| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 715706000 | Virtual character or avatar (e.g., animated person) | 72 |
| 20080201638 | Context avatar - Methods and systems for generating information about a physical context of a user are provided. These methods and systems provide the capability to render a context avatar associated with the user as a composite image that can be broadcast in virtual environments to provide information about the physical context of the user. The composite image can be automatically updated without user intervention to include, among other things, a virtual person image of the user and a background image defined by encoded image data associated with the current geographic location of the user. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080215971 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH AN AVATAR - A system and method for communicating with a virtual world are disclosed. The virtual world may comprise a simulated public space configured to facilitate interaction among a plurality of users and one or more private spaces. Each private space may be associated with a particular user of the plurality of users. A particular user's interactions with the virtual world may be represented by one or more corresponding actions of an avatar. Communication may take place between the virtual world and a real communication device. The real communication device may be configured to communicate with other real communication devices via one or more communication channels that are independent of the virtual world. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080215972 | MAPPING USER EMOTIONAL STATE TO AVATAR IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method for user interaction with a three-dimensional virtual world is disclosed. The virtual world may comprise one or more public spaces and one or more private spaces. A user may be represented in the virtual world by an avatar. The user may manipulate the avatar via a user interface. An emotional state of the user may be detected via the interface. The user's emotional state may be mapped to one or more features of the avatar that are perceptible by other users. Thus, other users may perceive the user's emotional state through perception of the avatar. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080215973 | AVATAR CUSTOMIZATION - A method for user interaction with a three-dimensional virtual world is disclosed. The virtual world comprises one or more public spaces and one or more private spaces. A user may be represented in the virtual world by an avatar. The user can manipulate the avatar via a user interface. According to the method a custom gesture may be generated for the avatar. The gesture may be associated with one or more user interface signals. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080215974 | Interactive user controlled avatar animations - A method for controlling an avatar in a virtual space, the virtual space accessed through a computer network using a console, is disclosed. The method begins by capturing activity of a console controller and processing the captured activity of the console controller to identify input parameters. Another operation of the method is to map selected ones of the input parameters to portions of the avatar, the avatar being a virtual space representation of a user. Wherein the capturing, processing and mapping are continuously performed to define a correlation between activity of the console controller and the avatar that is the virtual space representation of the user. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080215975 | Virtual world user opinion & response monitoring - Methods and systems for executing a network application is provided. The network application is defined to render a virtual environment, and the virtual environment is depicted by computer graphics. The method includes generating an animated user and controlling the animated user in the virtual environment. The method presents advertising objects in the virtual environment and detects actions by the animated user to determine if the animated user is viewing one of the advertising object in the virtual environment. Reactions of the animated user are captured when the animated user is viewing the advertising object. The reactions by the animated user within the virtual environment are those that relate to the advertising object, and are presented to a third party to determine effectiveness of the advertising object in the virtual environment. Additionally, actual reactions (e.g., physical, audible, or combinations) of the real-world user can be captured and analyzed, or captured and mapped to the avatar for analysis of the of the avatar response. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080235581 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL AND TRAINING OF AVATARS IN AN INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system operative to execute and train at least one avatar for each user of an interactive environment comprising a knowledge engine operative to continuously monitor each user's response to events in the interactive environment while each user controls the at least one avatar, a knowledge base operative to store each of the monitored user responses to events in the interactive environment and an action engine operative to control one or more actions of the at least one avatar for each user in the interactive environment based on the stored monitored responses regardless of each user's control of the at least one avatar. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080250315 | GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION FOR ACCESSING AND REPRESENTING MEDIA FILES - A method, an electronic device, and a computer program product are provided for creating a graphical presentation for accessing and representing one or more media files. According to one embodiment, the method includes analyzing one or more media files associated with a user and generating at least one graphical representation representative of the one or more media files. The method further includes enabling a selection of at least a portion of the at least one graphical representation in order to access the one or more media files. