METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING AVATAR MOVEMENT IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE

• US 20090046094A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford Alan, O'Connell, Brian Marshall, Walker, Keith Raymond, Hamilton, Rick Allen II
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• 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: A63F 2300/6669 using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer useable program code to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer predicts a location selection to form a prediction. The computer renders a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction. The first viewport includes a first user-control; a first coordinate; and a first attitude. The computer renders a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport. The computer receives an instruction corresponding to the first user-control.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe comprising:

predicting a location selection to form a prediction;

rendering a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

rendering a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport; and

receiving an instruction corresponding to the first user-control.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one user preference; and

wherein the step of predicting is responsive to receiving the at least one user preference.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a teleportation rationale; and

displaying indicia corresponding to the teleportation rationale proximate to the first user-control.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the indicia comprises a textual explanation.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the indicia comprises a bar having a length corresponding to a calculated likelihood of user selection.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the indicia comprises a numeric text.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying an opt-out control proximate to the user-control wherein the at least one user preference is a user selection of the opt-out control.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein the user-control is one selected from the group consisting of a menu item, a button, and a tab.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of rendering the first viewport is based on a first calculated likelihood of user selection;

and the step of rendering a second viewport is based on a second calculated likelihood of user selection;

wherein the second user-control of the second viewport is ordered relative to the first user-control of the first viewport according to the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the first calculated likelihood of user selection and second calculated likelihood of user selection are based on at least two weights selected from the group of a biography weight;

a user historical teleportation weight; and

a popular among peer users weight.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the first viewport in response to a criterion being satisfied.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein the criterion is a timeout expiring after rendering the first viewport.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the prediction is based on a teleportation offset selected by the user.

14. A data processing system comprising:

a bus

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein computer usable code is located in the device;

a communication unit connected to the bus;

a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe, the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to receive an at least one user preference;

predict a location selection to form a prediction, responsive to receiving the at least one user preference;

render a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to render a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport; and

receive an instruction corresponding to the first user-control.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to calculate a teleportation rationale;

and display indicia corresponding to the teleportation rationale proximate to the first user-control.

16. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein in executing the computer usable code to render the first viewport the data processing system bases the viewport on a first likelihood of user selection;

and in executing the computer usable code to render the second viewport the data processing system bases the second viewport on a second calculated likelihood of user selection;

wherein the second user-control of the second viewport is ordered relative to the first user-control of the first viewport according to the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the first calculated likelihood of user selection and second calculated likelihood of user selection are based on at least two weights selected from the group of a biography weight;

a user historical teleportation weight; and

a popular among peer users weight.

18. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein in executing the computer usable code to remove the first viewport in response to a criterion being satisfied.

19. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the prediction is based on a teleportation offset selected by the user.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer executable code embodied thereon for offering to move an avatar in a virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for predicting a location selection to form a prediction;

computer usable program code for rendering a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

computer usable program code for rendering a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport; and

computer usable program code for receiving an instruction corresponding to the first user-control.