Coordinating multiple virtual environments

Abstract

Examples for managing the participation of users in multiple virtual environments are described. An example method includes a processor receiving from a first user device a virtual object that is created by a user and at least one trigger condition for presenting the virtual object, obtaining a physical location of the first user device, and receiving a selection of a first virtual environment for the virtual object from among a plurality of virtual environments associated with the first user device. The method may further include the processor associating the virtual object with the physical location and with the first virtual environment that is selected, and presenting the virtual object to a second user device associated with the first virtual environment when the at least one trigger condition is encountered, where the at least one trigger condition includes a condition that the second user device is proximate to the physical location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving from a first user device, by a processor, a virtual object that is created by a user and at least one trigger condition for presenting the virtual object;   obtaining, by the processor, a physical location of the first user device;   receiving, by the processor, a selection of a first virtual environment for the virtual object, wherein the first virtual environment is selected from among a plurality of virtual environments associated with the first user device;   associating, by the processor, the virtual object with the physical location and with the first virtual environment that is selected; and   presenting, by the processor, the virtual object to a second user device associated with the first virtual environment when the at least one the trigger condition is encountered, wherein the at least one trigger condition comprises a condition that the second user device is proximate to the physical location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a parameter from the first user device for interacting with the virtual object, wherein the parameter is associated with a transformation of the virtual object in response to the parameter being satisfied.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving an input from the second user device proximate the physical location;   determining that the input from the second user device satisfies the parameter; and   transforming the virtual object in accordance with the input.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing the virtual object in a storage device;   detecting that a third user device associated with the virtual environment is proximate the physical location;   retrieving the virtual object from the storage device; and   presenting the virtual object to the third user device when it is detected that the third user device is proximate the physical location.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 detecting an end condition associated with the virtual object; and   removing the virtual object from the storage device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from an originating user device, a request to create the first virtual environment; and   receiving, from the originating user device, conditions to determine a community of users to be associated with the first virtual environment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving data from a user device of a user in the community of users regarding an additional physical location;   generating a plurality of virtual objects for the first virtual environment; and   associating the plurality of virtual objects with the additional physical location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of virtual objects that is generated is selected based upon a theme of the first virtual environment, wherein the theme of the first virtual environment is selected via the request that is received from the originating user device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenting the virtual object to the second user device comprises transmitting the virtual object to the second user device for presentation via a display of the second user device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the physical location of the first user device comprises:
 receiving coordinate information from the first user device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user device and the second user device comprise augmented reality devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a processor of a server, wherein the server manages the plurality of virtual environments. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving from a first user device a virtual object that is created by a user and a trigger condition for presenting the virtual object;   obtaining a physical location of the first user device;   receiving a selection of a first virtual environment for the virtual object, wherein the first virtual environment is selected from among a plurality of virtual environments associated with the first user device;   associating the virtual object with the physical location and with the first virtual environment that is selected; and   presenting the virtual object to at least a second user device associated with the first virtual environment when the second user device is proximate the physical location when the trigger condition is encountered.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processing system including at least one processor; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving from a first user device a virtual object that is created by a user and at least one trigger condition for presenting the virtual object; 
 obtaining a physical location of the first user device; 
 receiving a selection of a first virtual environment for the virtual object, wherein the first virtual environment is selected from among a plurality of virtual environments associated with the first user device; 
 associating the virtual object with the physical location and with the first virtual environment that is selected; and 
 presenting the virtual object to a second user device associated with the first virtual environment when the at least one the trigger condition is encountered, wherein the at least one trigger condition comprises a condition that the second user device is proximate to the physical location. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a parameter from the first user device for interacting with the virtual object, wherein the parameter is associated with a transformation of the virtual object in response to the parameter being satisfied.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving an input from the second user device proximate the physical location;   determining that the input from the second user device satisfies the parameter; and   transforming the virtual object in accordance with the input.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
 storing the virtual object in a storage device;   detecting that a third user device associated with the virtual environment is proximate the physical location;   retrieving the virtual object from the storage device; and   presenting the virtual object to the third user device when it is detected that the third user device is proximate the physical location.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , the operations further comprising:
 detecting an end condition associated with the virtual object; and   removing the virtual object from the storage device.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, from an originating user device, a request to create the first virtual environment; and   receiving, from the originating user device, conditions to determine a community of users to be associated with the first virtual environment.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving data from a user device of a user in the community of users regarding an additional physical location;   generating a plurality of virtual objects for the first virtual environment; and   associating the plurality of virtual objects with the additional physical location.