Avatar integrated shared media experience

• US 9,118,737 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattingly, Andrew Lawrence, Kramp, Brian Charles, Soemo, Thomas M., Mays, Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US14/188,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20140173462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 715/720
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed in which a group of people are able to replicate the physical world experience of going with a group of friends to pick a movie, watch the movie together, and provide commentary on the movie itself in the virtual world on a virtual couch while each user is sitting in different physical locations. Additionally, the virtual representation of the destination that the group of people are watching the movie together in can be themed to allow users to watch movies in different locations pivoting on special events or by the users choice.

Claims

1. A method for providing a shared media experience in a group comprising two or more users associated with respective computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the method comprising:

establishing membership in the group substantially in real time by allowing, in real time, users that are previously unassociated as a group to form an ad hoc group for the shared media experience; and

executing a nomination process for selecting a media entity of a plurality of media entities to be concurrently rendered by the group, the nomination process comprising;

sending, concurrently to the users, data indicative of the plurality of media entities that are selectable by the users;

receiving data indicative of nominated media entities and causing the nominated media entities to be indicated concurrently to the users in the group via respective computing devices, wherein a nominated media entity is a media entity that is selected by one of the users and indicated to other users as a proposed media entity for voting;

effectuating a process for selecting one of the nominated media entities to be shared by the group, wherein the process includes receiving indications from the users as to which of the nominated media entities are selected for voting;

receiving indication of the media entity selected via the nomination process to be shared by the group and rendering a representation of the selected media entity on one of the computing devices; and

receiving data for rendering the selected media entity and rendering the received data on a user interface device coupled to said one of the computing devices substantially simultaneously with other computing devices associated with members of the group.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on said user interface device, along with the data for rendering the selected media entity, avatars representing the users of the group, the avatars rendered so as to depict a shared media experience.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an indication of an emotion from one of the users and, in response, causing the avatar corresponding to said one of the users to perform an animation on said user interface device that conveys the indicated emotion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the emotion is selected from an emote wheel comprising a plurality of representative emotions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the emote wheel is divided into pie shaped segments radiating from a center of the emote wheel and each of the representative emotions are represented as one of the pie shaped segments.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying a random animation based on the indicated emotion.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving an input indicative of a request to render a predefined audio effect during the rendering of the media entity, wherein the audio effect corresponds to one of the representative emotions.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected media entity is a movie and said rendering the received data further comprises rendering a simulated viewing environment and rendering the avatars such that the avatars appear to be sitting in a group seating environment and viewing the movie on a screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the simulated viewing environment is selectable from a predetermined list of themes.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing an option to view the media entity in a full view mode wherein the simulated viewing environment and rendering of the avatars is hidden from view.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an input indicating a request to pause the rendering of the media entity.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an input indicative of a request to fast forward or rewind the rendering of the media entity.

13. A computing device configured to provide a shared media experience in an ad hoc group formed in real time by users that are previously unassociated as a group, the ad hoc group comprising two or more users associated with respective computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the computing device comprising at least one processor, a user interface device, and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

receive indication of a selected media entity to be shared by the group, the selected media entity selected substantially in real time via a nomination process, the nomination process comprising;

sending, concurrently to each of the users, data indicative of a plurality of media entities that are selectable by each of the users;

causing media entities nominated by users indicated concurrently to other users in the group via respective computing devices, wherein a nominated media entity is a media entity that is selected by one of the users and indicated to other users as a proposed media entity for voting; and

effectuating a process for selecting one of the nominated media entities to be shared by the group, wherein the process includes receiving indications from the users as to which of the nominated media entities are selected for voting; and

receive and render data for rendering the selected media entity on the user interface device substantially simultaneously with other computing devices associated with members of the group.

14. The computing device of claim 13, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

exchange, with other users of the group, information for avatars and associated avatar emotions, the avatars representing the users of the group and the avatar emotions comprising indications of emotions selected by the users, the avatar emotion information sufficient to allow the computing device to render an animation that conveys the indicated emotion for an associated avatar.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the associated avatar emotions are selectable using an emote wheel comprising a plurality of representative emotions.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the selected media entity is a movie and wherein said receive and render data further comprises:

render a simulated viewing environment and render the avatars such that the avatars appear to be sitting in a group seating environment and viewing the movie on a screen.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the simulated viewing environment is selectable from a predetermined list of themes.

18. The computing device of claim 13, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the computing device to receive inputs indicating a request to pause, fast forward, or rewind the rendering of the media entity.

19. A computer-readable storage device storing thereon computer-readable instructions for providing a shared media experience in an ad hoc group formed in real time by users that are previously unassociated as a group, the ad hoc group comprising two or more users associated with respective computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, wherein when said computer-readable instructions are executed on a computing device comprising a processor, cause at least:

receiving indication of a selected media entity to be shared by the group and rendering a representation of the selected media entity on a computing device, the selected media entity selected substantially in real time via a nomination process, the nomination process comprising;

sending, concurrently to each of the users, data indicative of a plurality of media entities that are selectable by each of the users;

causing media entities nominated by users to be indicated concurrently to other users in the group via respective computing devices, wherein a nominated media entity is a media entity that is selected by one of the users and indicated to other users as a proposed media entity for voting; and

effectuating a process for selecting one of the nominated media entities to be shared by the group, wherein the process includes receiving indications from the users as to which of the nominated media entities are selected for voting; and

receiving data for rendering the selected media entity and causing the received data to be rendered on a user interface device coupled to the computing device substantially simultaneously with other computing devices associated with members of the group.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, further comprising:

instructions for displaying on said user interface device, along with the data for rendering the selected media entity, avatars representing the users of the group, the avatars rendered so as to depict a shared media experience;

instructions for receiving an indication of an emotion and, in response, causing one of the avatars to perform an animation on said user interface device that conveys the indicated emotion; and

instructions for sending the indication of the emotion to the other users of the group.