Perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world

• US 9,195,363 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew Bryan, Bokor, Brian Ronald, House, Daniel Edward, Nicol, William Bruce II
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US13/900,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• 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 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

Abstract

A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user'"'"'s avatar in a virtual world. The system may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

Claims

1. A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, the system comprising:

a processor;

a module operable on the processor for determining if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world;

a module operable on the processor for, in response to the physical position of any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar, allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information;

a module operable on the processor for automatically presenting the tagged information to the user when any of the any avatars that have been previously tagged by the user are within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar, wherein the tagged information is only presented to the user and not to users of the any avatars; and

a module operable on the processor for allowing the user to turn off automatically presenting the tagged information for a selected previously tagged one or more of the any avatars even if the selected previously tagged one or more of the any avatars is within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for determining if the user has previously tagged any avatars with the information in response to any avatars coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a module for presenting the tagged information in at least one of a visual form and an audible form.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a module for presenting an interface for the user to modify the tagged information previously entered by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing the user to select any avatars within the predetermined proximity range for tagging the information and

presenting an interface for the user to enter the information to be tagged to any avatars within the predetermined proximity range in response to the user selecting any avatars within the predetermined proximity range.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing the user to define properties for automatically presenting the tagged information.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a module for allowing the user to define a format for automatically presenting the tagged information to the user;

allowing the user to define a frequency for automatically presenting the tagged information; and

allowing the user to define a duration for automatically presenting the tagged information.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing the user to define at least one of visual and auditory information for the tagged information.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for storing the tagged information and associated settings locally in an inventory associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a module for allowing the tagged information and associated settings to be shared with another user and the user of the any avatar.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing the user to enter information that is pertinent from a perspective of the user.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing the user to enter information to identify any avatar to the user and to present a relevance of that any avatar to the user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module for allowing a management entity to update and modify the tagged information.

14. A system for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, the system comprising:

a processor;

a module operable on the processor for determining if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world;

a module operable on the processor for determining if the user has previously tagged any avatar that is within the predetermined proximity range with tagged information, wherein the tagged information comprises at least an audible statement pre-recorded by the user;

a module operable on the processor for permitting the user to;

tag the any avatar with additional information in response to the any avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar; and

edit the tagged information in response to the any avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user having previously tagged the any avatar with information.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a module operable on the processor for automatically presenting the tagged information to the user in response to the any avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user having previously tagged the any avatar with the tagged information, wherein the tagged information is only presented to the user and not to users of the any avatars.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a module for permitting the user to tag the any avatar with information related to an identification of the any avatar and a relevance of the any avatar to the user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a module for allowing the user'"'"'s avatar to transfer the tagged information for any avatar within the predetermined proximity range to any further avatar in the virtual world.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a module for permitting the user to tag another avatar within the predetermined proximity range with information in response to the another avatar coming within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar and the user not having previously tagged the another avatar with information.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a module for allowing the user to define properties for presenting the tagged information.

20. A computer program product for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable computer program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to determine if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world;

computer readable program code configured to, in response to the physical position of any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar, allow the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information;

computer readable program code configured to automatically present the tagged information to the user when any of the any avatars that have been previously tagged by the user are within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar, wherein the tagged information is only presented to the user and not to users of the any avatars; and

computer readable program code configured to allow the user to turn off automatically presenting the tagged information for a selected previously tagged one or more of the any avatars even if the selected previously tagged one or more of the any avatars is within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.