OBJECT ORGANIZATION BASED ON USER INTERACTIONS WITHIN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100198653A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: BROMENSHENKEL, DEREK L., CRADICK, RYAN K., GARBOW, ZACHARY A., HIEBERT, DANIEL L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for arranging virtual objects within an immersive virtual environment. In one embodiment, avatar characteristics, viewport/display characteristics, and object/location characteristics may be analyzed to determine a degree of visibility of various locations within a virtual space to a user. Further, past user interactions within the immersive virtual environment may be analyzed to determine which portions of the user'"'"'s viewport, when including virtual objects that are offered for sale, are most likely to result in a sale to the user. A set of virtual objects may then be assigned to locations within the virtual space based on the determined visibility to the user, past purchases by the user, and characteristics of the virtual objects.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting virtual objects to a user represented in a virtual environment using an avatar, comprising:

receiving an indication to present the user with a plurality of virtual objects, each virtual object having a relative priority of presentation;

in response to receiving the indication, determining, for a plurality of available locations in the virtual environment, a likelihood that presenting a virtual object in the location will result in a desired interaction by the user with the presented virtual object;

assigning, based on at least the likelihoods determined for the plurality of locations and on the relative priorities of the plurality of virtual objects, the plurality of virtual objects to at least some of the plurality of available locations; and

presenting the user with the plurality of virtual objects in their assigned available locations.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more characteristics of the avatar representing the user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the one or more characteristics of the avatar are selected from:

(i) a height of the avatar, (ii) a width of the avatar, and (iii) a shape of the avatar.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing at least one of:

(i) a type of display device, (ii) a resolution of a display device, (iii) a size of a display device, and (iv) a point of view presented to the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more characteristics of the available location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more characteristics of the plurality of virtual objects.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more previous interactions of the user and the virtual environment.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the previous interactions include at least a portion of a viewport which presented a virtual object to the user as part of the one or more previous interactions.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the previous interactions are stored in a search index configured for use in determining likelihoods of a desired interaction resulting from presenting virtual objects to the user in a particular location of the virtual environment.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication to present the user with a plurality of virtual objects is selected from:

(i) an action performed by the user in the virtual environment, (ii) a movement of the user within the virtual environment, and (iii) the presence of the user at a predetermined location of the virtual environment.

11. A computer-readable storage medium including a program, which when executed on a processor performs a method for presenting virtual objects to a user of a virtual environment, comprising:

receiving an indication to present the user with a plurality of virtual objects, each virtual object having a relative priority of presentation;

in response to receiving the indication, determining, for a plurality of available locations in the virtual environment, a likelihood that presenting a virtual object in the location will result in a desired interaction by the user with the presented virtual object;

assigning, based on at least the likelihoods determined for the plurality of locations and on the relative priorities of the plurality of virtual objects, the plurality of virtual objects to at least some of the plurality of available locations; and

presenting the user with the plurality of virtual objects in their assigned available locations.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more characteristics of the avatar representing the user.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the one or more characteristics of the avatar are selected from:

(i) a height of the avatar, (ii) a width of the avatar, and (iii) a shape of the avatar.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing at least one of:

(i) a type of display device, (ii) a resolution of a display device, (iii) a size of a display device, and (iv) a point of view presented to the user.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more characteristics of the available location.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining a likelihood for an available location comprises analyzing one or more previous interactions of the user and the virtual environment.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the previous interactions include at least a portion of a viewport which presented a virtual object to the user as part of the one or more previous interactions.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein at least one of the previous interactions are stored in a search index configured for use in determining likelihoods of a desired interaction resulting from presenting virtual objects to the user in a particular location of the virtual environment.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the indication of a requirement to present the user with a plurality of virtual objects is selected from:

(i) an action performed by the user in the virtual environment, (ii) a movement of the user within the virtual environment, and (iii) the presence of the user at a predetermined location of the virtual environment.

20. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

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

receiving an indication to present the user with a plurality of virtual objects, each virtual object having a relative priority of presentation,

in response to receiving the indication, determining, for a plurality of available locations in the virtual environment, a likelihood that presenting a virtual object in the location will result in a desired interaction by the user with the presented virtual object,

assigning, based on at least the likelihoods determined for the plurality of locations and on the relative priorities of the plurality of virtual objects, the plurality of virtual objects to at least some of the plurality of available locations, and

presenting the user with the plurality of virtual objects in their assigned available locations.