Time-dependent client inactivity indicia in a multi-user animation environment
First Claim
1. A method for multi-user animation, comprising:
- modeling a space within a computer memory;
locating an avatar of a client within a three-dimensional space modeled in a computer memory, the avatar being responsive to client input commands to act within the modeled three-dimensional space;
monitoring the client input commands to determine how long the client is inactive; and
controlling a degree of transparency within the modeled three-dimensional space to indicate how long the client is inactive, so that a degree of transparency of the avatar increases and occlusion of at least one background object displayed within the modeled three-dimensional space alters in proportion to a length of time the client is inactive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing a multi-user animation platform is disclosed. A three-dimensional space within a computer memory is modeled. An avatar of a client is located within the three-dimensional space, the avatar being graphically represented by a three-dimensional figure within the three-dimensional space. The avatar is responsive to client input commands, and the three-dimensional figure includes a graphical representation of client activity. The client input commands are monitored to determine client activity. The graphical representation of client activity is then altered according to an inactivity scheme when client input commands are not detected. Following a predetermined period of client inactivity, the inactivity scheme varies non-repetitively with time.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for multi-user animation, comprising:
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modeling a space within a computer memory; locating an avatar of a client within a three-dimensional space modeled in a computer memory, the avatar being responsive to client input commands to act within the modeled three-dimensional space; monitoring the client input commands to determine how long the client is inactive; and controlling a degree of transparency within the modeled three-dimensional space to indicate how long the client is inactive, so that a degree of transparency of the avatar increases and occlusion of at least one background object displayed within the modeled three-dimensional space alters in proportion to a length of time the client is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for causing a computer to perform the operations of:
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modeling a space within a computer memory; locating an avatar of a client within a three-dimensional space modeled in a computer memory, the avatar being responsive to client input commands to act within the modeled three-dimensional space; monitoring the client input commands to determine how long the client is inactive; and controlling a degree of transparency within the modeled three-dimensional space to indicate how long the client is inactive, so that a degree of transparency of the avatar increases and occlusion of at least one background object displayed within the modeled three-dimensional space alters in proportion to a length of time the client is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for multi-user animation, comprising:
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modeling a three-dimensional space within a computer memory; receiving client input commands from remote clients at a central host; modeling motion of avatars within the three-dimensional space responsive to the client input commands from corresponding ones of multiple clients; monitoring time elapsed from most recent client input for each of the multiple clients to obtain a corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar; setting transparency values for respective ones of the avatars, the transparency values variable and responsive to the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar to indicate how long respective ones of the clients have been inactive; and serving the transparency values to the multiple clients configured for use by the clients to display the avatars with a corresponding measure of transparency against a background of the modeled three-dimensional space and to alter occlusion of at least one background object within the modeled three-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for causing a computer to perform the operations of:
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modeling a three-dimensional space within a computer memory; receiving client input commands from remote clients at a central host; modeling motion of avatars within the three-dimensional space responsive to the client input commands from corresponding ones of multiple clients; monitoring time elapsed from most recent client input for each of the multiple clients to obtain a corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar; setting transparency values for respective ones of the avatars, the transparency values variable and responsive to the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar to indicate how long respective ones of the clients have been inactive; and serving the transparency values to the multiple clients configured for use by the clients to display the avatars with a corresponding measure of transparency against a background of the modeled three-dimensional space and to alter occlusion of at least one background object within the modeled three-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification