Constraining user movement in virtual environments

Abstract

An exemplary method for constraining a user's movement in a virtual environment includes determining a user's current location in the virtual environment, determining a permitted zone based on the current location, dividing areas outside the permitted zone into multiple zones, obtaining an input to move to a new location, calculating a point within the permitted zone proximate to the new location based on one or more of the multiple zones, and moving the user to the proximate point.

1 . A method for constraining a user's movement in a virtual environment, comprising: 
 determining a user's current location in a virtual environment;    determining a permitted zone based on said current location;    dividing an area outside said permitted zone into multiple zones;    obtaining an input to move to a new location;    calculating a point within said permitted zone proximate to said new location based on one or more of said multiple zones; and    moving said user to said proximate point.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said calculating said proximate point includes selecting a nearest corner of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said calculating said proximate point is constrained by maintaining a similar direction, relative to said current location, as said new location.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said calculating said proximate point is constrained by minimizing the distance between said new location and a boundary of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining a permitted zone includes: 
 determining a partitioned area within said virtual environment where said user is currently located; and    determining said permitted zone within said partitioned area by subtracting a spacing parameter from one or more walls of said partitioned area.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said calculating includes: 
 determining a zone of said multiple zones where said new location is located; and    determining a point in said permitted zone that is proximate to said new location based on said zone of said multiple zones.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said moving said user includes: 
 moving said user in a straight line path from said current location to said proximate point.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said moving said user includes: 
 moving said user in a zig-zag path from said current location to said proximate point.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said dividing includes: 
 characterizing said multiple zones based on constraint lines surrounding said permitted zone.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said permitted zone enables said user access to an adjoining partitioned area.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said permitted zone is a passageway connecting multiple partitioned areas.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating multiple permitted zones to guide said user in a path through a partitioned area.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for constraining a user's movement in a virtual environment, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory, said memory comprising logic instructions that, when executed:    determine a user's current location in a virtual environment;    determine a permitted zone based on said current location;    divide an area outside said permitted zone into multiple zones;    obtain an input to move to a new location;    calculate a point within said permitted zone proximate to said new location based on one or more of said multiple zones; and    move said user to said proximate point.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point include logic instructions to select a nearest corner of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point are constrained to maintain a similar direction, relative to said current location, as said new location.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point are constrained to minimize the distance between said new location and a boundary of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said logic instructions to determine a permitted zone are constrained to determine said permitted zone based on one or more spacing parameters.  
   
   
       18 . The appartus of  claim 13 , wherein said logic instructions to divide include logic instructions that characterize said multiple zones based on constraint lines surrounding said permitted zone.  
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium for constraining a user's movement in a virtual environment, comprising: 
 logic instructions that, when executed:    determine a user's current location in a virtual environment;    determine a permitted zone based on said current location;    divide an area outside said permitted zone into multiple zones;    obtain an input to move to a new location;    calculate a point within said permitted zone proximate to said new location based on one or more of said multiple zones; and    move said user to said proximate point.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point include logic instructions to select a nearest corner of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point are constrained to maintain a similar direction, relative to said current location, as said new location.  
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate said proximate point are constrained to minimize the distance between said new location and a boundary of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to determine a permitted zone include logic instructions that, when executed: 
 determine a partitioned area within said virtual environment where said user is currently located; and    determine said permitted zone within said partitioned area by subtracting one or more spacing parameters from one or more walls of said partitioned area.    
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to calculate include logic instructions that, when executed: 
 determine a zone of said multiple zones where said new location is located; and    determine a point on said permitted zone that is closest to said zone.    
   
   
       25 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to determine a permitted zone are constrained to determine said permitted zone based on one or more spacing parameters.  
   
   
       26 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said logic instructions to divide include logic instructions that, when executed: 
 characterize said multiple zones based on constraint lines surrounding said permitted zone.    
   
   
       27 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said permitted zone enables said user access to an adjoining partitioned area.  
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , wherein said permitted zone is a passageway connecting multiple partitioned areas.  
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable application of  claim 19 , further comprising logic instructions that, when executed: 
 generate multiple permitted zones to guide said user in a path through a partitioned area.    
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for constraining a user's movement in a virtual environment, comprising: 
 means for determining a user's current location in a virtual environment;    means for determining a permitted zone based on said current location;    means for dividing an area outside said permitted zone into multiple zones;    means for obtaining an input to move to a new location;    means for calculating a point within said permitted zone proximate to said new location based on at least one of said multiple zones; and    means for moving said user to said proximate point.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said calculating said proximate point is constrained to maintain a similar direction, relative to said current location, as said new location.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said calculating said proximate point is constrained to minimize the distance between said new location and a boundary of said one of said multiple zones.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 means for generating multiple permitted zones to guide said user in a path through a partitioned area.