Computer-implemented system and method for home page customization and e-commerce support

• US 7,342,587 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMVU Incorporated (IMVU)
• Original Assignee: IMVU Incorporated (IMVU)
• Inventors: Danzig, Matt, Gosling, Marcus, Harvey, William David, Guymon, Vernon Melvin III, Ries, Eric Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US11/242,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 345473-475, 715/753, 715/757, 715/758, 715/764, 705/1, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for home page customization and e-commerce support is disclosed. The present invention relates to avatar home pages and the combination of a home page customization service with an e-commerce marketplace through which users can purchase home page decorations made by third party developers. Various embodiments include a “chat now” online matching system and a real-time map showing the geographical location of users in an online community.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a customized avatar homepage generator configured to automatically generate at least one customized avatar homepage, the at least one customized avatar homepage including a first block to display a customized avatar representing a first user, the customized avatar being customizable with clothing options and body customization options selectable by the first user, the at least one customized avatar homepage including a second block to display at least one avatar representing a visitor to the at least one customized avatar homepage; and

a message processor to receive a message from a second user and to display in a third block of the at least one customized avatar homepage at least one avatar representing the second user from whom the message was received.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clothing options include selectable 3D clothing options.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body customization options include selectable body pattern options.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first block, the second block, and the third block are displayed on the same webpage.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message processor includes an instant messaging apparatus to allow the first user to instant message other users in a visual environment and to display the first user and the other users as 3D avatars, each of which represent one of the users participating in the instant messaging.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a 3D avatar motion model to enable the first user to interact in a common scene with the second user wherein the customized avatar representing the first user and the avatar representing the second user are displayed in a common scene and may interact with each other.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further including an image recorder to allow users to record screen images (snapshots) taken of the common scene, and to upload the screen images to the customized avatar homepage generator as an image that may represent a user on a customized avatar homepage.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the image recorder enables the first user to save an image of the customized avatar representing the first user to a storage medium in a form that can uploaded to other web services or applications.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the customized avatar homepage generator displays the real world geographical location of a user.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the customized avatar homepage generator enables the first user to designate other users as friends, the customized avatar homepage generator displaying an avatar representing at least one friend in a fourth block of the at least one customized avatar homepage.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the customized avatar homepage generator being further configured to display the avatar representing at least one friend with a real world geographical location of the at least one friend by showing a marker on a visual map displayed on the customized avatar homepage.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message processor being further configured to enable users to post messages on other users'"'"'homepages.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message processor being further configured to visually identify senders of messages by showing pictures of avatars representing the message senders in combination with other message sender information.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the message can be private or public, such that a private message is visible on a receiver'"'"'s customized avatar homepage only by a receiver.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 being further configured to receive a gift with the message from the second user.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the gift is a 3D clothing option or body customization option that the first user can use to further customize the customized avatar representing the first user.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the gift is a decoration object that the first user can use to further customize the customized avatar representing the first user.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the decoration object includes a screen image that the first user can position on the customized avatar homepage.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the decoration object has a limited duration lifetime after which the decoration object is automatically removed from the customized avatar homepage.

20. A method, comprising:

automatically generating at least one customized avatar homepage, the at least one customized avatar homepage including a first block to display a customized avatar representing a first user, the customized avatar being customizable with clothing options and body customization options selectable by the first user, the at least one customized avatar homepage including a second block to display at least one avatar representing a visitor to the at least one customized avatar homepage; and

receiving a message from a second user and to display in a third block of the at least one customized avatar homepage at least one avatar representing the second user from whom the message was received.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the clothing options include selectable 3D clothing options.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the body customization options include selectable body pattern options.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first block, the second block, and the third block are displayed on the same webpage.

24. The method as claimed in claim 20 including allowing the first user to instant message other users in a visual environment and to display the first user and the other users as 3D avatars, each of which represent one of the users participating in the instant messaging.

25. The method as claimed in claim 20 including enabling the first user to interact in a common scene with the second user wherein the customized avatar representing the first user and the avatar representing the second user are displayed in a common scene and may interact with each other.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 including allowing users to record screen images (snapshots) taken of the common scene, and to upload the sereen images for customization of the customized avatar homepage.

27. The method as claimed in claim 20 including enabling the first user to save an image of the customized avatar representing the first user to a storage medium in a form that can uploaded to other web services or applications.

28. The method as claimed in claim 20 including displaying the real world geographical location of a user.

29. The method as claimed in claim 20 including enabling the first user to designate other users as friends, and displaying an avatar representing at least one friend in a fourth block of the at least one customized avatar homepage.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29 including displaying the avatar representing at least one friend with a real world geographical location of the at least one friend by showing a marker on a visual map displayed on the customized avatar homepage.

31. The method as claimed in claim 20 including enabling users to post messages on other users'"'"'homepages.

32. The method as claimed in claim 20 including showing an image of an avatar representing a message sender in combination with other message sender information.

33. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the message can be private or public, such that a private message is visible on a receiver'"'"'s customized avatar homepage only by a receiver.

34. The method as claimed in claim 20 including receiving a gifl along with the message from the second user.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the gift is a 3D clothing option or body customization option that the first user can use to further customize the customized avatar representing the first user.

36. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the gift is a decoration object that the first user can use to further customize the customized avatar representing the first user.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the decoration object contains a screen image that the first user can use to further customize the customized avatar representing the first user.

38. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the decoration object has a limited duration lifetime after which the decoration object is automatically removed from the customized avatar homepage.