Suggestion of User Actions in a Virtual Environment Based on Actions of Other Users

• US 20090100351A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garbow, Zachary Adam, Bromenshenkel, Derek L, Hiebert, Daniel Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 8,453,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for suggesting actions to users of an immersive virtual environment based on previous user actions within the virtual environment. Generally, characteristics of actions performed by various users of the virtual environment may be stored in a searchable actions index. Subsequently, the actions index may be used to suggest actions based on similarity of the stored characteristics to those of a current user and/or actions. The suggested actions may be presented to the user as graphical indications visible within the user'"'"'s view of the virtual environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for suggesting actions to a first user in a virtual environment, comprising:

monitoring the first user interacting with the virtual environment, wherein the first user is associated with a first user history that records actions performed by the first user in the virtual environment;

identifying a plurality of users of the virtual environment, wherein each user is associated with a respective user history that records actions performed in the virtual environment by each respective user;

matching the first user with one or more of the plurality of users;

determining, for a current position of a first user avatar representing the first user in the virtual environment, one or more suggested actions for the first user, based on the actions recorded in the user histories of the one or more matched users; and

presenting the determined one or more suggested actions to the first user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes at least one of (i) a type of activity describing the recorded action, (ii) a degree of user involvement in performing the recorded action, and (iii) descriptions of any elements of the virtual environment that the user interacted with in performing the recorded action.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each user history includes one or more characteristics of the respective user, including at least one of (i) an employer name, (ii) an occupation, (iii) an indication of one or more personal interests, and (iv) demographic data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each recorded action in the user first history includes a description of one or more preceding actions, wherein the one or more preceding actions were performed by the user prior to perfoming the recorded action.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the one or more preceding actions include one or more movements of a user avatar within the virtual enviroment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes one or more time characteristics, wherein the one or more time characteristics include at least one of a time of occurrence and a duration of the recorded action.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current position of the first user avatar in the virtual environment comprises at least one of (i) a location coordinate of the first user avatar within the virtual enviroment, and (ii) a location of first user avatar relative to a landmark within the virtual environment.

8. A computer-readable storage medium including a program, which when executed on a processor performs an operation for suggesting actions to a first user in a virtual environment, comprising:

monitoring the first user interacting with the virtual environment, wherein the first user is associated with a first user history that records actions performed by the first user in the virtual environment;

identifying a plurality of users of the virtual environment, wherein each user is associated with a respective user history that records actions performed in the virtual environment by each respective user;

matching the first user with one or more of the plurality of users;

determining, for a current position of a first user avatar representing the first user in the virtual environment, one or more suggested actions for the first user, based on the actions recorded in the user histories of the one or more matched users; and

presenting the determined one or more suggested actions to the first user.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes at least one of (i) a type of activity describing the recorded action, (ii) a degree of user involvement in performing the recorded action, and (iii) descriptions of any elements of the virtual environment that the user interacted with in performing the recorded action.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each user history includes one or more characteristics of the respective user, including at least one of (i) an employer name, (ii) an occupation, (iii) an indication of one or more personal interests, and (iv) demographic data.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each recorded action in the user first history includes a description of one or more preceding actions, wherein the one or more preceding actions were performed by the user prior to perfoming the recorded action.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more preceding actions include one or more movements of a user avatar within the virtual enviroment.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes one or more time characteristics, wherein the one or more time characteristics include at least one of a time of occurrence and a duration of the recorded action.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the current position of the first user avatar in the virtual environment comprises at least one of (i) a location coordinate of the first user avatar within the virtual enviroment, and (ii) a location of first user avatar relative to a landmark within the virtual environment.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to suggest actions to a first user in a virtual environment by performing the steps of;

monitoring the first user interacting with the virtual environment, wherein the first user is associated with a first user history that records actions performed by the first user in the virtual environment;

identifying a plurality of users of the virtual environment, wherein each user is associated with a respective user history that records actions performed in the virtual environment by each respective user;

matching the first user with one or more of the plurality of users;

determining, for a current position of a first user avatar representing the first user in the virtual environment, one or more suggested actions for the first user, based on the actions recorded in the user histories of the one or more matched users; and

presenting the determined one or more suggested actions to the first user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes at least one of (i) a type of activity describing the recorded action, (ii) a degree of user involvement in performing the recorded action, and (iii) descriptions of any elements of the virtual environment that the user interacted with in performing the recorded action.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein each user history includes one or more characteristics of the respective user, including at least one of (i) an employer name, (ii) an occupation, (iii) an indication of one or more personal interests, and (iv) demographic data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each recorded action in the user first history includes a description of one or more preceding actions, wherein the one or more preceding actions were performed by the user prior to perfoming the recorded action.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more preceding actions include one or more movements of a user avatar within the virtual enviroment.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each recorded action in the first user history includes one or more time characteristics, wherein the one or more time characteristics include at least one of a time of occurrence and a duration of the recorded action.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the current position of the first user avatar in the virtual environment comprises at least one of (i) a location coordinate of the first user avatar within the virtual enviroment, and (ii) a location of first user avatar relative to a landmark within the virtual environment.