Variable rendering of virtual universe avatars

• US 8,648,865 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dawson, Christopher J., Graham, Barry M., Hamilton, Rick A. II, Kozloski, James R., Pickover, Clifford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Said
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/238,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 715/757, 463/30
• US Class Current: 345/473
• 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 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

Avatar appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar within a virtual universe are associated with keys, wherein the first avatar is rendered to a second user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display with the defined appearance attribute as a function of a second avatar of the second user possessing the key. The first avatar may be rendered simultaneously to other users with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the other user'"'"'s avatars not possessing the key. A key may be recognized as a function of an identity characteristic, and appearance attributes selected manually or as a function of a preference. Pluralities of avatar appearance attributes may be broadcast by an avatar for selection by key possession, and keys may be assigned as a function of a unique identity, a trait and an inventory asset.

Claims

1. A method for viewer-responsive transformation of avatars in a virtual universe, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of different appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar of a first user to a virtual universe client of a second user of a second avatar within the virtual universe, wherein the different appearance attributes comprise visually different clothing attire items or visually different hairstyles;

associating each of the different defined appearance attributes with a different key of a plurality of keys, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers;

in response to the second avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe, analyzing an inventory of assets of the second avatar to determine a nature of an item possessed within the second avatar inventory, and determining if a unique identifier assigned to the second avatar is one of the plurality of unique identifiers assigned to the different keys;

rendering the first avatar to the second user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display as wearing one of the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle that is associated with one of the keys that is associated with the determined nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and that is associated with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar; and

rendering the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment as wearing another of the appearance attribute clothing attire items or hairstyles that is visually distinct and different from the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle rendered to the second user as worn on the first avatar as a function of an inventory of the third avatar not possessing an item having the determined nature of the item possessed by the inventory of the second avatar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first user of the first avatar defining each of the defined plurality of avatar appearance attributes; and

the first user associating each of the keys with different ones of the defined avatar appearance attributes, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the first user associating one of the keys with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar as a function of recognizing that an identity of the second user is a friend, sibling, spouse, family member or manager of the first user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of the attributes that is associated with the key possessed by the second avatar for rendering the first avatar as a function of a preference of the first user of the first avatar or of the second user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting the one of the plurality of appearance attributes for rendering the first avatar further comprises the second user manually selecting the one of the plurality of appearances from a broadcast stream of the plurality of attributes.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the first avatar broadcasting a stream of the plurality of avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user;

the first user of the first avatar assigning one of the keys to the second avatar; and

the visually rendering of the first avatar to the second user comprising the second user virtual universe client selecting and rendering the first avatar wearing one of the broadcast plurality of appearance attributes as a function of an association of the selected one of the broadcast plurality of appearance attributes with the key assigned to the second avatar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar is a socially conservative nature;

and

wherein the step of rendering the first avatar to the second user comprises rendering the first avatar as wearing one of a socially conservative clothing attire item or a socially conservative hairstyle.

8. A method for a service for viewer-responsive transformation of avatars in a virtual universe, the method comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure comprising a processing unit in communication with a computer readable memory and a tangible computer-readable storage device;

wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory;

defines a plurality of different avatar appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar of a first user to a virtual universe client of a second user of a second avatar within the virtual universe wherein the different appearance attributes comprise visually different clothing attire items or visually different hairstyles;

associates each of the different defined appearance attributes with a different key of a plurality of keys and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers;

in response to the second avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe, analyzes an inventory of assets of the second avatar to determine a nature of an item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and determines if a unique identifier assigned to the second avatar is one of the plurality of unique identifiers assigned to the different keys;

renders the first avatar encountered within the virtual universe by the second avatar in a virtual universe graphic user interface display of the second user as wearing one of the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle that is associated with one of the keys that is associated with the determined nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and that is associated with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar; and

renders the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment as wearing another appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle that is distinct and different from the defined appearance attribute rendered as worn to the second user, as a function of an inventory of the third avatar not possessing an item having the determined nature of the item that is possessed by the inventory of the second avatar.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer infrastructure processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory, further:

enables a first user of the first avatar to define the defined avatar appearance attribute and associate the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute; and

enables the first user to associate each of the keys with different ones of the defined avatar appearance attributes, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer infrastructure processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory, further:

determines that the nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar is a socially conservative nature; and

renders the first avatar to the second user as wearing one of a socially conservative clothing attire item or a socially conservative hairstyle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer infrastructure processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory, further:

broadcasts a stream of the plurality of avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user; and

visually renders the first avatar to the second user by selecting and rendering the first avatar wearing one of the broadcast plurality of appearance attributes.

12. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable physical storage device having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer system, cause the computer system to;

define a plurality of different avatar appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar within a virtual universe, wherein the different appearance attributes comprise visually different clothing attire items or visually different hairstyles;

associate each of the different defined appearance attributes with different keys of a plurality of keys, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers;

in response to a second avatar of a second user encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe, analyze an inventory of assets of the second avatar to determine a nature of an item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and determine if a unique identifier assigned to the second avatar is one of the plurality of unique identifiers assigned to the different keys;

render the first avatar encountered within the virtual universe by the second avatar in a virtual universe graphic user interface display as wearing one of the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle that is associated with one of the keys that is associated with the determined nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and that is associated with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar; and

render the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment as wearing another of the appearance attributes that is different and distinct from the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle rendered to the second user as worn on the first avatar as a function of an inventory of the third avatar not possessing an item having the determined nature of the item that is possessed by the inventory of the second avatar.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, when executed on the computer system, further cause the computer system to:

enable a first user of the first avatar to define the defined avatar appearance attribute and associate the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute; and

enable the first user to associate each of the keys with different ones of the defined avatar appearance attributes, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the program code instructions, when executed on the computer system, further cause the computer system to:

determine that the nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar is a socially conservative nature; and

render the first avatar to the second user as wearing one of a socially conservative clothing attire item or a socially conservative hairstyle.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the program code instructions, when executed on the computer system, further cause the computer system to:

broadcast a stream of the plurality of avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user; and

visually render the first avatar to the second user by selecting and rendering the first avatar wearing one of the broadcast plurality of appearance attributes.

16. A system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a computer readable memory and a computer-readable physical storage device, each in communication with the processing unit; and

a network interface in communication with the processing unit and a virtual universe region;

wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory;

associates each of a plurality of different avatar appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar within the virtual universe with a different key of a plurality of keys and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers, wherein the different appearance attributes comprise visually different clothing attire items or visually different hairstyles;

in response to a second avatar of a second user encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe, analyzes an inventory of assets of the second avatar to determine a nature of an item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and determines if a unique identifier assigned to the second avatar is one of the plurality of unique identifiers assigned to the different keys;

renders the first avatar when encountered within the virtual universe by a second avatar to the second virtual universe user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display as wearing at least one of the defined appearance attribute clothing attire item or hairstyle that is associated with one of the keys that is associated with the determined nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar and that is associated with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar; and

renders the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment as wearing another of the appearance attribute clothing attire items or hairstyles that is different and distinct from the at least one of the defined appearance attributes rendered as worn on the first avatar to the second user as a function of an inventory of the third avatar not possessing an item having the determined nature of the item that is possessed by the inventory of the second avatar.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable physical storage device via the computer readable memory:

enables a first user of the first avatar to define the defined avatar appearance attribute and associate the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute; and

enables the first user to associate each of the keys with different ones of the defined avatar appearance attributes, and with different ones of a plurality of unique identifiers.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable physical storage device via the computer readable memory, further:

determines that the nature of the item possessed within the inventory of the second avatar is a socially conservative nature; and

renders the first avatar to the second user as wearing one of a socially conservative clothing attire item or a socially conservative hairstyle.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit, when executing program instructions stored on the computer-readable physical storage device via the computer readable memory, further:

associates one of the keys with the unique identifier assigned to the second avatar as a function of recognizing that an identity of the second user is a friend, sibling, spouse, family member or manager of the first user.