System and method for transporting a virtual avatar within multiple virtual environments

• US 9,563,902 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Myriata, Inc.
• Inventors: HASWELL, Thomas Clayton, Seidman, Glenn Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Xia, Xuyang
• Application Number:
  US13/444,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 715/757
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information

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 generate and display a virtual avatar that represents a user of the virtual venue application. The virtual venue application also displays a virtual venue, where the display of the virtual venue is based on a position of the virtual avatar within the virtual venue. The virtual venue application also transports a virtual avatar from a first location to a second location.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a virtual avatar within a virtual environment, the method comprising:

generating, by a first virtual venue application implemented on a first server, a first virtual venue and a virtual avatar that represents a user of the first virtual venue application;

displaying, within a user interface, the virtual avatar within the first virtual venue;

displaying, within the user interface, a selectable transport link that transports the virtual avatar from a first location in the first virtual venue to a second location in a second virtual venue generated by a second virtual venue application implemented on a second server, the first location including a first position of the virtual avatar relative to the first virtual venue within the first virtual venue application, the second location including a second position of the virtual avatar relative to the second virtual venue within the second virtual venue application;

receiving a selection of the transport link;

checking a rule associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, the rule including one or more conditions based on one or more roles associated with the user;

when at least one condition of the rule is satisfied, invoking a transport application programming interface (API) to transport the virtual avatar from the first location to the second location, including;

creating a package of the virtual avatar including an appearance of the virtual avatar, the first location in the first virtual venue and the user associated with the virtual avatar,

creating a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) including a gaze direction vector denoting a direction in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space toward which the virtual avatar, located at the first location in the first virtual venue, is gazing, and

transmitting the package, the URI and display preferences to the second server, the display preferences including one or more palettes used in displaying one or more rooms of the first virtual venue;

assigning, by the second virtual venue application, the second location in the second virtual venue to the virtual avatar; and

displaying, within the user interface, the virtual avatar within the second virtual venue based on the package, the gaze direction vector and the display preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting one or more objects associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting one or more pictures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting one or more videos associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting one or more documents associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting one or more albums associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each album comprises one or more pictures, videos, and two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transporting one or more notebooks associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each notebook is an album that comprises one or more documents.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising transporting a carrier associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein the carrier comprises at least one of an object, an album, or a notebook.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one object of the one or more objects comprises at least one of executable code, or an executable script, the method further comprising:

transporting one or more object events associated with the at least one object;

transporting one or more buttons associated with the at least one object; and

executing the at least one of executable code, or the executable script.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue application.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue application;

the method further comprising preventing the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy the rule.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue;

the method further comprising preventing the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy the rule.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting virtual avatar history comprising at least one of, one or more visited locations, one or more interactions with other virtual avatars, or one or more financial transactions along with the virtual avatar.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting one or more virtual avatar appearance preferences along with the virtual avatar.

17. 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 first virtual venue and a virtual avatar that represents a user of a first virtual venue application;

display, within a user interface, the virtual avatar within the first virtual venue;

display, within the user interface, a selectable transport link that transports the virtual avatar from a first location in the first virtual venue to a second location in a second virtual venue generated by a second virtual venue application implemented by a different processor, the first location including a first position of the virtual avatar relative to the first virtual venue within the first virtual venue application, the second location including a second position of the virtual avatar relative to the second virtual venue within the second virtual venue application;

receive a selection of the transport link;

check a rule associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, the rule including one or more conditions based on one or more roles associated with the user;

when at least one condition of the rule is satisfied, invoke a transport application programming interface (API) to transport the virtual avatar from the first location to the second location, including;

create a package of the virtual avatar including an appearance of the virtual avatar, the first location in the first virtual venue and the user associated with the virtual avatar,

create a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) including a gaze direction vector denoting a direction in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space toward which the virtual avatar, located at the first location in the first virtual venue, is gazing, and

transmit the package, the URI and display preferences to the different processor, the display preferences including one or more palettes used in displaying one or more rooms of the first virtual venue,

wherein the different processor;

assigns the second location in the second virtual venue to the virtual avatar, and

displays, within the user interface, the virtual avatar within the second virtual venue based on the package, the gaze direction vector and the display preferences.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more objects associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more pictures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more videos associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more documents associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more albums associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each album comprises one or more pictures, videos, and two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport one or more notebooks associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each notebook is an album that comprises one or more documents.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport a carrier associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein the carrier comprises at least one of an object, an album, or a notebook.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to check one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue application.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

check one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue application;

and

prevent the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy any of the one or more rules.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to check one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

check one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue;

and

prevent the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy any of the one or more rules.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one object of the one or more objects comprises at least one of executable code, or an executable script, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to,

transport one or more object events associated with the at least one object;

and

transport one or more buttons associated with the at least one object.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to transport virtual avatar history comprising at least one of, one or more visited locations, one or more interactions with other virtual avatars, or one or more financial transactions along with the virtual avatar.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured, when executing the virtual venue module stored on the memory, to, transporting one or more virtual avatar appearance preferences along with the virtual avatar.

33. 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 first virtual venue and a virtual avatar that represents a user of a first virtual venue application;

displaying, within a user interface, the virtual avatar within the first virtual venue;

displaying, within the user interface, a selectable transport link that transports the virtual avatar from a first location in the first virtual venue to a second location in a second virtual venue generated by a second virtual venue application implemented by a different processor, the first location including a first position of the virtual avatar relative to the first virtual venue within the first virtual venue application, the second location including a second position of the virtual avatar relative to the second virtual venue within the second virtual venue application;

receiving a selection of the transport link;

checking a rule associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, the rule including one or more conditions based on one or more roles associated with the user;

when at least one condition of the rule is satisfied, invoking a transport application programming interface (API) to transport the virtual avatar from the first location to the second location, including;

creating a package of the virtual avatar including an appearance of the virtual avatar, the first location in the first virtual venue and the user associated with the virtual avatar,

creating a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) including a gaze direction vector denoting a direction in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space toward which the virtual avatar, located at the first location in the first virtual venue, is gazing, and

transmitting the package, the URI and display preferences to the different processor, the display preferences including one or more palettes used in displaying one or more rooms of the first virtual venue,

wherein the different processor;

assigns the second location in the second virtual venue to the virtual avatar, and

displays, within the user interface, the virtual avatar within the second virtual venue based on the package, the gaze direction vector and the display preferences.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, the method further comprising transporting one or more objects associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting one or more pictures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting one or more videos associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting one or more two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting one or more documents associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting one or more albums associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each album comprises one or more pictures, videos, and two-dimensional or three-dimensional sculptures.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, the method further comprising transporting one or more notebooks associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein each notebook is an album that comprises one or more documents.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising transporting a carrier associated with the virtual avatar along with the virtual avatar, wherein the carrier comprises at least one of an object, an album, or a notebook.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising checking one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue application.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising:

checking one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue application; and

preventing the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy any of the one or more rules.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising checking one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the first virtual venue.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, the method further comprising:

checking one or more rules associated with transportation of the virtual avatar, wherein the checking is performed by the second virtual venue; and

preventing the transportation of the virtual avatar when the transportation does not satisfy any of the one or more rules.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein at least one object of the one or more objects comprises at least one of executable code, or an executable script, the method further comprising:

transporting one or more object events associated with the at least one object;

transporting one or more buttons associated with the at least one object.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, the method further comprising transporting virtual avatar history comprising at least one of, one or more visited locations, one or more interactions with other virtual avatars, or one or more financial transactions along with the virtual avatar.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, the method further comprising transporting one or more virtual avatar appearance preferences along with the virtual avatar.