CA2335873A1 - Remote multi-player animated electronic environment(s) enabling user(s) to control /manipilate animated character(s) in simulated sexual acts with other said character(s) controlled/manipulated by others user(s) - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention shall enable a plurality of users located over a wide geographic area to simultaneously participate in a real-time and/or almost real-time electronic environment wherein users utilizing a networked computer can control and/or manipulate an animated/virtual character(s) within a simulated virtual environment(s) for the purpose of participating in simulated sexual acts with other animated/virtual characters controlled and/or manipulated by other user(s) concurrently logged on to the system. The present invention utilizes known technology in a novel way. In the most common embodiment the present invention shall comprise a system comprising several principle elements including a plurality of users utilizing computers (utilizing client application software) integrated with a wide area network arrangement (i. e. (WAN) to a an on-line service's computing facility (typically implemented as a plurality of tightly-networked time-sharing computers) (collectively called hereinafter "server," ) and which server(s) is capable of enabling/effectuating all of the functionality of the present invention.

Description

REMOTE MULTI-PLAYER ANIMATED ELECTRaINIC ENVIRONMENTS) ENABLING USERS) TO CONTROL/MANIPiTLATE ANIMATED
CIIARACTER(S) IN SIMULATED SEXUAL ACTS WITH OTHER SAID
CHARACTER{S) CONTROLLED/MA1~TIPULATED BY OTHER USERS) Description:
The present invention is a system and method for enabling a plurality of users (the Users(s)) located over a wide geographic area to simultaneously participate in a real time and/or almost real-time electronic environment wherein Users) utilizing a networked computer can control andlor manipulate an animated/virtual characters) within a simulated virtual environments) for the purpose of participai:ing in simulated sexual acts with other animated/virtual characters controlled and/or manipulated by other users) concurrently logged on to the system. The present invention may in conjunction with its primary services} further provide Users) with a secondary service (wherein the said secondary service shall be similar in nature to those services currently offered to users of online dating services) wherein Users ca,n access and view the biographical information and photographs of other User(s), and further, utilizing amaila.ble e-mail functionality integrated with the present invention, Users) are capable of communicating with other selected Users without disclosing their own identity or acquiring the receivers actual identity and/or e-mail address.
The present invention utilizes known technology in a novel way. In the most common embodiment the present invention shall comprise a system utilizing three primary elements including: a plurality of computers utilizing client application software and capable of establishing a communication link with a networked server. Second, an available communication network which could include a Television/br~oadcast system, an Ethernet network, Internet communication system, wireless and/or satellite based communications networks, etc. (hereinafter refferd to as the WAN). And wherein the said WAN
provides a bi-directional communication network with the third primary element of the present invention, being a dedicated on-line service's computing facility (typically implemented as a plurality of tightly-networked time-sharing computers) (collectively called hereinafter "Server," ) and which servers) is capable of enabling/effectuating all of the functionality of the present invention. ' Collectively the Servers}, the WAN and the plurality of networked computers will enable an accessible, expandable virtual environment through which thousands of Users located over a wide geographic area may utilize the services made available by the present invention. And whereas the principal application of the present invention shall be a process to make available a plurality of virtual environments within which Users may control and/or manipulate in a real-time and/or almost real-time virtual/animated characters (the "Characters") for the purpose of having their said Character participate in sexual acts with other Characters controlled by others Users. Though the intention of the present invention is to enable a process wherein a remote Users} can control a Character via twitch type control (twitch games are games that require split-second game control by players and cannot tolerate arbitrary communication latencies (i. e. delay for a player's action to take effect on the screen)). Twitch controls are generally considered to be those games that communication laxencies that do not exceed 1 C~0 milliseconds (cosec). As latencies generally occur as a result of limitations of the underlying communicaxions networks, and as users of the present invention will most likely be located across the world and utilizing a variety of different network technologies it is assumed that at least initially interactive twitch style interaction via the present invention will be difficult for all users. And whereas it is believed that latencies exceeding twitch style gaming control will be corrected over time with the deployment of new teclmology's and new network services which will allow increased transmission speeds to the point that true real-time interaction will be possible amongst all Users of the present invention regardless if the Users concerned are separated by hundreds if not thousands of miles. But in the first of the present invention it is assumed that true twitch style will not always be possible so the system will be designed to take into account latencies that will occur between users.
