PERSISTENT, IMMERSIBLE AND EXTRACTABLE AVATARS

• US 20100122267A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elite Avatars, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elite Avatars, LLC
• Inventors: Tobias, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• 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 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games

Abstract

Avatar data is stored in a management application. The management application sends an immersion request to the application. The management application identifies the avatar data fields used by the application, and any appropriate scaling and avatar transformation. The management application scales the data appropriately, transforms the avatar if necessary, and transmits the (scaled and transformed) avatar data to the application. When the avatar is to be removed from the application, the application transmits the avatar data back to the management application, which integrates any changes to the avatar data into the original avatar data.

Claims

1. A computer including an application, comprising:

a receiver to receive a request at least one data field used by the application and to receive data for said at least one data field from a management application, said management application capable of immersing said avatar into at least the application and a second application offering different functionality;

a transmitter to transmit said at least one data field to said management application, wherein said at least one data field do not include at least a second data field for which the management application stores data for said avatar;

an avatar instantiator to instantiate said avatar using said received data;

a data store to store data for said avatar unique to the application and not needed by any other application into which said management application can immerse said avatar; and

wherein the transmitter is operative to transmit updated data for said at least one data field to said management application, after which said avatar is capable of being immersed in either the application or said second application, and

said at least one data field stores data according to a standard set by a certifying organization.

2. A computer according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer to transform said avatar to a form consistent with the application.

3. A computer according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is operative to transmit how to scale said at least one data field.

4. A computer according to claim 1, wherein the avatar instantiator is operative to instantiate said avatar without modifying said received data.

5. A computer according to claim 1, wherein said application conforms to standards set by the certifying organization.

6. A computer according to claim 1, wherein said at least one data field stores real world data about a user,

7. A computer according to claim 6, wherein said real world data stores information about a characteristic of said user.

8. A computer-implemented method for an application to immerse an avatar, comprising:

receiving a request from a management application to immerse the avatar in the application, the management application capable of immersing an avatar into at least the application and a second application offering different functionality;

identifying at least one data field the application uses for the avatar;

sending a data request to the management application, the data request including the identified data field and not including a second data field the application does not use for the avatar;

receiving data for the avatar;

storing the data in the data fields;

instantiating the avatar in the application;

updating the data in the data fields; and

sending the updated data to the management application, after which the avatar is capable of being immersed in either the application or the second application,

wherein said identified data field stores data according to a standard set by a certifying organization.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein storing the data includes transforming the avatar into a form consistent with the application.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the method further comprises;

identifying a first data field for which the management application does not store the data; and

storing the data in the first data field for the avatar in a data store for the application; and

sending the updating data includes sending the updated data other than the data in the first data field to the management application.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein sending a data request includes sending scales to use in scaling at least the identified data field, wherein the scales conform to standards set by a certifying organization.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein sending a data request includes obtaining the scales from the certifying organization to use in scaling at least the identified data field.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein identifying at least one data field the application uses for the avatar includes identifying at least one data field storing real world data about a user that the application uses for the avatar,

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein identifying at least one data field storing real world data about a user that the application uses for the avatar includes identifying at least one data field storing information about a characteristic of said user that the application uses for the avatar.

15. An article comprising:

a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a machine, result in;

receiving a request from a management application to immerse the avatar in the application, the management application capable of immersing an avatar into at least the application and a second application offering different functionality;

identifying at least one data field the application uses for the avatar;

sending a data request to the management application, the data request including the identified data field and not including a second data field the application does not use for the avatar;

receiving data for the avatar;

storing the data in the data fields;

instantiating the avatar in the application;

updating the data in the data fields; and

sending the updated data to the management application, after which said avatar is capable of being immersed in either the application or said second application,

wherein said identified data field stores data according to a standard set by a certifying organization.

16. An article according to claim 15, wherein storing the data includes transforming the avatar into a form consistent with the application.

17. An article according to claim 15, wherein:

the storage medium having stored thereon further instructions, that, when executed by the machine, result in;

identifying a first data field for which the management application does not store the data; and

storing the data in the first data field for the avatar in a data store for the application; and

sending the updating data includes sending the updated data other than the data in the first data field to the management application.

18. An article according to claim 15, wherein sending a data request includes sending scales to use in scaling at least the identified data field.

19. An article according to claim 15, wherein identifying at least one data field the application uses for the avatar includes identifying at least one data field storing real world data about a user that the application uses for the avatar,

20. An article according to claim 19, wherein identifying at least one data field storing real world data about a user that the application uses for the avatar includes identifying at least one data field storing information about a characteristic of said user that the application uses for the avatar.