METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR VARIABLE RENDERING OF VIRTUAL UNIVERSE AVATARS

• US 20100083140A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dawson, Christopher J., Graham, Barry M., Kozloski, James R., Pickover, Clifford A., Hamilton,, Rick A. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/58 by computing conditions of game characters, e.g. stamina, strength, motivation or energy level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play

Abstract

Avatar appearance attributes for use in rendering a first avatar within a virtual universe are associated with keys, wherein the first avatar is rendered to a second user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display with the defined appearance attribute as a function of a second avatar of the second user possessing the key. The first avatar may be rendered simultaneously to other users with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the other user'"'"'s avatars not possessing the key. A key may be recognized as a function of an identity characteristic, and appearance attributes selected manually or as a function of a preference. Pluralities of avatar appearance attributes may be broadcast by an avatar for selection by key possession, and keys may be assigned as a function of a unique identity, a trait and an inventory asset.

Claims

1. A method for viewer-responsive transformation of avatars in a virtual universe, comprising:

defining an avatar appearance attribute for use in rendering a first avatar within the virtual universe;

associating the defined appearance attribute with a key;

a second avatar of a second user encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe, the second avatar possessing the key; and

rendering the first avatar to the second user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display with the defined appearance attribute as a function of the second avatar possessing the key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first avatar may be rendered simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the third avatar not possessing the key.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the second user defining the defined avatar appearance attribute;

the second user associating the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute; and

the rendering of the first avatar to the second user comprising a virtual universe client of the second user recognizing the key possessed by the second avatar and rendering the first avatar to the second user with the defined appearance attribute.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second user'"'"'s virtual universe client recognizing the key is a function of an identity characteristic of the first avatar.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein defining the appearance attribute comprises defining a plurality of avatar appearance attributes, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of attributes for rendering the first avatar as a function of a preference of a first user of the first avatar or the second user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the selecting of one of the plurality of attributes for rendering the first avatar comprises the second user manually selecting the rendered first virtual universe user avatar appearance.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the appearance attribute comprises defining a plurality of avatar appearance attributes, further comprising:

the first avatar broadcasting the plurality of avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user;

a first user of the first avatar assigning the key to the second avatar; and

the visually rendering of the first avatar to the second user comprising the second user virtual universe client selecting and rendering one of the broadcast plurality of appearances as a function of the second avatar possessing the key.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the assigning of the key to the second avatar is a function of a unique identity of the second user or an identity characteristic of the second avatar.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising associating the key with an avatar trait of the second avatar, wherein the trait may be common to other avatars;

and

wherein assigning the key to the second avatar is a function of recognizing the second avatar having the trait.

10. The method of claim 9, the recognizing the second avatar having the trait comprising recognizing an inventory asset of the second avatar.

11. A service for viewer-responsive transformation of avatars in a virtual universe, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure configured to;

define an avatar appearance attribute for use in rendering a first avatar within the virtual universe;

associate the defined appearance attribute with a key; and

render a first avatar encountered within the virtual universe by a second avatar of a second virtual universe user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display of the second user with the defined appearance attribute as a function of second avatar possessing the key;

wherein the computer infrastructure is configured to render the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the third avatar not possessing the key.

12. The service of claim 11, the computer infrastructure configured to:

enable the second user to define the defined avatar appearance attribute and associate the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute, and

recognize the key possessed by the second avatar as a function of an identity characteristic of the first avatar, as a function of a preference of the first user or as a function of a preference of the second user.

13. The service of claim 11, the computer infrastructure configured to:

define the first avatar appearance attribute by defining a plurality of first avatar appearance attributes;

enable the first user to assign the key to the second avatar;

broadcast the plurality of first avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user; and

visually render the first avatar to the second user by selecting and rendering one of the broadcast plurality of appearances as a function of the second avatar possessing the key.

14. The service of claim 13, the computer infrastructure configured to:

associate the key with an avatar trait of the second avatar, wherein the trait may be common to other avatars; and

assign the key to the second avatar as a function of recognizing the second avatar having the trait.

15. A method for viewer-responsive transformation of avatars in a virtual universe, comprising:

producing computer executable program code;

storing the code on a computer readable medium; and

providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to;

define an avatar appearance attribute for use in rendering a first avatar within the virtual universe;

associate the defined appearance attribute with a key; and

render a first avatar encountered within the virtual universe by a second avatar of a second virtual universe user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display with the defined appearance attribute as a function of the second avatar possessing the key;

wherein the computer system is configured to render the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the third avatar not possessing the key.

16. The method of claim 15, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

enable the second user to define the defined avatar appearance attribute and associate the key with the defined avatar appearance attribute, and

recognize the key possessed by the second avatar as a function of an identity characteristic of the first avatar, as a function of a preference of the first user or as a function of a preference of the second user.

17. The method of claim 15, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

define the first appearance attribute by defining a plurality of first avatar appearance attributes;

enable the first user to assign the key to the second avatar;

broadcast the plurality of first avatar appearance attributes to a virtual universe client of the second user; and

visually render the first avatar to the second user by selecting and rendering one of the broadcast plurality of appearances as a function of the second avatar possessing the key.

18. The method of claim 17, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, causes the computer system to:

associate the key with an avatar trait of the second avatar, wherein the trait may be common to other avatars; and

assign the key to the second avatar as a function of recognizing the second avatar having the trait.

19. A programmable device comprising:

a processing means;

a memory in communication with the processing means comprising a key recognizer logic component, an appearance selector logic component and an appearance attribute renderer engine logic component; and

a network interface in communication with the processing means, the memory and a virtual universe region;

wherein the processing means is configured to;

use the appearance selector logic component to associate an avatar appearance attribute for use in rendering a first avatar within the virtual universe with a key; and

use the appearance attribute renderer engine logic component to render a first avatar encountered within the virtual universe by a second avatar of a second virtual universe user in a virtual universe graphic user interface display with the defined appearance attribute as a function of the key recognizer logic component recognizing the second avatar possessing the key;

wherein the processing means is configured to render the first avatar simultaneously to a third user of a third avatar encountering the first avatar within the virtual universe environment with an appearance attribute distinct from the defined appearance attribute rendered to the second user as a function of the third avatar not possessing the key.

20. The programmable device of claim 19, wherein the processing means is configured to recognize the second avatar possessing the key by recognizing an inventory asset of the second avatar.