Method and apparatus for predicting avatar movement in a virtual universe

• US 8,345,049 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick Allen II, O'Connell, Brian Marshall, Pickover, Clifford Alan, Walker, Keith Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajnik, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prendergast, Roberta D
• Application Number:
  US11/839,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345473-475, 345/629, 715/777, 715/706, 715/757
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6676 by dedicated player input
• 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: G06N 3/006 based on simulated virtual individual or collective life forms, e.g. social simulations or particle swarm optimisation [PSO]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer useable program code to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer predicts a location selection to form a prediction. The computer renders a first viewport in a computer display, based on the prediction. The first viewport includes a first user-control; a first coordinate; and a first attitude. The computer renders a second viewport comprising a second user-control, a second coordinate and a second attitude wherein at least one object is rendered in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport. The computer receives an instruction corresponding to the first user-control.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to offer to move an avatar in a virtual universe, the computer implemented method comprising:

a computer predicting a location selection to form a first prediction, wherein the first prediction is influenced by a first calculated likelihood of user selection;

the computer rendering a first viewport in a computer display based on the first prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control, wherein the first user-control is configured to show an image of the first viewport;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

the computer calculating a teleportation rationale, wherein the teleportation rationale comprises a value that corresponds to a prediction relating to a calculated likelihood of a user selection;

the computer displaying indicia corresponding to the teleportation rationale proximate to the first user-control;

the computer rendering a second viewport based on a second prediction influenced by a second calculated likelihood of user selection, the computer rendering the second viewport comprising the computer rendering in the second viewport at least one object in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport, the second viewport comprising;

a second user-control rendered such that the second user-control is simultaneously viewable with the first user-control and rendered in an order relative to the first user-control according to the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection, wherein the second user-control is configured to show an image of the second viewport;

a second coordinate; and

a second attitude; and

the computer receiving an instruction from a user corresponding to the first user-control.

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

the computer receiving at least one user preference; and

wherein the computer predicting is responsive to the computer receiving the at least one user preference.

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

the computer displaying an opt-out control proximate to the first user-control, wherein the at least one user preference is a user selection of the opt-out control.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first user-control is one selected from the group consisting of a menu item, a button, and a tab.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a textual explanation.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a bar having a length corresponding to the second calculated likelihood of user selection.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a numeric text.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection are based on at least two weights selected from the group of a biography weight;

a user historical teleportation weight; and

a popular among peer users weight.

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

the computer removing the first viewport in response to a criterion being satisfied.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the criterion is a timeout expiring after the computer rendering the first viewport.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first prediction is based on a teleportation offset selected by a user.

12. A data processing system for offering to move an avatar in a virtual universe, the data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus;

a processing unit connected to the bus;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to receive at least one user preference;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to predict a location selection to form a first prediction, responsive to receiving the at least one user preference, wherein the first prediction is influenced by a first calculated likelihood of user selection;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to render a first viewport in a computer display based on the first prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control, wherein the first user-control is configured to show an image of the first viewport;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to calculate a teleportation rationale, wherein the teleportation rationale comprises a value that corresponds to a prediction relating to a calculated likelihood of a user selection;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to display indicia corresponding to the teleportation rationale proximate to the first user-control;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to render a second viewport based on a second prediction influenced by a second calculated likelihood of user selection, the second viewport comprising;

a second user-control rendered such that the second user-control is simultaneously viewable with the first user-control and rendered in an order relative to the first user-control according to the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection, wherein the second user-control is configured to show an image of the second viewport;

a second coordinate; and

a second attitude;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to receive an instruction from a user corresponding to the first user-control; and

wherein the program instructions to render the second viewport render at least one object in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection are based on at least two weights selected from the group consisting of a biography weight;

a user historical teleportation weight; and

a popular among peer users weight.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, further comprising program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to remove the first viewport in response to a criterion being satisfied.

15. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the first prediction is based on a teleportation offset selected by a user.

16. A computer program product for offering to move an avatar in a virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to predict a location selection to form a first prediction, wherein the first prediction is influenced by a first calculated likelihood of user selection;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to render a first viewport in a computer display based on the first prediction, the first viewport comprising;

a first user-control, wherein the first user-control is configured to show an image of the first viewport;

a first coordinate; and

a first attitude;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to calculate a teleportation rationale, wherein the teleportation rationale comprises a value that corresponds to a prediction relating to a calculated likelihood of a user selection;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processing unit, to display indicia corresponding to the teleportation rationale proximate to the first user-control;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to render a second viewport based on a second prediction influenced by a second calculated likelihood of user selection, the second viewport comprising;

a second user-control rendered such that the second user-control is simultaneously viewable with the first user-control and rendered in an order relative to the first user-control according to the first calculated likelihood of user selection and the second calculated likelihood of user selection, wherein the second user-control is configured to show an image of the second viewport;

a second coordinate; and

a second attitude;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive an instruction from a user corresponding to the first user-control; and

wherein the program instructions to render the second viewport render at least one object in a computer display from a perspective distinct from a perspective of the first viewport.