SELECTIVE AND ON-DEMAND REPRESENTATION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD

• US 20110029889A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Karstens, Christopher Kent
• Application Number:
  US12/533,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• 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 2300/5593 involving scheduling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

A metaverse system and method for representing multiple versions of a user'"'"'s avatar to other users of a virtual world. The system includes a metaverse server connected to a network. The metaverse server executes a metaverse application. The metaverse application enables an avatar of a first user to interact with avatars of other users within a metaverse virtual world. The system also includes a representation engine connected to the metaverse server. The representation engine conveys a first representation of the avatar of the first user to a second user according to a default profile. The representation engine simultaneously conveys a second representation of the avatar of the first user to a third user according to an alternative profile. The alternative profile is typically different from the default profile. Other embodiments of the system are also described.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium to store a computer readable program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

execute a metaverse application, wherein the metaverse application enables an avatar of a first user to interact with avatars of other users within a metaverse virtual world;

convey a first representation of the avatar of the first user to a second user according to a default profile; and

simultaneously convey a second representation of the avatar of the first user to a third user according to an alternative profile.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to allow the first user to configure profile characteristics of the default and the alternative profiles and to store the default and the alternative profiles in a memory storage device wherein each of the default and alternative profiles comprises at least one profile characteristic selected from the group consisting of hair color, hair style, clothing, age, gender, race, height, weight, body type, voice type, gestures, and allowed expressions.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to allow the first user to configure a profile trigger and to store the profile trigger in a memory storage device, wherein the profile trigger comprises at least one trigger selected from the group consisting of an activation time, an activation location, and an activation contact, wherein the activation time comprises a time of day within the virtual world that indicates when the alternative profile is represented to another user, the activation location comprises a location within the virtual world that indicates where within the virtual world the alternative profile is represented to another user, and the activation contact comprises an identifier of another user'"'"'s avatar that indicates to whom the alternative profile is represented.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to dynamically recognize the profile trigger of the alternative profile and to dynamically implement the alternative profile in response to the profile trigger.

5. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to monitor at least one of a plurality of environmental cues of the metaverse virtual world, to compare at least one of the environmental cues to at least one of the profile triggers, and to implement the alternative profile in response to a match between at least one of the environmental cues and at least one of the profile triggers associated with the alternative profile, wherein the environmental cues comprise at least the time of day in the virtual world, the location of the avatar in the virtual world, and another avatar that is within a predetermined radius of the first user'"'"'s avatar.

6. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to monitor profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar and to send a monitor signal to the representation engine to instruct the representation engine to adapt at least one profile characteristic of the first user'"'"'s avatar to match at least one of the profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar, wherein the representation engine simultaneously represents at least one of the profile characteristics of the avatar of the first user to the third user according to the profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar.

7. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to monitor a profile preference of the third user and to send a monitor signal to the representation engine to instruct the representation engine to adapt the appearance of the first user'"'"'s avatar to match the profile preference, wherein the profile preference comprises at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics, and wherein at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics of the first user'"'"'s profile that is represented to the third user as the first user'"'"'s avatar is set equal to the at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s profile preference.

8. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to receive an audio signal from an audio input device on a first client computer of the first user, to modify the audio signal according to the voice type associated with the alternative profile, and to output the modified audio signal to a second client computer of the second user.

9. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on the computer, causes the computer to perform operations to receive a signal from a video input device on the first client computer of the first user, to analyze the signal, to generate the allowed expression associated with the alternative profile, and to output the generated expression to a second client computer of the second user.

