Avatar cloning in a virtual world

• US 8,584,024 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nicol, William Bruce II, Bokor, Brian Ronald, Haggar, Peter Frederick, House, Daniel Edward, Smith, Andrew Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/024,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757, 715/779, 345/419
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user'"'"'s avatar.

Claims

1. A method for avatar cloning in a virtual world, comprising:

receiving an input indicating a user desires to access a cloning feature to clone an avatar of the user;

presenting a graphical user interface that comprises an option for the user to predefine actions for a cloned avatar of the avatar of the user to perform in the virtual world, the predefined actions for the cloned avatar of the avatar of the user to perform being different from and occurring simultaneously with the current activity of the original avatar, wherein the predefined action for the cloned avatar of the avatar of the user to perform and the current activity of the original avatar occur at separate locations in the virtual world, wherein the predefined actions comprise recording an interaction of the cloned avatar;

allowing the cloned avatar of the user to be cloned from the avatar of the user;

presenting a split screen comprising at least two portions that are split from each other to permit the user to control either the original avatar of the user on a first portion of the split screen or the clone of the original avatar of the user on a second portion of the split screen; and

identifying between the cloned avatar of the user in the second portion and the avatar of the user in the first portion which one is currently being actively controlled by the user, wherein the cloned avatar of the user and the avatar of the user are located in different portions of the virtual world;

wherein the split screen comprises a first tool bar that is shared by the at least two portions and a second tool bar that is smaller than the first tool bar and positioned and used only in the second portion of the split screen, wherein the second tool bar comprises an indicator of the current actions of the cloned avatar and is configured to allow the user to directly control the actions of the cloned avatar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a graphical user interface to the user to allow the user to clone the avatar of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to predefine actions for the cloned avatar to perform in the virtual world.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined actions are automatically performable by the cloned avatar in response to a predetermined condition occurring.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising notifying the user in response to occurrence of a predetermined condition associated with the cloned avatar to permit user interaction and control.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to clone a plurality of cloned avatars from the avatar of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing a preset maximum permitted number of cloned avatars of the user to be preset.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

notifying the user in response to receiving a request from the user to clone the avatar of the user and the number of previously cloned avatars of the user being at the preset maximum permitted number of cloned avatars of the user; and

denying the request from the user to clone the avatar of the user in response to receiving the request from the user to clone the avatar of the user and the number of previously cloned avatars of the user being at the preset maximum number of cloned avatars.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the cloned avatar in the virtual world on a display device while simultaneously presenting the avatar of the user in the virtual world on the same display device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising distinguishing between the cloned avatar and the avatar of the user via a label.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising a locator map to represent a relative location of the avatar of the user and the cloned avatar of the user.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a subscription fee to the user based on a number of cloned avatars of the user.

11. A method for avatar cloning in a virtual world, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to clone an avatar corresponding to the user;

receiving input from the user predefining actions for the cloned avatar to perform in the virtual world, the predefined actions for the cloned avatar of the avatar of the user to perform being different from and occurring simultaneously with the current activity of the original avatar, wherein the predefined action for the cloned avatar of the avatar of the user to perform and the current activity of the original avatar occur at separate locations in the virtual world, wherein the predefined actions comprises recording an interaction of the cloned avatar;

cloning the avatar of the user to form at least one cloned avatar in response to receiving the request from the user to clone the avatar of the user;

presenting a split screen comprising at least two portions that are split from each other to permit the user to control either the original avatar of the user on a first portion of the split screen or the clone of the original avatar of the user on a second portion of the split screen; and

identifying which one of the cloned avatar of the user and the avatar of the user is currently being actively controlled by the user, wherein the cloned avatar of the user and the avatar of the user are located in different portions of the virtual world;

wherein the split screen comprises a first tool bar that is shared by the at least two portions and a second tool bar that is smaller than the first tool bar and positioned and used only in the second portion of the split screen, wherein the second tool bar comprises an indicator of the current actions of the cloned avatar and is configured to allow the user to directly control the actions of the cloned avatar.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

allowing the user to define at least one action performable by the at least one cloned avatar in response to at least one predetermined condition being fulfilled;

notifying the user in response to the at least one predetermined condition being fulfilled; and

executing the action in response to the at least one predetermined condition being fulfilled.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising;

allowing a maximum permitted number of cloned avatars of the user'"'"'s avatar to be preset;

denying the user'"'"'s request to clone the user'"'"'s avatar in response to a total number of previously cloned avatars of the user'"'"'s avatar being at the preset maximum permitted number of cloned avatars; and

notifying the user of the denial of the user'"'"'s request in response to the total number of previously cloned avatars of the user'"'"'s avatar being at the preset maximum permitted number of cloned avatars.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a predetermined condition with any clones possibly requiring interaction by the user;

notifying the user in response to detecting predetermined condition; and

allowing the user to control the cloned avatar associated with the detected predetermined condition.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording any virtual world observations and interactions of the at least one cloned avatar in response to configuring the cloned avatar to record any virtual world observations and interactions for replay to the user.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising distinguishing between the at least one cloned avatar and the user'"'"'s avatar.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically associating any predefined functionality with each cloned avatar.

18. A method for avatar cloning in a virtual world, comprising:

receiving a request to clone an original avatar of a user;

presenting a graphical user interface to allow the user to clone the original avatar of the user;

allowing control of the clone of the original avatar of the user, wherein the clone is controllable by at least one of;

associating a predefined functionality with the clone for the clone to perform automatically while the user controls the original avatar, the predefined functionality for the clone to perform being different from and occurring simultaneously with the current activity of the original avatar, wherein the predefined functionality for the clone to perform and the current activity of the original avatar occur at separate locations in the virtual world, wherein the predefined functionality comprises recording an interaction of the clone;

presenting a split screen comprising a first portion and a second portion that is split from the first portion to permit the user to control either the original avatar of the user on the first portion of the split screen or the clone of the original avatar of the user on the second portion of the split screen; and

identifying on the split screen which avatar is currently being actively controlled by the user;

wherein the split screen comprises a first tool bar that is shared by the at least two portions and a second tool bar that is smaller than the first tool bar and positioned and used only in the second portion of the split screen, wherein the second tool bar comprises an indicator of the current actions of the cloned avatar and is configured to allow the user to directly control the actions of the cloned avatar.