-side rendering engine that can access and display resources accessible via the Internet. Rich client typically refers to a client-side application that is not HTTP-based, such as an SSH or CFIS client. Furthermore, while client-server communication typically occurs using HTTP, this is not a limitation either. Client-server communications may be formatted according to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and transmitted over HTTP (over the public Internet), FTP, or any other reliable transport mechanism (e.g., IBM®, MQSeries®, and CORBA technologies for intranet data transfer). Any application or functionality described in this document may be implemented in native code, by incorporating interfacing capabilities into another application, by using the mechanism as a plug-in, by referencing the mechanism, etc. The exemplary networks may operate over any of a number of protocols, such as Internet Protocol (IP), Asynchronous Transfer Protocol (ATM) and/or Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), IEEE 802.x, etc. Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, such as Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/or synchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE 802.x, etc. Embodiments of the present invention may include devices for performing the operations disclosed herein. The device may be specially designed for a particular purpose, or it may include a general-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by a program stored in the device.

Embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented in hardware, firmware, and software, or a combination thereof. They may be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium that can be read and executed by a computing platform to perform the operations described herein.

In particular, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be implemented as a system, method, or computer program product. Thus, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, which, as generally understood in the present context, may be a circuit, module, or system. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code embodied thereon.

In the description below and in the claims, the terms computer program carrier and machine-readable carrier may be used to generally designate carriers such as, in particular, removable storage devices, a hard disk installed in a hard disk drive, etc. The said computer program products may provide software for a computer system. Embodiments of the present invention may relate to such computer program products.

An algorithm in this case and, as a rule, is considered as a self-consistent sequence of actions or operations that leads to a desired result. Actions or operations include

- 14 049681 physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, though not necessarily, the quantities in question take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transmitted, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. In some cases, primarily for reasons of common usage, it is convenient to refer to the signals in question as bits, values, elements, symbols, signs, terms, numbers, and so forth. However, it should be understood that all such and similar terms must be associated with the physical quantities in question and are merely convenient labels applicable to the quantities in question.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, and as may be apparent from the description and claims below, it should be understood that throughout the description of the invention, terms such as processing, computing, calculating, determining, etc., refer to actions and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate data and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities in registers and/or memory of the computing system into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in memory, registers, or other similar storage, transmission, or display devices of the computing system.

In addition, the phrase configured for or operative for may include a general structure (e.g., a general circuit) manipulated by software and/or firmware (e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) to operate in such a way that they perform the task(s) in question. Configured for may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor manufacturing facility) to produce devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are configured to perform or implement one or more tasks.

Similarly, the term processor means any device or part of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or a memory device to convert said electronic data into other electronic data that can be stored in the registers and/or a memory device. A computing platform may include one or more processors. As used in this context, the term video game means an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a two- or three-dimensional video display device, such as a television screen, virtual reality headset, or computer monitor. Since the 1980s, video games have become an increasingly important part of the entertainment industry, and whether they are also an art form is a matter of debate. Electronic systems used to play video games are called platforms. Video games are developed and released for one or more platforms and may not be available on other platforms. Dedicated platforms such as arcade games, which present the game on a large chassis, usually equipped with a coin-operated mechanism, were common in video arcades in the 1980s, but their popularity declined as other, more affordable platforms emerged. These platforms include dedicated devices such as video game consoles, as well as general-purpose computers such as a laptop, desktop, or handheld computer. The input device used in games, the game controller, varies across platforms. Common controllers include gamepads, joysticks, mice, keyboards, touchscreens on mobile devices, or even the human body using a Kinect sensor. Players view the game on a visual device such as a television or computer monitor, or in some cases, head-mounted virtual reality goggles. The game often features sound effects, music, and voice actors delivered through speakers or headphones. Some games from the 2000s included haptic, vibration-creating effects, feedback peripherals, and virtual reality headsets.

As used in the present context, the term computer graphics refers to photographs and movies created using computers. Typically, the term refers to computer-generated video data created using specialized graphics hardware and software. Computer graphics is a large and mature field of computer science. The phrase was coined in 1960 by computer graphics researchers Vern Hudson and William Fetter of Boeing. The term is often abbreviated as CG, although in some cases the term is incorrectly referred to as computer-generated imagery (CGI). Some topics in computer graphics include user interface design, sprite graphics, vector graphics, 3D modeling, shaders, graphics processing unit (GPU) design, implicit surface rendering using ray tracing, computer vision, etc. The overall methodology relies heavily on the underlying sciences of geometry, optics, and physics. Computer graphics are responsible for the effective and meaningful display of artistic and graphical data to the consumer. CG is also used to process image data obtained from the physical world. The development of computer graphics has had a significant impact on many forms of media and has revolutionized animation, film,

- 15 049681 advertising, video games and graphic design in general.

As used in this context, the term 3D reconstruction refers to the process of capturing the shape and appearance of real-world objects. This process can be accomplished using either active or passive methods. If the shape of the model is allowed to change over time, the process is called non-rigid or spatio-temporal reconstruction. As used in this context, the term user interface (UI) refers to the field of industrial design that involves human-machine interaction, where the user interface (UI) is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The purpose of this interaction is to enable efficient control and operation of the machine by humans, while the machine simultaneously feeds back information that assists operators in their decision-making process. Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy machinery operator controls, and processes. Design considerations applicable to user interfaces are related to or include disciplines such as ergonomics and psychology. Generally, the goal of user interface design is to create a user interface that makes it easy, efficient, and enjoyable (user-friendly) to operate a machine in a way that produces the desired result. This usually means that the operator needs to provide the minimum amount of input to achieve the desired result, and that the machine minimizes unwanted results for the user. User interfaces consist of one or more layers, including the human-machine interface (HMI), which links machines to physical input hardware such as keyboards, mice, or game pads, and output hardware such as computer monitors, speakers, and printers. A device that implements an HMI is called a human interface device (HID). Other terms for human-machine interfaces are man-machine interface (MMI) and, when referring to a computer, human-machine interface. Additional layers of user interface may interact with one or more of the human senses, including: tactile user interface (touch), visual interface (sight), auditory interface (sound), olfactory interface (smell), equilibrium interface (balance), and gustatory interface (taste).

As used in this context, the term user interface (UI) design, or user interface engineering, refers to the design of UIs for software and devices such as computers, home appliances, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. As used in this context, the term cloud computing refers to the design of user interfaces for machines and software such as computers, home appliances, mobile phones, and other electronic devices, with an emphasis on maximizing usability and user experience. The goal of UI design is to make user interaction as simple and effective as possible in achieving the user's goals (user-centered design). Good UI design makes it easy for the user to complete a task without drawing undue attention to itself. Graphic design and typography are used to support usability by influencing how the user performs certain actions and by enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the design; the aesthetics of the design can enhance or detract from the ability of users to use the interface's features. The design process involves balancing technical functionality and visual elements (such as a mental model) to create a system that is not only functional, but also easy to use and adaptable to changing user needs. Interface design is used in a wide range of projects, from computer systems to automobiles to commercial aircraft; all of these projects involve many of the same basic interactions between people, but they also require unique skills and knowledge. As a result, designers typically specialize in certain types of projects and have skills that are specific to their area of expertise, whether that be software development, user research, web design, or industrial design.

As used in this context, the term cloud computing in this document refers to the on-demand availability of computer system resources, particularly storage capacity and processing power, without direct active management by the user. The term is commonly used to describe data centers accessible to many users over the Internet. The large clouds that are prevalent today often have functions distributed across multiple locations from central servers. If the connection to the user is relatively close, it may be called an edge server. Clouds may be limited to a single organization (enterprise clouds), be accessible to many organizations (public clouds), or a combination of both (hybrid clouds). Cloud computing relies on the sharing of resources to achieve

- 16 049681 consistency and economies of scale. Proponents of public and hybrid clouds point out that cloud computing allows companies to avoid or minimize upfront IT infrastructure costs. Proponents also argue that cloud computing allows businesses to launch their applications faster, improves manageability and reduces maintenance, and allows IT teams to more quickly reallocate resources to meet fluctuating and unpredictable demand. Cloud service providers typically use a pay-as-you-go model, which can lead to unexpected operating costs if administrators are not familiar with cloud pricing models. The availability of high-performance networks, low-cost computers and storage devices, and the widespread adoption of hardware virtualization, service-oriented architecture, autonomic and utility computing have led to the growth of cloud computing. By 2019, Linux will be the most common type of operating system used, including in Microsoft offerings, and is therefore characterized as dominant.

As used in this context, Minecraft is a sandbox video game created by Swedish game developer Markus Persson and published by Mojang in 2011. The game allows players to build structures from a variety of different blocks in a three-dimensional procedurally generated world, requiring players to be creative. Other activities in the game include exploration, resource gathering, skillful crafting, and combat. Several game modes are available to provide variations in gameplay, including, but not limited to, a survival mode in which players must gather resources to build the world and maintain health, and a creative mode in which players have unlimited resources to use in construction. The Java version of the game allows players to modify the game using mods to create new game mechanics, items, textures, and assets.

As used in this context, social networking refers to interactive, computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and exchange of information, ideas, career interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. The variety of stand-alone and embedded social networking services currently available creates definitional challenges, but there are some common features: Social networking sites are interactive Internet applications based on Web 2.0. User-generated content, such as text messages or comments, digital photographs or videos, and the data generated during all online interactions are the lifeblood of social networking sites. Users create service-specific profiles for a website or application that is developed and maintained by the social networking organization. Social networking sites facilitate online social networking by connecting a user's profile with the profiles of other people or groups. Users typically access social networking services via web-based technologies on desktop computers and laptops or download services that offer social networking features to their mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets). As users interact with these electronic services, they create highly interactive platforms through which individuals, communities, and organizations can share, co-create, discuss, participate in, and modify user-generated or produced content posted online. Social networking networks change the way groups of people interact, communicate, and vote. They bring about significant and widespread changes in the way organizations, communities, and individuals communicate. These changes are the focus of emerging areas of techno-self-education. Social networking differs from print media (e.g., magazines and newspapers) and traditional electronic media such as television and radio broadcasting in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, interactivity, usability, timeliness, and performance. Social media operate on a dialogic (many-source, many-receiver) system of information transmission. This contrasts with traditional media, which operate on a monologic (one-source, many-receiver) model of transmission, such as a newspaper that is delivered to many subscribers or a radio station that broadcasts the same programs to an entire city. Some of the most popular social media sites, with more than 100 million registered users, include Facebook (and its associated Facebook Messenger), YouTube, WeChat, Instagram, QQ, QZone, Weibo, Twitter, Tumblr, Telegram, Reddit, Baidu Tieba, LinkedIn, LINE, Snapchat, Pinterest, Viber, MeWe, and VK. Observers have noted a range of positive and negative effects of social media use. Social media can help enhance a person’s sense of connection to real-life or online communities and can be an effective communication (or marketing) tool for corporations, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, advocacy groups, political parties, and governments. As used in this context, Facebook, Inc. is an American online social networking and social media company based in Menlo Park, California. The founders initially limited membership to Harvard students, and later to Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. Membership was eventually expanded

- 17 049681 from other Ivy League schools, MIT, and Boston-area colleges, then various other universities, and finally high school students. Since 2006, anyone 13 years of age or older can become a registered Facebook user, although this may vary depending on local laws. The name comes from the Face Book reference books that are often given to students at American universities. Facebook makes most of its revenue from advertising that appears on users' screens and in their news feeds. Facebook can be accessed from Internet-connected devices such as personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. Once registered, users can create a personal profile containing information about themselves. They can post text, photos, and media that are shared with all other users who have agreed to be their friends. Users can also use various built-in applications, join groups based on common interests, and receive notifications about their friends' activities. Facebook also offers other products and services. It acquired Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and GrokStyle and independently developed Facebook Messenger, Facebook Watch, and Facebook Portal.

As used herein, Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service owned by Facebook, Inc. Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010 exclusively on iOS. A year and a half later, in April 2012, a version for Android devices was released, followed by a limited-features website interface in November 2012, and apps for Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 in April 2016 and October 2016, respectively. The app allows users to upload photos and videos to the service, which can be edited using a variety of filters and organized using tags and location information. Account posts can be shared publicly or with pre-approved followers. Users can browse other users' content by tags and location, as well as view trending content. Users can like photos and follow other users to add their content to their feed.

As used in this context, Snapchat is a multimedia messaging application used worldwide. One of the main features of Snapchat is that photos and messages are typically only available for a short period of time before they become unavailable to their recipients. The app initially focused on sharing photos between people, and has evolved to include users' Stories, which consist of 24-hour chronological content, along with Discover, which allows brands to feature ad-supported short-form content. As used in this context, an avatar is a graphical representation of a user, either an alter ego or a character. An icon or figure that represents a specific person in a video game, online forum, etc. It may take a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form, as in an icon in online forums and other online communities. In the past, persona images were also called picons (personality icons), although this term is rarely used now. It can also refer to a text construct found in early systems such as MUDs. The term avatar can also refer to the identity associated with a username, or Internet user ID.

In the present context, the term physical space refers to the territory where people live and work. Physical space does not exist in the usual sense in virtual worlds, such as computer-generated worlds, although modeling physical space may be possible in virtual worlds, as may other types of boundaries and/or spaces. In the context of mapping social relationships in a space-based virtual world, it may be possible to use relational space in such a virtual world, which may be occupied by people and territories. Such relational maps may use relational terrain to help define where we are in relational space and how we relate to people and territories in it.

As used in the present context, the term physical location refers to a point or area on the surface of the Earth or elsewhere in physical space. The term location generally implies a higher degree of certainty than the term territory, which often denotes an object with an indefinite boundary, relying more on human or social attributes of territorial identity and sense of place than on geometry.

As used in this context, the term physical maps refers to symbolic representations that highlight the physical relationships between elements in physical space, such as objects, regions, or themes. Many maps are static, fixed on paper or other durable media, while others are dynamic or interactive. Although maps are most often used to describe

- 18 049681 geography, they can represent any space, real or imaginary, without regard to context or scale, such as brain mapping, DNA mapping, or computer network topology. The space being mapped can be two-dimensional, such as the Earth's surface, three-dimensional, such as the Earth's interior, or even more abstract spaces of any dimension, such as those generated by modeling phenomena with a large number of independent variables.

In the present context, the term physical terrain refers to the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the earth's surface. Bathymetry is used to describe underwater terrain, while hypsometry is a way of representing the terrain of the earth's surface using contour lines connecting points of equal elevation above sea level.

The Latin word terra (root from terrain) means land. In physical geography, relief is the relief of an area. It is usually expressed in terms of the height, slope, and orientation of terrain features. Relief affects the flow and distribution of surface water. Over a large area, relief can affect weather and climate conditions. In the conventional sense, physical relief can be walked on or otherwise moved around on land in a physical terrain, or one can swim in the sea or even dive beneath the surface of the water.

In the present context, the term relational representation refers to a focused or filtered representation of a relational space that allows the viewer to focus on a subset of the world that is relevant to the user, with the goal of providing greater clarity and more efficient use of resources (including display space and data transfer). (This is analogous to using a map with a directions application, which focuses on the streets we need to navigate to our destination rather than on each house in the city.)

As used in this context, the term VillaView refers to a display of the terrain of a single villa together with any associated villas.

The term inbound view means the view as seen from the side of the associated villas facing the supporting villa, which is equivalent to VillaView, for example.

In the present context, the term WorldView refers to the view from the window of a villa, from which all other villas of interest to the user can be seen.

The term outbound view refers to a view from the window of a given villa into a world of villas in the direction of the villas of interest to the user.

In terms that are familiar to the average user, a user can look out of their window and see all of their neighbors.

The term virtual world refers to a computer-simulated environment that can be inhabited by multiple users who can create a personal avatar and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities, and communicate with others. These avatars can be text, two- or three-dimensional graphical images, or live video avatars with auditory and sensory sensations. In general, virtual worlds allow for multiple users, but single-player computer games such as Skyrim can also be considered a type of virtual world. The user is given access to a computer-simulated world from which perceptual stimuli are transmitted to the user, who in turn can manipulate elements of the simulated world and thus experience a certain degree of immersion. Such simulated worlds and their laws can be taken from reality or fantasy worlds. Examples of laws include gravity, topography, locomotion, real-time actions, and communication. Communication between users can range from text, graphical icons, visual gestures, sound, and rarely forms that use touch, voice, and balance. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games depict a wide range of worlds, including those based on science fiction, the real world, superheroes, sports, horror, and historical events. The most common form of such games are fantasy worlds, while those based on the real world are relatively rare. Most massively multiplayer online role-playing games involve real-time action and communication. Players create a character who travels between buildings, cities, and worlds to conduct business or entertainment activities. Communication between players can be text-based, but real-time voice communication is also possible. The form of communication used can significantly affect the players' experience of the game. Virtual worlds are not limited to games, but, depending on the degree of immediacy of the presentation, can include computer conferences and text chats. In some cases, emoticons or smileys are used to show feelings or facial expressions to interlocutors. Emoticons often have keyboard shortcuts.

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In the present context, the term villa refers to a user's home/property in the virtual/social world. Villas are personal homes (in most cases), but are large enough to accommodate larger facilities such as schools, businesses, and government offices. A villa has one or more central terrain blocks (tiles) and may have surrounding satellite tiles, typically used for social functions, including associated villas (owned by other users).

