Social virtual avatar modification

• US 8,788,957 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reville, Brendan, Law, Stacey, Smith, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US12/197,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 715751-760, 715/764, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/65 for computing the condition of a game character
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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

The techniques disclosed herein integrate a social aspect into avatar modification. Multiple users may access a virtual environment that allows users to modify the user'"'"'s avatar. The users in the application may be any combination of remote and local players. The users'"'"' avatars may be associated with the same application or different applications. The users may interact in the same virtual environment while modifying their respective avatars. Any user in the virtual environment may view modifications that are made to other users'"'"' avatars and interact with other users while modifications are made. Thus, the techniques disclosed allow avatar modification to be a multi-player experience.

Claims

1. A method of social avatar modification, the method comprising:

rendering a first avatar in a virtual environment on a first computing device having a first user interface, the first avatar being associated with a first user;

receiving from the first user interface an instruction indicative of a modification of the first avatar;

sending data indicative of the modification of the first avatar via a network to a second computing device;

receiving, in response to the data indicative of the modification, data from the second computing device indicative of a second modification of the first avatar by a second user;

receiving, from the first user, an indication that the second modification of the first avatar associated with the first user that is made by the second user has been confirmed by the first user; and

applying the modification statically to the first avatar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying the modification to the first avatar for rendering the first avatar and the modification external to the first user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the first computing device for display to the first user, and sending data via a network for rendering the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the second computing device for display to the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data pertaining to the modification to a current state of the first avatar on a plurality of computing devices during the modification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first avatar comprises:

applying at least one of the following to the first avatar;

an emote, an animation, an item of clothing, an expression, an accessory, or a physical trait.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the modification includes data for rendering and displaying the modification on a second computing device, and wherein the data received from the second computing device comprises data indicating one or more of an, instant message, a second modification, a borrowing modification, a trading modification, or a giving modification, said borrowing, trading or giving comprising modifying the first avatar with virtual items associated with a second avatar.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second user or a third user, data indicative of a third modification of the first avatar;

sending a computing device associated with a third user an indication to display the first avatar modified to reflect the third modification;

after sending the computing device associated with the third user an indication to display the first avatar modified to reflect the third modification, receiving, from the first user, an indication of the first user not confirming the third modification; and

in response to receiving, from the first user, an indication of the first user not confirming the third modification, sending the computing device associated with the third user an indication to display the first avatar without the first avatar being modified to reflect the third modification.

8. A system of social avatar modification, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to a processor, the memory bearing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system at least to;

render a first avatar in a virtual environment on a first computing device having a first user interface, the first avatar associated with a first user;

receive from the first user interface an indication indicative of a modification of the first avatar;

send data indicative of the modification of the first avatar via a network to a second computing device;

receive, in response to the data indicative of the modification, data from the second computing device indicative of a second modification of the first avatar by a second user;

receive, from the first user, an indication that the second modification of the first avatar associated with the first user that is made by the second user has been confirmed by the first user; and

apply the modification statically to the first avatar.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further bears instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system at least to:

apply the modification to the first avatar for rendering the first avatar and the modification external to the first user interface.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further bears instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system at least to:

render the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the first computing device for display to the first user, and rendering the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the second computing device for display to the second user.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further bears instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system at least to:

store data pertaining to the modification to a current state of the first avatar on a plurality of computing devices during the modification.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system at least to modify the first avatar further cause the system at least to:

apply at least one of the following to the first avatar;

an emote, an animation, an item of clothing, an expression, an accessory, or a physical trait.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the indication indicative of the modification includes data for rendering and displaying the modification on a second computing device, and

wherein the data received from the second computing device comprises data indicating one or more of an, instant message, a second modification, a borrowing modification, a trading modification, or a giving modification, said borrowing, trading or giving comprising modifying the first avatar with virtual items associated with a second avatar.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the modification of the first avatar is selected from a predetermined set of modifications.

15. A computer readable storage medium for social avatar modification, bearing computer executable instructions that when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

rendering a first avatar in a virtual environment on a first computing device having a first user interface, the first avatar associated with a first user;

receiving from the first user interface an instruction indicative of a modification of the first avatar;

sending data indicative of the modification of the first avatar via a network to a second computing device;

receiving, in response to the data indicative of the modification, data from the second computing device indicative of a second modification of the first avatar by a second user;

receiving, from the first user, an indication that the second modification of the first avatar associated with the first user that is made by the second user has been confirmed by the first user;

applying the modification statically to the first avatar; and

applying the modification to the first avatar for rendering the first avatar and the modification external to the first user interface, the computer readable storage medium further comprising instructions for sending information indicative of rendering the modification in an external avatar computing application.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the indication indicative of the modification includes data for rendering and displaying the modification on a second computing device, and wherein the data received from the second computing device comprises data indicating one or more of an, instant message, a second modification, a borrowing modification, a trading modification, or a giving modification, said borrowing, trading or giving comprising modifying the first avatar with virtual items associated with a second avatar.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further bearing computer executable instructions that, when executed on the computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

rendering the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the first computing device for display to the first user, and sending data via a network for rendering the first avatar and the modification in the virtual environment on the second computing device for display to the second user.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further bearing computer executable instructions that, when executed on the computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

storing data pertaining to the modification to a current state of the first avatar on a plurality of computing devices during the modification.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein modifying the first avatar comprises:

applying at least one of the following to the first avatar;

an emote, an animation, an item of clothing, an expression, an accessory, or a physical trait.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the modification of the first avatar is selected from a predetermined set of modifications.