SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A VIRTUAL TOUR WITHIN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20130275869A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Inventors: HASWELL, Thomas Clayton, SEIDMAN, Glenn Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H

Abstract

A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to generate a virtual tour of a virtual venue within a virtual environment. The virtual tour is then displayed within the virtual environment.

Claims

1. A method for generating a virtual tour, presented by a virtual avatar, of a virtual venue within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

generating, by a virtual venue application implemented on a server, a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application;

moving the virtual avatar through the virtual venue;

recording the movements of the virtual avatar through the virtual venue; and

displaying the recorded movements within a graphical user interface as part of the virtual tour of the virtual venue.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a guide avatar;

displaying the guide avatar within the graphical user interface, wherein the guide avatar is displayed within the virtual venue; and

moving the guide avatar based on the recorded movements as part of the virtual tour.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

inserting hand motions from a hand motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the hand motions;

inserting leg and foot motions from a leg and foot motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the leg and foot motions; and

inserting facial expressions from a facial expression library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the facial expressions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual tour comprises one or more locations in a room of the virtual venue that comprises a position and a direction unit vector, wherein one or more visitors are positioned at the position during the virtual tour.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each location comprises one or more additional locations to gaze at from each location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein each location comprises a shaped area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual tour can be at least one of:

paused, fast-forwarded, or reversed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, when the virtual tour is paused, a guide avatar answers one or more pre-defined questions.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the guide avatar automatically makes movements with at least one of its body, its face, its hands, or its fingers.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the virtual tour includes one or more locations where the guide avatar stops to perform at least one of talking or pointing out an object, before the virtual tour resumes.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

searching for at least one location of the one or more locations;

skipping at least a portion of the virtual tour, wherein the virtual tour either starts or resumes at the searched location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising

creating a set of one or more questions and a set of one or more answers, where each question is associated with an answer;

and

displaying the set of questions within the graphical user interface, wherein a user can ask at least one question of the set of questions.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

associating at least one question and one answer with audio.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a question from a user that is not within the set of one or more questions;

displaying an indication within the graphical user interface that an answer to the received question with be emailed to the user;

adding the received question to the set of one or more questions; and

adding an answer that is associated with the received question to the set of one or more answers.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user;

storing a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user per room; and

ranking each question of the set of questions based on the number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

associating each question of the set of questions with a room of the virtual venue;

receiving a question from a user;

displaying an indication within the graphical user interface that the question will be answered later within the virtual tour.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically teleporting one or more virtual avatars participating in the virtual tour to a room of the virtual venue when the one or more virtual avatars do not follow the guide avatar into the room within a time threshold.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store a virtual venue module; and

a processor configured to execute the virtual venue module stored on the memory,

wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

generate a virtual avatar that represents a user of a virtual venue application;

move the virtual avatar through the virtual venue;

record the movements of the virtual avatar through the virtual venue; and

display the recorded movements within a graphical user interface as part of the virtual tour of the virtual venue.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

generate a guide avatar;

display the guide avatar within the graphical user interface, wherein the guide avatar is displayed within the virtual venue; and

move the guide avatar based on the recorded movements as part of the virtual tour.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

insert hand motions from a hand motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the hand motions;

insert leg and foot motions from a leg and foot motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the leg and foot motions; and

insert facial expressions from a facial expression library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the facial expressions.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the virtual tour comprises one or more locations in a room of the virtual venue that comprises a position and a direction unit vector, wherein one or more visitors are positioned at the position during the virtual tour.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each location comprises one or more additional locations to gaze at from each location.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each location comprises a shaped area.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the virtual tour can be at least one of:

paused, fast-forwarded, or reversed.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein, when the virtual tour is paused, a guide avatar answers one or more pre-defined questions.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the guide avatar automatically makes movements with at least one of its body, its face, its hands, or its fingers.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the virtual tour includes one or more locations where the guide avatar stops to perform at least one of talking or pointing out an object, before the virtual tour resumes.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

search for at least one location of the one or more locations;

skip at least a portion of the virtual tour, wherein the virtual tour either starts or resumes at the searched location.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

create a set of one or more questions and a set of one or more answers, where each question is associated with an answer;

and

display the set of questions within the graphical user interface, wherein a user can ask at least one question of the set of questions.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

associate at least one question and one answer with audio.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

receive a question from a user that is not within the set of one or more questions;

display an indication within the graphical user interface that an answer to the received question with be emailed to the user;

add the received question to the set of one or more questions; and

add an answer that is associated with the received question to the set of one or more answers.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

store a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user;

store a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user per room; and

rank each question of the set of questions based on the number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

associate each question of the set of questions with a room of the virtual venue;

receive a question from a user;

display an indication within the graphical user interface that the question will be answered later within the virtual tour.

34. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to automatically teleport one or more virtual avatars participating in the virtual tour to a room of the virtual venue when the one or more virtual avatars do not follow the guide avatar into the room within a time threshold.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement a method, the method comprising:

generating a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application;

moving the virtual avatar through the virtual venue;

recording the movements of the virtual avatar through the virtual venue; and

displaying the recorded movements within a graphical user interface as part of the virtual tour of the virtual venue.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, the method further comprising:

generating a guide avatar;

displaying the guide avatar within the graphical user interface, wherein the guide avatar is displayed within the virtual venue; and

moving the guide avatar based on the recorded movements as part of the virtual tour.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising:

inserting hand motions from a hand motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the hand motions;

inserting leg and foot motions from a leg and foot motion library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the leg and foot motions; and

inserting facial expressions from a facial expression library into the virtual tour, wherein the guide avatar performs the facial expressions.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the virtual tour comprises one or more locations in a room of the virtual venue that comprises a position and a direction unit vector, wherein one or more visitors are positioned at the position during the virtual tour.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein each location comprises one or more additional locations to gaze at from each location.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein each location comprises a shaped area.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the virtual tour can be at least one of:

paused, fast-forwarded, or reversed.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein, when the virtual tour is paused, a guide avatar answers one or more pre-defined questions.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the guide avatar automatically makes movements with at least one of its body, its face, its hands, or its fingers.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the virtual tour includes one or more locations where the guide avatar stops to perform at least one of talking or pointing out an object, before the virtual tour resumes.

45. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 44, the method further comprising:

searching for at least one location of the one or more locations;

skipping at least a portion of the virtual tour, wherein the virtual tour either starts or resumes at the searched location.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, the method further comprising

creating a set of one or more questions and a set of one or more answers, where each question is associated with an answer;

and

displaying the set of questions within the graphical user interface, wherein a user can ask at least one question of the set of questions.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46, the method further comprising:

associating at least one question and one answer with audio.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46, the method further comprising:

receiving a question from a user that is not within the set of one or more questions;

displaying an indication within the graphical user interface that an answer to the received question with be emailed to the user;

adding the received question to the set of one or more questions; and

adding an answer that is associated with the received question to the set of one or more answers.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46, the method further comprising:

storing a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user;

storing a number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked by a user per room; and

ranking each question of the set of questions based on the number of times that each question of the set of questions is asked.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 46, the method further comprising:

associating each question of the set of questions with a room of the virtual venue;

receiving a question from a user;

displaying an indication within the graphical user interface that the question will be answered later within the virtual tour.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, the method further comprising automatically teleporting one or more virtual avatars participating in the virtual tour to a room of the virtual venue when the one or more virtual avatars do not follow the guide avatar into the room within a time threshold.