In accordance with the meaning used in the present context, the term primary villa means the user's main villa.

In accordance with the meaning used in the present context, the term secondary villa refers to another villa that can be placed next to a tile of a primary villa, for example to express its relationship, described as a visible relationship, since the villa can now be seen as a related villa in the VillaView of the primary villa. A secondary villa can also express a tacit relationship with a primary villa that is not visible from the VillaView of the primary villa. This tacit relationship is visible from the WorldView of the owner of the primary villa, but is not visible to others. In accordance with the meaning used in the present context, the term fixed tessellated terrain refers to a map that can be viewed as an image composed of a plurality of smaller areas (tiles) that are fixed in position and spatial relationships by a mortar that holds them in place.

As used in the present context, the term dynamically changing tiled terrain refers to terrain tiles that are similar to a fixed tiled terrain, but are dynamically changing in that the figurative solution used between adjacent tiles is fluid and freely movable, allowing the tiles to move, change shape, orientation, size, etc. Dynamically changing tiled maps may be ideal for virtual worlds because users, such as humans, often want to move in and out of virtual areas and/or interpersonal relationships at will, and such dynamic changeability allows for the creation of long-term empty or inactive spaces on a fixed map. Dynamically changing tiled maps may grow and shrink in size and may change smoothly to reflect changing user relationships - effectively being user-generated maps.

In the present context, the term tiles refers to a plurality of smaller terrane units fixed in position and spatial relationships by a solution holding them in place (in a fixed mosaic terrane). In a dynamically changing mosaic terrane, the tiles are separated by varying amounts of solution and are thus capable of changing position as well as size and shape.

The term social worlds and/or social maps, as used in the present context, refers to virtual worlds and/or maps that are extremely effectively manipulated by a dynamically changing mosaic terrain rather than a traditional fixed terrain.

The term social operating system and/or social operating environment, as used in the present context, implies a terrain and relational space integrated with applications designed to provide support for social interaction.

The term Facebook effect, as used in this context, refers to the phenomenon whereby people prefer mediocre and amateurish content produced by those who are socially connected to them to higher-quality content produced professionally by third parties. For example, this effect results in billions of hours of interaction with Facebook, while classical literature is almost never read in comparison to Facebook use.

Embodiments of the present invention within the scope of the present invention may also include tangible and/or computer-readable storage media containing computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such a computer-readable storage media may be any available medium that is accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, including the functional design of any special-purpose processor as noted above. By way of example, and not limitation, such a computer-readable storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk drive, magnetic disk drive or other magnetic data storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chip design. When transmitting or providing information over a network or other communication

- 20 049681 a connection (either a hardwired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of both) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly called a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the foregoing should also be included within the scope of machine-readable medium.

Although the non-volatile computer-readable medium includes, in particular, a hard disk, a compact disk, a flash memory, a volatile memory, a random access memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, a semiconductor-based memory, a phase-change memory, an optical memory, a periodically refreshable memory, and so on, the non-volatile computer-readable medium does not essentially include a pure temporally propagating signal, i.e., when the medium itself is intermediate.

Introduction.

Building on known concepts of social networks, digital media, navigation, virtual world creation and related topics, the development and/or creation of a navigable virtual map consisting of a plurality of user-owned tiles existing in a relational space reflecting the interpersonal relationships of users represents a desirable development and integration of currently available capabilities aimed at satisfying the social needs of users in an entertaining and educational form. Virtual maps can be created and displayed, for example, as consisting of homogeneous geometric figures called tiles. However, tiles are often composed of smaller positional elements of uniform shape and size, such as hexes, squares or cubes (cubes imply three-dimensional potential). However, since tiles are typically composed of a plurality of positional elements, they can be characterized by highly variable sizes and shapes, and can also be highly non-standard and non-homogeneous, since they are created by users to meet their own needs.

Tiles describe individual elements of a mosaic map, and each tile may belong to a user. However, a user tile on the global map (which we usually call a villa) may consist of many individual tiles (and potentially mosaic tiles). The global map of the world is also a dynamically changing mosaic, and the local map of a user's villa may also be a dynamically changing mosaic. If a user's villa consisted of a single continuous tile, it would not be dynamically changing, but some users prefer the flexibility of a dynamically changing mosaic in their villas for various reasons. A user's villa may consist of one or more central tiles and (optionally) one or more satellite tiles. A villa with all of its user-defined tiles is the user's online home and may have relationships with several other villas that define its location on the virtual (relational) map. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that a villa, as defined above and as used in the present context, refers to a user's home/real estate in a virtual/social world. Relational maps are thus displayed based on social relationships between villas, such as those associated with their respective freely movable tiles, rather than based on an arbitrary physical and/or fixed location, as would be displayed on a physical map, such a virtual model being referred to in the present context as a relational terrain.

Thus, in a virtual world and/or context, a user tile, for example in the case where the tile may represent a villa, may be present and/or accessible in many virtual locations simultaneously, while reflecting all the desired social relationships of that particular participant in the virtual world and/or user. Consequently, an interested user may maximize the value of his/her property by placing the villa near all the user's objects of interest. Moreover, users may design and create their own villas (e.g., virtual and/or online homes), and by placing their villas near other villas, effectively create and maintain relational maps associated with them. The individual, user-oriented relational maps remain relevant to the user's needs, as they reflect (and may, for example, be continuously updated in real time based on the user's entry and participation in the virtual world) user-generated content and user relationships.

The real estate objects owned by the user are villas.

In summary, user-owned real estate objects (e.g. villas) exist in a relational space established by the virtual and/or online world, where individual villas are related to each other not through their respective physical locations, but rather through their mutual relations (e.g. established relational links). Each villa may have social relations with many other villas of interest (e.g. of interest to the user-owner of that particular villa, who may define his, her, or their objects of interest). Such a definition of interests may be functionally analogous to

- 21 049681 it is logical to place this villa near the points of interest of its user-owner. In this way, the villa can be perceived (e.g. visually and/or virtually) as existing in more than one physical location at the same time, e.g. depending on the perspective and/or viewpoint of the one viewing and/or searching for this particular villa. Consequently, such relational maps can show the villa with its associated and/or linked villas. Like regular maps, relational maps show users where they are in relation to the place they are going to (e.g. the linked villas). A villa can consist of one or more terrain arrays (e.g. tiles) that are loosely related to each other and do not have a fixed position, which is called a dynamically changing tessellated terrain in this context. The relationships are directional in a broad theoretical sense, although it is also true that they can be established in both directions. When two people are mutual friends, each of them is related to the other by two separate directional relationships. But in our virtual worlds, we must recognize that relationships are not always mutual, not always equal, and not always bidirectional. In the present context, the term relate will be used to describe how a villa relates outward to another villa. A villa (in the relational space) next to another villa expresses my interest and attitude toward that villa. On the other hand, if a user views a Villa View, the tiles of the user's villa are displayed, as well as those villas that are (outwardly) related to the user's villa, these are called associated villas. As an illustration, we can consider an extreme case, such as a popular singer or a movie star. A popular singer may have millions of fans who adore the singer and listen to her music. If we look at the star's villa, we will see thousands of villas with incoming links to the star. The villas in question are called connected because they are connected to the star's villa. No one expects the star to interact individually with thousands of fans who are, after all, strangers. But they are still associated with the star because they have chosen to place their villas near the (public) tile(s) of the star's villa where such association is allowed. On the other hand, the star may have personal friends, as well as important business and family relationships. They can express these with outgoing relationships by placing their villa near friends, business partners, etc. The star can say that it is associated with these other villas, while the other villas (from their perspective) will say that the star is associated with them. Thus, the term association (relationship) refers to incoming relationships (a perspective in the system is always associated with a specific villa). The outgoing relationships of a villa (the villas that the user decides to place near itself) are called relationships or in some cases relational links.

To clarify the concept of a tile in relation to a mosaic terrain, and how this relates to relational space, a world map can be thought of as a mosaic of many individual tiles. However, villas here are individual tiles on a world map. How these villas are related to each other, such as their social relationships, determines their location in relational space. A user consults a relational map to determine how to get from her current location, such as the villa she currently owns/visits, to the location she wants to go to, using relationships. In this sense, relationships can be thought of as analogous to the physical world expression of how do I get from point A to point B?. In relational space, the points do not represent a circle of interests, but rather How do I get from villa A to villa B?, and this relationship is the relationship defined between them. Fortunately, through the magic of virtual space, this relationship can place them next to each other on a relational map. Now that the relationships between the villas have been defined, we can complicate the picture by saying that a villa can be composed of one or more tiles, such that the villa itself is a dynamically changing mosaic map. However, for the purposes of global relational maps, each villa can be thought of as a point, or tile, in the global mosaic, and for the moment the fact that each villa itself is composed of one or more tiles can be ignored. It is simpler to think of global (relational) mosaic maps as composed of villas acting as tiles, and then, as a separate proposition, to understand that each individual villa is composed of one or more tiles in its local map. An analogy for physical space might be a global map of many countries, where each country is a tile in the global mosaic. But when considering each country - and in this case the analogy is a villa - each country is actually composed of several provinces. Thus, France can be represented on a map of Europe without thinking or being aware of the dozen or more provinces (tiles) that make up the country. The easily modifiable nature of the dynamically changing mosaic terrain and relational links may be well suited to virtually representing easily modifiable social relationships, such as those dependent on the mood and/or preferences of the users who own the villas in real time. In some embodiments of the present invention, the villas may be implemented with a purely fixed terrain, and thus not necessarily rely on multiple floating terrain arrays.

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Fixed and dynamically changing terrain capabilities.

In this regard, the traditional fixed-terrain map represents the fixed terrain of the real world in which people live. People are thus familiar with the various trade-offs required by multiple, potentially conflicting interests, given that the traditional physical home has a fixed location. Accordingly, people may choose to live near work, but this may inadvertently place them farther from school or desired recreational sites. In general, any location we choose as our home is likely to be near some points of interest, but farther from others, since being physically present in two or more places at once is not possible in the traditional fixed-terrain world.

The practical implementations disclosed in this paper will initially focus on the known functionalities of maps, such as providing current location information relative to intended destination information. When using a traditional fixed map in the real world, it may be necessary to plot multiple routes from the starting location to the various places and people to be visited and met, such as constantly changing road and/or weather conditions, as well as the changing nature of interpersonal relationships. Of course, being in close proximity to certain places leads to distance from others. In terms of real estate, highly valuable locations are located close to many points of interest that people want to be as close to as possible, such as tourist attractions, beautiful parks, prime office areas, etc., which is reflected, for example, in the relatively high property values in major markets such as New York and San Francisco. For the purpose of providing context as to how the virtual world will evolve from a traditional, such as the real world, a conventional map (with fixed terrain) can be viewed as a mosaic, referred to in this document as a whole image, formed from many individual tiles. The tiles of a fixed terrain cannot change their size, shape or position, resulting in a terrain formed from tiles of a fixed terrain placed next to each other forming a fixed mosaic terrain. Thus, people can rely on such a fixed terrain map for directions from their starting point to their destination. A fixed terrain map can be printed on paper because the physical relationships do not change, and neither does the fixed terrain it represents. A given building can be torn down to make way for a new one, but the spatial relationships remain the same. In contrast to the general description of fixed terrain tiles given above, dynamically changing mosaic maps, which can be implemented in virtual (relational) worlds, also use tiles of different sizes, shapes and positions, but in a dynamically changing, freely movable and reconfigurable map. Thus, tiles can change their size, shape and position. This flexibility/dynamic changeability allows for a dynamically changing mosaic terrain.

Real-world analogues of each of the fixed and dynamically changing mosaic terrains can be represented as follows: the fixed tiles of a mosaic terrain can be thought of as being held together by a solid solution (cement) that prevents them from moving or changing size and shape; in contrast, in a dynamically changing mosaic model, the tiles are separated by varying amounts of liquid (e.g., virtual liquid) solution that allows such tiles to move freely to many different locations and to change size and shape.

In such a virtual social world, built from a dynamically changing mosaic terrain, individual tiles and/or their associated villas can be freely geographically reconfigured to maximize social interaction. In the virtual world, as with real estate, we want to be close to the people and objects of interest that interest us. In a traditional real-world context (fixed terrain), such preferences lead to a trade-off between establishing geographic proximity to certain places and distance from others.

Virtual World - Villa View and World View To overcome such physical limitations of the real world, a virtual world platform has been proposed that allows for the creation of an ideal world scenario that is not physically limited by the traditional concepts of matter, space and time. In such an ideal virtual world, people (and their villas) can be in close proximity to all the places and people of interest to them, without having to compromise between one or the other. Such a solution can be achieved by implementing a dynamically changing mosaic terrain in the virtual world, which allows a villa to be virtually located in close proximity to several other villas at the same time, for example, representative of several places and many people representing the

- 23 049681 teres.

Thus, in the context of the virtual world, instead of physical space, a new form of space is proposed and used - a relational space, which describes a virtual location in relation to clearly expressed interests. Apparently, in such a virtual relational space, users-villas owners can be in several physical places at the same time, since it is possible to have more than one interpersonal relationship with one or more persons and/or subjects at the same time, for example, to have separate circles of friends related to college and vocational school, respectively, or to share a hobby with a romantic partner - the hobbies complement the romantic relationship, and do not replace or otherwise overestimate it, etc. Moreover, in the virtual world disclosed in the present document, it is possible to place a house, such as a villa, next to our place of work, next to our school, next to our vacation spot, next to our friends, all at the same time, virtually adjusting the displays of physical distance in order to eliminate unwanted obstacles. In addition, such virtual world includes several viewing formats, allowing villa owner users and/or other participants to view the virtual world in the direction of their respective villas, such as via VillaView, or the virtual world as a whole in the direction away from their respective villas, such as via WorldView. All points of interest are easily viewed and accessible for the optimal convenience of the owner user and/or participant.

In the virtual world as described in this paper, the relational space is mapped onto a corresponding relational map with a relational terrain. Similar to a traditional map, a relational map can provide information about where the owner-users and/or participants are located in relation to the people and objects of interest. WorldView is a relational map showing our interests in relation to the villa or main villa (WorldView is also called a window view, since WorldView is a view from the window of the villa). In contrast to WorldView, VillaView is an inward view and shows the villa itself, as well as all the associated villas that are interested in this villa - essentially showing the active relationships between them. VillaView is considered an inward view, since it is a view from the point of view of other people who are looking at the owner-user and/or participant's villa.

Viewing the world through the lens of a single villa allows one to focus one's view on its relationships. This configuration may be somewhat constrained by the relationships, but in a beneficial way, that are currently considered relevant, for example by the user-owner of the villa. This configuration may be thought of as analogous to a special filter on a conventional map of a large city, in which irrelevant details are blurred while the focus is on the viewer's actual current location, and this information can be used to provide directional directions to get to a friend on the other side of town. Mapping applications do just this by plotting a route and providing specific directions, essentially ignoring locations and routes that are irrelevant to the task at hand, for example, providing purposeful movement from the current location to the intended destination. In this situation, the virtual world on relational maps uses a relational terrain to represent a given villa and its corresponding relationships in a relational space.

Development of interactive virtual social worlds.

Such complex and interactive virtual social worlds have been made possible by the technological advances that have been made over the last 40 years. In the early years of computing, there may have been significant limitations in the technology and a lack of suitable networking systems to accommodate hundreds or thousands of simultaneous users. As the Internet has matured, advances have been made in the rapid development and deployment of highly social worlds. However, advances in interactive gaming may have been less significant than initially thought, as computer graphics-based innovations have been directed towards other areas of interest, such as first-person shooters. Arguably, the motivation and inspiration for the development of the social imagination has come from a non-traditional, non-video game-focused source: Facebook. Although it is difficult to call Facebook a social world, given the fact that Facebook does not have a terrain in the classical sense of the word, Facebook is nevertheless a highly social project based on the simple idea of presenting graphics, texts and creating opportunities for users to exchange messages with each other.

Thus, currently existing platforms are not able to provide a breakthrough in terms of representing a virtual world with real spatial terrain and real estate objects owned by the user.

As time shows, a traditional real map, for example, of Europe or the USA, may turn out to be practically unnecessary and/or too limiting in the context of a purely virtual world that can be assembled and/or created specifically to satisfy the fantasies of, for example, users.

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Initially, a single computer server would be virtually incapable of storing the enormous amount of data required to support the entire virtual world, and the task of stitching together the stories would seem like an impossible task from the perspective of the world's developers and administrators.

Over time, the key to solving the problem of creating a purely virtual world may be found in two seemingly disparate scientific disciplines: (1) evolution (with natural selection); and (2) computer engineering (e.g., Linux). Both systems achieved extreme sophistication, but entirely through decentralized, experimental, and seemingly uncoordinated development. Over time, both systems achieved impressive levels of error-freeness and significant error reduction, because both systems had ways of testing and rejecting unsuccessful innovations and of incorporating and preserving incremental improvements.

The examples above provide a context for successful models of developing systems of extreme complexity using decentralized trial and error. However, the challenges of developing and maintaining a large-scale virtual world remain, as can sometimes be seen in interactive games with respect to their implementation and user-owned terrain, for example if users can freely enter and leave the ongoing game (in which such actions may be similar to any large-scale virtual world).

