AVATAR AGGREGATION IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE

• US 20090055754A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finn, Peter G., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Pickover, Clifford A., Seaman, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

An approach that aggregates avatars that are online in a virtual universe into an aggregated avatar is described. In one embodiment, there is an avatar identification component configured to identify a plurality of avatars that are online in the virtual universe. An avatar aggregation component is configured to aggregate the plurality of avatars into an aggregated avatar representative of the plurality avatars.

Claims

1. A method for aggregating avatars that are online in a virtual universe, comprising:

identifying a plurality of avatars that are online in the virtual universe; and

aggregating the plurality of avatars into an aggregated avatar representative of the plurality avatars.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aggregated avatar is a single composite avatar.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aggregated avatar is a composite avatar that comprises each of the plurality of avatars bound together.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that the identified plurality of avatars have expressed a desire for aggregation.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determining whether to grant permission for aggregating the plurality of avatars into the aggregated avatar.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing an avatar from the aggregated avatar.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication that the avatar desired to be removed from the aggregated avatar.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing a group of avatars from the aggregated avatar.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising permitting selected avatars within the aggregated avatar to communicate with each other, without other avatars within and outside the aggregated avatar from viewing communications.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising teleporting the aggregated avatar to another region within the virtual universe.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling the aggregated avatar to have decision making capabilities for the plurality of avatars that comprise the aggregated avatar.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein decisions are made by at least one of a designated avatar, a vote taken from the plurality of avatars that comprise the aggregated avatar or through group actions derived from an intent analysis of the plurality of avatars.

13. An avatar aggregation tool for use in a virtual universe, comprising:

an avatar identification component configured to identify a plurality of avatars that are online in the virtual universe; and

an avatar aggregation component configured to aggregate the plurality of avatars into an aggregated avatar representative of the plurality avatars.

14. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the aggregated avatar is a single composite avatar.

15. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the aggregated avatar is a composite avatar that comprises each of the plurality of avatars bound together.

16. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to receive an indication that the identified plurality of avatars have expressed a desire for aggregation.

17. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 16, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to determine whether to grant permission for aggregating the plurality of avatars into the aggregated avatar.

18. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to remove an avatar from the aggregated avatar.

19. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 18, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to receive an indication that the avatar desired to be removed from the aggregated avatar.

20. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to remove a group of avatars from the aggregated avatar.

21. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, further comprising an avatar aggregation communication component configured to permit selected avatars within the aggregated avatar to communicate with each other, without other avatars within and outside the aggregated avatar from viewing communications.

22. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, further comprising an avatar aggregation teleporting component configured to teleport the aggregated avatar to another region within the virtual universe.

23. The avatar aggregation tool according to claim 13, wherein the avatar aggregation component is further configured to enable the aggregated avatar to have decision making capabilities for the plurality of avatars that comprise the aggregated avatar.

24. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to aggregate avatars that are online in a virtual universe, the computer instructions comprising:

identifying a plurality of avatars that are online in the virtual universe; and

aggregating the plurality of avatars into an aggregated avatar representative of the plurality avatars.

25. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the aggregated avatar is a single composite avatar.

26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the aggregated avatar is a composite avatar that comprises each of the plurality of avatars bound together.

27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 26, further comprising instructions for receiving an indication that the identified plurality of avatars have expressed a desire for aggregation.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for determining whether to grant permission for aggregating the plurality of avatars into the aggregated avatar.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for removing an avatar from the aggregated avatar.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising instructions for receiving an indication that the avatar desired to be removed from the aggregated avatar.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for removing a group of avatars from the aggregated avatar.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for permitting selected avatars within the aggregated avatar to communicate with each other, without other avatars within and outside the aggregated avatar from viewing communications.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for teleporting the aggregated avatar to another region within the virtual universe.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further comprising instructions for enabling the aggregated avatar to have decision making capabilities for the plurality of avatars that comprise the aggregated avatar.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein decisions are made by at least one of a designated avatar, a vote taken from the plurality of avatars that comprise the aggregated avatar or through group actions derived from an intent analysis of the plurality of avatars.

36. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, further comprising instructions for charging a service fee for aggregating the plurality of avatars into the aggregated avatar.

37. A method for deploying an avatar aggregation tool for use in a computer system that aggregates avatars that are online in a virtual universe, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

identify a plurality of avatars that are online in the virtual universe; and

aggregate the plurality of avatars into an aggregated avatar representative of the plurality avatars.