Further as the nature of the present invention relates to sex and sexual acts it is believed that Users will be far more tolerant and accepting of latency delays that exceed traditional real-time interaction in standard twitch style video games.
And wherein once deployed and operational the present invE;ntion shall enable a process wherein a plurality (i.e. thousands) of Users located over a wide geographic area will be able to each establish a User Accounts) by logging onto the system and conducting an User account opening procedure (the "User Account Opening Procedure"). And wherein the said User Account Opening Procedure may/shall include .a process whereby a User is required to input a variety of required information including the Users name, mailing address, e-mail address, in addition to an acceptable payment mechanism.
Further during the User Account Opening Procedure the User will be asked to create and/or be automatically provided a User's '°handle" {i.e. the alias or "screen name" used by user on the on-line service) as well as a secured access code and/or password (a series of characters and/or number that enable a user to access a computer). Once a User Account Opening Procedure User account has been completed and a ZJser account established the system shall maintain the Users account information for future use.
Once a Users has established a Users account the said user may initiate by initiating a system session (the "System Session") by first logging on to the system (utilizing a unique assigned "handle" and "password" to logon ) the said User will then be able via an available process to create/establish both a personal profile (t:he "User Personal Profile") as well as establish a virtual characters) (the "User Character") which User Character will be created by the User form selected qualities and characteristics (the "Character Creation Procedure"). And wherein the said User Personal Profile ca.n be established by each User via an available system process wherein the User will input a range of information about the User and which information may include: the Users name, the Users "Handle", the Users date of birth, maxital status, occupation, sex, location, sexual interests, description of the physical appearance of the User, likes and dislikes, the profile may further include a photographs) of the User, etc. And further, the present invention will enable each User to conduct a Character Creation Procedure whereby the User ca.n compile from a extensive list of available characteristics and traits (the "CharaWer Characteristics") those characteristics and/or traits that the said User determines that they determine their character should posses. The Users will be provided with a fixnction and interface through which they ca.n select the characteristics that will make up their character.
These character traits will determine the physical characters such as the features of the face, the color of the skin, the type style and color of hair, the body type, the height, the endowment of physical features such as breast size and penis size. The various traits upon which a user will create their character may be equated with a series of points and the user will be given an account from which they must acquire characteristics . (There may be ways of acquiring or purchasing more points}. There may be a series of non-visual characteristics that a user will be required to select, such as increased maneuverability and physical action characteristics (i. e. strength, speed, ability to jump, ability to fight}. As the characteristics are selected, the computer keeps track of these changes either on the user's computer or directly on the server. Either way, all of the characteristics acre saved in the server, which reanimates these changes in the new form. There may be a group of standard character forms that a user can use which have a wide of range of connmonly slated criteria. There will also be a process allowing users to change all of the characteristics of their characters.
It is anticipated that some of the characters and/or characteristics and/or traits may be of a non-human nature such as choosing the body of an animal or characteristics more similar to super natural characteristics such as incredible strength. Users will also be able to choose the clothing their character will wear. They may also be able to choose extra clothing which will be stored and presented to the user in his accounts much like a virtual closet. And wherein the Character Creation Procedure may fiurther allow a user to create a Character Profile similar to a User Personal Profile except thal; the Character profile would be a profile that maintains information that the user has ascribed to the User Character (e.g. character name, age like dislikes, etc.). And wherein t:he Character Profile will be made available to Other Users when interacting with a User's Character or when conducting a search of available Character Profiles. And wherein the said search process will enable Users to search and view the Personal Profiles iJser Character Profiles, and wherein the said search process shall include the ability for User to define the category of profile's the Users intend to view. The User who wishes to view profiles will be enabled to search general categories (i. e. men) or speck searches (mc~n between the age of 20-30 years that enjoy sado-masochism). Following the said search process the profiles that result from the User's search are presented to the User in a usable format.