As discussed above, following a 1:1 scale model of the real world inevitably produces all the drawbacks associated with it, such as forcing one to choose between different places to live and when. Abandoning the traditional fixed terrain completely solves this problem by allowing the terrain to be viewed as a dynamically changing mosaic of many individual user-owned tiles (any of which can be created and designed independently). Any of these dynamically changing tiles can be freely arranged, allowing them to be introduced into and removed from the virtual world without causing catastrophic structural defects, voids, and inactive areas. In some cases, having features suitable for 3D applications is desirable, while in other circumstances they are unacceptable. For example, a user interested in computer games may prefer to navigate a world map exclusively in 3D space. In contrast, a global world map that reflects the relationships between villas exists in a relational space. In this case, villas typically have multiple visible physical locations based on their relationships. This fact makes it impossible to represent global maps in terms of 2D or 3D, since these dimensions are related to physical space, not relational space. Instead, relational maps such as WorldView represent the world from the perspective of a particular villa. WorldView is typically presented as a radial map, with the most important relationships (villas) displayed closer to the center. Of course, WorldView does not show the entire world, but only those parts of it that are relevant to the villa owner. The villa owner does not want (or need) to see what is not of interest, just as a person using a map wants to know how to get from his current location to a desired location, and ignores most of the irrelevant factors.

A more interesting situation arises with the VillaView presentation (local maps), which display villa tiles as well as the villas associated with each tile. There are many distinct variations in the nature of the terrain comprising the tiles, often dictated by the application domain. In many examples, the villa tiles are composed of symbolic hexes rather than more complex building elements (walls, doors, etc.). For most application domains, brevity is preferable. A simple symbolic 2D villa may be purely functional for users and expressive for its owner, loading and functioning quickly without the distraction of complex displays and structural features. In other cases, the function of the villa dictates a visual presentation closer to web pages, as might be shown in villas, where the terrain comprises web pages with associated villas grouped around the pages. Sometimes the villa owner wants to provide complex structures, including 3D structures, such as those found in Minecraft. There may be avatars for users to move around the villa and interact in real time, such as models running from World of Warcraft to World of Tanks. Perhaps computer animation and other interactive (programmable) features are part of the villa's content. As relational world designers [believe], imposing expectations or constraints on the villas should not be implemented. In other words, what happens in the villas, stays in the villas. Since each villa is an independent functional unit, it is not dependent on the functioning of other villas, now or in the future. This allows for enormous potential and flexibility at the villa level, without the need to worry about it affecting or destroying other villas. Some villas may even preload specialized game software for their presentation, possibly requiring hundreds of megabytes of code and data to run. In accordance with embodiments of the present

- 25 049681 invention method does not impose any significant restrictions on the functions of the villas, but when using it, one should remember the Facebook effect described above. Users are interested in content created by people they know, and Facebook has achieved impressive success not because of the level of sophistication of its images and programmable functions, but because it provides users with easy and quick access to such content from people who interest them.

Placing individual tiles in the virtual world.

In the virtual world tiled terrain scenario, as described above, the individual tiles that make up the virtual world itself are freely positioned and can be moved toward ideal locations, allowing for complete flexibility in world creation. This complete flexibility in tile placement and movement does not always solve the chronic core problems of determining where to place individual tiles given prior commitments such as work, play, home, etc. Even with a dynamically changing terrain implemented in a virtual world that addresses the problem of users coming and going, there is still the possibility of running into physical location constraints. When converting a three-dimensional real world into a two-dimensional virtual world, all the problems of the real world may still exist - only in two dimensions.

Such limitations can be eliminated by using a virtual map with freely movable images of distances, for example, referred to in this document as a magic map. In the course of describing how the relational space is developed, the construction of a magic map is used, which allows the user to move his objects of interest closer to his home. In fact, this is only an aid, allowing the user to understand the functions of maps and the possible ways of simplifying his life by placing him close to all his surroundings. Ultimately, world maps are described using the term relational map, thereby including this functionality, for example, a map from the point of view of a particular user/villa, which is essentially a virtual map that functions in relation to the perspective of its user. Such a map would be ideal only for this user, for example, for the user's home and the corresponding objects of interest of the user. However, another user would use a different map for his own needs. Therefore, the term magic, based on idealized configurability, reflects the individual preferences of the user. A magic map can function as a magic map while remaining consistent with the basic terrain manipulation tools. In general, such maps are called relational maps, representing a relational space.

In the context of social relations represented by or in the virtual world, the magic map (relational) displays the relational space, showing the owner or visitor of one villa how to get to the destinations of interest, such as work, friends, vacation, school, etc.

Since the real estate objects of an individual user in this virtual world defined by the magic map are not fixed in a real physical fixed position, such real estate objects, for example, villas, have no limitations in terms of size, shape and content. In the relational space, owner-users of villas can establish any interpersonal and/or intersubjective relations they wish, without any concern for the physical location of their villa in relation to the objects of their interest. Due to the magic of the relational space, the villa of any owner-user can be located in the relational plane directly next to one or more of his or her objects of interest. Such freedom allows the owner-user to create a beautiful environment in accordance with his, her or their individual interests, for example, a nature lover can create a general world map of a stunning natural park, with stunning mountains, gorges with steep slopes, rivers and/or the like; or a city lover can recreate a grandiose metropolis, not inferior in beauty to the greatest cities of the real world, etc. Thus, well-designed virtual properties, such as villas, can be praised and inspired by other users, and gain popularity when others share their appreciation. Likewise, defective and/or poorly designed properties can languish in obscurity, with many either improving over time or disappearing altogether. The Facebook Effect

Over time, a phenomenon has emerged in relation to the definition of attractive information platforms for social interaction, whereby people tend to prefer, for example, identifiable and accessible at a certain level, mediocre and/or objectively second-rate content produced by those who are socially connected to them, to professionally produced third-party, objectively superior content, as evidenced by, for example, the billions of hours of communication on Facebook, while reading classical literature is a rare phenomenon in comparison. By creating an accessible, real-world-replicating virtual world platform that removes many of the physical and/or dimensional barriers

- 26 049681 effects observed in the real world, people can now satisfy their needs for social interaction and relational significance, which, for example, is also a way to increase the user's perception of content quality.

Potential options and/or applications.

The versatility of the virtual world as described herein can be adapted for a myriad of end uses and/or applications, including any one or more of the following: the creation of a new social networking platform in which participants have the ability to navigate a virtual multi-dimensional space; companies with a strong cloud business, such as Microsoft®, Google®, Facebook®, Oracle®, Amazon®, that can use the cloud resources to build a social networking and/or virtual real estate business; iconic hardware companies, such as Apple®, that have a reputation for creating high-quality innovations and can use those resources to build a social networking and/or virtual real estate business; operating system companies, such as Microsoft®, Google®, can use the relational space to enhance and promote the social aspects of their platform and develop a social networking and/or virtual real estate business; Companies with highly developed email businesses, such as Google®, Microsoft®, Yahoo®, Zoho®, AOL®, can use their email user base to promote the relational space and expand their presence in social media and/or virtual real estate business; Online retailers, such as Amazon®, Alibaba, Baidu, can use the relational space to expand their commercial business and networks, as well as in social media and/or virtual real estate; Software companies, such as Microsoft®, Apple®, can use the relational space to showcase their tools and custom modules, as well as expand their social media and/or virtual real estate business; Social intelligence companies such as Google®, Baidu can use the relational space to collect additional information about users' interests and expand their presence in social networks and/or virtual real estate business; browser development companies such as Google®, Microsoft®, Apple® can use the relational space to promote their browser that has a module that supports customers' villas and expand their presence in social networks and/or virtual real estate business; companies with significant media assets such as Disney®, Google®, YouTube® can use the relational space to promote and use their existing assets to expand their presence in social networks and/or virtual real estate business; and application development companies such as Amazon®, Google®, Apple® can use the relational space to promote their existing business and expand their presence in social networks and/or virtual real estate business.

Structure of the system.

Fig. 1 is an illustrative block diagram of a villa and any associated villas in a simple VillaView according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a simple example of a relational social world 100 starts with a villa Alpha 108, such as a virtual and/or online home created by a user. The villa Alpha 108 may have one or more central tiles (terrain arrays), and each tile may have one or more associated villas. The terrain used in the virtual context of the relational social world 100 is loosely defined and may include and/or have land/sea/buildings, but may also be symbolic or any space-occupying visual element such as a web page, graphics, etc. As an example, the relational social world 100 may be represented as an intermediate visual diagram organized into a two-dimensional hex layout 102, where such a configuration is provided solely as an example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the relational social world may use other layouts and/or geometric representations, such as triangles, squares, circles, etc. The villa 108 Alpha shown in the relational social world 100 is represented as a VillaView, such as from a viewpoint looking inward toward the villa, and thus consists of one or more tiles, such as shown as groups of hexes 102 in the relational social world 100. Note that in the present context, the word relate/relate is used as a technical term to denote a relationship between two villas. A tile may have a variable size and shape and may have structures or functions available within it. For simplicity, this tile on which villa 108 is located or to which it is associated has been drawn without any additional structures or functions and includes seven hexes organized into a roughly ring-shaped area 110 in the configuration shown in relational social world 100. Numerous other tile sizes and shapes are possible.

- 27 049681

Adjacent to the Alpha villa 108 on the tile and/or linked to the tile indicated by the shaded hexes 102, there may be one or more linked villas, such as one linked villa Beta 104, for example, represented by a single hex (Note that a villa consists of one or more tiles, each of which consists of one or more positional elements, such as hexes/squares/etc.). In the classical sense, the hexes that make up a tile may themselves be considered tiles in a mosaic, but for clarity they are referred to as hexes or positional elements without using the more common definition of tile, since this term has a specific meaning in our definition of villa. Note that for convenience and screen efficiency, the linked villa 104 is represented by a single hex, which, for example, may be colored yellow in one or more embodiments, even though the actual villa may be of a different size or shape. In addition, the villas may be displayed using a symbol or a photograph to make them recognizable. If the user of the relational social world 100 decides to enter the villa Beta and/or contact the linked villa Beta 104 by selecting it, the screen view shown in Fig. 1 may switch to a full display of the linked villa 104, which will also display the linked villas Beta, etc. In the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the linked villa Beta 104 is shown next to the villa Alpha 108 on the common border 106, although other configurations may be envisaged without departing from the scope and essence of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

As indicated in relational social world 100 and as described elsewhere in this document, a villa is an autonomous, fully functional unit. Although a villa may have numerous social and/or virtual relationships with other villas, each individual villa is not necessarily dependent on other villas for its display and functionality, which in turn may have profound implications for the independent operability and identity of each villa as intended and defined only by its respective user-owner.

There are circumstances in which a villa actually relies on information provided to it by its associated villas, such as automatic self-updating. In particular, there may be cases in which one villa wishes to exchange data with another villa. There is absolutely no reason to exclude such a circumstance. This functionality is described in more detail in the section Portals (essentially specialized information relational links), in which a user, moving from one specific villa to another, carries specialized data about this transaction that can change his experience at the target villa. Perhaps a more accurate way to express the original idea of a self-contained, fully functional villa is to say that a villa can be fully functional without specific knowledge of the nature or functions of associated or linked villas. Consider a specific example in which a hex in a personal villa might have a relationship with a Facebook villa. In this case, the hex might indicate its desire to connect with the owner's personal Facebook page. A hex that links to a Facebook villa can be displayed (as part of the current villa) without any specific knowledge of what will happen when the user uses that link to visit the Facebook villa. To develop this idea, let's imagine that we are looking at the same villa in 10 years, which still has a hex that links to Facebook, and that hex looks the same as before. Only now Facebook has decided to compete directly with Amazon by offering direct sales of products, and by using its social links, has decided to compete directly with LinkedIn and Salesforce. Ten years from now, when the Facebook link is selected in the villa, the experience may be very different when the user lands on the Facebook site. But this will not change how the original villa was displayed and functioned before the switch. This independence and self-sufficiency is an important feature and strength of villas, because a villa created today is not in a position to know all the possible features and functions of villas in ten years. And creating many new functions in future villas does not break the functions of the current villa. Obviously, the proposal to use/transfer data via communication between two villas adds many functionalities and must be planned/agreed on by both sides. This concept is discussed in more detail in the section Portals.

Thus, the embodiments disclosed herein allow the structure and functionality of a villa to be developed today without concern for the specifics of other villas. As the structure and functionality evolve in the future, new villas may incorporate new functionality without affecting a given villa. By way of example, but not limitation, the introduction of new technologies need not cancel or destroy existing villas or their social relationships. Functional independence results from the integrity of individual villas located on tiles and/or related to tiles in a mosaic model of the virtual world. Tiles, represented in the relational social world 100 and elsewhere as hexes, are separate, fully functional units, even though they may have virtual relationships with other tiles.

The virtual world model provides flexibility that would otherwise not be possible in a 3D map that resembles the terrain of the real world, and this dynamic variability allows

- 28 049681 further defines and refines the world over time, rather than requiring all defining characteristics of the world from a single initiating starting point, etc., since such real estate objects need not be initially fixed. Moreover, in a virtual world, as users, such as villa-owning users, enter and leave the virtual world, they can define the relationships themselves by maintaining the corresponding relational maps. Social relationships are inherently very fluid, and a fluid terrain is required to accurately represent fluid relationships. The task of creating and maintaining relational maps of the world then falls to the users, who define (and change) their own relationships themselves.

Because a villa as such is a fully functional unit, it can be stored entirely on a single computer server and can be linked to many other villas, which may be stored on the same server or on different servers. These virtual links between multiple villas stored on separate servers provide a huge functional map, seamlessly distributed across multiple servers, allowing the map to dynamically change size and shape and be infinitely scalable. In this way, the problems associated with a monolithic (called single, uniform, and interconnected) world that is inexorably growing to fit on a single server are minimized.

The individual structure, design, shape, configuration and/or other defining characteristics of a villa may be determined by its owner-user and social relationships with other villas. The views specific to a given owner-user may be limited to her, his, their or his villa in order to ensure effective virtual interaction with other users present (e.g., the cost of data transfer may increase with N*N, where N is the number of users, so control of N may be important to ensure ongoing operability). This freedom of definition and functionality contrasts with a conventional map, which shows not only the actual villa, but also other villas, streets, landscape, empty or inactive spaces, and even cities and countries located between us and the territories and people that may be of significant interest to the owner-user.

In the relational social world 100, and in other worlds largely analogous to it as described elsewhere in this paper, villas exist in virtual relational space rather than physical space. Accordingly, villas do not have a physical location and are not sandwiched between neighboring villas. Villas are free to change size and shape, thereby allowing their owners to express themselves to the fullest extent.

The simple villa structure seems to limit complexity, but with multiple sub-villas, each of which may have multiple sub-villas, maps of increased complexity can emerge from a single villa. We call these villas of villas of villas..., allowing for hundreds or even thousands of villas to be created across multiple levels of sub-villas.

A group of connected villas shares a common interest (in a particular tile or in another villa), and is thus expected to be more likely (than average or otherwise) to share other interests. Villas can be ordered based on the overlap of common interests with the observer, making the connected group more useful for participants to better and more effectively interact through social networks. At the same time, villas can freely associate with other villas regardless of their virtual location due to the complete freedom of configuration, thereby maximizing the desired social interaction according to the individual interests of the user-owner. In general, people can be selective and choosy in their social associations, instinctively associating themselves with those with whom they share common interests or backgrounds. Reflecting these real-life preferences in the freely reconfigurable space of virtual worlds helps users avoid harmful neighbors and free spaces that otherwise predominate in conventional maps.

Social relationships are fluid, and as a result, the relational space can also easily change to reflect these changes in social relationships. For example (but not limited to), the relational space fills in the voids left by departing users. The spatial representation of related villas as concentric circles around a tile provides rich visual information about the villas and their relative importance to the user, with central villas (and those displayed by larger or clearer displays) being closer to the center of interest of the user-owner than more peripherally located villas. The spatial display of relationships is more natural and familiar than scrolling text or lists. However, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that these types of displays can be used in the methods according to the present invention.

In general, the relational location of a given villa in a relational social world dictates its relative value as real estate. Some villas can create value by creating

- 29 049681 content, others are aggregators and curators of content created elsewhere. Villas can be similar to popular websites, but offer a more social experience.

The structural elements and functional modules for displaying and operating the villas do not necessarily have to be defined or fixed in one way. The prospective development of new elements and modules providing additional functions and characteristics of the villa can be realized without negatively affecting the existing villas and relationships. This confirms the idea of functional isolation of our villa from other villas, including future villas and future functionalities.

Villa owner users may have full control over the structure, size and shape of their villas as stated above, but may also have full control over their associated villas, such as who they are, where they are within the villa, etc. Control over associated villas gives the owner control over their villa community. Associated villas are part of the villa map, but are carefully managed by the villa owner to create and maintain a preferred social environment. Each villa may have its own social character, with some being more attractive and valuable than others – essentially a function of how the villa community is managed. Extensive customization options allow the villa to provide a single online home and identity for the owner user and their relationships, integrating their online presence with multiple websites including Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, etc. His villa is his home, the user can adapt its visual identity to his tastes and easily change it as needed. However, the villa is not a property and is not subject to the whims of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. It can be assumed that some of the said links can be integrated into the villa if their platform allows it (for example, the circle of Facebook friends can be used to populate the Facebook tile on the villa, and if any of these friends have their own villas, they can include direct links to the villas rather than the Facebook site).

