Virtual reality interaction system and method

• US 8,767,016 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shun-Ching Yang
• Original Assignee: Shun-Ching Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Shun-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuan, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/421,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/156, 345/161, 345/168, 345/173, 345/174, 345/207, 345/419, 345/633, 446/168, 463/1, 463/3, 463/7, 463/9, 463/23, 463/25, 463 31- 37, 463/42, 463/43, 715/769
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

A virtual reality interaction system and method have access to data in at least a 3D reality map database and at least a social network website database and allowing a user having logged in the virtual reality interaction system with an electronic device in the user'"'"'s possession to interact with others and move in a 3D reality scenario. The virtual reality interaction system includes a 3D reality map access unit, a login unit, a social network data access unit, and a computation engine unit. The virtual reality interaction system and method enable the user to perform control operation in the 3D reality scenario according to the user'"'"'s control command and selectively display the user'"'"'s social network friends in the 3D reality scenario according to the user'"'"'s social network relationship data. The user interacts with other online users in the 3D reality diversely and simulates operations in the real world.

Claims

1. A virtual reality interaction system, having access to data in at least a 3D reality map database and at least a social network website database and allowing a user having logged in the virtual reality interaction system with an electronic device in the user'"'"'s possession to interact with others and move in a 3D reality scenario, the virtual reality interaction system comprising:

a 3D reality map access unit connected to the at least a 3D reality map database for retrieving 3D reality map data therefrom;

a login unit connectable to the electronic device for allowing the user to log in the virtual reality interaction system, determining the user'"'"'s initial coordinate address, and receiving a control command from the user;

a social network data access unit connected to the login unit for retrieving social network relationship data from at least a social network website database associated with the user; and

a computation engine unit connected to the 3D reality map access unit, the login unit, and the social network data access unit for creating the 3D reality scenario, displaying the user in the 3D reality scenario in accordance with the initial coordinate address, performing control operation in the 3D reality scenario according to the control command, and displaying social network friends of the user selectively in the 3D reality scenario according to the user'"'"'s social network relationship data,

wherein the login unit sets the initial coordinate address to a preset coordinate address when the electronic device does not transmit the positioning coordinates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the login unit sets the initial coordinate address to the positioning coordinate transmitted by the electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a virtual object generating unit connected to the computation engine unit for providing a virtual object in the 3D reality scenario in a manner that the virtual object therein can be watched or accessed.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a user account database connected to the login unit for recording user'"'"'s personalized data and the virtual object in the user'"'"'s possession.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computation engine unit displays other users in the 3D reality scenario, enables the user to team up with at least one of the other users in accordance with the control command pertaining to the user'"'"'s teaming operation, and stores a resultant team member list in the user account database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computation engine unit creates a tracking relationship between the user and a leader in accordance with the control command pertaining to the user'"'"'s tracking operation, the leader being on the team member list, and the computation engine unit produces computation result data in accordance with the leader'"'"'s trail in the 3D reality scenario.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the computation engine unit enables the user to trade a virtual object in the user'"'"'s possession with one of the other users in accordance with the control command pertaining to the user'"'"'s trading operation.

8. A virtual reality interaction method, allowing a user having logged in the virtual reality interaction system of claim 1 with an electronic device in the user'"'"'s possession to interact with others and move in a 3D reality scenario and displaying 3D reality scenario data on the electronic device, the virtual reality interaction method comprising the steps of:

retrieving 3D reality map data from at least an external 3D reality map database to create the 3D reality scenario;

generating an initial coordinate address in response to the user'"'"'s login;

retrieving social network relationship data from at least a social network website database associated with the user; and

displaying the user and selectively displaying the user'"'"'s social network friends in the 3D reality scenario in accordance with the initial coordinate address and the user'"'"'s social network relationship data and performing control operation in the 3D reality scenario in accordance with the user'"'"'s control command,

wherein the step of generating the initial coordinate address further comprises the sub-steps of;

determining whether the user'"'"'s login information includes a positioning coordinate information;

setting the initial coordinate address to the positioning coordinate information when the determination is affirmative; and

setting the initial coordinate address to a preset coordinate address when the determination is negative.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing at least a virtual object in the 3D reality scenario such that the virtual object therein can be watched or accessed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least a virtual object comprises a billboard.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the control operation step of teaming further comprises the sub-steps of:

displaying other users in the 3D reality scenario; and

teaming up the user and at least one of the other users under a teaming control command.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control operation step of tracking further comprises the sub-steps of:

creating a tracking relationship between the user and one of the other members of the team under a tracking control command so as to create a leader; and

sending 3D reality scenario-related data to the user'"'"'s electronic device in accordance with the leader'"'"'s trail in the 3D reality scenario.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control operation step of trading further comprises the sub-step of trading by the user a virtual object in the user'"'"'s possession with one of the other users.