System and method for facilitating creation of a rich virtual environment

• US 9,047,690 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Inventors: HASWELL, Thomas Clayton, Seidman, Glenn Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T
• Application Number:
  US13/444,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/420, 715/753, 715/757, 715/769, 715/782
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to store digital information, where the virtual venue application displays the stored digital information within a virtual environment, and where the virtual environment is presented by one or more two- or three-dimensional screens displayed within a user interface. The virtual venue application further enables interaction between users in a virtual environment.

Claims

1. A method for storing and displaying information within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

generating, by a virtual venue application implemented on a server comprising a processor, a virtual venue that comprises a two- or three-dimensional spatial representation of one or more objects based on an object model, wherein the object model comprises one or more virtual exhibits, wherein each virtual exhibit comprises one or more virtual rooms, wherein each virtual room comprises one or more faces, wherein at least one face comprises one or more display containers, wherein the at least one face is of a face type that selects a container type from one or more container types and defines the selected container type for the one or more display containers, wherein the container type defines a virtual object that the one or more display containers are displayed as within the virtual venue, wherein each display container comprises zero or more object mounts, and wherein each object mount hosts a display object that is a two- or three-dimensional virtual representation of an object; and

displaying, by the virtual venue application implemented on the server, at least one virtual room of the virtual venue within a graphical user interface, wherein the display of the at least one virtual room produces a two- or three-dimensional virtual environment, wherein each display object of each object mount of each display container is also displayed within the graphical user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application, wherein the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is displayed based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue, and wherein the display of the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is updated based on movement of the virtual avatar.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving information from the user of the virtual venue application;

storing the information within the virtual venue as, in, or on at least one display object; and

displaying at least one display object within at least one virtual room of the virtual venue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the face type comprises a wall, a floor, or a ceiling, wherein each face comprises one or more graphical properties, and wherein the one or more graphical properties comprise a texture property, a color property, and a transparency property.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container type defines how the one or more object mounts are deployed, and wherein the container type comprises a frame, a table, a case, or a hook.

6. The method of claim 1, where each object mount comprises a position declaration, wherein each position declaration is one of an absolute position declaration, a rule-based position declaration, or a dynamic position declaration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one display object of the virtual venue comprises an animator object, and wherein the animator object manipulates one or more graphical properties of the at least one display object.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual venue is a first virtual venue, the method further comprising generating a second virtual venue based on the object model, wherein the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue share at least one exhibit or room, and wherein the shared at least one exhibit or room is shared in space and time between the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a portal within the graphical user interface, wherein the portal displays one or more selectable virtual venues, and wherein each virtual venue of the one or more selectable virtual venues represents a virtual venue to enter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a virtual venue map integrated with a hierarchical navigation tree of the virtual venue, the one or more virtual exhibits, and the one or more virtual rooms, wherein the virtual venue map provides an ability to transport to a selected location.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an operations view of the virtual venue, wherein the operations view comprises operation information of the virtual venue, and wherein the operation information comprises at least one of access information, membership information, visitor history information, or advertising information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the display object displays an advertisement.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning one or more roles to a user of the virtual venue application who is a member of the virtual venue.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more roles assigned to the user are selected from a list of roles comprising an operator role, a finance manager role, a curator role, or a designer role.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the virtual venue further comprises generating the virtual venue based on a virtual venue template, wherein the virtual venue template comprises a virtual venue that is partially created, wherein the virtual venue template comprises one or more variables, and wherein each variable controls a specific attribute of the virtual venue.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual venue further comprises an affinity room, wherein the affinity room is privately added to the virtual venue, and wherein the affinity room is accessible only to a member that created the affinity room and a list of other members the member has invited.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising restricting access to the one or more virtual rooms of the virtual venue based on one or more per specific exhibit or per specific room permissions.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the display object represents or stores emotive text that a user enters or selects from a list of text or a larger body of text.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising auctioning one or more object mounts.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an advertisement based on an amount of traffic associated with the virtual venue.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

sending an email message to a user of the virtual venue application, wherein the email message comprises a virtual ticket associated with the virtual venue.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising electronically signing the virtual ticket.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising authenticating the virtual ticket to provide access to the virtual venue to the user, wherein the virtual ticket comprises an expiration date.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein the virtual avatar stores at least one of a number of virtual venues visited, a number of items purchased, or credit card information associated with the user.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual venue further comprises a timeline that is placed in within a virtual room or made accessible from a map navigator, and that allows members of the virtual venue to upload and share content on the timeline.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising automatically adding content to the timeline based on one or more dates and times associated with one or more display objects located with the one or more virtual rooms.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically deploying and organizing content in the virtual venue from an external web account source that comprises at least one of, one or more pictures, one or more videos, one or more documents, and one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional models.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically scaling up a number of display objects that are placed on a displayer container when a number of object mounts associated with the display container include a maximum number of display objects.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically duplicating a display container with empty object mounts when a number of object mounts associated with another display container include a maximum number of display objects.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store a virtual venue module; and

