Reduction of computer resource use in a virtual universe

Abstract

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for reducing use of one or more computer resources. In one embodiment, the invention includes monitoring a user's interaction with a virtual universe, determining whether the user's interaction with the virtual universe is consistent with the user's attention being diverted from the virtual universe, determining whether a computer resource allocated to the user should be reduced, and in the case that the computer resource should be reduced, reducing the computer resource.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring a user's interaction with a virtual universe;   determining whether the user's interaction with the virtual universe is consistent with the user's attention being diverted from the virtual universe; and   determining whether a computer resource allocated to the user should be reduced, including determining whether the user has chosen to maintain an avatar of the user within the virtual universe by paying for such maintenance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring includes monitoring computer activities of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer resource includes at least one resource selected from a group consisting of: central processing unit (CPU) usage, disk usage, network usage, memory usage, and software usage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 in the case that the computer resource should be reduced, reducing the computer resource.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes terminating a presence of an avatar of the user within the virtual universe. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes changing a representation of an avatar of the user from color to black and white. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes reducing a size of an avatar of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes reducing a resolution of an avatar of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes replacing an avatar of the user with a two-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 at least one computing device configured for reducing use of a computer resource by performing a method comprising:
 monitoring a user's interaction with a virtual universe; 
 determining whether the user's interaction with the virtual universe is consistent with the user's attention being diverted from the virtual universe; and 
 determining whether a computer resource allocated to the user should be reduced, including determining whether the user has chosen to maintain an avatar of the user within the virtual universe by paying for such maintenance. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer resource includes at least one resource selected from a group consisting of: central processing unit (CPU) usage, disk usage, network usage, memory usage, and software usage. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 in the case that the computer resource should be reduced, reducing the computer resource.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes terminating a presence of an avatar of the user within the virtual universe. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes changing a representation of an avatar of the user from color to black and white. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes reducing a size of an avatar of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes reducing a resolution of an avatar of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein reducing the computer resource includes replacing an avatar of the user with a two-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         18 . A program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, is operable to perform a method comprising:
 monitoring a user's interaction with a virtual universe;   determining whether the user's interaction with the virtual universe is consistent with the user's attention being diverted from the virtual universe; and   determining whether a computer resource allocated to the user should be reduced, including determining whether the user has chosen to maintain an avatar of the user within the virtual universe by paying for such maintenance.   
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 18 , wherein the computer resource includes at least one resource selected from a group consisting of: central processing unit (CPU) usage, disk usage, network usage, memory usage, and software usage. 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 in the case that the computer resource should be reduced, reducing the computer resource.