AVATAR PERSONALIZATION IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140229850A1
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Makofsky, Steven, Cutsinger, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• 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: 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: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/169 Holistic features and representations, i.e. based on the facial image taken as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/171 Local features and components; Facial parts eye characteristics G06V40/18; Occluding parts, e.g. glasses; Geometrical relationships
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed to facilitate avatar personalization in a virtual environment. A request to generate an avatar in the virtual environment to represent a requesting entity is received. Data pertaining to the requesting entity is retrieved, the data not specifying any visual appearance of the avatar. A proposed avatar is generated based on the retrieved data. The proposed avatar is output to the requesting entity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to facilitate avatar personalization in a virtual environment, the method comprising:

receiving a request to generate an avatar in the virtual environment to represent a requesting entity;

retrieving data pertaining to the requesting entity, wherein the retrieved data does not explicitly specify any visual appearance of the avatar and does not explicitly specify any name for the avatar; and

generating a proposed avatar based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity and by operation of one or more computer processors, the proposed avatar having a visual appearance that is not based on any music content of the requesting entity, wherein the proposed avatar is output to the requesting entity responsive to the received request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the proposed avatar includes at least a first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity, thereby facilitating generation of a personalized avatar desired by the requesting entity, wherein the method further comprises:

generating a finalized avatar including the first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined and a second avatar aspect that is defined by the requesting entity, wherein the first avatar aspect and the second avatar aspect are different aspects, wherein the first avatar aspect is not defined by the requesting entity, and wherein the second avatar aspect is not programmatically defined.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the proposed avatar is generated by a virtual world application, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect selected from:

(i) a name of the avatar and (ii) an aspect of the visual appearance of the avatar;

wherein the name of the avatar comprises a concatenation of a desired name for the avatar and a keyword programmatically determined based on the retrieved data, wherein the desired name is specified in the received request, wherein the name of the avatar is determined to be available for use by the requesting entity, wherein the method further comprises;

programmatically modifying the finalized avatar upon detecting a change in the visual appearance of the requesting entity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each retrieved data selected from:

(i) facial data obtained via facial recognition of the requesting entity;

(ii) location data of the requesting entity, wherein the location data is selected from global positioning system (GPS) data, network address data, and cell tower triangulation data;

(iii) trend data determined based on the location data;

(iv) music library data pertaining to a music library of the requesting entity;

(v) music genre data determined based on the music library data; and

(vi) audio data from an audio capture unit associated with the requesting entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the requesting entity comprises a user of the virtual world application, wherein the proposed avatar is generated to facilitate avatar personalization, such that the user does not need to specify any input for customizing the first avatar aspect, wherein the retrieved data does not pertain to the virtual environment, wherein the network address data comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the requesting entity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each facial data selected from:

(i) a first facial data characterizing a facial geometry of the user;

(ii) a second facial data characterizing a skin color of the user;

(iii) a third facial data characterizing a hair color of the user;

(iv) a fourth facial data characterizing a facial feature of the user, wherein the facial feature is selected from eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and chin;

(v) a fifth facial data characterizing an accessory worn by the user, wherein the accessory is selected from glasses, earrings, necklace, and hat; and

(vi) a sixth facial data characterizing clothing worn by the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the trend data characterizes one or more trending topics pertaining to a geographical region of the user, wherein the geographical region is determined based on the location data, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each trending topic selected from:

(i) a trending point of interest in the geographical region, wherein the trending point of interest is selected from a trending town name, a trending street name, a trending location name, a trending store name, and a trending restaurant name; and

(ii) a trending subject of interest in the geographical region of the user, wherein the trending subject of interest is determined based on web trending data, wherein the trending subject of interest selected from a trending person name, a trending event name, a trending activity name, a trending product name, a trending service name, and a trending media content name.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual world application comprises:

(i) a request processing module configured to process the received request and the second avatar aspect that is defined by the requesting entity;

(ii) a facial processing module configured to retrieve the facial data obtained via facial recognition of the requesting entity;

(iii) a location processing module configured to retrieve the location data;

(iv) a trend processing module configured to retrieve the trend data based on the location data;

(v) a music library module configured to retrieve the music library data and to determine the music genre data based on the music library data;

(vi) an avatar appearance generator configured to programmatically define the first avatar aspect of the avatar; and

(vii) an avatar name generator configured to generate a plurality of avatar names including the name of the avatar.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program, which when executed, is configured to perform an operation to facilitate avatar personalization in a virtual environment, the operation comprising:

receiving a request to generate an avatar in the virtual environment to represent a requesting entity;

retrieving data pertaining to the requesting entity, wherein the retrieved data does not explicitly specify any visual appearance of the avatar and does not explicitly specify any name for the avatar; and

generating a proposed avatar based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity and by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program, the proposed avatar having a visual appearance that is not based on any music content of the requesting entity, wherein the proposed avatar is output to the requesting entity responsive to the received request.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the proposed avatar includes at least a first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity, thereby facilitating generation of a personalized avatar desired by the requesting entity, wherein the operation further comprises:

generating a finalized avatar including the first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined and a second avatar aspect that is defined by the requesting entity, wherein the first avatar aspect and the second avatar aspect are different aspects, wherein the first avatar aspect is not defined by the requesting entity, and wherein the second avatar aspect is not programmatically defined.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the proposed avatar is generated by a virtual world application, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect selected from:

(i) a name of the avatar and (ii) an aspect of the visual appearance of the avatar;

wherein the name of the avatar comprises a concatenation of a desired name for the avatar and a keyword programmatically determined based on the retrieved data, wherein the desired name is specified in the received request, wherein the name of the avatar is determined to be available for use by the requesting entity, wherein the operation further comprises;

programmatically modifying the finalized avatar upon detecting a change in the visual appearance of the requesting entity.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each retrieved data selected from:

(i) facial data obtained via facial recognition of the requesting entity;

(ii) location data of the requesting entity, wherein the location data is selected from global positioning system (GPS) data, network address data, and cell tower triangulation data;

(iii) trend data determined based on the location data;

(iv) music library data pertaining to a music library of the requesting entity;

(v) music genre data determined based on the music library data; and

(vi) audio data from an audio capture unit associated with the requesting entity.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the requesting entity comprises a user of the virtual world application, wherein the proposed avatar is generated to facilitate avatar personalization, such that the user does not need to specify any input for customizing the first avatar aspect, wherein the retrieved data does not pertain to the virtual environment, wherein the network address data comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the requesting entity.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each facial data selected from:

(i) a first facial data characterizing a facial geometry of the user;

(ii) a second facial data characterizing a skin color of the user;

(iii) a third facial data characterizing a hair color of the user;

(iv) a fourth facial data characterizing a facial feature of the user, wherein the facial feature is selected from eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and chin;

(v) a fifth facial data characterizing an accessory worn by the user, wherein the accessory is selected from glasses, earrings, necklace, and hat; and

(vi) a sixth facial data characterizing clothing worn by the user.

15. A system to facilitate avatar personalization in a virtual environment, the system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

a memory containing a program, which when executed by the one or more computer processors is configured to perform an operation comprising;

receiving a request to generate an avatar in the virtual environment to represent a requesting entity;

retrieving data pertaining to the requesting entity, wherein the retrieved data does not explicitly specify any visual appearance of the avatar and does not explicitly specify any name for the avatar; and

generating a proposed avatar based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity, the proposed avatar having a visual appearance that is not based on any music content of the requesting entity, wherein the proposed avatar is output to the requesting entity responsive to the received request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the proposed avatar includes at least a first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined based on the retrieved data pertaining to the requesting entity, thereby facilitating generation of a personalized avatar desired by the requesting entity, wherein the operation further comprises:

generating a finalized avatar including the first avatar aspect that is programmatically defined and a second avatar aspect that is defined by the requesting entity, wherein the first avatar aspect and the second avatar aspect are different aspects, wherein the first avatar aspect is not defined by the requesting entity, and wherein the second avatar aspect is not programmatically defined.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the proposed avatar is generated by a virtual world application, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect selected from:

(i) a name of the avatar and (ii) an aspect of the visual appearance of the avatar;

wherein the name of the avatar comprises a concatenation of a desired name for the avatar and a keyword programmatically determined based on the retrieved data, wherein the desired name is specified in the received request, wherein the name of the avatar is determined to be available for use by the requesting entity, wherein the operation further comprises;

programmatically modifying the finalized avatar upon detecting a change in the visual appearance of the requesting entity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each retrieved data selected from:

(i) facial data obtained via facial recognition of the requesting entity;

(ii) location data of the requesting entity, wherein the location data is selected from global positioning system (GPS) data, network address data, and cell tower triangulation data;

(iii) trend data determined based on the location data;

(iv) music library data pertaining to a music library of the requesting entity;

(v) music genre data determined based on the music library data; and

(vi) audio data from an audio capture unit associated with the requesting entity.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the requesting entity comprises a user of the virtual world application, wherein the proposed avatar is generated to facilitate avatar personalization, such that the user does not need to specify any input for customizing the first avatar aspect, wherein the retrieved data does not pertain to the virtual environment, wherein the network address data comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the requesting entity.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the virtual world application is configured to individually and programmatically define each first avatar aspect based individually on each facial data selected from:

(i) a first facial data characterizing a facial geometry of the user;

(ii) a second facial data characterizing a skin color of the user;

(iii) a third facial data characterizing a hair color of the user;

(iv) a fourth facial data characterizing a facial feature of the user, wherein the facial feature is selected from eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and chin;

(v) a fifth facial data characterizing an accessory worn by the user, wherein the accessory is selected from glasses, earrings, necklace, and hat; and

(vi) a sixth facial data characterizing clothing worn by the user.