System and method for communicating objects status within a virtual environment using translucency

• US 20060123351A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Evil Twin Studios, Inc. (Snipp Interactive Inc)
• Original Assignee: Evil Twin Studios, Inc. (Snipp Interactive Inc)
• Inventors: Littlefield, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/292,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/768
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A system and method for communicating object status in a virtual environment through the use of translucency when displaying such objects. The invention is generally related to virtual environments, gaming environments, online communities, and interactive computing, and is specifically related to the use of translucency when displaying objects in a virtual environment to indicate status of such objects.

Claims

1. A system for communicating object status in a virtual environment using translucency, comprising:

a virtual environment;

a virtual representation of a user or object within said virtual environment; and

wherein the virtual representation of the user or object is displayed in a translucent form to represent a change in that user or object status within the virtual environment.

2. A method for communicating object status in a virtual environment using translucency, comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual environment;

displaying a virtual representation of a user or object within said virtual environment;

detecting a change in that user or object status within the virtual environment; and

displaying the virtual representation of the user or object in a translucent form to represent the change in that user or object status.