ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An entertainment device comprising:
- a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment, and to generate for display within the representation of the on-line virtual environment an avatar controlled by a user of the entertainment device and one or more avatars corresponding to users of one or more remote entertainment devices, the avatars being animated in response to a replayed music track;
a receiver operable to receive from an administrator of the online virtual environment an indicator of a music track currently selected for use in the virtual environment, and operable to receive from the administrator a music event signal;
music data storage operable to store a local copy of one or more music tracks; and
a processor operable to initiate playback of the selected music track from a locally stored copy in response to an initial placement of the user'"'"'s avatar within the online virtual environment, and operable to detect breakpoints in the currently played music track;
in which;
the processor is operable to select the next breakpoint in the currently played music track following reception of a music event signal, and to substitute the currently played music track at the selected breakpoint with a shorter piece of music of a predetermined length that is shorter than that portion of the currently played music track that it replaces which remains unplayed at the time of the substitution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of administering a virtual dance floor for an entertainment device is provided. The virtual dance floor is part of an online virtual environment hosting multiple users each using a respective entertainment device. Each user is represented by an avatar. For each entertainment device, the method includes receiving, from an administrator of the online virtual environment, an indicator of music currently played on the virtual dance floor; initiating playback of the music from a locally stored copy in response to placement of the avatar of the respective user; detecting breakpoints in the currently played music; receiving from the administrator a music event signal; and in response to receiving the music event signal, selecting the next detected breakpoint in the currently played music and substituting that music at the selected breakpoint with a piece of music of a predetermined length that is substantially shorter than the currently played music.
142 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An entertainment device comprising:
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a display generator arranged to generate for display a representation of an on-line virtual environment, and to generate for display within the representation of the on-line virtual environment an avatar controlled by a user of the entertainment device and one or more avatars corresponding to users of one or more remote entertainment devices, the avatars being animated in response to a replayed music track; a receiver operable to receive from an administrator of the online virtual environment an indicator of a music track currently selected for use in the virtual environment, and operable to receive from the administrator a music event signal; music data storage operable to store a local copy of one or more music tracks; and a processor operable to initiate playback of the selected music track from a locally stored copy in response to an initial placement of the user'"'"'s avatar within the online virtual environment, and operable to detect breakpoints in the currently played music track; in which; the processor is operable to select the next breakpoint in the currently played music track following reception of a music event signal, and to substitute the currently played music track at the selected breakpoint with a shorter piece of music of a predetermined length that is shorter than that portion of the currently played music track that it replaces which remains unplayed at the time of the substitution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A server arranged to administer a virtual environment, to which a plurality of remote entertainment devices may connect, wherein each remote entertainment device is represented within the virtual environment by an avatar, the server comprising:
a transmitter operable; (a) to transmit to each remote entertainment device an indicator of a music track currently selected for replay in the virtual environment; and (b) to transmit a music event signal to instruct the remote entertainment devices to substitute music currently played by each of the remote entertainment devices with a shorter piece of music of a predetermined length that is shorter than that portion of the music track that it replaces which remains unplayed at the time of the substitution. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of administering an online virtual environment for an entertainment device, wherein the virtual environment is operable to host a plurality of users each connecting to the online virtual environment using a respective entertainment device, and where each user is represented in the virtual environment by an avatar, and for each respective entertainment device the method comprises the steps of:
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receiving from an administrator of the online virtual environment an indicator of the music currently being played; initiating playback of the music from a locally stored copy in response to an initial placement of the avatar of the respective user within the online virtual environment; detecting breakpoints in the currently played music; receiving from the administrator of the online virtual environment a music event signal; and in response to receiving the music event signal, selecting the next detected breakpoint in the currently played music, and substituting the currently played music at the selected breakpoint with a shorter piece of music of a predetermined length that is shorter than that portion of the currently played music that it replaces which remains unplayed at the time of the substitution. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. A method of administering an online virtual environment for a server, wherein the online virtual environment is operable to host a plurality of users each connecting to the online virtual environment using a respective entertainment device, and where each user is represented in the virtual environment by an avatar, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving from respective remote entertainment devices dance style information for their corresponding avatars; evaluating the number of avatars dancing each of a number of available dance styles; selecting a dominant dance style based upon the evaluation; detecting whether the dominant dance style changes between successive evaluations; selecting music responsive to the dominant dance style; and transmitting a music event signal to the remote entertainment devices to substitute the music currently played by each of the remote entertainment devices with a shorter piece of music of a predetermined length that is shorter than that portion of the music that it replaces which remains unplayed at the time of substitution, and then to subsequently play a piece of music responsive to the dominant dance style. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20)
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Specification