Contextual templates for modifying objects in a virtual universe

• US 8,458,603 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finn, Peter George, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, O'Connell, Brian Marshall, Pickover, Clifford Alan, Walker, Keith Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Said
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/531,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 715/757
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/24 Generation of individual character patterns

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying object styles in a virtual universe. An object is rendered in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates. The first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style. In response to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, a second contextual style template is identified from the plurality of contextual style templates. The set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style. The object is rendered in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.

Claims

1. A method for modifying object styles in a virtual universe, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer modifying an object in the virtual universe in accordance with a first template of a plurality of templates, wherein each template in the plurality of templates comprises instructions for modifying the object, and wherein the step of the computer modifying the object in accordance with the first template comprises the computer using data included in the first template to change a shape, a color, and a texture of the object;

the computer rendering, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the first template;

the computer detecting a movement of a particular avatar in the virtual universe from a detection area into a field of view that includes the object, wherein the movement of the particular avatar into the field of view is a particular contextual change that is included in a set of contextual changes associated with the object, and still further wherein the detection area is adjacent to the field of view;

after the step of the computer detecting the movement of the particular avatar from the detection area into the field of view, the computer identifying a second template of the plurality of templates;

the computer modifying the object in accordance with the second template, wherein the step of the computer modifying the object in accordance with the second template comprises the computer using data included in the second template to change the shape, the color, and the texture of the object;

the computer rendering, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the second template; and

responsive to any avatar moving from an outside zone that is adjacent to the detection area into the detection area;

the computer triggering an initiation process;

wherein, during the initiation process, the computer begins preparations to display the object to the avatar when the avatar moves into the detection area without displaying the object during the preparations;

wherein the avatar is incapable of viewing the object while the avatar is in the detection area; and

the computer identifying the field of view using a focal point that is different from a location of the object, wherein the field of view is an area that is within a predetermined radius from the focal point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer begins the preparations by buffering content associated with the object, and wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer displaying the buffered content when the avatar moves into the field of view.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer begins the preparations by checking a cache for content associated with the object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer begins the preparations by caching content associated with the object, and wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer displaying the cached content when the avatar moves into the field of view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second template includes instructions for at least one of floating the object, moving the object along a fixed path, cloning the object, changing a size of the object, changing the texture of the object, changing a background of the object, changing a font size associated with the object, and changing the color of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

the computer determining a real world identity of a user that is controlling a second avatar that is in the field of view and within a particular proximity of the object;

the computer identifying characteristics of the user;

the computer using the characteristics to select a third template of the plurality of templates; and

the computer modifying the object in accordance with the third template.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second template provides a style selected from the group consisting of a blend style, a high visibility style, a corporate style, a youth style, a modern style, a classic style, and a holiday style.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

the computer retrieving a set of restrictions for the object;

wherein the step of the computer modifying the object in accordance with the second template comprises the computer limiting the modifying according to the set of restrictions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object includes a plurality of components, and wherein the step of the computer modifying the object in accordance with the second template comprises the computer modifying a set of components in the plurality of components.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

the computer determining, responsive to the computer detecting a movement of the particular avatar into the detection area, whether a session exists;

responsive to the computer determining that a session does not exist;

the computer adding a record to a table, wherein the record includes a unique identifier of the particular avatar and a unique identifier of the object; and

the computer triggering the initiation process, wherein content associated with the object will be displayed starting at a beginning of the content when the particular avatar moves into the field of view.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

the computer determining that the particular avatar is not facing the object; and

after the step of the computer determining that the particular avatar is not facing the object, the computer removing the record from the table.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the record includes a first field to store a numeric count of a first number of times the particular avatar has entered the field of view, a second field to store a numeric count of a second number of times the particular avatar has entered the detection area, and a third field to store last coordinates that identify a location of the particular avatar in a range of the object.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

the computer including a link to a table, wherein a first plurality of unique identifiers of avatars are included in the table, wherein each one of the first plurality of unique identifiers of avatars identifies a different one of a plurality of avatars that are in the field of view, wherein the first plurality of unique identifiers of avatars includes the unique identifier of the particular avatar.

14. A computer program product for modifying object styles 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 modify an object in the virtual universe in accordance with a first template of a plurality of templates, wherein each template in the plurality of templates comprises instructions to modify the object, and wherein the program instructions to modify the object in accordance with the first template comprise program instructions to use data included in the first template to change a shape, a color, and a texture of the object;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to render, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the first template;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect a movement of a particular avatar in the virtual universe from a detection area into a field of view that includes the object, wherein the movement of the particular avatar into the field of view is a particular contextual change that is included in a set of contextual changes associated with the object, and still further wherein the detection area is adjacent to the field of view;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to identify a second template of the plurality of templates after detecting the movement of the particular avatar from the detection area into the field of view;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to modify the object in accordance with the second template, wherein the program instructions to modify the object in accordance with the second template comprise program instructions to use data included in the second template to change the shape, the color, and the texture of the object;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to render, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the second template;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, responsive to any avatar moving from an outside zone that is adjacent to the detection area into the detection area, to trigger an initiation process;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to, during the initiation process, begin preparations to display the object to the avatar when the avatar moves into the detection area without displaying the object during the preparations, and wherein the avatar is incapable of viewing the object while the avatar is in the detection area; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to identify the field of view using a focal point that is different from a location of the object, wherein the field of view is an area that is within a predetermined radius from the focal point.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar comprise program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar by buffering content associated with the object, and wherein the computer program product further comprises program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display the buffered content when the avatar moves into the field of view.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar comprise program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar by checking a cache for content associated with the object.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar comprise program instructions to begin the preparations to display the object to the avatar by caching content associated with the object, and wherein the computer program product further comprises program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to display the cached content when the avatar moves into the field of view.

18. A computer system for modifying object styles in a virtual universe, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to modify an object in the virtual universe in accordance with a first template of a plurality of templates, wherein each template in the plurality of templates comprises instructions for modifying the object, and wherein the program instructions to modify the object in accordance with the first template comprise program instructions to use data included in the first template to change a shape, a color, and a texture of the object;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to render, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the first template;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect a movement of a particular avatar in the virtual universe from a detection area into a field of view that includes the object, wherein the movement of the particular avatar into the field of view is a particular contextual change that is included in a set of contextual changes associated with the object, and still further wherein the detection area is adjacent to the field of view;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to identify a second template of the plurality of templates after detecting the movement of the particular avatar from the detection area into the field of view;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to modify the object in accordance with the second template, wherein the program instructions to modify the object in accordance with the second template comprise program instructions to use data included in the second template to change the shape, the color, and the texture of the object;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to render, in the virtual universe, the object as modified in accordance with the second template;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to any avatar moving from an outside zone that is adjacent to the detection area into the detection area, to trigger an initiation process;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to, during the initiation process, begin preparations to display the object to the avatar when the avatar moves into the detection area without displaying the object during the preparations, and wherein the avatar is incapable of viewing the object while the avatar is in the detection area; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to identify the field of view using a focal point that is different from a location of the object, wherein the field of view is an area that is within a predetermined radius from the focal point.