Scalable Systems and Methods to Transfer Control of Virtual Objects of a Virtual World Implemented on Multiple Hosts

Abstract

In a virtual environment implemented using multiple hosts, a first host maintains records identifying virtual objects and entities which control the virtual objects. When a second host receives a request of a first entity acquiring the control of a virtual object from a second entity, the second host instructs the first host to: update a first record to remove the virtual object from a view simulation of the virtual world servicing the second entity; and adding a second record associating the first entity with the virtual object but having an indicator that prevents the rendering of the virtual object for the first entity. At the time for the completion of the control transfer to the first entity, the second host instructs the first host to update the second record to remove the indicator and thus allow the virtual object to be rendered in the view simulation servicing the first entity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system implementing a virtual world, the system comprising:
 a plurality of asset servers managing backup storage of virtual objects of the virtual world; and   a plurality of simulation servers loading portions of the virtual objects from the asset servers to generate view simulations of the virtual world having the virtual objects, wherein the simulation servers communicate with client hosts to present the view simulations to users of the client hosts, including:
 a first simulation server in communication with a first client host of a first user in presenting a first view simulation of the virtual world displayed on the first client host; and 
 a second simulation server in communication with a second client host of a second user in presenting a second view simulation of the virtual world displayed on the second client host; 
   wherein, in response to a request from the first client host of the first user identifying a virtual object controlled by the second user of the virtual world, the system:
 updates a first database record of the second user, causing the second simulation server in communication with the second client host used by the second user to hide the virtual object from the second view simulation of the virtual world displayed on the second client host; 
 transfers the virtual object from the second simulation server to a first assert server having a mirrored backup of the virtual object; 
 generates a second database record of the first user to identify the virtual object, wherein the second database is generated to include an indicator that prevents the virtual object from being loaded into the first simulation server that is in communication with the first client host in presenting the first view simulation of the virtual world displayed on the first client host; and 
 to provide control of the virtual object to the first user, removes the indicator from the second database record, causing the first simulation server to load the virtual object from the first asset server and render the virtual object in the first view simulation of the virtual world displayed on the first client host.