Villas can create mixed-mode worlds with secondary (connected) villas. A top-level villa can have a symbolic function and terrain, a secondary villa can have a fantasy world terrain, another can be a traditional dungeon-style game in which users move with their own avatars, another secondary villa can have an array of web pages, another can have native applications, another can be a commercial tile and stores, another can be an active media platform. At the same time, these different styles of villas can be added or changed at any time in the future, for example, the user-owner does not need to know in advance how he will ultimately use his property, or how the property can be developed to meet business needs and even create new business lines. A self-sufficient functional villa, however, can be connected to other villas that are significantly different in terms of appearance and function. And if said connected villas change their appearance and functionality in the future, the user's villa will not change. And in this case, in order to include completely different functions, the current villa can be divided into several smaller villas, differing in function, appearance and programming (Dungeon game vs. fantasy world vs. web pages vs. shops, etc.). In a sense, this is a repetition of the object-oriented programming model, where smaller objects with limited/defined functionality are used, which are then connected together to provide a complex overall function.

The owner of a villa can see his private connections from the window of his villa. If the villa is visibly related to another villa, then his villa will be visible as related in the VillaView for that villa, but if he chooses a tacit or secret connection, he can see it in his WorldView, but the connection is not visible to others. In some embodiments, a tacit friendship with another villa will be visible to the villa if they are all mutual friends. This allows two villas to declare a friendship that is visible to each other, but not visible to the general public.

Fig. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of a view of Villa Alpha with three related villas grouped around it in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a more complex case is shown with respect to the relational social world 200 compared to the world 100 illustrated above in Fig. 1, wherein the embodiment includes the same Villa Alpha, now called Villa Alpha 208 in the relational social world 200, with three related villas: Villa Delta 202; Villa Gamma 212; and Villa Beta 214. Any person viewing a given VillaView of Villa Alpha 208 can see the villa itself, as well as all of the displayed related villas, such as Villa Delta 202, Villa Gamma 212, and Villa Beta 214. Since these related villas share an interest in Villa Alpha 208, they are likely to share other interests as well. In more complex cases than those illustrated in relational social world 200 in Fig.

- 30 049681

2, a user who owns an Alpha 208 villa may decide that certain villas should not be actively displayed on his, her, their or her villa map, while owners of related villas may also prefer not to be visible for various reasons.

By way of example, but not limitation, the owner user of villa Beta 214 may notice and/or observe villa Gamma 212 communicating with villa Alpha 208. Thus, the owner user of villa Beta 214 may select villa Gamma 212 to visit it directly, which may (as a result) display a VillaView for villa Gamma 212. After visiting villa Gamma 214, the owner user of villa Beta 214 may decide that he or she and the owner user of villa Gamma 214 have a lot in common and may then choose to virtually communicate with villa Gamma 212 as well as with villa Alpha 208. Notably, in relational social world 200, any one or more depicted villas may virtually communicate with multiple other villas simultaneously, essentially allowing owner users of villas to be simultaneously in multiple virtual locations in relational space, thereby resolving the traditional time-space conflict problems typically encountered in the real world.

: Fig. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a WorldView for the villa Beta illustrated in Fig. 2 showing its objects of interest, such as villas Alpha and Gamma, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, if the user-owner of villa Beta 214 shown in Fig. 2 looks out of the window of his villa in his WorldView in the relational social world 300, as shown in Fig. 3, he will be able to see both villas Alpha and Gamma 312, 306, respectively, since he is virtually connected to both of them. In one or more embodiments, the WorldView of the user-owner Beta may include his work, recreation, hobbies, school, church, government offices, shopping, etc. Thus, his WorldView may show dozens (or more) of villas, and his view of said villas may be filtered or otherwise modified for his convenience. In Fig. 4, which shows an illustrative block diagram of a VillaView of a villa Alpha, the linked villas are fully displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the relational social world 400 indicates that this VillaView, which displays the linked villas using a single hex, is not the only way to display the linked villas, but rather, in one or more embodiments, the linked villas may be advantageously displayed in various other sizes and/or dimension fields, as shown in FIG. 4, such as consisting of multiple hexes, etc. However, configuring the relational social world 300 to display a single hex for each linked villa may be a desirable choice in order to avoid cluttering the screen with extensive views of what may be dozens of linked villas.

By way of example, and not limitation, relational social world 400 includes villa Alpha 412 in first region 410, villa Gamma 408 in second region 406, villa Beta 404 in third region 402, and villa Delta 416 in fourth region 414. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the general configuration of relational social world 400 shown is exemplary and thus not limiting, and that other suitable configurations and/or orientations of the various villas may exist. Villa Alpha 412 may contact villa Gamma 408 at one or more contact regions 420; similarly, villa Alpha 412 may contact villa Beta 404 at one or more contact regions 418; and the Alpha villa 412 may contact the Delta villa 415 in one or more contact areas 422. Fig. 5 is a flow chart of an illustrative method for creating maps based on social relationships and/or graphical representations of real estate objects owned by the user existing in a relational space, according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment of the present invention, the method 500 begins with a start operation 502, after which graphical representations of real estate objects owned by the user (e.g., villas) existing in a relational space may be created in a digital medium in an operation 504. The villas may be related to each other by relationships and/or relational links rather than by actual physical location at operation 506. Relational maps are created that show the villa with its related (e.g., established relationships) villas at operation 508, at which the method 500 may then terminate at the final operation 512 via a bypass route 514. Optionally, the villa of one or more tiles (terrain arrays) consists of loosely connected terrane arrays without a fixed position (also called a dynamically changing tessellated terrane). The villa may be composed of one or more terrane arrays (tiles) (also called a dynamically changing tessellated terrane) that are loosely connected without a fixed position 510.

Fig. 6 is an illustrative block diagram of a magic map of our villa and surrounding objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the relational social world 600 is shown,

- 31 049681 for example, as a magic map, for a magical virtual world in which users-property owners can simultaneously be virtually near and/or in close proximity to several locations of interest, thus resolving potential conflicts that often arise in real-life situations, such as proximity to work leading to distance from a place of rest, etc. The term magical is used to illustrate the power of imagination and relational space to create an ideal virtual world.

Our villa 616, located in area 614, is shown in the center of the relational social world 600 with various related points of interest scattered in arbitrary virtual locations, such as villa School 606 in area 608, villa Work 624 in area 622, villa Park 628 in area 626, and villa Church 604 in area 602. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the said points of interest are given solely as an example and that other points of interest may exist depending on the tastes and/or preferences of the user-owner of Our villa 616 without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, any one or more points of interest may be located at an approximate distance from Our villa 616. For example (but not limited to), villa School 606 may be located at a distance 610 from Our villa 616; villa Work 624 may be located at a distance 618 from Our villa 616; villa Park may be located at a distance 620 from Our villa 616; and villa Church 612 may be located at a distance 612 from Our villa 616. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the distances 610-620 are given as an example and are not limiting, and that there may be other configurations and/or distances that do not depart from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exemplary block diagram of pulling the objects of interest shown in Fig. 6 to Our Villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the relational social world 700 provides for moving, for example by dragging and dropping, each of the objects of interest represented in the relational social world 600 shown in Fig. 6, for example shown in the relational social world 700, such as the villa School 704, the villa Work 706, the villa Park 708 and the villa Church 710, any one or more of which can be moved closer (virtually) to Our Villa 702 along routes 712, 714, 716 and 718, respectively.

Fig. 8 is an illustrative block diagram of the magic map of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 with objects of interest pulled in and positioned near Our Villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the relational social world 800 is shown with each of the villas, namely, Villa School 804, Villa Work 806, Villa Park 808 and Villa Church 810, pulled in closer to be positioned adjacent to the contact Our Villa 802 in contact areas 812, 814, 816 and 824, as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is an illustrative block diagram of a magic map for a colleague, Rupert, and his objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, many of Rupert's objects of interest may differ from the objects of interest of our villa, as shown and described with reference to the previously given drawings, and therefore he will probably not find such magic maps, as noted above, particularly useful or attractive to him. Thus, Rupert can draw or otherwise create his own map relative to his own home, for example, Rupert's villa 916 in the relational social world 900, with full indication of the locations of the points of interest - villa Grocery Store 902, villa Judo Gym 906, villa Wacky Widgets Games 912, villa Library 910, villa Roadside Cafe 908 and villa Swimming Pool 904. In order to, for example, increase his accessibility to any of the above-mentioned points of interest (but not limited to), Rupert can drag his points of interest closer to his home. Fig. 10 is an illustrative block diagram of Rupert's magic map shown in Fig. 9 with his points of interest dragged toward his villa in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, Rupert, as shown in the relational social world 1000, has drawn all of his objects of interest, such as those mentioned in context in the relational social world 1000, such as the villa Grocery Store 1002, the villa Wacky Widgets Game 1012, the villa Judo Gym 1016, the villa Library 1014, the villa Roadside Cafe 1010 and the villa Swimming Pool 1004, next to his villa, such as Rupert's villa 1008, for immediate and convenient access thereto. In this way, each user-owner of a villa in the relational social world can have his, her, their or his own corresponding magic map showing the individual houses of the villa in virtual connection with the corresponding objects of interest. Thus, such magical maps are described as having a relational terrain showing the location in which individual user-villas owners are located in relation to their respective

- 32 049681 relevant objects of interest.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the configuration of Rupert's objects of interest near his villa shown in relational social world 1000 is provided as an example only and that other suitable configurations, including configurations with additional and/or larger dimensions and/or higher dimensionality, may be envisaged and/or implemented within the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 11 is an illustrative block diagram of another relational map showing a WackyWidgets workplace villa, a workplace, and co-workers around the workplace villa according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, general reference is made to what is shown in the previously given drawings, in which users who own villas, such as Our Villa and Rupert's Villa, have dragged their respective workplaces closer to ensure contact with them. Thus, in a workplace villa, such as WackyWidgets villa 1106 in the relational social world 1100, it may be possible to view the villas of co-workers who have also dragged WackyWidgets villa 1106 closer to their respective villas. Thus, in one or more embodiments, any one or more relational social worlds considered with reference to the accompanying drawings may also be able to display those who are interested in the user-owner of the given villa, such as friends, clients, colleagues, companies, etc. As a result, each relational map may differ with respect to a given user-owner of the villa, since it shows the world with respect to that particular user-owner of the map.

As an example, and not as a limitation, even in circumstances where villa-owning users may prefer to create huge virtual cities around themselves, they may not necessarily require corresponding huge maps in all cases, thereby allowing them to focus only on what is important to them. Objects of no interest to them are essentially on the map; thus, there is no reason to display them unless they are of interest to the villa-owning user, thereby creating an effectively displayed magic map. In other words, a user may wish to have many (even hundreds) of linked villas, but depending on current needs, may wish to order or filter the display of these linked villas for the current needs and convenience of the user.

Such infinite possibilities for reconfiguring relational social worlds provide full flexibility for the villa-owner user, allowing them to live simultaneously (virtually) in the immediate proximity of all their objects of interest, and to filter/modify their representation of these objects of interest based on their immediate needs. Fixed maps show a fixed terrain; relational maps display movement to reflect the user's needs.

Fig. 12 is an illustrative block diagram of a WorldView with a view from the window of our villa to our points of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, if the villa of a given owner-user is dragged to be placed simultaneously next to all of his, her, their or their points of interest, a view from the virtual window of this villa, for example, through WorldView, shows various points of interest and allows one to optionally view those who are also interested in the owner-user, such as friends, colleagues, classmates and clients. Relational social world 1200, shown as WorldView, indicates a number of social relationships around a central owner user, such as villa Boris 1206, located in central region 1204. Hidden regions 1202 may encompass central region 1204 and be open in accordance with the privacy preferences of the owner user of villa Boris 1206 and/or according to corresponding indicators of readiness to be available for viewing and/or display by owner users of villas associated with hidden regions 1202. Various points of interest may include villa SuperCell 1208, villa YouTube 1210, villa Microsoft 1216, villa Twitter 1214 and villa Erika 1212. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the configuration shown for relational social world 1200 is provided solely as an example and that other suitable configurations may exist that are not beyond beyond the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments.

Fig. 13 is an exemplary block diagram of a VillaView for an exemplary educational institution, such as Edison High School, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the VillaView of the relational social world f300 for Edison High School illustrates several useful aspects of a relational map. By way of example, and not limitation, a tile, as shown in Fig. 13 and potentially elsewhere in the context, is a terrain array containing one or more contiguous positional elements (e.g., hexes, but may be represented by other shapes as well), and may have a mixture of structural/visual elements (roads, buildings, walls, etc.) along with functional elements. For clarity, examples may be limited to functional

- 33 049681 elements, although visually interesting elements can also be used (for example, as is possible thanks to the definition in Blockcraft/Minecraft®).

A villa may have one or more central tiles (Edison High School Villa 1302 is shown as a cluster of several hexes in the central area 1304), and it may also have satellite tiles (here, four satellite tiles consisting of several hexes, each providing specialized functionality related to Edison High School Villa 1302). Such satellite tiles may create space for additional connected tiles and their associated villas and social functions.

In the central area 1304 there is a series of colored hexes, interspersed throughout the hexes on which the villa 1302 Edison High School is located, where such colored hexes are actually functional components. Each of these components can expand on its own into another villa, secondary to the current villa. In addition, they can connect to: websites or web pages (Facebook, Twitter, NY Times, Amazon, Google, email, etc.); cloud or local applications, including games, office programs, etc.; specialized software modules (written in C#, Python, JavaScript, etc.) to provide special functionality.

Examples of components include: Cinema could be an area for viewing videos, Gallery could contain a library of school-related photographs, Mail could provide email communication with faculty and staff, Chat could be a live chat area including typed text as well as audio/video capabilities, Library could be an area for online reading, Message could be a message board with text and photographs similar to Facebook, Complaints could be a customer service/suggestion box system. Much of the functionality could be provided using standard modules from the relational spatial framework and selected by users as they configure their villas, providing a robust social operating system that users customize to their specific needs.

Each grouping of hexes to form zoned areas, or tiles, may be individually configured to support specific access and functions, and to support one or more villas virtually located within them. As an example, and not by way of limitation, in the upper right corner of relational social world 1300 is tile 1318 Student Commons, which is designated for social functions and chat. This tile may be configured by its user owner to display only active, connected online villas; in this case, there are three student online villas, e.g., Heinz, Nina, and Susie. The user owners of said villas are shown exchanging real-time text messages about their latest math test. This tile may also be configured with restricted access, e.g., the user owner may have decided that only students from the school are allowed to communicate with this tile, e.g., for student safety. Note that each student villa may be marked with a black dot in the lower right corner, indicating that the corresponding students of the owner-user are currently online. Community centers may also have bulletin boards (e.g., Facebook®), chat rooms, etc., although as shown in relational social world 1300, the owner-user of villa 1302 Edison High School has chosen to place these only in the central region 1304. As shown, Student Commons tile 1318 is located on a ring-shaped grouping of seven hexes organized into a single border tile.

The other three satellite tiles represent interest centers with several associated villas, managed by their respective villa owners and staff, providing additional functionality. At the top left of the 1300 relational social world is a Faculty Center with several associated villas. This center is configured by the owner so that its associated villas are displayed even when the owners are offline, but one faculty member (Avelis) has a black dot indicating that he is currently online (and potentially available for chat or other live interaction). Selecting one of the faculty villas will open a VillaView window for that faculty member, which can have a large number of additional features, including links to many other villas. It should be noted that the villa owner has decided that only teacher villas will be allowed to interact with the Teachers 1306 tile. Villa owners are given extensive control over the content of their villas and their tiles, allowing them to create value for their property through careful curation while preventing unwanted visitors from causing havoc or causing bad neighborly relations with the villa.

In the lower left corner is a hub for classes, such as the Classes 1310 tile, in a high school, each subject area has its own villa (most likely with villas for each of the individual classes offered). The Physics villa is currently in

- 34 049681 me online, which is indicated by a black dot.

In the lower right corner is the center of interest for student clubs, such as the Clubs tile 1314, with several connected villas. Each of the club villas will likely have its own satellite villa where students can directly interact. In order to maintain the efficiency of space at this level, the owner has prohibited others from connecting to the Clubs tile.

By using multiple levels with the villas of villas approach, even relatively large projects can be visually displayed and navigated using relational maps. Although a villa can be manipulated using a single (larger) tile defined by a cluster of individual hexes, breaking down features into smaller tiles can also be useful, allowing related villas and the tiles they are on to be separated into their respective areas of interest. Using fewer tiles for each villa also allows for an optimized visualization space, which is convenient for many users working on a phone or tablet rather than a larger screen.

Fig. 14 is an illustrative block diagram of a VillaView for Susie, a student at Edison High School, as shown in Fig. 13 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this embodiment, while many individuals enjoy creating their own complex and expressive villas, others may not be confident in undertaking this process or may desire a relatively simple villa. In the relational social world 1400, a VillaView is shown for Susie's villa, where Susie is a freshman at Edison High School, where her villa is one of the related villas in the high school villa.

As an example, but not a limitation, Susie may not be very computer savvy, so she chose a very simple, no-frills template that included the 1408 Social Hub component with six commonly used social components grouped around its center. But she wanted more than that standard set, so she also added a link to YouTube Villa 1404, a link to her Facebook® page, Amazon, a link to Edison High School, and so on.