The user is then able to view the profiles and determine based upon Personal Profiles and User Character Profiles those Users that the User wishes to communicate with. A
user can then communicate with others and can include a request to participate in a system session at some time in the future. A search can also be limited to those Users currently logged onto the system and available for immediate participation in a Sexu~~.l Session.
And wherein when a Users has established a User account, created both personal and character biographies and created a Character they are then prepared to now participate in sexual sessions (the "Sexual Sessions"} with other Characters within a system of virtual environments) (the "Environments") made available via th.e present invention.
And wherein there may/will be multiple Environments within which users ma,y choose to access in order to conduct sessions. The Environments can b~e divided into two general categories, the first category being the General Public Environment(s). These rooms will be available to all users that meet the general qualifications of that specific Environment {e.g. female, lesbian etc.) such as male members may be unable to enter rooms designated for lesbians while women may not be able to access. The General Public Environment will not have generally any numerical limitation upon the number of Users that can concurrently participate in a Sexual Session with a General Public Environment. The second category of Environments will be a Limited Public F?nvironment which limits the number of users in a given Environment. Each Environment may have its own criteria governing both the type of activity that is allowed to take place with in the environment.
Once a Character enters an Environment, that Character's actions and the process by which the User Controls their Character will be similar in nature to an on-line first person video game. Examples of some of the Environments will include a dungeon, a castle, a jungle, a night club, etc. Once within the Environment, a user will be presented with a visual interface that will include a type of tool bar inside the; interface which will proved them tools or may be limited to tools that they find within the; environments.
They would also be able to choose tools. Throughout the system Envirc>nments, each character may be able to utilize a selection of implements tools and/or {the "Implements").
Once a Character is logged on, one method may be to enter a room where many characters will be available in an Environment to interact with. As characters approach other characters within the general area small dialogue boxes will open providing available details about the character. The system will determine that two character's wish to interact due to their proximity, and will enable a conversation and will direct communication between them in a public place and other characters that enter those areas will be able to enter the communication receiving each character's messages.
The message will be input into an active window of the user's int>erface similar to fast e-mail such that the message is sent to within the communication circle and displayed on the screen (possibly within a dialogue box connected to the character as in a cartoon or in a window at the bottom, side or top of the interface). Characters may determine to interact within the general environment such that this would operate similar to a video game utilizing both the server and the client software on the users computer.
When two characters determine they want to conduct a Private Sex Session one of the users will select 'availability' via the users interface of the clie,nt's computer, and this will cause the client's computer to communicate the request and room identification request to the server. When the server has received the request, the server will process the request to the second identified user who will then approve the request of the requests is approved. The server will take the necessary action by putting the two users in the same room, and by a command from their display the second charaWer will also choose to join the room. The character will then choose from a list of private rooms the type of room they wish to enter. The system may further enable a series of private room's (the "Private Rooms") and which Private Rooms may be of a variety of diiFferent styles andlor themes (ex. Dungeon). And wherein these series of Private Rooms may/shall enable one or more players to several players can conduct a session and the room may limited from other players entering by a process wherein the users that initiate the room list the players and the system only allows those listed players to participate or that those players must provide a password in order to enter the room.
A User Character's actions will depend both on the nature of the characteristics they choose and on standard characteristics of all characters. Tlhe actions of each Character will prompt displays of pain as well as displays of excitement physical exertion. The depletion of these can result in the performance characteristic of the character to be diminished. In some rooms, the characters may participate in a variety of actions, including fighting, rape, torture and murder. When a character expires they will either be allowed to begin again or terminate their participation.
At any time during a System Session a User may determine that they either want to terminate their participation in the current System Session and either return to the main menu and begin the process or choose to find a new Private Room and/or new character to conduct a session within/with, or end the System Session and log off immediately.
It is assumed that some of the environment may have different rules and codes of conduct over interaction between characters in those environments. .And wherein these rules will be overseen by a system manger which Users can bring in when they believe the rule of a specific environment has been violated by another User(s). The system manager will oversee the enforcement of those rules and will be able to determine and access penalties to those users who violate the rules of a specific environment, and the penalties could include a User being excluded from the ability to further utili:~e one or more Environment for a determine period of time for further use of some and/or all of the service offered by the present invention. Those rooms that do have rules will make those rules clearly available to users along with a description of likely penalties for violators of those rules.
