Time-dependent client inactivity indicia in a multi-user animation environment

• US 9,251,616 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pfaqutruma Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian Mark Shuster
• Inventors: Shuster, Brian Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Koziol, Stephen R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRADDOCK, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/286,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/36 Level of detail
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/62 Semi-transparency

Abstract

A method for managing a multi-user animation platform is disclosed. A three-dimensional space within a computer memory is modeled. An avatar of a client is located within the three-dimensional space, the avatar being graphically represented by a three-dimensional figure within the three-dimensional space. The avatar is responsive to client input commands, and the three-dimensional figure includes a graphical representation of client activity. The client input commands are monitored to determine client activity. The graphical representation of client activity is then altered according to an inactivity scheme when client input commands are not detected. Following a predetermined period of client inactivity, the inactivity scheme varies non-repetitively with time.

Claims

1. A method for multi-user animation, comprising:

modeling a space within a computer memory;

locating an avatar of a client within a three-dimensional space modeled in a computer memory, the avatar being responsive to client input commands to act within the modeled three-dimensional space;

monitoring the client input commands to determine how long the client is inactive; and

controlling a degree of transparency within the modeled three-dimensional space to indicate how long the client is inactive, so that a degree of transparency of the avatar increases and occlusion of at least one background object displayed within the modeled three-dimensional space alters in proportion to a length of time the client is inactive.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising restoring full opacity to the avatar in response to detecting that the client is active.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the degree of transparency comprises gradually altering the transparency with continuing inactivity over a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the avatar from the space in response to determining that the client has remained inactive for a threshold period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising relocating the avatar to a home location in response to determining that the client has remained inactive for a threshold period of time.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for causing a computer to perform the operations of:

modeling a space within a computer memory;

locating an avatar of a client within a three-dimensional space modeled in a computer memory, the avatar being responsive to client input commands to act within the modeled three-dimensional space;

monitoring the client input commands to determine how long the client is inactive; and

controlling a degree of transparency within the modeled three-dimensional space to indicate how long the client is inactive, so that a degree of transparency of the avatar increases and occlusion of at least one background object displayed within the modeled three-dimensional space alters in proportion to a length of time the client is inactive.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further encoded with instructions for restoring full opacity to the avatar in response to detecting that the client is active.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further encoded with instructions for controlling the degree of transparency by gradually altering the transparency with continuing inactivity over a predetermined period of time.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further encoded with instructions for removing the avatar from the space in response to determining that the client has remained inactive for a threshold period of time.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further encoded with instructions for relocating the avatar to a home location in response to determining that the client has remained inactive for a threshold period of time.

11. A method for multi-user animation, comprising:

modeling a three-dimensional space within a computer memory;

receiving client input commands from remote clients at a central host;

modeling motion of avatars within the three-dimensional space responsive to the client input commands from corresponding ones of multiple clients;

monitoring time elapsed from most recent client input for each of the multiple clients to obtain a corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar;

setting transparency values for respective ones of the avatars, the transparency values variable and responsive to the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar to indicate how long respective ones of the clients have been inactive; and

serving the transparency values to the multiple clients configured for use by the clients to display the avatars with a corresponding measure of transparency against a background of the modeled three-dimensional space and to alter occlusion of at least one background object within the modeled three-dimensional space.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising increasing the transparency values for avatars in response to increases in the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting the transparency values to zero for avatars for which new client activity is detected.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing avatars for which a corresponding measure of the current inactivity level increases above a defined ceiling value from the modeled three-dimensional space.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising relocating avatars which a corresponding measure of the current inactivity level increases above a defined ceiling value to a home location in the modeled three-dimensional space.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting the transparency values to vary gradually within a range of 0% to 100% transparency.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable memory encoded with instructions for causing a computer to perform the operations of:

modeling a three-dimensional space within a computer memory;

receiving client input commands from remote clients at a central host;

modeling motion of avatars within the three-dimensional space responsive to the client input commands from corresponding ones of multiple clients;

monitoring time elapsed from most recent client input for each of the multiple clients to obtain a corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar;

setting transparency values for respective ones of the avatars, the transparency values variable and responsive to the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar to indicate how long respective ones of the clients have been inactive; and

serving the transparency values to the multiple clients configured for use by the clients to display the avatars with a corresponding measure of transparency against a background of the modeled three-dimensional space and to alter occlusion of at least one background object within the modeled three-dimensional space.

18. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further configured for increasing the transparency values for avatars in response to increases in the corresponding measure of current inactivity level for each avatar.

19. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions for the inactivity scheme are further configured for setting the transparency values to zero for avatars for which new client activity is detected.

20. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further configured for removing avatars for which a corresponding measure of the current inactivity level increases above a defined ceiling value from the modeled three-dimensional space.

21. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further configured for relocating avatars which a corresponding measure of the current inactivity level increases above a defined ceiling value to a home location in the modeled three-dimensional space.

22. The computer-readable memory of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further configured for setting the transparency values to vary gradually within a range of 0% to 100% transparency.