US Patent 8131740 User-specific search indexing within a virtual environment

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for searching for virtual objects of an immersive virtual environment based on user interactions within the virtual environment. Generally, embodiments provide an attribute index storing data describing attributes of virtual objects, and an interaction index storing data describing user interactions with virtual objects. Search queries may be evaluated using both the attribute index and interactions index. Thus, virtual objects may be searched in terms of object attributes as well as user interactions with the virtual objects.