VIRTUAL UNIVERSE AVATAR COMPANION

• US 20100083139A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dawson, Christopher J., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Pickover, Clifford A., Gusler, Carl P.
• Application Number:
  US12/238,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083139A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• 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 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character

Abstract

Methods, devices, program products and systems are disclosed for providing a virtual universe companion avatar for engagement with a virtual universe user avatar. In some methods a user of a virtual universe instigates a companion request. Profile data associated with the user is accessed from a data storage in response to the companion request, the profile data including a companion preference. A companion avatar is configured to engage a user avatar representing the user in the virtual universe, the configuring a function of processing the profile data, the engaging configured to meet the companion preference and an overriding user benefit agenda. The companion avatar is thus associated with the user avatar, wherein the companion avatar is configured to engage the user avatar by advancing the overriding user benefit agenda ahead of a virtual universe world provider benefit agenda.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual universe companion avatar for engagement with a virtual universe user avatar, comprising:

a user of a virtual universe instigating a companion request;

accessing profile data associated with the user from a data storage in response to the companion request, the profile data comprising a companion preference;

configuring a companion avatar to engage a user avatar representing the user in the virtual universe, the configuring a function of processing the profile data, the engaging configured to meet the companion preference and an overriding user benefit agenda; and

associating the companion avatar with the user avatar;

wherein the companion avatar is configured to engage the user avatar by advancing the overriding user benefit agenda ahead of a virtual universe world provider benefit agenda.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the companion avatar by:

selecting a companion attribute from a plurality of pre-defined companion avatar attributes as a function of a correlation of the selected attribute with the companion preference and the overriding user benefit agenda; and

populating the companion avatar with the selected attribute.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising forming the plurality of pre-defined companion attributes by selecting a subset of attributes from a plurality of possible avatar attributes, the selecting a function of a permission criteria entered by another party.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the companion avatar exhibiting the selected attribute to another virtual universe user as a function of a perceived virtual universe social situation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein configuring the companion avatar is a function of analyzing an appearance of the user avatar or an appearance of a friend avatar.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

observing at least one of a language use or a mannerism of the user avatar; and

dynamically updating the companion avatar to mimic the at least one of the observed language use and the observed mannerism.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising configuring the companion avatar to directly communicate with a second companion avatar associated with a second avatar of a second virtual universe user;

wherein the companion avatar is enabled to make an information request to the second companion avatar; and

wherein the companion avatar is further enabled to open a direct connection to an information source in communication with the second avatar upon a granting of the information request by at least one of the second companion avatar and the second user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

parsing a message communication from the user avatar; and

the companion avatar composing and sending a message in reply to the parsed message, the reply message composed as a function of the companion preference and the overriding user benefit agenda.

9. A service for deploying a companion avatar for engagement with a user avatar within a virtual universe, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure configured to;

access profile data associated with a user from a data storage, the data comprising a companion preference;

provide a companion avatar configured as a function of processing the profile data to engage a user avatar representing the user in the virtual universe, the companion avatar configured to engage the user avatar by meeting the companion preference and advancing an overriding user benefit agenda; and

associate the companion avatar with the user avatar;

wherein the companion avatar is configured to advance the overriding user benefit agenda ahead of a virtual universe provider benefit agenda.

10. The service of claim 9, the computer infrastructure configured to:

select a companion attribute from a plurality of pre-defined companion avatar attributes as a function of a correlation of the selected attribute with the companion preference and the overriding user benefit agenda, and as a function of a permission criteria entered by another party; and

populate the companion avatar with the selected attribute.

11. The service of claim 10, the computer infrastructure configured to:

observe at least one of a language use or a mannerism of the user avatar; and

mimic the at least one of the observed language use and the observed mannerism.

12. The service of claim 11, the computer infrastructure companion avatar configured to:

directly communicate with a second companion avatar associated with a second avatar of a second user;

make an information request to the second companion avatar; and

open a direct connection to an information source in communication with the second avatar upon a granting of the information request by at least one of the second companion avatar and the second user.

13. A method for providing a virtual universe companion avatar configured for engagement with a user avatar of a virtual universe user, comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the code on a computer readable medium; and

providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to;

provide a companion avatar configured as a function of processing profile data associated with a user to engage a user avatar representing the user in a virtual universe, the profile data comprising a companion preference, the companion avatar configured to meet the companion preference; and

associate the companion avatar with the user avatar;

wherein the companion avatar is further configured to engage the user avatar by advancing an overriding user benefit agenda ahead of a virtual universe provider benefit agenda.

14. The method of claim 13, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

select a companion attribute from a plurality of pre-defined companion avatar attributes as a function of a correlation of the selected attribute with the companion preference and the overriding user benefit agenda and a permission criteria provided by another party; and

populate the companion avatar with the selected attribute.

15. The method of claim 14, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

observe at least one of a language use or a mannerism of the user avatar; and

configure the companion avatar to mimic the at least one of the observed language use and the observed mannerism.

16. The method of claim 15, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to configure the companion to:

directly communicate with a second companion avatar associated with a second avatar of a second user of the virtual universe;

make an information request to the second companion avatar; and

open a direct connection to an information source in communication with the second avatar upon a granting of the information request by at least one of the second companion avatar and the second user.

17. A programmable device comprising:

a processing means;

a memory in communication with the processing means, the memory comprising a logic component; and

a network interface in communication with the processing means and the memory;

wherein the processing means is configured to use the logic component to;

configure a companion avatar associated with a user avatar of a user of a virtual universe user as a function of processing profile data associated with the user to engage the user avatar, the profile data comprising a companion preference, the companion avatar configured to meet the companion preference; and

associate the companion avatar with the user avatar;

wherein the companion avatar is further configured to engage the user avatar by advancing an overriding user benefit agenda ahead of a virtual universe provider benefit agenda.

18. The programmable device of claim 17, wherein the processing means is configured to cause the companion avatar to exhibit a selected attribute to another virtual universe user as a function of a perceived virtual universe social situation.

19. The programmable device of claim 18, wherein the processing means is configured to:

observing at least one of a language use or a mannerism of the user avatar; and

dynamically update the companion avatar to mimic the at least one of the observed language use and the observed mannerism.

20. The programmable device of claim 19, wherein the processing means is configured to enable the companion avatar to:

make an information request directly to a second companion avatar associated with a second avatar of a second virtual universe user; and

open a direct connection to an information source in communication with the second avatar upon a granting of the information request by at least one of the second companion avatar and the second user.