FACILITATING GROUP ACTIVITIES IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140282112A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Begosa, Howard, Ietaka, Jiro, Lisuch, Matt, Masilko, Gary Todd, McDonald, Ryan James, Quinn, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• 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 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed to facilitate group activities in a virtual environment. An indication is conveyed of a region surrounding a first avatar as being a group activity region, upon detecting that the first avatar is leading a first group activity in the virtual environment. The region is defined by proximity to the first avatar. A second avatar is allowed to participate in the first group activity with the first avatar in the region, only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating group activities in a virtual environment, the method comprising:

conveying an indication of a region surrounding a first avatar as being a group activity region upon detecting that the first avatar is leading a first group activity in the virtual environment, the region being defined by proximity to the first avatar; and

allowing a second avatar to participate in the first group activity with the first avatar in the region, only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment and by operation of one or more computer processors.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon detecting the second avatar entering the region surrounding the first avatar, requesting a user of the second avatar to confirm whether the user desires to join the first group activity, wherein the second avatar is allowed to participate in the first group activity upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, confirmation that the user desires to join the first group activity and provided that the second avatar remains within the region surrounding the first avatar.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the region surrounding a first avatar increases in size based on a total count of avatars participating in the first group activity and up to a predefined maximum size.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the first group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

conveying an indication of an region surrounding a third avatar leading a second group activity in the virtual environment, and wherein the conveyed indications are disallowed from overlapping in the virtual environment;

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the second group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment; and

allowing the second avatar to participate in the second group activity when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the first group activity comprises performing a first song in the virtual environment, wherein the second group activity comprises performing a second song in the virtual environment, different from the first song, wherein each song includes a respective plurality of instruments;

wherein the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the second song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first song is output to the user of the second avatar via a plurality of audio channels comprising a left channel and a right channel, wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar but is not participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a respective volume level that is based on a location and an orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, such that the volume is increased based on a proximity of the second avatar to a predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the predefined, central location comprises a location of the first avatar;

wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar and is participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a predefined maximum volume level pertaining to the predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, regardless of any location and regardless of any orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein a volume level of sound effects in the virtual environment is decreased when the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar, wherein ambient music is ceased to be output to the user when the first song is audible to the user, wherein the first song includes, for each instrument of the plurality of instruments, a plurality of distinct tracks pertaining to the respective instrument.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises, upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, confirmation that the user desires to join the first group activity, requesting the user to select a desired instrument for use by the second avatar to participate in the first group activity;

wherein each successive avatar using a given instrument is assigned a next successive track pertaining to the given instrument and that is added to playback of the first song to avatars within the region, wherein tracks not assigned to any avatar are not played back as part of the first song, wherein the first song is output by a virtual world application, wherein the virtual world application is configured to independently add each individual audio effect selected from a reverb effect, an echo effect, and a chorus effect to a given track of the first song, when multiple avatars are performing the given track of the first song and not when only a single avatar is performing the given track of the first song, wherein an intensity of the added effect is increased based on a count of the multiple avatars performing the given track of the first song and up to a predefined maximum intensity;

wherein a fourth avatar requesting to participate as a dancer in the first group activity is not assigned any track and does not result in any track being added to playback of the first song, wherein the method further comprises, upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, a request to change to a different instrument, assigning the different instrument to the second avatar.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation to facilitate group activities in a virtual environment, the operation comprising:

conveying an indication of a region surrounding a first avatar as being a group activity region upon detecting that the first avatar is leading a first group activity in the virtual environment, the region being defined by proximity to the first avatar; and

allowing a second avatar to participate in the first group activity with the first avatar in the region, only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment and by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises:

upon detecting the second avatar entering the region surrounding the first avatar, requesting a user of the second avatar to confirm whether the user desires to join the first group activity, wherein the second avatar is allowed to participate in the first group activity upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, confirmation that the user desires to join the first group activity and provided that the second avatar remains within the region surrounding the first avatar.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the region surrounding a first avatar increases in size based on a total count of avatars participating in the first group activity and up to a predefined maximum size.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operation further comprises:

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the first group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the operation further comprises:

conveying an indication of an region surrounding a third avatar leading a second group activity in the virtual environment, and wherein the conveyed indications are disallowed from overlapping in the virtual environment;

