AVATAR APPEARANCE TRANSFORMATION IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a chameleon avatar in response to data associated with a target avatar within a virtual universe, comprising:
- determining that an engagement of a chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration;
determining whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar;
if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement;
reading an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar;
selecting a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and
auto-morphing the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and
the chameleon avatar engaging the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for configuring a chameleon avatar in response to data associated with a target avatar within a virtual universe. In response to determining that an engagement of a chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, it is determined whether the chameleon avatar should maintain an initial appearance or be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar. Auto-morphing may be accomplished by reading an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar, selecting a baseline avatar template and auto-morphing the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute. Target avatar attributes include gender, interests, outfits attribute, ethnic data, language and preferences, as well as others. The chameleon may mimic an appearance of the target avatar.
82 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a chameleon avatar in response to data associated with a target avatar within a virtual universe, comprising:
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determining that an engagement of a chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration; determining whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar; if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement; reading an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar; selecting a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and auto-morphing the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and the chameleon avatar engaging the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A service for configuring a chameleon avatar within a virtual universe in response to data associated with a target avatar, comprising:
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a service provider deploying a computer application within the virtual universe configured to; determine that an engagement of the chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration; determine whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar; if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement; read an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar; select a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and auto-morph the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and cause the chameleon avatar to engage the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for configuring a chameleon avatar in response to data associated with a target avatar within a virtual universe, comprising:
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producing computer executable program code; storing the code on a computer readable medium; providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system engaging a virtual universe, the program code causing the computer system to; determine that an engagement of a chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration; determine whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar; if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement; read an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar; select a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and auto-morph the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and cause the chameleon avatar to engage the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A programmable device comprising:
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a processing means; a memory in communication with the processing means comprising a logic component; and a network interface in communication with the processing means and the memory; wherein the processing means is configured to configure a chameleon avatar within a virtual universe in communication with the network interface by; determining that an engagement of the chameleon avatar with a target avatar is indicated, the chameleon avatar having an initial appearance configuration; determining whether the chameleon avatar should be auto-morphed for engagement with the target avatar; if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate for the indicated engagement; reading an attribute from metadata associated with the target avatar; selecting a baseline avatar template as a function of the read attribute; and auto-morphing the baseline template to incorporate the read attribute; and causing the chameleon avatar to engage the target avatar in the initial appearance configuration if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is not appropriate, or in the auto-morphed baseline template if the auto-morph determining determines that an auto-morph is appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification