Predictive Region Activation for Virtual Universe Resource Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual universe systems lack efficient tracking and management of objects and avatars within a range, leading to resource inefficiencies and performance issues due to the need for constant region activation and deactivation.

Innovation Solution

Implement a predictive system that identifies the current location and vectored movement of avatars to proactively activate adjacent regions within a virtual universe, deactivating unpopulated regions and suspending state updates, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing activation times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If regions are kept active to ensure immediate avatar interaction, then interaction responsiveness is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregion activation speedVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting avatar movement trajectories and pre-activating regions that will be needed in the future. The grid manager forecasts avatar positions and proactively loads region data before avatars actually reach those areas, eliminating activation delays while avoiding continuous activation of all regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts region activation states based on real-time avatar positions, movement vectors, and predicted trajectories. Regions transition between active and inactive states dynamically rather than remaining static, optimizing resource usage by activating only regions that avatars are likely to visit soon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If all regions are continuously monitored and kept active, then object tracking accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject location tracking accuracyVSAvoidregion management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different monitoring qualities to different regions based on their current relevance. Regions containing avatars or predicted avatar destinations receive high-level monitoring with full object tracking, while distant inactive regions receive minimal or no monitoring, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual universe is segmented into multiple regions with different activation states. The system manages regions independently, activating only those that are currently relevant to avatar activities. This segmentation allows precise tracking in active regions without the complexity of monitoring all regions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If regions are deactivated to conserve resources, then resource efficiency is improved, but region activation delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputational resource efficiencyVSAvoidregion activation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The grid manager performs preliminary actions by predicting which regions will be needed soon based on avatar movement vectors and trajectories. Regions are pre-activated before avatars actually reach them, so when avatars arrive, the regions are already loaded and ready, eliminating perceptible activation delays while maintaining resource efficiency by not keeping all regions active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If region boundaries are made larger to reduce the number of regions, then region management complexity is reduced, but object interaction across boundaries becomes less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of regions to manageVSAvoidobject interaction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages region boundaries and activation states. When avatars approach region boundaries, the system proactively activates adjacent regions to ensure smooth interactions. This dynamic approach maintains small region sizes for efficient boundary handling while reducing the practical impact of having many regions through selective activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8339392B2Intelligent demand loading of regions for virtual universes

Publication Date: 2012.12.25 KING COM

AI summary

A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system manage regions within a virtual universe. A current location of an avatar is identified within a virtual universe, the current location being within a currently populated region. A vectored movement of the avatar is identified. Any adjacent region that may probabilistically encounter a horizon of the avatar within a region activation time of the virtual universe is identified. If the adjacent region is deactivated, then the adjacent region is activated. An unpopulated region that is currently active is identified, wherein the unpopulated region is within an extended distance from the avatar's current location. The unpopulated region is then deactivated.