Social Center 1408, as defined by Susie, is located on a tile with a perimeter defined by darker hexes in which other individuals who know Susie and seek to be associated with Susie have chosen to place their villas near her villa.

As Susie becomes more proficient with computers and expands her interests, she has the ability to enlarge the central tile or even load in a satellite tile with villas on it for other functionality. As her tiles change shape or size, their associated tiles can simply rearrange themselves into new contours, taking advantage of the flexible nature of the dynamically changing tessellated terrain.

Fig. 15 is an illustrative block diagram of a VillaView for Bridget's, Susie's mother's, villa shown in Fig. 13 with multiple satellite tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, shown in the relational social world 1500, Susie's mother Bridget has a more complex villa, such as tile 1518 Bridget's Bakery, with a central tile 1512 on the left and two satellite tiles 1508 and 1504 adjacent to the side. The central tile 1512 may have the same type of Social Center 1514 component that Susie uses, but the central tile 1512 also has a dark blue area at the top, such as tile 1508. This indicates a private area with limited access controlled by the user who owns the villa located on tile 1508. Without the owner's authorized access, other users will not be able to see any of its features or properties, and will not be able to know who is in it.

In the upper right corner of the villa map is a satellite tile 1504, which in one or more embodiments may be completely dark blue. This color indicates private territory, but since the entire satellite tile 1504 is private, this means that the satellite tile 1504 will not be displayed to users who do not have access to the tile 1504. Any villas associated with the satellite tile 1504 will also not be visible to users except for users who have access to this private satellite tile 1504. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the configurations and arrangements of the various tiles and the villas located therein are given solely as an example and, therefore, are not limiting, and that there may be other suitable configurations that do not depart from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments. It should be noted that a color different from the color specified herein may be selected to identify private tiles.

In the lower right corner is tile 1520 for Bridget's home business. Hypothetically, a few years ago Bridget started baking for friends and expanded her business to include catering. Her business grew quickly, and she supported it with various components, including the Shop component to the left of this tile, where users can view and order from her bakery. To the right is the Library component, which includes a variety of articles and other content, linked

- 35 049681 dedicated to making cakes and pastries as a service to her customers and possibly also stimulating their interest. There is also a recipe component. Note that a Messages component, similar to Facebook functionality, is present in the bakery as well as in Bridget's central tile. By way of example, but not limitation, these components point to different content areas, one for her business and one for her personal space. In this context, the component is used instead of the term villa. In this context, the term villa is used to denote a property owned and operated by the user. The expression functional hex is also used in the present context to denote a property owned and operated by the user. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the component may have any form (suitable for the current visualization of the villa) or even no traditional representation at all, for example, it may be a selectable element in a drop-down or expandable menu/list, etc. Similarly, a component may have multiple hexes/positional elements, such as the Social Hub used in Bridget and Susie's villas to provide movies, messages, SnapChat, etc. While components may be visible parts of the villa, their primary value is in providing out-of-the-box functionality to users.

Fig. 16 is an illustrative block diagram of a WorldView when looking out of a villa window at our objects of interest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the relational social world 1600 may be substantially similar to the relational social world 1200 shown in Fig. 12 and discussed above, wherein both relational social worlds 1600 and 1200 form a WorldView representing the owner-user as sitting in his, her, their or his respective villa, looking out of the window at all villas of interest. By way of example, but not limitation, this includes all villas directly related to us by placing the owner-user's villa next to neighboring villas.

By way of example, but not limitation, many other villas may be additionally included in WorldView, including villas that have chosen to build their relationship with the villa of a given owner-user by placing said villas near his, her, their villa. In addition, WorldView may show villas that the owner-user has visited (even if he has chosen not to establish a direct relationship with them), and may also show villas whose owners have chosen to visit the owner-user's villa (even if they are not directly related).

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, WorldView can also show any villa that has declared us a friend and any villa with which we have established a friendship. It is easy to imagine that such a comprehensive view could list hundreds of villas, but WorldView allows us to filter and organize the presentation of the listed villas so that they best suit our needs. FriendView shows only those villas with which we have incoming or outgoing friendships, and of course, mutual friends are shown in a privileged position near the center. InterestView shows only villas that have a direct connection (we have placed our villa near the listed villas). VisitorView shows the villas of owners who have recently visited our villa, while TravelView shows the villas that we have recently visited.

Fig. 17 is an illustrative block diagram of the VillaView villa for Bridget, as shown in Fig. 15, with private areas and/or private tiles, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, VillaView, in contrast to the WorldView shown and described in Fig. 16 above, shows our villa in the relational social world 1700 as the world sees us from the outside, looking in (the example above). It shows the entire terrain and all properties of one or more tiles of the owner-user and all villas associated with them. Thus, VillaView can be useful for users visiting the owner-user's villa and using its properties. Fig. 18A is an illustrative block diagram of the structure of a villa according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the villa structure diagram 1800A shows the villa 1802A as a virtual real estate owned by the user, consisting of one or more central tiles 1804A, 1806A (e.g., virtual terrain arrays) and capable of having one or more satellite tiles 1808A, etc., and also includes a list of associated villas 1810A, providing access to the user-owner to said associated villas. Fig. 18B shows an illustrative block diagram of the villa structure with several secondary villas according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the villa structure diagram 1800B is shown with the villa 1802B having one or more tiles 1804B, 1806B .... 1808B associated with the list of villas 1810B. As indicated by tiles 1804B... etc., each tile can be expanded to contain several minor villas, such as minor villas 1812B, 1814A and 1816A from tile 1804B, minor

- 36,049,681 foam villas 1818B, 1820B, 1822B and 1824B from tile 1806B, and so on, with minor villas being able to establish links with several minor villas as indicated above. Minor villas 1826B and 1828 are linked to villa 1818B. Minor villas 1830B, 1832B, 1834B, 1836B are linked to villa 1824B. Thus, when viewing the virtual world of the owner-user's villa, such virtual world may actually indirectly contain links to hundreds of villas.

By way of example and not limitation, a villa may not have a terrain in the usual sense and may include any content, including a direct link to a website, web page, user application, browser module, while the social and/or virtual relationships of a given villa with other villas are not given importance. Such social relationships ultimately create a virtual map of the online world, independent of the content of the villas, now and in the future. Therefore, the virtual infrastructure of a villa and/or tile, thus disclosed, may support and/or otherwise take into account future technologies that have yet to be created in the relational space.

Fig. 19A is an exemplary block diagram of a tile structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a tile structure diagram 1900A is shown with a tile 1902A and a list of villas 1904A associated with the tile. The associated villas are ostensibly grouped adjacent to the tile, but may actually be grouped in areas within the tile, or possibly accessible from a list or drop-down menu. By way of example, and not limitation, a tile 1902A may include terrain features such as land, water, mountains, but may also include created structures, such as complex structures created in Blockcraft and/or Minecraft®. Such structures may be visually interesting and facilitate creative expression of their owner, but also allow for the division of a tile 1902A into different functional areas. Instead of traditional terrain, tile 1902A can host web pages or other symbolic and/or textual content; this can be programmable modules running through a web browser, or even stand-alone games or applications.

The villas located on tiles in the virtual worlds shown in the drawings can be configured to create a robust set of functionalities, including live social interaction such as chats, bulletin boards, personal interaction including avatars, websites, applications, games and other villas that can be controlled by a user-owner of the villa, etc. Fig. 19B is an illustrative block diagram of a structure of a list of villas according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment of the present invention, the structure diagram of the list of villas 1900B is shown with a list of villas 1902B that includes an access list 1910B regarding which villas can contact the villa. The order and arrangement of the linked villas, such as relation #1 of villa 1904B, relation #2 of villa 1906B ... relation #N of villa 1908B, etc., can be under the exclusive control of the villa owner, and provide the ability to manipulate the linked villas, their associated content and interactions. Villa owners can also choose larger or customized displays for the linked villas to give them more originality (controlled by the Access List). Virtually, the villa tiles and the linked villas represent a neighborhood or a private club, with the owner setting the rules to create the desired social environment for the benefit of its members.

Fig. 20 shows an illustrative block diagram of a central tile surrounded by connected promovillas according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, villa 2000 is shown with Promovilla 2004 located on a darker tile, for example, orange, consisting of several hexes located within the area 2002. Other villas 2008, 2010, 2014, each of which is marked as Special, are also located on colored tiles in areas 2006, 2012 and 2016, respectively, all of which are grouped around a central tile consisting of light, for example, yellow hexes 2020.

This general configuration of the Promotional Villa 2004 demonstrates how the owner-user of the villa, by controlling the position and display of the associated villas, can use his property to his advantage and to the advantage of the associated villas. The dark coloured Promotional Villa 2004 was given a central position, a larger size and a distinctive colour in order to make it more visible to people visiting the villa. Presumably the owner-user of the Promotional Villa 2004 would have compensated the owner of the villa, if necessary or appropriate, for such central position, larger size and distinctive colour. Similarly, compensation could have been provided for one or more of the Special Villas 2008, 2010, 2014. In physical space, real estate has a (relatively fixed) value based on its physical location (where the villa is placed in a fixed location close to surrounding real estate). In a relational space, the villa owner has full control over the content of his villa, including who (which villas) can link to the tile.

- 37 049681 my villa. The right of association with compensation to a particular villa is usually a conditional lease rather than a permanent occupancy. Repeated association will be allowed without any payment. One reason is that the owner of a rented villa has complete control over what happens in his villa. In extreme circumstances, one could imagine a villa buying space in another villa only to later convert his villa from a school into a shop selling marijuana or other unhealthy goods/services. Of course, other legal mechanisms for enforcing rules/building regulations/etc. in a relational space are possible in principle, but since they have not yet been developed, we find it easier to regard the occupancies in question as conditional leases until other arrangements become predominant.

Fig. 21 is an exemplary block diagram of relationship attributes from a linked villa (left) to a main villa (right) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, relationship gradient attributes 2100 visually represent various aspects of the relationship between the linked villa 2102 and the main villa 2110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the intermediate mood states 2104-2108 are provided solely as an example and that there may be many other intermediate relationship tones between the linked villa 2102 and the main villa 2110, covering all relationship contexts from casual to intense and personal. The design of relational worlds should be as expressive as our relationships. Relationships are not simple binary choices and often have more subtle nuances and gradations. Some suggested relationship gradations (from least to most intense) are presented in the present context. By way of example, but not limitation, positive emotional states may include, by degree of intensity, the following: frivolity, sympathy, love, passion, and obsession. Similarly, negative emotional states may include, by degree of intensity, the following: dislike, contempt, disgust, mockery, and vilification.

Interpersonal interactions, referred to in this context as relationships, may be expressions of interest, such as those demonstrated in the relational social world by placing Our Villa next to a villa of interest, or may be other, more personal expressions of friendship. Friendships may be given preference in a complex of related villas. Relationships can also be directional, in that they can extend from one villa (1) to another villa (2) with the purpose of expressing an interest of the owner of villa 1 in villa 2. As described above, this can be accomplished virtually by placing villa 1 next to villa 2 with the purpose of expressing interest 1-2, and this can result in villa 1 appearing as a related villa in VillaView for villa 2. Under certain circumstances, the interest can be mutual, in which case a second relationship extends in the opposite direction from villa 2 to villa 1. In this case, the manipulation of visible relationships is described, and the owner of a villa can decide whether visible relationships are allowed with any of his tiles.

While maintaining publicly visible relationships between villas may be desirable for owner-users in certain circumstances where it may be mutually beneficial, in other circumstances tacit and/or secret relationships are required. Tacit relationships may allow an owner-user to express interest in a villa without having his villa displayed in the VillaView of the main villa. However, said main villa will be displayed in his WorldView, which is only accessible to the owner of the villa. Tacit relationships are not directly visible to others, but may be taken into account when ranking villas based on overall relationships. Tacit and/or secret relationships are not intended to be used when evaluating overall relationships between villas. One reason for using tacit rather than visible relationships is that some villas may not allow visible relationships, for example for strategic or business reasons. Furthermore, some villas could have millions of potential connections, but choose not to have so many connected villas populating their villa map, for example (but not exclusively) due to clutter and usability issues. In these cases, millions of villas can express their connection to the main villa via unspoken or secret connections, with the villa of interest displayed on their own WorldView.

The relationship gradient 2100 may also at least partially concern the relative ranking of relationships between villas. Owner users may be advised to exercise caution when operating and/or using any of one or more relational social worlds as described above with respect to recording and/or ranking relationships for their ordering in relational map images, such as WorldView and other means of looking out of our home window at our relationships with nearby neighbors.

As described, many villas may have dozens of connections to other villas with varying relationship intensities, so these relationship intensities may be visually and/or otherwise

- 38 049681 are virtually highlighted in the relational social world as more important than others, as indicated by a preferential position. Such related and/or relationship-established villas may be virtually displayed as being on tiles that are adjacent to each other, such as having a common edge, forming larger shapes and/or tiles, etc. In some embodiments, villas shown as being located in the center of an array of tiles may be perceived by the user-owner and/or other participants in the relational social world as having a greater and/or higher value than villas located on the periphery.

Another significant and/or philosophically profound reason for grading relationships may be the successful identification and definition of new relationships. By definition, a group of related villas may have a common interest in the current villa. Since they share this interest, the probability that they share other interests is higher than average. The more we know about the interest profiles of each of these villas, the more useful it is to rank this group of villas based on their overlap with our own interest profile.

Not all villas allow ordering and browsing of related villas in this way, but for villas that do allow ordering and browsing, the browsing user's interest profile may be presented to the villa server for the purpose of obtaining an ordered list of villas based on a match with his own interests.

Another way of ranking villas may be based on existing relationships with the user. If a villa is directly related to the owner-user's villa (or the villa is friends with the owner-user), it may be preferentially displayed, for example, as indicated by certain types of information display, such as a brighter than usual color and/or flashing, etc. Similarly, if the owner-user is directly related to the villa (or the owner-user has befriended or otherwise associated with the villa), it may be preferentially displayed, as may any mutual friends and/or partners, etc. In addition to common interests and mutual friendship, another potentially valuable way may be to rank villas based on aggregate ratings or judgments from other users. Similarly, data on the frequency of visits or contact time at a villa may be used to assess its overall popularity with other users. In a relational virtual world that may involve, enable, or support intense social behavior, observations and recommendations from other users are the best way to evaluate people and companies that are not directly known.

Finally, data provided by the user-villa owner, for example, which he may choose to make publicly available, can be used to display ranked data about the villas, such as age, gender, education, occupation, location, etc. Villas can also be individually ranked based on popularity, integrity, and other factors, allowing for a crowdsourced villa rating (outside of the interest/relationship system described above).

The relationships between the different villas and/or the tiles on which they are virtually located may form the basis of a relational social world, and viewing/evaluating and editing the relationships may be configured to be as simple and user-friendly as possible, such as by right-clicking a computer mouse and/or peripheral device or by holding down a click on any other villa, such as linked villas. By way of example, and not limitation, any one or more of the relational social worlds discussed may include a Relate Menu which may include the following items and/or functionality: Text to send a string(s) of text to a villa (and see string(s) of text from the villa); Chat to enter chat mode (+/- audio/video capabilities); Message to open a Facebook-style bulletin board for the villa; Photos and/or Videos; Relationships; type, intensity, visibility of the relationship, also showing any mutual relationships (e.g. Do you think he loves me?); and Sympatico, a numerical score for the coincidence of the relationship with the villa, calculated by comparing Our relationship with the villa's relationship. Visible user data - including age, gender and location. It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that such elements and/or functionalities of the Relate Menu are provided solely as an example and, therefore, are not limiting, while there may be other suitable functionalities that do not depart from the scope and spirit of the currently disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

Villa ratings may also be provided to the Owner User of Our Villa and/or other participants in the social relational world, where such ratings may relate to any one or more of the following attributes: integrity, popularity, buyer, seller (aggregated ratings by other users on these attributes). The Owner User may also be able to see/register their own Villa ratings on these various attributes, and/or also see the Villa ratings of another Owner User.

- 39 049681

Fig. 22 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for associating villas with a central tile (also referred to as a terrain array) according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a method 2200 is shown that may begin with a start operation 2202. At operation 2204, a villa representing a mood of a participant may be determined in a digital media environment. The villa may be visually and/or virtually displayed as being located on and/or otherwise associated with the central tile, also referred to as the terrain array, at operation 2206. Additional satellite tiles may be associated with the central tile(s), where each additional satellite tile may have its own corresponding set of associated villas at operation 2208. Social relationships may be established regardless of the actual content of each villa, both now and in the future, at operation 2210 until the method 2200 is completed at a final operation 2212. In Fig. 23A is an exemplary block diagram of the structure of a villa server according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the villa server system 2300A may include a villa server 2302A that stores any one or more of the following villas: villa #1 2304A, villa #2 2306A ... villa #N 2308A, which may be associated with the operation and/or use of any one or more relational social worlds as described in this context. By way of example, and not limitation, the storage and management of a villa may be entirely performed by a single villa server. However, villas associated with our owner-user villa that are capable of contributing to the owner-user villa map may be stored on other servers. If another villa server or client needs to receive information about a villa, he can issue a digital subscription to this villa on the corresponding villa server.

