Collapsing areas of a region in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources

Abstract

Described herein are processes and devices that coalesced and/or collapse areas in a region of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. Some embodiments are directed to detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe and, in response, determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe. In some embodiments, the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects. Some embodiments are further directed to selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area, coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area, and, in response, collapsing the first area of the virtual universe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for coalescing and collapsing a first area of a virtual universe into a second area of the virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of:
 a computer detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe;   the computer determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe in response to the step of said computer detecting the indication to reduce usage of the computing resource in the virtual universe, wherein the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects;   the computer selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area;   the computer coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area; and the computer collapsing the first area of the virtual universe in response to the step of said computer coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area.