a processor configured to execute the virtual venue module stored on the memory,

wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

generate a virtual venue that comprises a two- or three-dimensional spatial representation of one or more objects based on an object model, wherein the object model comprises one or more virtual exhibits, wherein each virtual exhibit comprises one or more virtual rooms, wherein each room comprises one or more faces, wherein at least one face comprises one or more display containers, wherein the at least one face is of a face type that selects a container type from one or more container types and defines the selected container type for the one or more display containers, wherein the container type defines a virtual object that the one or more display containers are displayed as within the virtual venue, wherein each display container comprises zero or more object mounts, and wherein each object mount hosts a display object that is a two- or three-dimensional virtual representation of an object; and

display at least one virtual room of the virtual venue within a graphical user interface, wherein the display of the at least one virtual room produces a two- or three-dimensional virtual environment, and wherein each display object of each object mount of each container is also displayed within the graphical user interface.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to generate a virtual avatar that represents a user, wherein the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is displayed based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue, and wherein the display of the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is updated based on movement of the virtual avatar.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

receive information from the user;

store the information within the virtual venue as, in, or on at least one display object; and

display at least one display object within at least one virtual room of the virtual venue.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the face type comprises a wall, a floor, or a ceiling, wherein each face comprises one or more graphical properties, and wherein the one or more graphical properties comprise a texture property, a color property, and a transparency property.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the container type defines how the one or more object mounts are deployed, and wherein the container type comprises a frame, a table, a case, or a hook.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, where each object mount comprises a position declaration, wherein each position declaration is one of an absolute position declaration, a rule-based position declaration, or a dynamic position declaration.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least one display object of the virtual venue comprises an animator object, and wherein the animator object manipulates one or more graphical properties of the at least one display object.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the virtual venue is a first virtual venue, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to generate a second virtual venue based on the object model, wherein the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue share at least one exhibit or room, and wherein the shared at least one exhibit or room is shared in space and time between the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to display a portal within the graphical user interface, wherein the portal displays one or more selectable virtual venues, and wherein each virtual venue of the one or more selectable virtual venues represents a virtual venue to enter.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to display a virtual venue map integrated with a hierarchical navigation tree of the virtual venue, the one or more virtual exhibits, and the one or more virtual rooms, wherein the virtual venue map provides an ability to transport to a selected location.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to display an operations view of the virtual venue, wherein the operations view comprises operation information of the virtual venue, and wherein the operation information comprises at least one of access information, membership information, visitor history information, or advertising information.

41. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the display object displays an advertisement.

42. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to assign one or more roles to a user who is a member of the virtual venue.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the one or more roles assigned to the user are selected from a list of roles comprising an operator role, a finance manager role, a curator role, or a designer role.

44. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to generate the virtual venue based on a virtual venue template, wherein the virtual venue template comprises a virtual venue that is partially created, wherein the virtual venue template comprises one or more variables, and wherein each variable controls a specific attribute of the virtual venue.

45. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the virtual venue further comprises an affinity room, wherein the affinity room is privately added to the virtual venue, and wherein the affinity room is accessible only to a member that created the affinity room and a list of other members the member has invited.

46. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to restrict access to one or more virtual rooms of the virtual venue based on one or more per specific exhibit or per specific room permissions.

47. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the display object represents or stores emotive text that a user enters or selects from a list of text or a larger body of text.

48. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to auction one or more object mounts.

49. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to display an advertisement based on an amount of traffic associated with the virtual venue.

50. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

send an email message to a user of the virtual venue application, wherein the email message comprises a virtual ticket associated with the virtual venue.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to electronically sign the virtual ticket.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to authenticate the virtual ticket to provide access to the virtual venue to the user, wherein the virtual ticket comprises an expiration date.

53. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the virtual avatar stores at least one of a number of virtual venues visited, a number of items purchased, or credit card information associated with the user.

54. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the virtual venue further comprises a timeline that is placed in within a virtual room or made accessible from a map navigator, and that allows members of the virtual venue to upload and share content on the timeline.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to automatically add content to the timeline based on one or more dates and times associated with one or more display objects located with the one or more virtual rooms.

56. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to automatically deploy and organize content in the virtual venue from an external web account source that comprises at least one of, one or more pictures, one or more videos, one or more documents, and one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional models.

57. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to automatically scale up a number of display objects that are placed on a displayer container when a number of object mounts associated with the display container include a maximum number of display objects.

58. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to automatically duplicate a display container with empty object mounts when a number of object mounts associated with another display container include a maximum number of display objects.

59. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement a method, the method comprising:

generating a virtual venue that comprises a two- or three-dimensional spatial representation of one or more objects based on an object model, wherein the object model comprises one or more virtual exhibits, wherein each virtual exhibit comprises one or more virtual rooms, wherein each room comprises one or more faces, wherein at least one face comprises one or more display containers, wherein the at least one face is of a face type that selects a container type from one or more container types and defines the selected container type for the one or more display containers, wherein the container type defines a virtual object that the one or more display containers are displayed as within the virtual venue, wherein each display container comprises zero or more object mounts, and wherein each object mount hosts a display object that is a two- or three-dimensional virtual representation of an object; and

displaying at least one virtual room of the virtual venue within a graphical user interface, wherein the display of the at least one virtual room produces a two- or three-dimensional virtual environment, and wherein each display object of each object mount of each container is also displayed within the graphical user interface.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising generating a virtual avatar that represents a user, wherein the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is displayed based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue, and wherein the display of the at least one virtual room of the virtual venue is updated based on movement of the virtual avatar.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 60, the method further comprising:

receiving information from the user;

storing the information within the virtual venue as, in, or on at least one display object; and

displaying at least one display object within at least one virtual room of the virtual venue.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the face type comprises a wall, a floor, or a ceiling, wherein each face comprises one or more graphical properties, and wherein the one or more graphical properties comprise a texture property, a color property, and a transparency property.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the container type defines how the one or more object mounts are deployed, and wherein the container type comprises a frame, a table, a case, or a hook.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, where each object mount comprises a position declaration, wherein each position declaration is one of an absolute position declaration, a rule-based position declaration, or a dynamic position declaration.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein at least one display object of the virtual venue comprises an animator object, and wherein the animator object manipulates one or more graphical properties of the at least one display object.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the virtual venue is a first virtual venue, the instructions further comprising generating a second virtual venue based on the object model, wherein the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue share at least one exhibit or room, and wherein the shared at least one exhibit or room is shared in space and time between the first virtual venue and the second virtual venue.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the instructions further comprising displaying a portal within the graphical user interface, wherein the portal displays one or more selectable virtual venues, and wherein each virtual venue of the one or more selectable virtual venues represents a virtual venue to enter.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the instructions further comprising displaying a virtual venue map integrated with a hierarchical navigation tree of the virtual venue, the one or more virtual exhibits, and the one or more virtual rooms, wherein the virtual venue map provides an ability to transport to a selected location.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the instructions further comprising displaying an operations view of the virtual venue, wherein the operations view comprises operation information of the virtual venue, and wherein the operation information comprises at least one of access information, membership information, visitor history information, or advertising information.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the display object displays an advertisement.

71. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the instructions further comprising assigning one or more roles to a user who is a member of the virtual venue.

72. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein the one or more roles assigned to the user are selected from a list of roles comprising an operator role, a finance manager role, a curator role, or a designer role.

73. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein generating the virtual venue further comprises generating the virtual venue based on a virtual venue template, wherein the virtual venue template comprises a virtual venue that is partially created, wherein the virtual venue template comprises one or more variables, and wherein each variable controls a specific attribute of the virtual venue.

74. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the virtual venue further comprises an affinity room, wherein the affinity room is privately added to the virtual venue, and wherein the affinity room is accessible only to a member that created the affinity room and a list of other members the member has invited.

75. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the instructions further comprising restricting access to one or more virtual rooms of the virtual venue based on one or more per specific exhibit or per specific room permissions.

76. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the display object represents or stores emotive text that a user enters or selects from a list of text or a larger body of text.

77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising auctioning one or more object mounts.

78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising displaying an advertisement based on an amount of traffic associated with the virtual venue.

79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising,

sending an email message to a user of the virtual venue application, wherein the email message comprises a virtual ticket associated with the virtual venue.

80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 79, the method further comprising electronically signing the virtual ticket.

81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 80, the method further comprising authenticating the virtual ticket to provide access to the virtual venue to the user, wherein the virtual ticket comprises an expiration date.

82. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 60, wherein the virtual avatar stores at least one of a number of virtual venues visited, a number of items purchased, or credit card information associated with the user.

83. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the virtual venue further comprises a timeline that is placed in within a virtual room or made accessible from a map navigator, and that allows members of the virtual venue to upload and share content on the timeline.

84. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 83, the method further comprising automatically adding content to the timeline based on one or more dates and times associated with one or more display objects located with the one or more virtual rooms.

85. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising automatically deploying and organizing content in the virtual venue from an external web account source that comprises at least one of, one or more pictures, one or more videos, one or more documents, and one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional models.

86. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising automatically scaling up a number of display objects that are placed on a displayer container when a number of object mounts associated with the display container include a maximum number of display objects.

87. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 59, the method further comprising automatically duplicating a display container with empty object mounts when a number of object mounts associated with another display container include a maximum number of display objects.