Fig. 23B is an exemplary block diagram of a villa structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment of the present invention, the villa structure diagram 2300B includes a representation of each villa 2302B associated with villa data 2310B and one or more tiles, for example: tile #1 2304B, tile #2 2306B ... tile #N 2308B, where each of the tiles can respectively have data of the associated villa 2312B, 2314B ... 2316B, etc. When the villa server or the client requires data about a specific villa, the villa server, for example the villa server 2302A, can be issued a request to subscribe to the villa, as shown in Fig. 23A, indicating the subscription level for the data. Subscription levels include: Associate villa data (e.g. required to display associated villas); Expanded villa data (e.g. including enlarged villa icons, villa symbols, photo IDs); Real-time Status and Communications (e.g. used for live chat, social interaction); Full Villa Data (e.g. required to display a full villa map, typically used by a villa customer to visit the user); Full Villa Edit (e.g. data required to display and edit a full villa, typically used by a villa owner and their representatives). By way of example, and not as a limitation, when villa data is retrieved after subscribing to it, the villa data may be stored locally, such as on the computing resource of the user-owner of Our villa and/or other participants in the relational virtual world with a timestamp. On subsequent requests to subscribe to the villa, the timestamp of the local data can be sent to the requester, and if the timestamp is updated, an acknowledgement can be sent instead of sending the data.

When a villa server loads a villa with its associated villas into memory, the villa server can forward subscription requests to the server(s) of all associated villas. As the data associated with these subscriptions is later received by the villa server, it can be automatically passed downstream to any other clients/servers that are subscribed to that villa. Since the villa server may have all the data needed to sort/filter the associated villas, the sort/filter requests can be sent directly to the villa server, avoiding the need to regularly transmit said data to other servers. In addition, the villa server can store and maintain a list of villas displayed by default for each tile and send it along with the subscription requests, in most cases without requiring a separate calculation for each subscription. Displaying any of the villas described may have a practical limitation with respect to displaying related villas, as additional related villas may fill proportionally additional screen space and use more computing resources (e.g., for data transfer) for participants in the relational virtual world who are also loading the common map. Display problems on the screen may be solved by setting customizable display parameters for the villas and, for example (but not limited to), setting a limit on the number of villas displayed. This allows a villa user to view a subset of the available villas to suit their needs, while the total number of villas visible may be larger for all users.

Another problem that needs to be addressed is that inherent to fully interactive games or social networks: the cost of data transfer and/or workload may be proportional to N x N

- 40 049681 (where N is the number of users actively communicating with each other). When each of the N users performs any action, information about it must be transmitted to the other N users (hence, N x N). As the number N increases, the costs become unbearable for system resources, so the desire for massive multiplayer games may have to be balanced with practical limitations of bandwidth and communication latency.

Keeping N low limits data transfer and preserves response time. In fixed-terrain games with many users, N can be reduced by limiting the visibility range so that a change made by a user can only be seen by a limited number of users. In a relational space, visibility (N) can be limited by the number of visible linked villas.

Subject to various listed exceptions, such as, by way of example and not limitation, Fully Displayed Villas, computer servers do not need to build a map of their associated villas for internal purposes, and so this workload is shifted, at least in part, to the corresponding client stations. However, in certain configurations of relational social worlds, a villa may have several associated villas that are not rigidly associated with any of the tiles of the owner-user's villa, e.g., such unassociated villas may be called floating villas, and accordingly located on the corresponding floating tiles.

Except for the Fully Displayed Villa (FDV) architecture, a client connecting to a villa server can subscribe to a villa at the villa level and specify (where applicable) selection criteria for related villas. The server can then send villa information and a list of related villas for each villa tile accordingly.

By way of example, and not limitation, various graphical representations of the relational social worlds described herein may be at least partially implemented in a villa client structure, wherein interaction with them may be referred to as villa client engagement. In such configurations, a villa client may be represented as a viewable face of a relational space related to the relational virtual worlds disclosed herein and may be presented to a user and/or participant. The villa client and/or the villa client structure may display a villa and manage the user's interaction with the villa, as well as manage social functions, including interaction with related villas, and direct the user's interaction with more complex functionality, including programmable modules and applications. By way of example, and not limitation, a villa client may be at least partially implemented in a web browser. In addition, villa clients often include functionality to support the creation/design and editing of villas. A villa client will often be committed to one type of terrain (e.g. symbolic, 3D, web pages, etc.) so that the client can quickly download and be effective in presenting that type of terrain.

Web browsers are ubiquitous and provide a familiar user experience, as well as a unified software infrastructure for handling messages, user input, and graphical output. Operating within this environment provides this functionality to the client.

Web browsers traditionally provide content related to Internet browsing, including popular websites. Thus, the functionality of the villa can be implemented by including links to websites/web pages in it. Enhanced user interaction can be made possible by convenient functional integration of any one or more relational virtual worlds, such as Facebook or Amazon. Running sites in a browser can also be extremely efficient, more efficient than running a separate client application for the villa and then running a browser for Facebook, SnapChat, etc. The computational and resource requirements of the villa client can be modest enough in some embodiments, allowing it to function as a module or add-on to popular browsers, even on smaller phones and tablets. Even the use of interpreted code (e.g., JavaScript) can be sufficient to support significant functionality at an acceptable speed.

Using a public language to develop the villa client can also increase the likelihood that popular functionality (e.g. chats, message boards, etc.) can be incorporated from existing code bases rather than developed from scratch.

P Once one or more of the various embodiments of the relational virtual world have penetrated the market, developers of popular web browsers may find it useful to include the described villa client architecture in their browsers using efficient back-end code.

Fig. 24 is an illustrative block diagram of the structure of a resource server in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment,

- 41 049681 of the present invention, a structure of a resource server 2400 is shown, including a resource server 2402 in digital communication with any one or more of the servers: villa server #1 2404, villa server #2, 2406 ... villa server #N 2408. The resource server 2402 may store data in digital format or exchange common server data 2410, which may be included and/or otherwise be in digital communication with common client data 2412, graphics data 2416 and/or interface data 2418. The villa servers and clients may be designed to handle the computing and/or data communication needs of individual villas. But some resources may be system-wide, such as graphics and other data used by all villas, as well as villa identifiers and their corresponding villa server addresses. Such data may be located on the resource server to avoid duplication across multiple villa servers. When started, villa servers and clients can connect to a resource server, such as resource server 2402, and subscribe to the data they need. When data changes during a subscription, the resource server can send updates to subscribers. Villa servers can register their villa IDs with the resource server. Clients and villa servers can also subsequently send requests to the resource server to obtain the address of the villa server corresponding to certain villa IDs.

In order to more fully and/or comprehensively satisfy the needs of the user-owner of Our Villa, for example, as accessible to individual participants of the relational virtual world, some user-owners and/or participants may wish to limit the viewing of certain aspects of the world. Thus, the ability of the user to simultaneously place his villa in several locations (in several worlds) can be a significant advantage in the relational space, in which it provides the ability to see all users of interest to him (and to be seen by all users of interest to him).

However, while the user adopts the extended relational space approach to expressing their interests through location, they may also engage in discriminatory behavior, such as not choosing other locations. Such expression of individual preferences and/or discrimination may be supported by relational virtual worlds as disclosed herein, and may also assist the user in limiting their view of the world and those who view and interact with it.

In contrast to the fixed terrain, the relational space model allows the owner-user to view worlds in the most useful and relevant light from the owner-user's perspective. Many different views are possible, controlled by parameters selected by the user, which allow the user to effectively relate to the universe as they see it. Examples include: World View, Interest View, Friends View, Travel View, Visitor View, Focus Views, and various motifs.

Fig. 25 is an exemplary block diagram of a World View 2500 with friends, points of interest, visitors, and related points of interest according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a World View of a relational social world 2500 is shown, in which all villas related to the user, including those he has visited, can be shown from the point of view of a virtual window of his own villa. As an example, but not as a limitation, the villas he has visited can be colored orange in the above example, those where he has placed his villa (e.g., visible or invisible) can be colored blue, those with whom he has become friends (e.g., including mutual friends) can be colored green, villas related to the owner user's villa can be colored yellow, and those who have visited our villa can be colored gray. Villas can be displayed as concentric circles, with those closest to the center governed by priorities (e.g., parameters) set by the user. For example, frequently visited villas can be closer to the center, mutual friends can be closer than one-sided friendships, villas in which the user is visible can be closer to the center than villas in which the user is invisible, etc. The user can toggle which of these categories he wants to include in his WorldView/exclude from his WorldView.

Additional views of relational social worlds other than the Villa View and World View as described above may include any one or more of the following views: Interest View, such as where a user places their own villa, either visibly (likely near the center) or invisibly (expressing an interest in the world without explicitly inviting interaction with other villas); Friends View, such as displaying villas that have befriended or been befriended by the user's villa, typically with mutual friends located closer to the center than with unrequited friends; Travel View, such as displaying villas that the user has visited; Visitor View, such as displaying villas that have visited the owner-user's Our Villa, etc.; and Focus Views, such as which allow owner-users to create and view focus groups of villas associated with certain subsets of

- 42 049681 interests of the owner-users. In many cases, said focus groups will be intended exclusively for the owner-user of the villa, but the owner will also have the ability to carefully select and publish his focus groups and make them available to visitors of his world (e.g., in particular, grouped around the satellite tile on which his villa is located and/or to which it is connected, etc.). A visitor to the villa can copy the focus group as a starting point for creating his own focus group, and a villa owner who does an excellent job of creating and carefully selecting focus groups can increase the value of his villa in the eyes of visitors. Such focus groups can include comments and content from the villa owner, thereby increasing the value of the collection. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous other variations of the above examples are possible, each potentially modified using user-selected parameters to make them more useful and relevant.

In addition, the motifs can be implemented with any one or more relational social worlds in accordance with the disclosure herein, for example, where villas can be designed from different building materials to create different motifs. There may be variations in style that allow the same structural elements to be implemented in a modern style, a baroque style, an Islamic style, etc.

Moreover, the virtual terrain mentioned in the context of relational virtual worlds may evoke images of land and sea, or even maps of fantasy worlds, but the general notion of terrain of relational space may not be so restrictive. The tile and its terrain supporting any villa may be whatever the owner of the villa decides to define them. Moreover, the terrain available today may be very different from another popular terrain in five or ten years, when villas will function independently, our villa created today may coexist with a futuristic, for example, currently unimaginable, villa created in the future. Terrain may be any space-occupying content owned by the user and best suited to his or her purposes.

Fig. 26A is an exemplary block diagram of a sports site villa with tiles for several teams according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a sports villa 2600A is shown, for example, a villa with a special purpose terrain from a sports website, presenting its content in a relational space, which, as generally defined and mentioned in this context, neither provides for nor prefers a complete migration of existing content to a new platform, but rather expects that existing content will be presented differently, taking advantage of user interactive enhancements of the relational space. In some respects, this may be similar to how the presentation of websites on multiple different platforms with different screen shapes, resolutions, etc. is considered.

The power and flexibility of a relational space comes from the simplicity and generality of its design. Some aspects of a villa are known. For example, a villa is functionally autonomous, a villa is made up of one or more tiles (terrain arrays), and a villa is capable of communicating with (being adjacent to) several other villas (or their tiles). Given these known aspects, we can infer that the client of a villa will control the function of the villa tiles and display the connected villas. Having looked at what is known, let us look at what is unknown and how this helps us. First, the user does not know the nature of the terrain in our villa. There are many possibilities - it can be symbolic with hexes, rectangles, or squares. It can be 2D or 3D. It can have moving (visible) user avatars. It can have web pages. It can communicate/interact directly with websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). It can have computer animation. It may have highly complex programmable functionality, perhaps even requiring many megabytes of games and data. We have considered all of these possibilities, but have never indicated that any of them are defined as part of the present invention.

Given that so much is unknown, the most optimal solution would be for our villa client to focus on manipulating one or two terrain capabilities, limiting its size and complexity, such that it would require an extremely complex villa client to support 2D/3D/hexes/rectangles/avatars/animations/etc. at the same time, as well as supporting the possibility of aesthetically incoherent combinations. It can also be concluded that all terrain within a villa would be limited to the type supported by its villa client. This limitation of terrain types within a villa does not actually cause any real harm, since mixing disparate terrain types, even if possible, would likely be aesthetically undesirable.

Secondly, the terrain character of the linked villas is also unknown. Without knowing the terrain of the linked villa, the user cannot be sure that the villa client will support it. However, as described above, it can be concluded that the villa client does not care about the terrain or the functions of the linked villas. This allows for a large degree of freedom from the restriction and is exclusively

- 43 049681 necessary. This means that the villa client must maintain only the terrain contained within the villa. In addition, this means that the current villa can freely communicate with other villas, regardless of their terrain. Conversely, any villa (regardless of terrain) is able to communicate with our villa.

This is important and true not only now, but also in the future. In ten or twenty years, villas unknown to us with functions that we cannot imagine will still be in contact with our villa. While being so dogmatic, it is not entirely true to say that the villa client knows nothing about the linked villas and has no interest in them. Some information (such as the villa name, the villa icon, the way the linked villa is displayed, and the data that must be transmitted to the linked villa, such as to support the portals, are known and processed by the villa client). But processing this limited amount of information about the linked villas is much less burdensome than the effort to maintain their functionality - leave that to the villa client for each of the linked villas. As for the question of transformation screens or animations - we leave that question to the individual villa clients - a question that needs to be answered at another time in order to best meet the needs of the users. This is not determined in our way.

As shown in the figure, the sports villa 2600A includes four central tiles, each of which is implemented with a web page presentation module that allows web content to be directly displayed. Photos and articles or videos and movies provided by other websites can be displayed. At the bottom of each tile there can be function buttons that provide functions such as Message (like Facebook), Chat, Video and a link to a Shopping module (Shopping module), which can be launched by the site owner or perhaps licensed/rented by another customer using this popular site to sell their goods. Along the borders of each tile there can be several white rectangles, each of which can represent related villas of other users. Although many of our previous illustrations have used hexes for spatial representation, the villas can also be represented by rectangles, as shown in the sports villa 2600A. Other polygons or positional elements can also be used. This document describes sports websites. However, other web pages and content could also be considered - the Washington Post, Twitter, political sites, hobby sites, etc. There is a huge amount of content available from web pages, and such content could easily be integrated into the villa clients for the relational space. This would probably be most easily done if the presentation of the web pages were reasonably similar in the villa client to what the user would see in a regular web browser.

Fig. 26B is an illustrative block diagram of a Chicago Cubs® tile in a full-screen Tile View in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the present embodiment of the present invention, a full-screen Tile View of a Chicago Cubs® tile 2600B is shown in which a user can select a Chicago Cubs® tile from a sports villa 2600A shown in Fig. 26A to display a full-screen Tile View of a Chicago Cubs® tile 2600B.

Fig. 27 is an exemplary block diagram of a Cubs Villa View with multiple theme tiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a Cubs® Villa View with multiple theme tiles 2700 is shown as being displayed following an action of selecting one of the tiles on previous screens, such as a sports villa 2600A. Selecting a Cubs tile provides a Villa View for the Cubs villa as shown above, where the villa has a background image of Wrigley Park and multiple tiles with Cubs content, as shown in the figure. The villa owner has significant control over the response to default user actions, such as selecting a tile. Small white rectangles may represent related tiles of other villas, such as according to preferences entered by the user-owner, etc. Fig. 28 is an exemplary screenshot of a three-dimensional (3D) Villa View in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional (3D) view 2800A is shown in which a user can navigate any one or more villas and/or one or more tiles on which they are located, as may be implemented by the relational virtual worlds disclosed in the embodiments herein. Such a view may be seamlessly integrated with any one or more two-dimensional (2D) relational virtual worlds presented herein, allowing villa owner users and/or participants to navigate from one view and/or context to another according to their individual preferences. This implies that users may choose whether to view in 2D or 3D. This may be possible under certain circumstances, but the terrain would need to be displayed in a relatively predictable and unchanging manner. Naturally, this would be at the discretion of the villa client authors for a given terrain type. Some villa owners may allow visitors to be present as visual and/or

- 44 049681 virtual avatars that can explore their villas and meet other people by physically moving between tiles in the villas. Such villas may have rich visual features (e.g. landscape and buildings worth exploring). Such convenient navigation of participants in the relational social world and/or user-owners in 3D responds, for example (but not limited to), to interests inherent in people already known, as opposed to professional content created by third parties, e.g. the Facebook effect introduced earlier.

Fig. 29 is another illustrative screenshot of a 3D view of a villa with interacting avatars according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a 3D view with interacting avatars 2900 is shown, in which such villas can provide complex social interaction, including competition and conflict resolution between different avatars. Such villas can be prepared and/or otherwise configured to maximize social relationships with the world as a whole for the benefit of their visitors and user-owners.

Fig. 30 is an exemplary block diagram of a Villa View for Microsoft® that demonstrates scalability for large-scale applications in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a relational social world 3000 is shown as a Villa View in which villas, such as those including a Programming Languages tile 3002, an Employment tile 3004, a Windows tile 3006, a Browsers tile 3012, a Servers tile 3014, and an International Employment tile 3016, shown herein are infinitely scalable (e.g., recursively defined) and thus can support massive digital enterprises (e.g., using villas of villas of villas... etc.). Villas can be on groups of several tiles, and the tiles can be of different sizes, such as large tiles. Additionally, there can be tens or even hundreds of related villas for a single villa, which makes it necessary to filter or select a subset of related villas for the convenience of the viewer.

