Adaptive access in virtual settings based on established virtual profile

• US 8,441,501 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett M., Wright, Steven A., Kuhtz, Christian, Zellner, Samuel N., Starr, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sams, Michelle L
• Application Number:
  US11/472,810
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/619, 345/629, 345/744, 345/745, 345/633, 345/630
• US Class Current: 345/633
• 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 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1008 Graphical user interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A method and system for adapting a virtual setting to a participant includes launching a simulation program on a computing device, evaluating a virtual profile of the participant and presenting scenarios within the virtual setting appropriate for said participant based on said evaluation, wherein at least a predetermined aspect of the virtual setting is available to the participant regardless of a result of said evaluation and the virtual setting corresponds to the simulation program.

Claims

1. A method of adapting a virtual setting to a participant, comprising:

launching a simulation program by a processor at a computing device of the participant;

retrieving a profile of the participant from memory;

activating an icon presented in a user interface by the simulation program to establish a communication link with a communication device not participating in the simulation program;

establishing a voice channel in response to activation of the icon between the computing device and the communications device not participating in the simulation program;

determining a country location of the participant from the profile;

adapting the virtual setting of the simulation program to the country location of the participant;

indicating in the profile that the participant is a child predator; and

disabling the voice channel when the profile indicates that the participant is a child predator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a status of a hunted item in the simulation program.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising initially setting the status of the hunted item to undiscovered.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the user interface for facilitating an interaction of the participant with the simulation program.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adapting a scenario to an age of the participant.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting content in a scenario that is offensive in the country location of the participant.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the profile based on verification of information provided by the participant.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing information to a trusted authority.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the profile on a periodic basis.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting access to a scenario that is inappropriate for an age of the participant.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the profile from a network accessible location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the profile prior to establishing an access privilege for the participant.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising portraying targets of attacks as unassociated with the country location.

14. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

retrieving a profile associated with a participant of a simulation program;

providing a voice channel between the participant and a plurality of other participants of the simulation program at different locations;

launching the simulation program;

evaluating the profile;

indicating in the profile that the participant is a child predator;

activating an icon presented in a user interface by the simulation program to establish a communication link with a communication device not participating in the simulation program;

disabling the voice channel between the participant and the plurality of participants when the profile indicates that the participant is a child predator;

determining a country associated with the participant from the evaluation of the retrieved profile;

retrieving a political point of view associated with the country;

adapting a virtual setting in the simulation program to the political point of view; and

presenting a user interface according to the political point of view.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the code further causes the processor to restrict content to the political point of view.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the code further causes the processor to adapt the user interface to an age of the participant.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the code further causes the processor to restrict content to an age of the participant.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

retrieving a profile associated with a participant of a simulation program;

providing a voice channel between the participant and a plurality of other participants of the simulation program at different locations;

launching the simulation program;

evaluating the profile;

indicating in the profile that the participant is a child predator;

activating an icon presented in a user interface by the simulation program to establish a communication link with a communication device not participating in the simulation program;

disabling the voice channel between the participant and the plurality of other participants when the profile indicates that the participant is a child predator;

determining a country associated with the participant from the evaluation of the retrieved profile;

retrieving a political point of view associated with the country;

adapting a virtual setting in the simulation program to the political point of view; and

presenting a user interface according to the political point of view.