Interactive Avatar for Social Network Services

• US 20090144639A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tagliabue, Roberto, Quatrochi, Danielle, Nims, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0059 Exercising apparatus with reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 : Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 : Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 : Scrolling or panning
• 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: G06Q 10/10 : Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

An embodiment is an avatar or avatar environment to visualize data within an athletic performance system or service and/or a social network system or service, for example as part of the Internet. The avatar may further evolve or alter its appearance, animation, or other visual or audio characteristics in response to the data or other input. In particular, the avatar of an embodiment may respond to and provide visualization of athletic or sport performance data. According to one or more aspects, an avatar may be placed on other network sites and updated based on athletic performance data. The avatar may be awarded for goals achieved by a user. The awards or gifts may further include non-avatar related items such as apparel, gift cards and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a plurality of avatars at a plurality of locations in an interface;

receiving athletic performance data for a plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of avatars; and

modifying at least one of the plurality of locations of the plurality of avatars in accordance with the received athletic performance data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locations of the avatars indicate a level of progress towards a goal of the plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a relative position of a first avatar to a second avatar represents a relative level of progress toward the goal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the athletic performance data is received from a user device comprising an athletic performance monitoring device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of avatars are displayed in a social networking site.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the athletic performance data is received at the social networking site from an athletic performance monitoring device through an athletic monitoring site, the athletic performance monitoring device including at least one sensor configured to sense physical activity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an appearance of at least one of the plurality of avatars based on the received athletic performance data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the appearance includes modifying a size of the at least one of the plurality of avatars.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a user of the plurality of users has reached a specified goal based on the received athletic performance data; and

in response to determining that the user has reached the specified goal, providing an award for an avatar corresponding to the user.

10. A method comprising:

receiving an athletic performance goal of a user for an upcoming time period;

determining that the user has completed at least a portion of the athletic performance goal; and

in response to determining that the user has completed the at least a portion of the goal, providing the user with an award, wherein the award is configured to modify an attribute of an electronic avatar associated with the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the award is provided to the user from another user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the award further includes a non-avatar related item.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-avatar related item includes a gift card.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-avatar related item includes apparel.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the award is a virtual piece of attire.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising dividing the athletic performance goal into a subgoal corresponding to a period of time smaller than the upcoming time period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least a portion of the athletic performance goal corresponds to the subgoal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the athletic performance goal is divided into a plurality of subgoals and wherein completion of each subgoal results in an award configured to modify an attribute of the electronic avatar.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the upcoming period of time is a next year and wherein each of the plurality of subgoals corresponds to a different one of a plurality of months in the next year.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar includes an appearance.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar is a hairstyle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar is a style of shoe worn by the avatar.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar is a shirt worn by the avatar.

24. The method of claim 10, wherein the award includes a virtual piece of sporting equipment associated with the avatar.

25. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining an athletic performance statistic of the user from a past time period and wherein the goal exceeds the athletic performance statistic.

26. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving athletic performance data from an athletic performance monitoring device, wherein determining that the user has completed at least a portion of the athletic performance goal includes processing the received athletic performance data.

27. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic avatar widget, athletic performance information of a user from a first network site, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes portable code for displaying an avatar associated with the user on a second network site; and

modifying an appearance of the electronic avatar widget in accordance with the athletic performance information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the avatar widget includes a display of athletic performance statistics of the user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein modifying the appearance of the electronic avatar widget includes modifying the athletic performance statistics.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving avatar information from the remote network site and wherein modifying the appearance of the electronic avatar widget includes modifying an appearance of the avatar.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein modifying the appearance of the avatar includes modifying the apparel worn by the avatar.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

detecting that the avatar corresponding to the user has been set to private; and

in response, modifying the electronic avatar widget to hide athletic performance information.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising modifying the electronic avatar widget to hide the avatar in response to detecting that the avatar has been set to private.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes an interactive option to create an avatar.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the second network site is a webpage.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes dialogue for the avatar.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the dialogue is user-modifiable.

38. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

display a plurality of avatars at a plurality of locations in an interface;

receive athletic performance data for a plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of avatars; and

modify at least one of the plurality of locations of the plurality of avatars in accordance with the received athletic performance data.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the plurality of avatars are displayed in a social networking site.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the athletic performance data is received at the social networking site from an athletic performance monitoring device through an athletic monitoring site, the athletic performance monitoring device including at least one sensor configured to sense physical activity.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, herein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to modify an appearance of at least one of the plurality of avatars based on the received athletic performance data.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein modifying the appearance includes modifying a size of the at least one of the plurality of avatars.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive an athletic performance goal of a user for an upcoming time period;

determine that the user has completed at least a portion of the athletic performance goal; and

in response to determining that the user has completed the at least a portion of the goal, provide the user with an award, wherein the award is configured to modify an attribute of an electronic avatar associated with the user.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to divide the athletic performance goal into a subgoal corresponding to a period of time smaller than the upcoming time period.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the athletic performance goal is divided into a plurality of subgoals and wherein completion of each subgoal results in an award configured to modify an attribute of the electronic avatar.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the upcoming period of time is a next year and wherein each of the plurality of subgoals corresponds to a different one of a plurality of months in the next year.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar includes an appearance.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar is a hairstyle.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the attribute of the electronic avatar is a style of shoe worn by the avatar.