Model based avatars for virtual presence

• US 20080215995A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lupus Labs UG
• Original Assignee: Lupus Labs UG
• Inventors: Wolf, Heiner
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

An image generating system for simultaneous visual representative display of multiple computer users is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes hardware, software, and a system for generating various images for one or more users of a connected computer system, and imposing them onto the systems and ultimately the visual display of each user'"'"'s system. The images, which may be known as avatars, may be static images, animated 2D, and/or animated 3D images. The images are simultaneously displayed on the outputs of each user. Each user may react and interact with the images of the other users through their own image.

Claims

1. An image generating method for simultaneous representative visual display of multiple computer users, comprising the steps of:

generating a first image package representative of a first computer user,

displaying said first image package on a web browser window,

generating at least a second image package representative of at least a second computer user,

displaying said second image package on said web browser window,

wherein said first image package and said second image package are viewable on a single web browser window.

2. An image generating method for simultaneous representative visual display of multiple computer users according to claim 1, wherein said first and second image packages are integrated with the web browser window.

3. An image generating method for simultaneous representative visual display of multiple computer users according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of assigning first coordinates to the first image package, and assigning second coordinates to the second image package.

4. An image generating method for simultaneous representative visual display of multiple computer users according to claim 3, further comprising the step of positioning said first image package and said second image package on the browser window utilizing said first and said second coordinates.

5. An image generating method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

Establishing an image package in the form of an avatar,

Establishing avatar graphics data,

Establishing avatar copresence data,

Establishing a transparency mask, the transparency mask defining the shape of the image package independent of a background,

Establishing a window manager, said window manager identifying the absolute coordinates of a web browser window,

Establishing a copresence manager, said copresence manager identifying the required components of individual image packages which are to be drawn at coordinates relative to the web browser window, for receiving web browser window information and web page address information, and for communicating information about the presence of a user on the web page to at least one copresence server,

Establishing a virtual presence service comprising a copresence service, at least one avatar server, and at least one communication server,

The copresence service comprising at least one copresence server for creating a copresence list of users using the web page, for communicating the list to at least one copresence client, and for acquiring for each user at least one user identifier, at least one avatar data identifier, and an avatar version identifier,

The avatar server communicating information describing the appearance and identity of the avatar,

The communication service communicating data between users represented as avatars,

Establishing an avatar data container,

Establishing at least one copresence client for communicating information about the appearance of the avatars, for accumulating sufficient data to render an avatar on a screen position where it appears associated with the web browser window, and for communicating its presence to the copresence service,

Establishing a location mapping step for identifying an address of a responsible copresence server and an identifier of a copresence channel,

Establishing a mapping rule service, mapping rules, regular expressions, and message digests,

Wherein multiple users being represented as avatars are able to interact with awareness of each other together on a single web page.

6. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of generating an avatar status tag for at least one avatar.

7. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of generating text based chat and communicating the text based chat between users.

8. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of utilizing a chat server as a copresence server.

9. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of establishing cached data including avatar information and establishing an invalidation strategy to analyze the cached data and reacquire new avatar data.

10. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting sound between copresence clients.

11. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of generating a popularity index by measuring the number of users who access particular sites.

12. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of adapting the avatar to a mobile device display, and employing a copresence proxy to reduce traffic on a wireless connection.

13. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of implementing at least one game avatar on the web page.

14. An image generating method according to claim 5, the avater data container having at least one component, the component comprising avatar data and/or an identifier referencing another container.

15. An image generating method according to claim 5, wherein the window manager identifies the position size and visibility of the web browser window, and the position of the content of the web browser window.

16. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of using a 3D model base to generate avatar graphics.

17. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of exporting avatars from other game-like environments into the present system.

18. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of utilizing virtual non-avatar objects.

19. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of utilizing advertising graphics displayed by avatars, bots, and/or virtual objects.

20. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of positioning avatars and/or virtual objects away from the two dimensional web page.

21. An image generating method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of facilitating the cooperation and interaction of avatars, and allowing for the interaction to alter the appearance of the respective avatars.