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Initiate events through hidden interactions

  • US 9,259,648 B2
  • Filed: 02/15/2013
  • Issued: 02/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method to trigger events in a virtual environment, comprising:

  • defining a plurality of associations between each of a plurality of triggers and a respective event, of a plurality of events, wherein the plurality of associations comprise;

    (i) predefined associations, (ii) associations dynamically generated responsive to detecting a new trigger, and (iii) user-defined associations;

    monitoring a gesture in the virtual environment between at least a first user represented by a first avatar and a second user represented by a second avatar, the gesture having an explicit meaning to the first and second users;

    determining that the gesture has a predefined meaning by;

    monitoring communications between the first and second users;

    computing an interaction score based on the monitored communications; and

    determining that the interaction score exceeds a relationship threshold;

    determining that the gesture is defined as a first trigger, of the plurality of triggers, based on the gesture having a predefined meaning;

    identifying a first association, of the plurality of associations, between the first trigger and a first event, of the plurality of events;

    triggering the first event in the virtual environment based on the first association;

    detecting the new trigger; and

    dynamically defining a new association, of the plurality of associations, between the new trigger and at least one of the plurality of events.

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