An example of a top-level villa for Microsoft is shown in a relational social world 3000 that breaks the company into several tiles, each of which has a number of associated villas that may belong to Microsoft® and be associated with the tiles, as shown in the figure. A programmer can express his interest in programming languages by selecting an associated villa for C#, for example, next to the Programming Languages tile 3002 to display a villa window for Microsoft C#, and so on. Fig. 31 is an illustrative block diagram of a Villa View for selecting the C# villa shown in Fig. 30 with topic tiles and associated villas in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a relational social world 3100 is shown in which, upon entering a Villa View of a C# villa 3104, several more options may be displayed, with each option becoming increasingly specialized, and so on. As an example, and not as a limitation, several more consecutive selections can lead the user to the desired destination. At the final user-specified point, the user can place his villa at one or more points of interest to ensure direct access in the future without going through all the levels.

The user may reach a destination via different relational routes, just as the user may choose different physical paths on a fixed terrain map. For example (but not limited to), a C# programmer looking for a job may choose the Programmers villa adjacent to the Employment tile 3102 on the main Microsoft villa, but may also choose the C# villa from the Programming Languages tile 3002, only to later choose the Programmers villa. This helps illustrate the value of allowing a villa to have multiple relational links, just as a location on a fixed terrain map has multiple routes to reach it.

Fig. 32 is an illustrative block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a radial Villa View in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the relational social world 3200 is shown as a radial Villa View with a Radial Villa 3208 at the center of the relational virtual world 3200, with an array of radial lines 3204 extending to related villas, such as Villa Eric 3202. The related villas also include Sofia 3206, Denise 3208, Shelley 3210, Daniel 3212, and Ashley 3214. Even in the context of a radial view, the virtual relational space still exists as a real estate paradigm, but is adjusted in terms of navigation and/or presentation in order to better suit the individual preferences of the user-owners and/or participants.

The radial representation is philosophically inferior, as it lacks certain sorting and filtering capabilities and is less space efficient. However, the radial representation is provided solely to demonstrate that

- 45 049681 other ways of displaying the villa and its related villas could be used, but it would still be a relational spatial model. Another alternative would be an indented list, where the Radial Villa is at the top level, while its related villas are listed by their title (text) lines, indented below the Radial Villa line. As an example, Facebook Maps display information about where a user has been, or where others have linked to them, etc. Facebook Maps are vaguely similar to directly expressing villa associations. Presumably Twitter has something similar, which can be inferred from their uses of #hashtag. Clearly, Facebook friendships are somewhat analogous to the idea of expressing relationships. So expressing social relationships may not be new, but using relationships to structure a new kind of virtual space, such as a Relational Space, is new.

In various relational virtual worlds shown and discussed in embodiments of the present invention, a villa may be placed and/or located next to another villa to express a relationship, for example, to accommodate the concept of moving our villa to a desired location. When viewing Villa View, one can see a villa with its related villas grouped around it. In contrast, when looking out of a virtual window of a villa, one can see other villas to which it is (simultaneously) adjacent, for example, in World View.

By way of example and not limitation, in one or more embodiments, instead of placing its villa next to another villa to express its interest, a user who is an owner of a villa may simply indicate its interest without placing its villa in multiple locations. In such circumstances, if a villa is not next to the villa of interest, it may not be directly visible to other villas in the neighborhood, which requires the user who is an owner to have some other means of detecting villas that share its interest without being physically present. This rather points to an alternative way of defining an association, rather than adjacent placement of one villa next to another, in order to demonstrate that in visually different association schemes, our method is still mainly used.

Another way to express the relationship is to drag the POI to be placed next to Our Villa in the relational space. In this case, Our Villa will be visible as an associated villa in Villa View. However, many owner users may prefer (moving their own villa instead of moving another villa to their own, etc.). In this case, dragging the POI to Our Villa expresses the association as an alternative to placing Our Villa next to the villa we are interested in. Thus, the cosmetic difference in how the relationship is expressed does not exclude the intersection with the relational space in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Another option would be to use fixed terrain maps, but still allow the user-owner to place his villa in several locations on said maps. In this case, his villa would be perceived as a connected villa from the point of view of all the villas in the territory where he placed his villa. However, user villas may appear and disappear, and there will be many unoccupied and inactive parcels in the territory around the villas. From an aesthetic point of view, this situation may be visually unattractive, and there may also be significant inefficiencies associated with processing a fixed terrain with such parcels. However, the limitation of a hybrid of relational space and fixed relief maps is inferior to a dynamically changing terrain.

In light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that any of the above steps and/or system modules may be appropriately replaced, rearranged, removed, and that additional steps and/or system modules may be included depending on the needs of a particular application, and that the systems of the above embodiments may be implemented using any of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and are not limited to any specific computer hardware and software depending on the needs of a particular application, and that the systems of the embodiments described above may be implemented using any of a wide variety of suitable methods and system modules, and are not limited to any specific computer hardware, software, middleware, firmware, microcode, and so on. For any method steps described in this application that may be performed on a computer, a typical computer system may, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which the stated aspects of the present invention may be implemented. Such computers mentioned and/or described in the present invention may be any general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as, in particular, a workstation, a mainframe, a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The programs may be written in C, Java, Brew, or any other suitable programming language. The programs may

- 46 049681 can be permanently stored in a storage device, such as a magnetic or optical storage device, such as, in particular, a computer hard disk, a removable disk or medium, such as, in particular, a flash drive or SD-media, or other removable medium. The programs can also be executed on a network, for example, by means of a server or other machine sending signals to the local machine, which enables the local machine to perform the operations described in this document.

Fig. 33 shows an illustrative diagram of a portal that allows a user to move from a source villa to a target villa and, in doing so, deliver data from the source villa and deliver data from the target villa to change the environment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Portals 3302 represent a specialized form of (unidirectional) relationship between two villas 3310, 3312. The relational space system 3300 in Fig. 33 allows data to be changed for the source villa 3310 and then transmitted through the portal 3302 to the target villa 3312. The relational space allows a user who has visited the source villa 3310 (Affiliated Villa) to easily move to the target villa 3312 (Primary Villa), and in most cases without special conditions (except for the placement of one villa next to another). However, there are some cases in which certain data (from the source villa 3310 and/or the target villa 3312) is part of the data transfer between villas, which provides additional functionality. Said data may be data by value 3320, 3322. Portals 3302 provide pre-agreed movement using data from one specific villa to another, which helps the villas monetize the value of their relationship. It should be noted that data by reference 3330, 3332 may be read-only data or read-write data (Readonly or ReadWrite) (which will allow another villa to make changes to the database).

Portal example - retail branches.

A large online store with a complex platform allows affiliates to sell their products by directing customers from a partner villa (source villa 3310) to a retailer villa (target villa 3312). The affiliate villa (source villa 3310) transmits data via link 3330, providing a database of products, prices and discounts to portal 3302. The retailer villa (target villa 3312) may also transmit data via link 3332, for example, a database containing information related to this particular affiliate, including commissions, shipping costs and discounts that may differ for this affiliate from other affiliates. An example of a portal is the Dungeon Game

The popular game Dungeon is launched from a villa (target villa 3312). It features a ten-level dungeon, each level with its own map, a database of monsters that can be encountered, and a database of equipment available to players. The game allows users to log in to the game directly from their own villa (source target villa 3312), but also invites and encourages logins from affiliated villas (villa 3310), which have their own user base and communities. In this example, users logging in from source villa 3310 can have a special map or monster list transmitted to target villa 3312, resulting in a personalized game experience. This model allows the target villa to develop and provide a popular game, but also encourages multiple source villas like 3310 to create their own personalized gameplay style and user communities, which benefits the villas on both sides of the portal. In the simplest case, only a small amount of data may be transmitted from the affiliated villa (source villa 3310), perhaps no more than the identifier of the affiliated villa. In such a case, the Dungeon villa (target villa 3312) may track entries and usage from the affiliated villa (target villa 3312) in order to pay a commission to the affiliate for referring its users. The Dungeon villa (target villa 3312) may choose to segregate users based on their affiliated villa (source villa 3310) such that only users entering from the source villa 3310 can interact with users from the source villa 3310, as well as with the target villa 3312, other villas, etc. This would allow elementary school children to play separately from adults in a low-security prison.

In more complex cases, the original 3310 villa may specify a 3330 database of equipment items or monsters that will be allowed (or excluded) for use by players entering from that 3310 villa. Affiliated villas may even provide an entirely different set of maps for a different dungeon, so that owners of affiliated villas can independently create a customized dungeon for their users, without having to recreate the dungeon's infrastructure.

3302 Portals allow Master Villas to profit from creative control and ownership of their own Villas while expanding their influence and business through partnerships with Affiliate Villas. Affiliate Villas retain control and ownership of the properties and communities they create and manage while expanding functionality and profitability through synergistic relationships with Master Villas that offer additional services to their users. 3302 Portals facilitate both

- 47 049681 villas in monetizing the value of their relationship.

An example of a portal is social networks.

The dominant social media provider has a villa (target villa 3312) that provides bulletin boards, photos, videos, chat, and private messages. The middle school uses its 3302 portal to the media provider for announcements, class-specific bulletin boards, and coordination of school events and clubs. The school shares data identifying its clubs, events, and bulletin boards, and takes full advantage of access controls to ensure that students are protected from communicating with unwanted adults.

A large consumer goods company places a great deal of emphasis on branding and advertising, but also places an emphasis on strong customer relationships and after-sales support. They use the 3302 portal to deliver a large amount of specialized data 3320, 3330, including icons, symbols and videos related to their marketing activities, but also have specific requirements for the design and layout, separating the presentation of product information, message boards and chat etc. into many different pages and interactive areas supported by a social networking villa. In this way, the company gets a unique platform tailored to its needs. Of course, the consumer goods company pays more to connect to all of these highly specialized functionalities of the social networking villa, but much less than if it tried to develop them itself. Numerous smaller entities and individual users have their own 3302 portals to the same social networking villa, but they tend to use a smaller set of features, most of which are usually offered for free (though quite possibly supported by advertising and other sources of income not paid for directly by individual users.

Fig. 34 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary client/server system that may be used by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with web/network support. Communication system 3400 includes a plurality of clients with a sample of clients designated as client 3402 and client 3404, a plurality of local networks with a sample of networks designated as local network 3406 and local network 3408, a global network 3410, and a plurality of servers with a sample of servers designated as server 3412 and server 3414.

The client 3402 can communicate bidirectionally with the local network 3406 over the communication channel 3416. The client 3404 can communicate bidirectionally with the local network 3408 over the communication channel 3418. The local network 3406 can exchange data with the wide area network 3410 over the communication channel 3420. The local network 3408 can communicate bidirectionally with the wide area network 3410 over the communication channel 3422. The wide area network 3410 can communicate bidirectionally with the server 3412 and the server 3414 over the communication channel 3424. The server 3412 and the server 3414 can communicate bidirectionally with each other over the communication channel 3424. In addition, the clients 3402, 3404, the local networks 3406, 3408, the wide area network 3410 and servers 3412, 3414 can communicate bidirectionally with each other. In one embodiment of the present invention, the global network 3410 can function as the Internet. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the communication system 3400 can have many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms of the communication system 3400 include local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), wired telephone networks, wireless networks, or any other networks that support data exchange between corresponding entities.

Clients 3402 and 3404 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of clients 3402 and 3404 include personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, and smartphones.

The client 3402 includes a central processor 3426, a pointing device 3428, a keyboard 3430, a microphone 3432, a printer 3434, a memory device 3436, a mass storage device 3438, a graphics interface 3440, a video camera 3442, an input/output interface 3444, and a network interface 3446.

The processor 3426, the pointing device 3428, the keyboard 3430, the microphone 3432, the printer 3434, the memory device 3436, the mass storage device 3438, the graphic interface 3440, the video camera 3442, the input/output interface 3444, and the network interface 3446 can unidirectionally or bidirectionally communicate with each other via the communication channel 3448. The communication channel 3448 can be configured as a single communication channel or a plurality of communication channels. The central processing unit (CPU) 3426 can consist of one or more processors. The 3426 processor may be of various types, including microcontrollers (e.g., with embedded RAM/ROM) and microprocessors, such as programmable devices (e.g., RISC or SISC-based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and non-programmable devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) or general-purpose microprocessors.

As is known in the art, the 3436 memory is typically used to bidirectionally transfer data and commands to the 3426 central processor. The 3436 memory, as noted above, can

- 48 049681 include any suitable computer-readable medium for storing data, such as described above, excluding any wired or wireless transmissions, unless specifically stated. Mass storage device 3438 may also be bidirectionally connected to the processor 3426, capable of providing additional data storage capacity, and may include any of the computer-readable media described above. Mass storage device 3438 may be used to store programs, data, and the like, and is typically a secondary storage medium, such as a hard disk. It should be noted that information stored in mass storage device 3438, where appropriate, may be included in a standard manner in memory 3436 as virtual memory.

The central processor 3426 may be coupled to a GUI 3440. The GUI 3440 allows a user to view the operation of the operating system and software of the computer. The central processor 3426 may be coupled to a pointing device 3428. Non-limiting examples of the pointing device 3428 include a computer mouse, a trackball, and a touchpad-type cursor manipulator. The pointing device 3428 allows a user with the means to maneuver a computer cursor over a viewing area of the GUI 3440 and to select areas or elements in the viewing area of the GUI 3440. The central processor 3426 may be coupled to a keyboard 3430. The keyboard 3430 allows a user with the means to enter alphanumeric text information into the processor 3426. The central processor 3426 can be connected to a microphone 3432. The microphone 3432 allows sound reproduced by the user to be recorded, processed and transmitted to the processor 3426. The central processor 3426 can be connected to a printer 3434. The printer 3434 allows a user with the means to print information on a sheet of paper. The central processor 3426 can be connected to a video camera 3442. The video camera 3442 is intended for the creation or shooting of video material by the user and its subsequent transmission to the central processor 3426 for recording, processing and transmission.

The central processor 3426 may also be coupled to an input/output interface 3444 that is connected to one or more input/output devices such as CD-ROMs, video monitors, trackballs, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch screen displays, card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers, tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other known input devices such as, of course, other computers.

Finally, the central processor 3426 can be optionally connected to a network interface 3446 that enables communication with an external device, such as a database, or a computer, or telecommunications, or Internet network using an external connection, shown generally as a communication channel 3416, which can be implemented as a wired or wireless communication channel using suitable conventional technologies. Using such a connection, the central processor 3426 can receive information from the network or output information to the network during the execution of the method steps described within the framework of the principles of the present invention. Fig. 35 is an illustrative block diagram that shows an example of a client/server communication system that can be used for a cryptographic security system using data separation and configurable encryption and/or decryption based on keys in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 3500 includes a plurality of network regions with a selection of regions designated as network region 3502 and network region 3504, a global network 3506, and a plurality of servers with a selection of servers designated as server device 3508 and server device 3510.

Network region 3502 and network region 3504 may operate to represent a network contained within a geographic area or geographic region. Non-limiting examples of representing geographic areas for network regions may include zip codes, telephone codes, states, counties, cities, and countries. Elements within network regions 3502 and 3504 may operate to provide communication with external elements in other network regions or within elements contained within the same network region.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the global network 3506 may function as the Internet. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the communication system 3500 may have many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms of the communication system 3500 include local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), wired telephone networks, cellular telephone networks, or any other networks that support data exchange between corresponding entities via wired or wireless communication networks. The global network 3506 may operate to transmit information between various network elements.

The server device 3508 and the server device 3510 may operate to execute software commands, store information, support database operations, and communicate with other network elements. Non-limiting examples of software and scripting languages that may be executed on the server device 3508 and the server device 3510 include

- 49 049681

C, C++, C# and Java. Network region 3502 may operate to bidirectionally communicate with wide area network 3506 over communication channel 3512. Network region 3504 may operate to provide bidirectional communication with wide area network 3506 over communication channel 3514. Server device 3508 may operate to provide bidirectional communication with wide area network 3506 over communication channel 3516. Server device 3510 may operate to provide bidirectional communication with wide area network 3506 over communication channel 3518. Network region 3502 and 3504, wide area network 3506 and server devices 3508 and 3510 may operate to communicate with each other and with each other network device included in communication system 3500.

The server device 3508 includes a network device 3520 and a server 3522. The network device 3520 can operate to provide bidirectional communication with the global network 3506 via the communication channel 3516 and with the server 3522 via the communication channel 3524. The server 3522 can operate to execute software commands and store data.

Network region 3502 includes a plurality of clients, a selection of which is designated as client 3526 and client 3528. Client 3526 includes network device 3534, processor 3536, graphical interface 3538, and interface device 3540. Non-limiting examples of GUI devices 3538 include monitors, televisions, cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs (personal digital assistants). Non-limiting examples of interface device 3540 include a pointing device, a mouse, a trackball, a scanner, and a printer. Network device 3534 can bi-directionally interact with global network 3506 via communication channel 3512 and with processor 3536 via communication channel 3542. GUI 3538 can receive information from processor 3536 via communication channel 3544 for presentation to a user for viewing. Interface device 3540 may operate to transmit control information to processor 3536 and to receive information from processor 3536 via communication channel 3546. Network region 3504 includes a plurality of clients with a selection designated as client 3530 and client 3532. Client 3530 includes network device 3548, processor 3550, graphical interface 3552, and interface device 3554. Non-limiting examples of devices for GUI 3538 include monitors, televisions, cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs (personal digital assistants). Non-limiting examples of interface device 3540 include pointing devices, mice, trackballs, scanners, and printers. The network device 3548 can perform bidirectional communication with the global network 3506 via the communication channel 3514 and with the processor 3550 via the communication channel 3556. The GNI 3552 can receive information from the processor 3550 via the communication channel 3558 for presentation to the user for viewing. The interface device 3554 can function for transmitting control information to the processor 3550 and for receiving information from the processor 3550 via the communication channel 3560.

