PERSPECTIVE BASED TAGGING AND VISUALIZATION OF AVATARS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD

• US 20090183071A1
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nicol II, William Bruce, Smith, Andrew Bryan, House, Daniel Edward, Bokor, Brian Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/706
• 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 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user'"'"'s avatar in a virtual world. The method may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

Claims

1. A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, comprising:

determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user'"'"'s avatar in a virtual world; and

allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the user has previously tagged the other avatar with the information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar; and

presenting the tagged information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and in response to the user having previously tagged the other avatar with the tagged information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the tagged information comprises presenting the tagged information only to the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the tagged information comprises presenting the tagged information in at least one of a visual form and an audible form.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising presenting an interface for the user to modify any tagged information previously entered by the user for the other avatar.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to select the other avatar for tagging the information; and

presenting an interface for the user to enter the information to be tagged to the other avatar in response to the user selecting the other avatar.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to define properties for presenting the tagged information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein allowing the user to define properties for presenting the tagged information comprises:

allowing the user to define a format for presenting the tagged information to the user;

allowing the user to define a frequency for presenting the tagged information; and

allowing the user to define a duration for presenting the tagged information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to define at least one of visual and auditory information for the tagged information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the tagged information and associated settings locally in an inventory associated with the user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising allowing the tagged information and associated settings to be shared with another user and the other user'"'"'s avatar.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information comprises allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information that is pertinent from a perspective of the user.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information comprises allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information to identify the other avatar to the user and to present a relevance of the other avatar to the user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a management entity to update and modify the tagged information.

15. A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, comprising:

determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user'"'"'s avatar in a virtual world;

determining if the user has previously tagged the other avatar with tagged information; and

presenting the tagged information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user having previously tagged the other avatar with the tagged information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

permitting the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user not having previously tagged the other avatar with information.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

allowing the user to define properties for presenting the tagged information.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing the user'"'"'s avatar to transfer the tagged information for the other avatar to any further avatar in the virtual world.

19. A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, comprising:

determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user'"'"'s avatar in a virtual world;

determining if the user has previously tagged the other avatar with tagged information, wherein the tagged information includes information that is pertinent from a perspective of the user; and

presenting the tagged information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user having previously tagged the other avatar with the tagged information; and

permitting the user to perform at least one of;

tag the other avatar with information that is pertinent to the perspective of the user in the virtual world in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user not having previously tagged the other avatar with information; and

edit the tagged information in response to the other avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user having previously tagged the other avatar with information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising permitting the user to tag the other avatar with information related to an identification of the other avatar and a relevance of the other avatar to the user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world.