And whereas some environment may have no rules and or code of conduct associated with their use, Users that utilize these said environments will be made aware prior to entering the environment that no form of action is restricted, and all a<;tions by Characters while in these rooms no matter how offensive will be allowed (i.e. rape.; defecation;
murder etc.).
Regardless of what Character Environment (Private Room or General Public Environment) the characters general purpose will be to participate in sexual type activities with other Characters. The characters will. be controlled by users much in the same way as a player would control a character within an on-line video g~une being able to move and control that characters actions with the parameters of the gaame. The game will further enable Users the ability to communicate with other Characters/IJsers via e-mail type functionality integrated with the present invention wherein a IJser's inputted dialogue will be communicated to other Users and appear within a dialogue box on other User's(s') computer monitor.

As a further aspect of the present invention some Characters within each Environment may not be controlled by another remote User(s), rather these; said extra characters may be automatic and the said extra characters actions and movements be controlled by a computer program. An example of an extra cl?aracters may lbe an animal that exist within an environment that is not controlled by any other player but the player cannot participate with the said dog as if it is a sentient being possessing free thought.
Another function available via, the present invention shall be a function available to all Users allowing Users to participate in a type of blind date, wherein a User can by selecting the 'availa.bility' option be matched randomly or by some limited matching criteria with another Users for the purposes of participating in a Sexual Session. According to this said blind date process the server will match together Users who ~~re currently lagged onto the system. On some occasions a User may select the said blind date option and there may be no other available Users logged onto the system that match the selection criteria, in these circumstance the said unmatched User will be placed on a waiting list maintained by the server and the Users shall receive a prompt directing them that they are on a waiting list and that they will be matched with another user once one becomes available.
And herein once a User is found the two Users are matched_ and placed vrithin an environment for the purpose of conducting a Sexual Session.
The present invention can derive revenues) from a variety of sources including a fee and/or fees in order to access and utilize the system services for a pre-determined period of time. These user fees could be structured to be paid on a yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, and/or per minute charge, or any combination thereof. Some services available via the system may be made accessible free of charge (such as looking at the personal biographies and or Character biographies or limited access to the control of a Character within a selected Environment).
The e-mail function that enables communication between Use~r(s) will enable a type of e-mail account accessible by the User in secured manner in which other Users) of the system cannot access and or read another Users) e-mail within their account.
The E-mail account will be a structure similar to other e-mail system providing storage capability for both outgoing and incoming e-mail messages. A User e-mail account may further provide a method whereby e-mail message received within the present invention ca.n be automatically forwarded to independent non-system e-mail addlress.
There will be other required like a system manager to oversee the proper operation of the system and to ensure that the rules and regulations of the system are maintained. The system will with the server or elsewhere utilize an automated system that utilizes both softwaxe and an application server/computer to function an automating billing system that will maintain the financial affairs assuring users payments via available processes. The system will utilize privacy and encryption a technology to en:>ure a high level of privacy for all users.

A methods) and systems) may be integrated with the present invention in order to attempt to limit access to the services offered by the present invention to those persons that are over the age of majority (f. e. legal age below which Users within the governing jurisdiction cannot lawfully utilize the services), or in the absence of an age of majority a method of limiting the system to Users that have reached an appropriate age commensurate with the subject matter of the present invention.
The present invention has been described in conjunction with its most common embodiments, in some circumstances the present invention could be configured in a manner wherein the interaction between two players does occur through an on-line server rather the actual operation of the game occurs via a direct communication line between two Users(s) and where the games function by having one copy of the game being played running on a game console (or personal computer) at each Users(s) location.
Frame synchronization information is passed along with game contrcrller data through the modem (along with possibly additional sound or data), and the garr~e runs synchronously at the two locations. Even though the two players may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, the game plays essentially as it would if the two players were fin the same room.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with its preferred embodiments, it is evident that numerous alternatives, modifications, variations and uses are apparent to those skilled in the area and field of the present invention.
And whereas personal environment may have a list of characteristics which ca.n be chosen to create a unique environment. One or more of these environments may be saved so as to be utilized by Users.

Claims