10. A system comprising:

a metaverse server coupled to a network, the metaverse server to execute a metaverse application, wherein the metaverse application enables an avatar of a first user to interact with avatars of other users within a metaverse virtual world; and

a representation engine coupled to the metaverse server, the representation engine to convey a first representation of the avatar of the first user to a second user according to a default profile and to simultaneously convey a second representation of the avatar of the first user to a third user according to an alternative profile, wherein the alternative profile is different from the default profile.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the representation engine comprises a profile configurator to allow the first user to configure profile characteristics of the default and the alternative profiles and to store the default and the alternative profiles in a memory storage device wherein each of the default and alternative profiles comprises at least one profile characteristic selected from the group consisting of hair color, hair style, clothing, age, gender, race, height, weight, body type, voice type, gestures, and allowed expressions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the profile configurator is further configured to allow the first user to configure a profile trigger and to store the profile trigger in a memory storage device, wherein the profile trigger comprises at least one trigger selected from the group consisting of an activation time, an activation location, and an activation contact, wherein the activation time comprises a time of day within the virtual world that indicates when the alternative profile is represented to another user, the activation location comprises a location within the virtual world that indicates where within the virtual world the alternative profile is represented to another user, and the activation contact comprises an identifier of another user'"'"'s avatar that indicates to whom the alternative profile is represented.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the representation engine is further configured to dynamically recognize a profile trigger of the alternative profile and to dynamically implement the alternative profile in response to the profile trigger.

14. The system of claim 12, the representation engine further comprising an environment monitor coupled to the profile configurator, the environment monitor to monitor at least one of a plurality of environmental cues of the metaverse virtual world, to compare at least one of the environmental cues to at least one of the profile triggers, and to implement the alternative profile in response to a match between at least one of the environmental cues and at least one of the profile triggers associated with the alternative profile, wherein the environmental cues comprise at least the time of day in the virtual world, the location of the avatar in the virtual world, and another avatar that is within a predetermined radius of the first user'"'"'s avatar.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the environment monitor is further configured to monitor profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar and to send a monitor signal to the representation engine to instruct the representation engine to adapt at least one profile characteristic of the first user'"'"'s avatar to match at least one of the profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar, wherein the representation engine simultaneously represents the profile characteristics of the avatar of the first user to the third user according to the profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s avatar.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the environment monitor is further configured to monitor a profile preference of the third user and to send a monitor signal to the representation engine to instruct the representation engine to adapt the appearance of the first user'"'"'s avatar to match the profile preference of the third user, wherein the profile preference comprises at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics, and wherein at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics of the first user'"'"'s profile that is represented to the third user as the first user'"'"'s avatar is set equal to the at least one of the plurality of profile characteristics of the third user'"'"'s profile preference.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a processor coupled to the representation engine, the processor to receive an audio signal from an audio input device on a first client computer of the first user, to modify the audio signal according to the voice type associated with the alternative profile, and to output the modified audio signal to a second client computer of the second user.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a processor coupled to the representation engine, the processor to receive a signal from a video input device on the first client computer of the first user, to analyze the signal, to generate the allowed expression associated with the alternative profile, and to output the generated expression to a second client computer of the second user.

19. A method comprising:

executing a metaverse application to enable an avatar of a first user to interact with avatars of other users within a metaverse virtual world;

conveying a first representation of the avatar of the first user to a second user according to a default profile;

recognizing a profile trigger associated with an alternative profile; and

dynamically conveying a second representation of the avatar of the first user to a third user according to the alternative profile while continuing to convey the first representation to the second user.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

configuring profile characteristics of the default and alternative profiles, wherein each of the default and alternative profiles comprises at least one profile characteristic selected from the group consisting of hair color, hair style, clothing, age, gender, race, height, weight, body type, voice type, gestures, and allowed expressions;

configuring the profile trigger, wherein the profile trigger comprises at least one trigger selected from the group consisting of an activation time, an activation location, and an activation contact, wherein the activation time comprises a time of day within the virtual world that indicates when the alternative profile is represented to the third user, the activation location comprises a location within the virtual world that indicates where within the virtual world the alternative profile is represented to the third user, and the activation contact comprises an identifier of the third user'"'"'s avatar that indicates to whom the alternative profile is represented;

storing the profiles and the profile trigger in a memory storage device;

monitoring at least one of a plurality of environmental cues of the metaverse virtual world, wherein the environmental cues comprise at least the time of day in the virtual world, the location of the first user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world, and another avatar that is within a predetermined radius of the first user'"'"'s avatar;

comparing at least one of the environmental cues to at least one of the profile triggers; and

implementing the alternative profile in response to a match between at least one of the environmental cues and at least one of the profile triggers associated with the alternative profile.