Conversation Abstractions Based on Trust Levels in a Virtual World

• US 20090172539A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Gregory Edward, Garbow, Zachary Adam, Chen, Jim Chun-Ta, Bates, Cary Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for abstracting conversations between avatars within a virtual world. In one embodiment, the user of an avatar observing a conversation between other avatars may be presented with an abstracted version of the conversation. The abstraction may be performed so as to enable the user to determine the general topic or nature of the conversation, without receiving sensitive or detailed information included in the conversation. In one embodiment, the abstraction is performed by substituting words of the conversation with fewer words, or words having a more general meaning. The degree of abstraction performed may be based on a level of trust between the observer and the users engaged in conversation.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving a communication from a first user to a second user of a virtual world, wherein the first user and the second user are participating in a conversation via avatars present in a location of the virtual world;

identifying a third user having an avatar present in the same location, wherein the third user is not participating in the conversation;

determining a level of trust for the third user relative to the first user and the second user;

determining a level of abstraction corresponding to the determined level of trust;

abstracting the communication to the determined level of abstraction; and

presenting the abstracted communication to the third user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more predefined lists of contacts for the first user or the second user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more past interactions between the third user and at least one of the first user and the second user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on at least one of:

(i) a situation context of the first user within the virtual world, and (ii) a situation context of the second user within the virtual world.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the abstracted communication is presented to the third user in at least one of (i) one or more dialog balloons visible in the virtual world, and (ii) one or more chat windows.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the third user comprises determining whether the third user'"'"'s avatar is within a specified maximum distance for participating in a conversation in the virtual world.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein abstracting the communication comprises substituting one or more words of the communication with one or more substitute words, wherein the substitute words are classified according to one or more levels of abstraction.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the level of trust may be modified during a conversation based on the third user'"'"'s interactions with the first user and the second user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more permissions of the user of third avatar with regard to communications between the first user and the second user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein abstracting the communication comprises generating a translated communication, wherein the translated communication does not include any confidential content of the communication.

11. A computer-readable storage medium including a program, which when executed on a processor performs an operation, comprising:

receiving a communication from a first user to a second user of a virtual world, wherein the first user and the second user are participating in a conversation via avatars present in a location of the virtual world;

identifying a third user having an avatar present in the same location, wherein the third user is not participating in the conversation;

determining a level of trust for the third user relative to the first user and the second user;

determining a level of abstraction corresponding to the determined level of trust;

abstracting the communication to the determined level of abstraction; and

presenting the abstracted communication to the third user.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more predefined lists of contacts for the first user or the second user.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more past interactions between the third user and at least one of the first user and the second user.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on at least one of:

(i) a situation context of the first user within the virtual world, and (ii) a situation context of the second user within the virtual world.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the abstracted communication is presented to the third user in at least one of (i) one or more dialog balloons visible in the virtual world, and (ii) one or more chat windows.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein identifying the third user comprises determining whether the third user'"'"'s avatar is within a specified maximum distance for participating in a conversation in the virtual world.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein abstracting the communication comprises substituting one or more words of the communication with one or more substitute words, wherein the substitute words are classified according to one or more levels of abstraction.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the level of trust may be modified during a conversation based on the third user'"'"'s interactions with the first user and the second user.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more permissions of the user of third avatar with regard to communications between the first user and the second user.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein abstracting the communication comprises generating a translated communication, wherein the translated communication does not include any confidential content of the communication.

21. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the processor is configured to perform an operation, comprising;

receiving a communication from a first user to a second user of a virtual world, wherein the first user and the second user are participating in a conversation via avatars present in a location of the virtual world;

identifying a third user having an avatar present in the same location, wherein the third user is not participating in the conversation;

determining a level of trust for the third user relative to the first user and the second user;

determining a level of abstraction corresponding to the determined level of trust;

abstracting the communication to the determined level of abstraction; and

presenting the abstracted communication to the third user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more predefined lists of contacts for the first user or the second user.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on one or more past interactions between the third user and at least one of the first user and the second user.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein determining the level of trust for the third user is at least partially based on at least one of:

(i) a situation context of the first user within the virtual world, and (ii) a situation context of the second user within the virtual world.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein abstracting the communication comprises generating a translated communication, wherein the translated communication does not include any confidential content of the communication.