Perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world

• US 9,927,868 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bokor, Brian R., House, Daniel E., Nicol, II, William B., Smith, Andrew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, David
• Application Number:
  US14/884,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20160034028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• 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 method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, comprising:

determining if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world, wherein the predetermined proximity is two-dimensional or three-dimensional;

allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information in response to the physical position of the any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar;

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

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 avatars is within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising 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 method of claim 2, wherein automatically presenting the tagged information comprises presenting the tagged information in at least one of a visual form and an audible form.

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

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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 method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to define properties for automatically presenting the tagged information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to define properties for automatically presenting the tagged information comprises:

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 method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to define at least one of visual and auditory information for the tagged information.

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

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the tagged information and associated settings to be shared with another user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information comprises allowing the user to enter information that is pertinent from a perspective of the user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information comprises allowing the user to enter information to identify that 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 method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a management entity to update and modify the tagged information.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to define a number of times the tagged information is automatically presented to the user within a certain time period in response to the any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

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

a processor;

a module operating on the processor for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in the virtual world, the module being configured to perform a set of functions comprising;

determining if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world, wherein the predetermined proximity is two-dimensional or three-dimensional;

allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information in response to the physical position of the any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar;

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

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 avatars is within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the set of functions further comprises 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.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein automatically presenting the tagged information comprises presenting the tagged information in at least one of a visual form and an audible form.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the set of functions further comprises:

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.

19. A computer program product for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory medium per se, the program instructions being executable by a device to cause the device to perform a method comprising:

determining if a physical position of any avatars is within a predetermined proximity range that encompasses a user'"'"'s avatar in the virtual world, wherein the predetermined proximity is two-dimensional or three-dimensional;

allowing the user to enter information to tag any of the any avatars with tagged information in response to the physical position of the any avatars being within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar;

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

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 avatars is within the predetermined proximity range of the user'"'"'s avatar.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises 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.