METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOVING AN AVATAR IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE

• US 20090046109A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford Alan, O'Connell, Brian Marshall, Walker, Keith Raymond, Hamilton, Rick Allen II
• Granted Patent: US 9,003,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• 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: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for moving an avatar. A computer renders a first viewport in a computer display. The first viewport may comprise a first tab, a first coordinate, and a first attitude. A first object is rendered based on the first coordinate and the first attitude in a region. The computer renders a second tab. The computer receives a user selection corresponding to the second tab. Next, the computer renders a second viewport comprising a second coordinate and a second attitude. The computer renders the second object in a computer display from a perspective distinct from the first viewport. In addition, the computer registers the avatar as associated with the second coordinate and second attitude in the virtual universe, wherein the first tab is a visual indication of movement history.

Claims

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

rendering a first viewport in a computer display, comprising;

a first tab;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude wherein a first at least one object is rendered based on the first coordinate and the first attitude in a region;

rendering a second tab;

receiving a user selection corresponding to the second tab;

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

registering the avatar as associated with the second coordinate and second attitude in the virtual universe, wherein the first tab is a visual indication of movement history.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the perspective corresponds to a second region, and wherein at least one object is rendered based on the second coordinate and the second attitude.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

rendering an image of the first viewport in the first tab as a miniature image.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a keystroke corresponding to the first tab; and

establishing the first viewport as active, wherein the second viewport is substantially obscured.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein registering further comprises:

removing an association of the avatar with the first coordinate.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

rendering a miniature image of the first viewport in the first tab contemporaneously with rendering the second tab.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving an event from a host computer, wherein rendering the miniature image is responsive to receiving the event from a host computer.

8. A data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein computer usable code is located in the storage 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 move an avatar in a virtual universe, the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to render a first viewport in a computer display, the first viewport comprising;

a first tab;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude wherein a first at least one object is rendered based on the first coordinate and the first attitude in a region;

render a second tab;

receive a user selection corresponding to the second tab;

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

register the avatar as associated with the second coordinate and second attitude in the virtual universe, wherein the first tab is a visual indication of movement history.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the perspective corresponds to a second region, and wherein at least one object is rendered based on the second coordinate and the second attitude.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to render an image of the first viewport in the first tab as a miniature image.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to receive a keystroke corresponding to the first tab;

and

establish the first viewport as active, wherein the second viewport is substantially obscured.

12. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein executing the computer usable code to register the processing unit further executes computer usable code to receive a condition;

receive an event based on the condition; and

render the first viewport after rendering the second viewport in response to receiving the event.

13. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to render a miniature image of the first viewport in the first tab contemporaneously with rendering the second tab.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to receive an event from a host computer, wherein the computer usable code to render the miniature image is responsive to receiving the event from a host computer.

15. A computer program product for moving an avatar in a virtual universe comprising:

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

a first tab;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude wherein a first at least one object is rendered based on the first coordinate and the first attitude in a region;

computer usable program code for rendering a second tab;

computer usable program code for receiving a user selection corresponding to the second tab;

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

computer usable program code for registering the avatar as associated with the second coordinate and second attitude in the virtual universe, wherein the first tab is a visual indication of movement history.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the perspective corresponds to a second region, and wherein at least one object is rendered based on the second coordinate and the second attitude.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

computer usable program code for rendering an image of the first viewport in the first tab as a miniature image.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving a keystroke corresponding to the first tab; and

computer usable program code for establishing the first viewport as active, wherein the second viewport is substantially obscured.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein registering further comprises:

computer usable program code for removing an association of the avatar with the first coordinate.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:

computer usable program code for rendering a miniature image of the first viewport in the first tab contemporaneously with rendering the second tab.