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the second group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment; and

allowing the second avatar to participate in the second group activity when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first group activity comprises performing a first song in the virtual environment, wherein the second group activity comprises performing a second song in the virtual environment, different from the first song, wherein each song includes a respective plurality of instruments;

wherein the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the second song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first song is output to the user of the second avatar via a plurality of audio channels comprising a left channel and a right channel, wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar but is not participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a respective volume level that is based on a location and an orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, such that the volume is increased based on a proximity of the second avatar to a predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the predefined, central location comprises a location of the first avatar;

wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar and is participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a predefined maximum volume level pertaining to the predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, regardless of any location and regardless of any orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein a volume level of sound effects in the virtual environment is decreased when the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar, wherein ambient music is ceased to be output to the user when the first song is audible to the user, wherein the first song includes, for each instrument of the plurality of instruments, a plurality of distinct tracks pertaining to the respective instrument.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operation further comprises, upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, confirmation that the user desires to join the first group activity, requesting the user to select a desired instrument for use by the second avatar to participate in the first group activity;

wherein each successive avatar using a given instrument is assigned a next successive track pertaining to the given instrument and that is added to playback of the first song to avatars within the region, wherein tracks not assigned to any avatar are not played back as part of the first song, wherein the first song is output by a virtual world application, wherein the virtual world application is configured to independently add each individual audio effect selected from a reverb effect, an echo effect, and a chorus effect to a given track of the first song, when multiple avatars are performing the given track of the first song and not when only a single avatar is performing the given track of the first song, wherein an intensity of the added effect is increased based on a count of the multiple avatars performing the given track of the first song and up to a predefined maximum intensity;

wherein a fourth avatar requesting to participate as a dancer in the first group activity is not assigned any track and does not result in any track being added to playback of the first song, wherein the operation further comprises, upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, a request to change to a different instrument, assigning the different instrument to the second avatar.

17. A system to facilitate group activities 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;

conveying an indication of a region surrounding a first avatar as being a group activity region upon detecting that the first avatar is leading a first group activity in the virtual environment, the region being defined by proximity to the first avatar; and

allowing a second avatar to participate in the first group activity with the first avatar in the region, only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operation further comprises:

upon detecting the second avatar entering the region surrounding the first avatar, requesting a user of the second avatar to confirm whether the user desires to join the first group activity, wherein the second avatar is allowed to participate in the first group activity upon receiving, from the user of the second avatar, confirmation that the user desires to join the first group activity and provided that the second avatar remains within the region surrounding the first avatar.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the region surrounding a first avatar increases in size based on a total count of avatars participating in the first group activity and up to a predefined maximum size.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the operation further comprises:

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the first group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the first avatar in the virtual environment.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the operation further comprises:

conveying an indication of an region surrounding a third avatar leading a second group activity in the virtual environment, and wherein the conveyed indications are disallowed from overlapping in the virtual environment;

disallowing the second avatar from participating in the second group activity when the second avatar is outside of the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment; and

allowing the second avatar to participate in the second group activity when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar in the virtual environment.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first group activity comprises performing a first song in the virtual environment, wherein the second group activity comprises performing a second song in the virtual environment, different from the first song, wherein each song includes a respective plurality of instruments;

wherein the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the second song is audible to the user of the second avatar only when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the third avatar.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first song is output to the user of the second avatar via a plurality of audio channels comprising a left channel and a right channel, wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar but is not participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a respective volume level that is based on a location and an orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, such that the volume is increased based on a proximity of the second avatar to a predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein the predefined, central location comprises a location of the first avatar;

wherein when the second avatar is within the region surrounding the first avatar and is participating in the first group activity, then the first song is output via each audio channel at a predefined maximum volume level pertaining to the predefined, central location within the region surrounding the first avatar, regardless of any location and regardless of any orientation of the second avatar within the region surrounding the first avatar, wherein a volume level of sound effects in the virtual environment is decreased when the first song is audible to the user of the second avatar, wherein ambient music is ceased to be output to the user when the first song is audible to the user, wherein the first song includes, for each instrument of the plurality of instruments, a plurality of distinct tracks pertaining to the respective instrument.