Computer system and method of using presence visualizations of avatars as persistable virtual contact objects

• US 8,117,551 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Li-Te, Rohall, Steven L., Patterson, John F., Ikura, Masato, Le, Phuong B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basom, Blaine T.
• Application Number:
  US11/959,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757, 715/706, 715/848, 715/764, 715/851, 715/852, 715/759, 715/758
• US Class Current: 715/757
• 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 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• 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 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]

Abstract

Computer method and apparatus represent users by respective avatars in a subject virtual environment. The invention system displays the avatars in the virtual environment, and for each avatar, displays in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects. The respective trail of virtual contact objects is associated with the user represented by the avatar and serves as a visual indication of presence and activeness (level of activity) of the user in the subject virtual environment. Each virtual contact object in the respective trail stores and provides user contact data of the user and is persistable upon end-user command.

Claims

1. A computer method for providing user contact data in a virtual environment, comprising the steps of:

through a computer, representing users by respective avatars displayed in a subject computer based virtual environment; and

for each avatar, automatically computer generating and displaying in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects, the automatic generating and displaying being free of user instantiation of the virtual contact objects in the subject virtual environment by the user represented by the avatar, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being associated with the user represented by the avatar and being a visual indication of presence of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar and

wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each respective trail of virtual contact objects is formed of a time-ordered series of virtual contact objects along a vertically oriented path.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising altering appearance of virtual contact objects in the series as a function of any one or combination of time, height, user action and contact metatdata.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

upon an end-user performing a certain action on a virtual contact object of a user, persisting the virtual contact object, the user being a contact user;

wherein the persisted virtual contact object is maintained as a permanent object in the subject virtual environment.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the persisted virtual contact object enables the end user to teleport an avatar representing the end user to location of the avatar representing the contact user.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the persisted virtual contact object displays a photograph image of the contact user.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the persisted virtual contact object changes in appearance as a function of any of time, displayed height, user action and contact metadata.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the subject virtual environment is a virtual world for socializing.

9. Computer apparatus providing user contact data in a virtual environment, comprising:

one or more computer processors;

a plurality of computer generated avatars representing respective users in a subject virtual environment; and

for each avatar, a respective automatically computer generated trail of virtual contact objects that are computer executeable and displayed in proximity to the avatar, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being associated with the user represented by the avatar and being a visual indication of presence of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,

wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.

10. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each respective trail of virtual contact objects is formed of a time-ordered series of virtual contact objects along a vertically oriented path.

11. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the virtual contact objects in the series alter in appearance as a function of any one or combination of time, height, user action and contact metatdata.

12. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein for each virtual contact object of a user, the virtual contact object is responsive to an end-user performing a certain action on the virtual contact object and persists, the user being a contact user;

wherein the persisted virtual contact object is maintained as a permanent object in the subject virtual environment.

13. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the persisted virtual contact object enables the end user to teleport an avatar representing the end user to location of the avatar representing the contact user.

14. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the persisted virtual contact object displays a photograph image of the contact user.

15. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the persisted virtual contact object changes in appearance as a function of any of time, displayed height, user action and contact metadata.

16. Computer apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the subject virtual environment is a virtual world for socializing.

17. A computer system providing user contact data in a virtual environment, comprising:

in one or more digital processors;

computer means for representing users by respective avatars displayed in a subject computer generated virtual environment; and

computer display means, for each avatar, the computer display means rendering display in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being automatically computer generated and being associated with the user represented by the avatar in a manner serving as a visual indication of presence, including activeness, of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,

wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.

18. A computer system as claimed in claim 17 wherein each respective trail of virtual contact objects is formed of a time-ordered series of virtual contact objects along a vertically oriented path;

and

the virtual contact objects in the series alter in appearance as a function of any one or combination of time, height, user action and contact metatdata.

19. A computer system as claimed in claim 17 wherein for each virtual contact object of a user, the virtual contact object is responsive to an end-user performing a certain action on the virtual contact object and persists, the user being a contact user;

wherein the persisted virtual contact object is maintained as a permanent object in the subject virtual environment and is useable by the end user in the subject virtual environment.

20. A computer system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the persisted virtual contact object displays a photo image of the contact user.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes:

representing users by respective avatars displayed in a subject computer generated virtual environment; and

for each avatar, displaying in proximity to the avatar, a respective automatically computer generated trail of virtual contact objects, the respective trail of virtual contact objects being associated with the user represented by the avatar and being a visual indication of presence of the user in the subject virtual environment, each virtual contact object in the respective trail storing and providing user contact data of the user being represented by the avatar, the user contact data being different from location data of the avatar, and each virtual contact object in the respective trail being free of user instantiation in the subject virtual environment by the user being represented by the avatar,

wherein each virtual contact object is able to be taken, copied and shared by any other user as representative of user contact information of the user represented by the avatar.