For example, consider a case in which a user interacting with client 3526 wishes to execute a network application. The user may enter an IP (Internet Protocol) address for a network application using the interface device 3540. The IP address information may be transmitted to the processor 3536 via the communication channel 3546. The processor 3536 may then transmit the IP address information to the network device 3534 via the communication channel 3542. The network device 3534 may then transmit the IP address information to the global network 3506 via the communication channel 3512. The global network 3506 may then transmit the IP address information to the network device 3520 of the server device 3508 via the communication channel 3516. The network device 3520 may then transmit the IP address information to the server 3522 via the communication channel 3524. The server 3522 may receive the IP address information and, after processing the IP address information, may transmit the returned information. network device 3520 via communication channel 3524. Network device 3520 may transmit the returned information to wide area network 3506 via communication channel 3516. Wide area network 3506 may transmit the returned information to network device 3534 via communication channel 3512. Network device 3534 may transmit the returned information to processor 3536 via communication channel 3542. Processor 3536 may transmit the returned information to GUI 3538 via communication channel 3544. A user may view the returned information on GUI 3538.

Fig. 36 is a block diagram of an illustrative method for creating virtual objects in a relational space of a virtual environment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The user property consists of one or more terrain arrays 3602. Relational links are established between the user property and one or more other real estate objects 3604. The user property is displayed on a relational map reflecting the relational links between the user property and one or more other real estate objects, the user property in a relational space reflecting the links between the user property and one or more other real estate objects 3606. One or more terrain arrays may include tiles formed without fixed positions to form a dynamically changing terrain. The shape of the dynamically changing terrain and the relational links reflect changing social relationships. The user property may be formed by establishing relationships with one or more

- 50 049681 several other real estate objects that have interrelated interests. A portal may be formed between the user's real estate object and the destination real estate object, allowing the transfer and/or modification of data in the user's real estate object and/or in the destination real estate object as the user moves from the user's real estate object to the destination real estate object. The relational map may show the user's real estate object's relationships with one or more other real estate objects and forms a virtual map in which the user can move, with a set of real estate objects belonging to the user that exist in a relational space that reflects the user's relationships.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that at least a portion of the novel method steps and/or system components of the present invention may be implemented and/or located in territory(ies) possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA), with the result that, accordingly, it will be readily recognized that at least a portion of the novel method steps and/or system components in the embodiments described above must be implemented within the jurisdiction of the US for the benefit of any entity located therein or to achieve the purpose of the present invention. Thus, some alternative embodiments of the present invention may be configured to include a smaller subset of the means and/or steps described above, which an application developer, depending on the practical considerations of a particular implementation, will selectively decide to implement and/or locate within the jurisdiction of the US. For example, any of the method steps and/or system components described above that can be performed remotely over a network (e.g., in particular, a remotely located server) can be performed and/or located outside the jurisdiction of the United States, while the remaining method steps and/or system components (e.g., in particular, a locally located client) of the embodiments described above should generally be located/performed in the United States for practical reasons. In a client-server architecture, a remotely located server typically generates and transmits the necessary information to a client located in the United States for use in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Depending on the needs of a particular application, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the principles of the present invention which aspects of the present invention can or should be located locally and which can or should be located remotely. Thus, with respect to any claim, the interpretation of the limitations of the claims below that are interpreted in accordance with 35 USC §112(6)/(f) is intended to mean that the relevant means and/or steps for performing the claimed function are means and/or steps locally implemented within the jurisdiction of the United States, while the remaining aspects, performed or located remotely outside the United States, are not intended to be interpreted under 35 USC §112(6) pre-AIA or 35 USC §112(f) post-AIA. In some embodiments of the present invention, methods and/or system components that can be located and/or executed remotely include, in particular: one or more systems and/or a method for using them, related to the creation and/or maintenance of relational virtual worlds for providing intensive social interaction in accordance with the individual requirements and/or desires of users, in which the content and/or context of each individual representation (for example, a villa) remains distinct and essentially free from the influence of surrounding representations (for example, related villas), etc.

It should be noted that, in accordance with U.S. law, all claims must be set forth as a sequential, interacting set of limitations that operate in functional combination to achieve the beneficial effect of the result as a whole. Thus, for any claim containing functional limitations interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112(6)/(f), where the embodiment in question is implemented as a client-server system with a remote server located outside the U.S., each such stated function implies the function of combining - in a logical sequence - the information of a given claim limitation with at least one other claim limitation. For example, in client-server systems in which certain information claimed under 35 USC §112(6)/(f) depends on one or more remote servers located outside the United States, it is intended that each such specified function under 35 USC §112(6)/(f) will be interpreted as the function of receiving by the local system the remotely generated information required by the locally implemented limitation of the claims, wherein the structures and/or steps that activate and give life to the expression of such functions claimed under 35 USC §112(6)/(f) are the corresponding steps and/or means located within the jurisdiction of the United States that receive and deliver that information to the client (e.g., in particular, the client-side information processing and transmission networks in the United States). If this application is pending or patented in a jurisdiction other than the United States, the United States in the foregoing context should be replaced by the appropriate country(ies) or countries or legal entity(ies) having jurisdiction.

- 51 049681 jurisdiction with respect to patent infringement under this patent application, while 35 USC §112(6)/(f) should be replaced by a similar corresponding right in the patent law of such relevant country or countries or legal entity(ies).

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature described is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. It should be noted that in accordance with the United States law, 35 U.S.C. §112(1), all claims must be supported by sufficient disclosure of the present invention in this specification, and any material known to those skilled in the art need not be explicitly disclosed. However, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §112(6), structures that meet functional limitations interpreted under 35 U.S.C. §112(6) must be explicitly disclosed in the specification. Moreover, the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) examination policy of initially reviewing and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a claim's "means for" or "steps for" limitation implies that the broadest initial search for a functional limitation under 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (post-AIA 112(f)) must be conducted to support a valid examination consistent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office's broadest "means for" limitation policy. Accordingly, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has found numerous prior art documents, including the present disclosure of specific structures and elements, that are suitable to act as corresponding structures to satisfy all of the functional limitations in the claims below as interpreted under 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (post-AIA 112(f)) when such corresponding structures are not expressly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification. Thus, for any element(s)/structure(s) of the invention corresponding to the functional limitation(s) of the claims in the claims below, as interpreted under 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (after AIA 112(f)), that are not explicitly disclosed in the above patent specification but exist in patent and/or non-patent documents found in a USPTO search, Applicant(s) incorporate(s) all such functionally corresponding structures and related supporting material herein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structures implementing the claimed functionality. Applicant(s) request that the fact finders, in any claims interpretation and/or patentability examination proceedings, properly identify and incorporate only those portions of each of the identified documents discovered in the search under the expanded interpretation of the limitation 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (post-AIA 112(f)) that exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents discovered in the routine USPTO search and provided to the USPTO in the proceeding. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference bibliographic information to identify all such documents, including functionally corresponding structures and related supporting material, as identified in any BOM Form 892 or similarly in any Invention Information Statement (IDS) filed in this patent application by BOM or Applicant(s) or any third parties. Applicant(s) also reserve the right to subsequently amend this application to expressly incorporate references to such documents and/or to expressly incorporate functionally corresponding structures that have been incorporated by reference above. Accordingly, with respect to any element(s)/any structure(s) of the present invention that meets the functional limitation(s) of the claims in the claims below that are interpreted pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) that are not expressly disclosed in the above patent specification, Applicant(s) has expressly prescribed which documents and materials are to include the missing disclosure of the specification and has specified which portions of such patent and/or non-patent documents are to be incorporated by such reference to satisfy the disclosure requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112(6). Applicant(s) notes that all of the above documents incorporated by reference to satisfy the requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112(6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to the filing date of the present application and are thus valid priority documents for incorporation by reference into this application. Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative ways of implementing the virtual definition of a terrane in a multidimensional space based on social relationships with respect to adjacent and/or other virtual terranes, rather than being rigidly tied to a traditional fixed terrane as implemented in the relational databases of the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the present invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not

- 52 049681 are intended to limit the present invention to the specific forms disclosed. The specific implementation of the virtual definition of a terrain in a multidimensional space based on social relationships with respect to adjacent and/or other virtual terrains may vary depending on the specific context or application.

By way of example, and not limitation, the virtual definition of a terrain in a multidimensional space based on social relationships regarding adjacent and/or other virtual terrains described above is primarily directed to the implementation of an individual human user; however, similar methods may be applied to groups, institutions, corporations and/or other business structures, the implementation of which is proposed in accordance with the present invention within the scope of the present invention. For clarity, villas (e.g., user online homes) have been described as occupying a space similar to the structure and function of conventional real estate. This may be a useful and familiar structure, but it is not the only representation of a user-owned space, property or real estate that may be supported by the disclosed embodiments of the present invention.

Other possibilities might include websites, apps, games, browser modules with programmable functionality, etc. As an example, and not as a limitation, villas might be described as user-owned properties, one example might include terrain and tiles as described. Similarly, we have described our relational maps and views in a logical and familiar way, with our property (e.g. the focal point) at the center of the map with physical structure and function, and with our points of interest/related villas arranged in concentric circles around it, with the more interesting villas being closer to the center and perhaps being rendered somewhat larger.

However, other arrangements and/or configurations are possible. For example, a less aesthetically pleasing and less conventional design for Susie's villa could include a simple list of connections to her villa. Thus, the present invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the claims below. It should also be understood that not all disclosed embodiments of the present invention set forth in the preceding description of the present invention will necessarily satisfy all the objectives, advantages, or improvements or achieve all the objectives, advantages, or improvements set forth in the preceding description of the present invention.

The elements and steps of the claims set forth in this document may be numbered and/or lettered solely for ease of reading and understanding. Any such numbering and any lettering in themselves are not intended and should not be taken as an indication of the order of the elements and/or steps in the claims.

The corresponding structures, materials, actions and equivalents of all means or elements of a step plus function in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material or action for performing a function in combination with other claimed elements, as specifically claimed. The corresponding structures, materials, actions and equivalents of all means or elements of a step plus function in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material or action for performing a function in combination with other claimed elements, as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but the description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention in the disclosed form. Many changes and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiment has been selected and described for the purpose of explaining as fully as possible the principles of the invention and its practical application, and for the purpose of enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention in relation to various embodiments with various changes suitable for a particular intended use.

The abstract is provided pursuant to 37 CFR 1.72(b), which requires an abstract that will enable the reader to understand the nature and substance of the technical information being disclosed. That is, the abstract is provided only to introduce certain concepts and not to define any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. The abstract is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description of the invention, with each claim standing alone as a separate embodiment.

Only those claims that use the words means for or steps for shall be interpreted in accordance with the sixth paragraph of 35 USC 112 (before the AIA) or 35 USC 112(f) after the AIA. Otherwise, no limitations from the description of the invention shall be incorporated into any claim unless such limitations are expressly included in the claims.

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Claims (23)

CLAUSE OF INVENTION 1. A method, carried out by one or more processors, for the purpose of creating a relational terrain for social worlds, the method comprising the following steps: creating a user villa, wherein said user villa at least functions as a virtual root space for the user in a virtual world that the user controls and can customize, and is provided with one or more terrain arrays that are designed to function to maintain at least one representation of a location within the villa at any given time; establishing relational links between the user's villa and a plurality of other villas, wherein said relational links are non-spatial links connecting the plurality of villas to another villa or tile, thereby establishing said relational terrain, which is not essentially a dimensional or spatial mapping and allows each villa to occupy several locations simultaneously; and displaying the user's villa on a relational map reflecting the relational links between the user's villa and the plurality of other villas. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that displaying the user's villa on the relational map additionally includes displaying the user's villa in a relational space reflecting the relationships between the user's villa and a plurality of other villas. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the formation of the user's villa additionally includes the formation of one or more tiles without fixed positions to form a dynamically changing terrain. 4. The method according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the formation of a dynamically changing terrain and relational connections reflects changing social relationships. 5. The method according to item 1, characterized in that the formation of the user villa includes the formation of the user villa by establishing relationships with a plurality of other villas having interrelated interests. 6. The method according to item 1, further comprising forming a portal between the user's villa and the target villa, wherein the portal allows data to be transferred and changed in the user's villa and the target villa when the user moves from the user's villa to the target villa. 7. The method according to item 1, characterized in that the creation of a user villa and the establishment of relational links between the user villa and a plurality of other villas, and characterized in that the display of the user villa on the relational map shows the relations of the user villa with the plurality of villas and creates a virtual map with the ability to move the user with the plurality of the user villas existing in the relational space reflecting the user relationships. 8. A system for creating a relational terrain for social worlds, including memory for storing data defining one or more central tiles for a user's villa; a processor for creating said user villa in such a way that said user villa operates as a virtual root space for the user in a virtual world that the user controls and can customize, and is provided with one or more terrain arrays that are designed to operate to maintain at least one representation of a location within the villa at any given time, wherein said processor is further designed to process one or more central tiles, establishing relational links between the user villa and one or more neighboring villas, wherein said relational links are non-spatial links connecting a plurality of villas to another villa or tile, thereby establishing said relational terrain that is not essentially a dimensional or spatial mapping; for processing one or more central tiles and one or more adjacent tiles to form a villa associated with a user, and creating the user's villa on a relational map defining the relationship of the user's villa and a plurality of neighboring villas, also allowing each villa to occupy several locations at the same time; and a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying the user's villa on a relational map representing the relationship of the user's villa with a plurality of neighboring villas. 9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the graphical user interface additionally displays the user's villa on a relational map, showing the villa in a relational space reflecting the user's interpersonal relationships. 10. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the processor then forms the villa by freely connecting one or more tiles without fixed positions to form a dynamically changing terrain. 11. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the processor forms a dynamically changing terrain and relational connections to reflect changing social relationships. - 54 049681 12. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the processor forms a user villa that has relationships with a plurality of adjacent villas that have a selected object of interest. 13. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the processor forms a portal between the user's villa and the target villa, wherein the portal allows data to be transferred and changed in the user's villa and in the target villa with the consent of both the user's villa and the target villa when the user moves from the user's villa to the target villa. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor creates one or more central tiles for the user's villa and establishes relational links between the user's villa and a plurality of other villas, defining social functions between the user's villa and a plurality of other villas, and wherein the graphical user interface displays a virtual map with the ability to move the user, including a plurality of tiles belonging to the user, which exist in a relational space reflecting the user's interpersonal relationships. 15. A method for creating a relational terrain for social worlds, including recording on a machine-readable medium intended for long-term storage of information, an executable program that sends commands to one or more processors to implement the method for creating a relational terrain for social worlds, wherein the method includes the following steps: creating a user villa in such a way that it operates as a virtual root space for the user in a virtual world that the user controls and can customize, and is provided with one or more terrain arrays that are designed to operate to maintain at least one representation of a location within the villa at any given time; creating one or more central tiles for said user villa; establishing relational links between the user villa and a plurality of other villas, wherein said relational links are non-spatial links connecting one or more villas to another villa or tile, thereby establishing said relational terrain that is not essentially a dimensional or spatial mapping; and displaying the user villa on a relational map showing the relationships of the user villa to a plurality of other villas. 16. The method according to item 15, characterized in that displaying the user's villa on the relational map additionally includes displaying the user's villa in a relational space reflecting the user's interpersonal relationships. 17. The method according to item 15, characterized in that the formation of the user's villa additionally includes one or more tiles without fixed positions for the formation of a dynamically changing terrain. 18. The method according to item 17, characterized in that the formation of a dynamically changing terrain and relational connections reflects changing social relationships. 19. The method according to item 15, characterized in that the formation of the user's villa includes the formation of the user's villa by establishing relationships with a plurality of other villas that have the selected object of interest. 20. The method according to item 15, further comprising forming a portal between the user's villa and the target villa, ensuring the transfer and change of data in the user's villa and in the target villa, when the user moves from the user's villa to the target villa. 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said relational map is represented by a structure of relations that is selected by the user, and not by a fixed, definable form, wherein each relational map displays how an individual specific villa is related to the virtual world. 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additionally mentioned villas can simultaneously occupy several locations determined by their relational connections with other villas. 23. A method implemented by one or more processors, wherein the method includes the following steps: creating a user villa, wherein said user villa represents a virtual root space for the user in a virtual world that the user controls and can customize, consisting of one or more terrain arrays, wherein said terrain arrays contain one representation of a location within the villa at any given time; establishing relational links between a user's villa and a plurality of other villas, wherein said relational links are non-spatial links connecting one or more villas to another villa or tile, thereby establishing a relational terrain that is not, in essence, a dimensional or spatial mapping; the relational connections mentioned are determined by philosophical connections that are not represented by space and, therefore, do not connect objects in a fixed dimensional and coordinate location; displaying the user's villa on a relational map reflecting the relational links between the user's villa and a plurality of other villas, wherein said relational map is represented -