AT&T Labs Research — Leading Invention, Driving Innovation

A system and method is described for providing shared access to a three dimensional virtual environment synchronously with hypertext browsing. A cospace server receives a messages indicating requests for hypertext files on a network from a client. The cospace server tracks the requests and stores components or the addresses of components of the requested hypertext files. When a threshold number of clients have requested a hypertext file, the cospace server constructs a virtual three dimensional room description and sends it to the clients that are browsing the file. The virtual three dimensional room description is rendered as a virtual three dimensional room at the client, and typically includes portals to other virtual three dimensional rooms. A user is represented in the virtual room as an avatar, and can communicate with other users at other clients. The present invention enhances an installed base of conventional hypertext files such as the World Wide Web with three dimensional and social features without having to carry out any modifications of the hypertext files where they are stored.