Three-dimensional virtual world pattern positioning using templates

Abstract

Three-dimensional virtual world pattern positioning comprises reading incoming data and utilizing a template system having template nodes that are connected together in a hierarchy to construct the virtual world pattern. Each template node has at least one pattern that the template node can output, a test/criteria to run on the incoming data to determine behavior of the template node and a set of child template nodes to transition to after giving out a pattern. Virtual world pattern positioning comprises calling a first template node to select the virtual world pattern by running the test/criteria on the incoming data, generating a key having a key value, using the generated key value to output a pattern, determining whether the key value also has an associated child template node and providing a reference to the child template node if a child template node exists.

1 . A method of three-dimensional virtual world pattern positioning comprising:
 reading incoming data about a virtual world pattern to be constructed in a virtual world environment;   utilizing a template system to construct the virtual world pattern, where the template system has a plurality of template nodes that are connected together in a template node hierarchy, each template node having:
 at least one pattern that the template node can output; 
 a test/criteria to run on the incoming data that is used to determine behavior of the template node; and 
 a set of child template nodes that the template node transitions to after giving out a pattern; and 
   calling a first template node of the template system to select the virtual world pattern by:
 running the test/criteria on the incoming data; 
 generating a key having a key value; 
 using the generated key value to select and output a pattern from the at least one pattern that the first template node can output; and 
 determining whether the key value also has an associated child template node and providing a reference to the child template node if a child template node exists. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calling the first pattern further comprises:
 determining how many entries have to be accommodated at a current level of the virtual world environment; and   determining a position that a current area was allocated in a previous pattern that allocated its offset.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each template node has a particular behavior in response to a unique set of determined results from running the test/criteria on the incoming data by outputting a particular pattern and passing back a reference to another template node. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 making any test/criteria that has previously been defined available to all of the plurality of template nodes.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key in a select template node by a particular set of Boolean test values. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key by a set of tests that are passed, such that no key should pass all of the tests that another key passes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 organizing the incoming data into data having at least one top-level category and at least one sub-category; and   processing the incoming data by:
 assigning patterns to each top-level category before moving down to assign patterns to each sub-category for each processed top-level category. 
   
     
     
         8 . A computer readable storage device having an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor to perform:
 reading incoming data about a virtual world pattern to be constructed in a virtual world environment;   utilizing a template system to construct the virtual world pattern, where the template system has a plurality of template nodes that are connected together in a template node hierarchy, each template node having:
 at least one pattern that the template node can output; 
 a test/criteria to run on the incoming data that is used to determine behavior; and 
 a set of child template nodes that the template node transitions to after giving out a pattern; and 
   calling a first template node of the template system to select the virtual world pattern by:
 running the test/criteria, on the incoming data; 
 generating a key having a key value; 
 using the generated key value to select and output a pattern from the at least one pattern that the first template node can output; and 
 determining whether the key value also has an associated child template node and providing a reference to the child template node if a child template node exists. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform calling the first pattern by:
 determining how many entries have to be accommodated at a current level of the virtual world environment; and   determining a position that a current area was allocated in a previous pattern that allocated its offset.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein each template node has a particular behavior in response to a unique set of determined results from running the test/criteria on the incoming data by outputting a particular pattern and passing back a reference to another template node. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 making any test/criteria that has previously been defined available to all of the plurality of template nodes.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key in a select template node by a particular set of Boolean test values.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key by a set of tests that are passed, such that no key should pass all of the tests that another key passes.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 organizing the incoming data into data having at least one top-level category and at least one sub-category; and   processing the incoming data by:
 assigning patterns to each top-level category before moving down to assign patterns to each sub-category for each processed top-level category. 
   
     
     
         15 . A system that positions three-dimensional virtual world patterns comprising:
 a microprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the microprocessor is programmed by code stored in the memory to position a three-dimensional virtual world pattern by:
 reading incoming data about a virtual world pattern to be constructed in a virtual world environment; 
 utilizing a template system to construct the virtual world pattern, where the template system has a plurality of template nodes that are connected together in a template node hierarchy, each template node having:
 at least one pattern that the template node can output; 
 a test/criteria to run on the incoming data that is used to determine behavior; and 
 a set of child template nodes that the template node transitions to after giving out a pattern; and 
 
 calling a first template node of the template system to select the virtual world pattern by:
 running the test/criteria on the incoming data; 
 generating a key having a key value; 
 using the generated key value to select and output a pattern from the at least one pattern that the first template node can output; and 
 determining whether the key value also has an associated child template node and providing a reference to the child template node if a child template node exists. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed for calling the first pattern by:
 determining how many entries have to be accommodated at a current level of the virtual world environment; and   determining a position that a current area was allocated in a previous pattern that allocated its offset.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each template node has a particular behavior in response to a unique set of determined results from running the test/criteria on the incoming data by outputting a particular pattern and passing back a reference to another template node. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed for:
 making any test/criteria that has previously been defined available to all of the plurality of template nodes.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key in a select template node by a particular set of Boolean test values.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein generating a key value comprises:
 uniquely defining the key by a set of tests that are passed, such that no key should pass all of the tests that another key passes.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed for:
 organizing the incoming data into data having at least one top-level category and at least one sub-category; and   processing the incoming data by:
 assigning patterns to each top-level category before moving down to assign patterns to each sub-category for each processed top-level category.