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080263446 | Methods and Systems to Connect People to Services via Virtual Reality - Methods and systems for connecting people to services delivered via a virtual reality environment. One embodiment includes: a virtual reality server to host a three dimensional virtual reality world; and a connection provider to interface between the virtual reality server and a customer and to interface between the virtual reality server and an advisor, the connection provider to present the advisor and to cause the virtual reality server to teleporting an avatar, representing the customer or the advisor in the virtual reality world, to a location in the virtual reality world for a meeting between the customer and the advisor, the connection provider to monitor a duration of the meeting in the virtual reality world and to charge the customer on behalf of the advisor for services delivered by the advisor during the meeting in the virtual reality world. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080282161 | MASKING CHANGES TO A COMPUTER APPLICATION - The present invention provides an interface (as well as associated methods, systems, program products, etc.) for masking changes to a computer application. In general, the interface comprises a facade for facilitating interaction between the interface and a user; a dialog wizard for receiving a set of instructions for the computer application from the user pursuant to an interaction between the user and the facade; and a set of workflows linking the interface with the computer application, the set of workflows being configured to interpret the set of instructions and to direct a behavior of the application based on the interpretation. That is, the set of workflows are configured to convert the set of instructions into a set of commands that are understood by the computer application. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080301556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING OPERATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080301557 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND SOFTWARE PRODUCTS FOR ONLINE DATING - Provided by aspects of the present invention is an online dating service that provides system driven interactions in addition to and/or alternative to user driven aspects of online dating. The online dating service provides a virtual setting in which two users at a time are presented with virtual scenarios to which they react and comment on. The virtual scenarios are more than mere images or a virtual environment to be navigated through, and instead include video clips (or animation) designed to elicit the emotional reactions of each user and to catalyze less guarded conversations between the users. That is, the virtual scenario presented to the two users on the virtual date provides context to the interaction and any reaction by a first one of the users can be interpreted by a second one of the users to mean something based on the expectations of the second one of the users and vice versa. As a result, key personality information may be revealed that can be evaluated by others to determine the potential for a more significant relationship. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090019366 | Character expression in a geo-spatial environment - A method, apparatus and system of character expression in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a community network of user profiles, each user profile associated with a specific geographic location, associating a first user with a first user profile, providing a first character expression associated with the first user profile, generating a first display view to include a three-dimensional map view embodied by the community network, the first character expression, and the first user profile represented at a location in the three-dimensional map view associated with the specific geographic location of the first user profile, and simultaneously representing other user profiles adjacent to the first user profile in the three-dimensional map view. The method may also include providing elements as a part of a commerce transaction and enabling the commerce transaction via a user profile. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090044112 | Animated Digital Assistant - A method for interacting with a user comprising: receiving an input on a device, determining a text-based response based on the input using a logic engine, generating an audio stream of a voice-synthesized response based on the text-based response, rendering a video stream using a morphing of predetermined shapes based on phonemes in the voice-synthesized response, the video stream comprising an animated head speaking the voice-synthesized response, synchronizing the video stream and the audio stream, transmitting the video stream and the audio stream over the network; and presenting the video stream and the audio stream on the device. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090063970 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR EXCHANGING INFORMATION BETWEEN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT TO A NON-VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - Provided is a method for exchanging information, the method including: receiving content destined to a virtual representation of a recipient; sending the content to a recipient communication device that is being utilized by the recipient for non-virtual communication by utilizing an association between a virtual representation of the recipient and an identity of the recipient while concealing the association. Also provided is a method for participating in a virtual environment, the method including: receiving instructions from a limited device not capable of interfacing with the virtual environment; converting the instructions to a virtual environment-compliant format; sending the converted instructions to a virtual environment computer; receiving content from the virtual environment; converting the content to a limited device-compliant content; and sending the converted content to the limited device. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090094517 | Conversational advertising - A method of advertising in a computer medium, such as the Internet. The method includes providing a virtual instructor in a virtual environment. The virtual instructor is configured to provide content, such as, a foreign language instruction or a translation service of existing foreign language web pages to a user over the Internet. In the substantive content, the virtual instructor embeds or hides promotional content in the substantive content. This promotional content can be a spoken advertisement to the user. The promotional content can be introduced in a subtle manner, and does not distract the user from the lesson. The advertisement may be spoken to the user by the virtual instructor at the time the educational content is provided to the user. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090119588 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CREATING A VIRTUAL AGENT - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for producing a virtual agent. The virtual agent is generated. A demographic trait of a user, interacting with the virtual agent, is acquired. The virtual agent is endowed with the demographic trait, thereby enriching the virtual agent to appeal the user. Further, one or more intelligent agents are associated with the virtual agent allowing the virtual agent to accomplish specific tasking as directed by the user. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090144622 | On-Board Vehicle Computer System - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a touch-screen display. The apparatus includes first logic for generating a virtual assistant for presentation to a user via the touch-screen display. The virtual assistant has one or more anthropomorphic characteristics and interacts with the user via at least the touch-screen display to facilitate user access to one or more vehicle features. The apparatus includes second logic for automatically receiving data from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in a personal item of the user to identify the user, automatically accessing a profile associated with the RFID tag, and automatically initiating implementation of one or more of preferences of the user indicated by a profile associated with the RFID tag. The apparatus includes a vehicle interface for coupling the apparatus to any one of multiple vehicles and communicating data between the first or second logic and the vehicle. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090150778 | Method of and System for Managing Objectionable Material in 3D Immersive Virtual Worlds - A method of and system for managing objectionable content in a virtual world associates a tag with an attribute associated with an avatar in the virtual world. The method places a limitation on the avatar in the virtual world based upon information in the tag while the tagged attribute is associated with the avatar. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090158150 | RULES-BASED PROFILE SWITCHING IN METAVERSE APPLICATIONS - A method is disclosed for providing gameplay in a metaverse application in which players interact with each other and a virtual world by controlling characters that are represented using avatars specified by avatar profiles. The method comprises providing a player with an ability to specify and maintain more than one avatar profile for a character controlled by the player; and allowing an avatar representation of the character to be switched between the more than one avatar profile during gameplay. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158151 | COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING PRESENCE VISUALIZATIONS OF AVATORS AS PERSISTABLE VIRTUAL CONTACT OBJECTS - Computer method and apparatus represent users by respective avatars in a subject virtual environment. The invention system displays the avatars in the virtual environment, and for each avatar, displays in proximity to the avatar, a respective trail of virtual contact objects. The respective trail of virtual contact objects is associated with the user represented by the avatar and serves as a visual indication of presence and activeness (level of activity) of the user in the subject virtual environment. Each virtual contact object in the respective trail stores and provides user contact data of the user and is persistable upon end-user command. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090172538 | Generating Data for Media Playlist Construction in Virtual Environments - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating song playlists for use in an immersive virtual environment. Generally, playlists may be generated based on stored music preference data. The music preference data may be generated by storing user interactions with specific songs. The user interactions may be associated with characteristics of the user's situational context within the virtual world. The music preference data may be indexed by song name, and/or by musical properties. Subsequently, the music preference data may be used to generate a playlist adapted to the user's current situation within the virtual world. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172539 | Conversation Abstractions Based on Trust Levels in a Virtual World - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for abstracting conversations between avatars within a virtual world. In one embodiment, the user of an avatar observing a conversation between other avatars may be presented with an abstracted version of the conversation. The abstraction may be performed so as to enable the user to determine the general topic or nature of the conversation, without receiving sensitive or detailed information included in the conversation. In one embodiment, the abstraction is performed by substituting words of the conversation with fewer words, or words having a more general meaning. The degree of abstraction performed may be based on a level of trust between the observer and the users engaged in conversation. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172540 | Population cohort-linked avatar - Avatars, computer program products, devices and systems are described that relate to at least one cohort-linked avatar comprising at least one avatar attribute that is at least partly based on an association of at least one physiologic activity of at least one member of a population cohort with at least one mental state. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090183071 | PERSPECTIVE BASED TAGGING AND VISUALIZATION OF AVATARS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method 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 method 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. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090259937 | Brainstorming Tool in a 3D Virtual Environment - Computer-based group brainstorming system and method are disclosed. The invention system and method provide a certain area (e.g., a depicted room) as a brainstorming area in a virtual environment. A processor engine enables brainstorming sessions of multiple users in the certain area. For a given brainstorming session, the engine (i) indicates each user in the brainstorming session, and (ii) indicates communications (e.g., chat bubbles, votes, etc.) of each user in the brainstorming session. Color-coding of the users/avatars and communications may be used. Users may arrange indicia (e.g., indicators of project tasks) in the certain area in a manner that provides work flow or work assignments to users. Snapshots of the different states of a brainstorming session are enabled. User interaction with the artifacts of the brainstorming session remains active in the snapshots. Artifacts of a brainstorming session may later be reconstituted (reinstated) from a reloading of a snapshot into a subsequent session. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090276704 | PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE HIERARCHIES WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention is directed to providing customer service hierarchies within a virtual universe. A method for providing customer service hierarchies within a virtual universe includes: receiving a customer need request from an avatar; presenting a virtual interactive menu and/or a web page after receiving the customer need request; and if the menu and/or web page does not satisfy the customer's need request, then providing a customer service representative avatar to the avatar in need of customer service. A system, a program product stored on a computer readable medium, and a method for deploying such an application are also disclosed. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090288001 | TRIGGER EVENT BASED DATA FEED OF VIRTUAL UNIVERSE DATA - Business owners in a virtual universe may want to create a data source that transmits a data feed when certain parameters are met. Functionality can be implemented within a virtual universe to create a data feed when a trigger event occurs. The data feed may include data about the trigger event itself and/or about an avatar that caused the trigger. Triggered data feeds can be used to derive statistics, monitor use of objects and space and bill for such use, etc. In such cases, the user may be notified, such as via email, of the new data feed, as well as instructions on how to subscribe to it in their RSS reader or other client. Alternatively, users may be given individual feeds wherein additional feeds are distributed as separate categories of the user's feed as opposed to creating a separate feed. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090288002 | VIRTUAL UNIVERSE TELEPORTATION SUGGESTION SERVICE - The present invention is directed to a system, method and program product for providing teleportation suggestions to avatars in a virtual universe. A service is provided that determines the set of teleportation suggestions for the avatar based on at least one of: an inventory analysis of the avatar, a historical teleportation analysis of the avatar, a motion analysis of the avatar, a social network analysis of the avatar, or a ratings analysis of locations within the virtual universe. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090300493 | EXPLICIT USE OF USER CONTEXT OBJECTS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - An approach that facilitates explicit use of user context objects in a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is a user context object tool that includes a user context object retrieving component configured to retrieve the plurality of user context objects for presentation to the avatar. A user context object selection and modification component is configured to receive a user context object selection and any desired modifications made to the user context object selection. A user context object permissions component is configured to permit the avatar to interact with the virtual universe in accordance with the user context object selection. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090319895 | USE OF AVATARS - Information such as advertisements ( | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090327889 | MATRIX BLOGGING SYSTEM AND SERVICE SUPPORTING METHOD THEREOF - A matrix blogging system and a service supporting method thereof are provided. In a virtual world generated by mapping a real world in a predetermined form, a virtual avatar corresponding to a fixed terminal and a real avatar corresponding to a mobile terminal are operated, and a facial expression, a status, a movement, and a direction of the real avatar are changed in real time based on tag information collected by the mobile terminal, and a blog or contents that is searched for with high reliability and accuracy based on the collected tag information is provided to a user of the mobile terminal. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100023859 | MORPHING A DATA CENTER IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - The present invention re-renders data center visualizations at different levels of abstraction based on roles or activities of an avatar. Morphing of data center objects is accomplished by either combining or decomposing existing data center objects in a manner that will result in a new object that maintains its relationship to the original objects. An example of this would be when creating an application object by combining an existing infrastructure objects (e.g., a server, a network and storage) used to support the application object runtime environment. This allows for the avatar to not only relate the application object to the supporting infrastructure objects, but also provides a view of how the application object is impacted whenever the supporting infrastructure objects change or break. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100050078 | PERSONALIZED INTERNET INTERACTION - A method of a user interacting with an Internet, comprising: tracking interactions of the user with an Internet; analyzing said tracked interactions to determine at least one aspect of a user's interaction with the Internet; and modifying future interactions of said user with said Internet, responsive to said determined aspect, wherein said modified interactions comprise site-content related interactions with a plurality of unrelated sites. Preferably, the aspect is adapted in real-time to reflect changes in the tracked interactions. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100058183 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ALLOCATING VIRTUAL UNIVERSE CUSTOMER SERVICE - Virtual universe customer service representatives axe cloned and assigned as a function of observing customer behavior, retrieving historical data and creating a customer profile Preferential subavatar assignment parameters are determined for a customer as a function of the customer profile, choosing a subavatar from a plurality of subavatars as a function of a correlation of a subavatar performance characteristic with the preferential subavatar assignment parameter and a store objective, and the clone is populated with the chosen subavatar Choosing a subavatar may comprise preferentially rating subavatars and determining an appropriateness threshold as a function of the subavatar assignment parameter, the performance characteristics and the stole objective. Some embodiments reset a threshold in response to time-in-queue or to repetitively observing customer behavior, retrieving customer data, determining a subavatar assignment parameter and choosing a highest-rated available subavatar meeting a revised threshold. Subavatars may comprise automated, customer service representative-controlled and jointly-controlled subavatars. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100070858 | Interactive Media System and Method Using Context-Based Avatar Configuration - Systems and methods of avatar configuration based on a media stream context are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining context information related to a portion of a media stream. The method also includes selecting configuration settings of an avatar based at least partially on the context information. The avatar is responsive to user input to enable interaction with one or more other users with respect to the media stream. The method further includes sending display data to a user device. The display data includes information to display the avatar with the portion of the media stream. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100070859 | MULTI-INSTANCE, MULTI-USER ANIMATION PLATFORMS - A multi-instance, multi-user animation platform includes a plurality of modeled parallel dimensions in a computer memory. Each of the parallel dimensions may be an independent model of a physical, three-dimensional space having corresponding features such that the parallel dimensions are recognizable as counterparts to each other. Avatars are located within corresponding ones of the parallel dimensions so as to prevent over-population of any one of the parallel dimensions by avatars. Avatars are animated within different ones of the parallel dimensions using input from respective users to provide virtual-reality data. The virtual-reality data may be configured to cause remote clients to output an animated display of a corresponding one of the parallel dimensions and avatars therein. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100083112 | MANAGING VIRTUAL UNIVERSE AVATAR BEHAVIOR RATINGS - Inappropriate behavior, such as harassment, expletive laden communications, violence or sexually explicit behavior in a virtual universe (VU) can lead to negative experiences for VU users. Younger users of a VU can be more susceptible to inappropriate behavior than adult users. A VU system can monitor behavior and associate behavior ratings with avatars within the VU to respond to avatar/user behavior. A system can determine behavior ratings based upon avatar interactions, user complaints or complements about an avatar, actions within the VU, etc. The system can subject poorly behaving avatars to various penalties (e.g., restriction from certain areas, account termination, etc.). The system can also reward avatars that exhibit good behavior (e.g., allowing access to bonus areas or content, awarding points that can be used as VU currency, etc.). Penalizing inappropriate behavior and rewarding positive behavior can increase safety of minors in the VU, and increase user experience overall. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100088600 | REDIRECTION OF AN AVATAR - The invention provides a method, system, and program product for redirecting an avatar within a virtual universe or between virtual universes. In one embodiment, the invention includes identifying a region within a virtual universe that an avatar is attempting to access, determining whether the region is available to the avatar, and in the case that the region is not available to the avatar, determining whether the avatar's attempt to access the region is based on an event scheduled in the region, and in the case that the avatar's attempt to access the region is based on an event scheduled in the region, determining whether the event has been relocated to a second region, in the case that the event has been relocated to a second region, offering to teleport the avatar to the second region, and in the case that the avatar chooses to be teleported to the second region, teleporting the avatar to the second region. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100125789 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC NAVIGATION THROUGH A PROPERTY TO A SELECTED DESTINATION - A system and method for providing navigation for visitors to casinos allows the visitors to select a game, amenity, attraction, or facility as a desired destination, and then have a route provided them to that destination. The route can be drawn on a touch screen display. As an avatar proceeds along the route, it passes landmarks that are highlighted through animation. They may grow as the avatar approaches, then shrink back as it continues beyond the landmark. This is typically repeated several times, allowing the customer to easily remember the series of landmarks, and, thus, the route to the desired destination. He can then follow the route by moving from landmark to landmark across the casino floor. A customized map with the route may also be printed. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100131843 | Transforming Business Process Data to Generate a Virtual World Client for Human Interactions - A method of building artifacts that are used in a virtual world is provided. The method includes: parsing data of a business process; extracting at least one of input and output data from the parsed data; building a business artifact based on the at least one of input and output data; and associating the business artifact with the virtual world. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100218094 | SECOND-PERSON AVATARS - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can provide for a second-person avatar. The second-person avatar can rely upon a second-person-based perspective such that the avatar is displayed to appear to encompass all or portions of a target user. Accordingly, actions or a configuration of the avatar can serve as a model or demonstration for the user in order to aid the user in accomplishing a particular task. Updates to avatar activity or configuration can be provided by a dynamic virtual handbook. The virtual handbook can be constructed based upon a set of instruction associated with accomplishing the desired task and further based upon features or aspects of the user as well as those of the local environment. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100251117 | VISUALIZATION OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - This disclosure provides a system and method to enable the diagnosis, prognosis and emulation of medical conditions using virtual world environments. The system and method combines probabilistic and pattern recognition mechanisms for both real and virtual world applications to increase health care reach and presence within computational environments. The disclosure describes a system and method that uses physiological measurements and behaviors to diagnose a medical condition. Experimental data, either gathered or generated, provide points for emulation. An emulation algorithm increases the feeling of user presence within a virtual world. Avatar behaviors are mapped to scripts which describe the output of the medical diagnosis and prognosis algorithm. Based on proposed treatment plans, emulations can be run, and the appearance of the avatar altered based on the outcome (e.g., improvement, worsening, etc.). | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100306652 | PRE-FETCHING ITEMS IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE BASED ON AVATAR COMMUNICATIONS - The present invention pre-fetches objects, textures and scripts (collectively referred to herein as items) through analysis of the communications of an avatar. Furthermore, if an object, texture or script is not pre-fetched upon arrival to a region the virtual universe's object, texture and script download system is augmented to prioritize objects the user may be interested in based on the avatar's communications and previously stated priorities. The present invention may improve user experience of virtual world by prioritizing the download and caching of objects, textures, and scripts that are likely to interest the user. Such a prioritization enhances the user experience by reducing wait times for the rendering of objects of interest. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100318907 | AUTOMATIC INTERACTIVE RECORDING SYSTEM - A system and a booth for producing a media clip, providing one or more users with a recording studio experience including a computer configured to provide the users with interactive guidance through test producing and recording the media clip, the guidance being providing by user interaction with an animated facsimile of a recording director displayed on the display. A method for producing a media clip, providing one or more users with a recording studio experience, including providing the users with interactive guidance through test producing and/or recording a media clip, the guidance being providing by interaction with a display of an animated facsimile of a recording director, recording a media clip of the users' choice, providing the recording to the users. Related apparatus and methods are also described. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100332980 | MANAGING DOCUMENT INTERACTIONS IN COLLABORATIVE DOCUMENT ENVIRONMENTS OF VIRTUAL WORLDS - Embodiments described herein are directed to managing document interactions in a collaborative document area of a virtual world. Document interactions of avatars in the collaborative document area of the virtual world are captured by an interaction tool deployed in the collaborative document area. The document interactions are related to at least one document in the collaborative document area. The document interactions are associated with the at least one document based on a reference scheme applied to the collaborative document area by an interaction association unit. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110066938 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MUTIDIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL ONLINE SUPPORT CENTER - A virtual service center is provided to a customer visiting the service provider website. The customer can take an avatar and proceed to collect a token number and wait for chat session service in a virtual lounge to partake in various interactive options. The number of the current serving number is displayed so that the customer knows the position in the queue. The waiting lounge can include a virtual kiosk to provide the customer with self service while waiting. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110093780 | ADVERTISING AVATAR - An advertising avatar provides an engaging advertising experience. To create an advertising avatar, a user provides information that may be used to target advertisements to the user. The information is stored in a user profile and associated with an avatar ID. Additionally, an avatar image is created for the advertising avatar that is based on information provided by the user. The more information the user provides, the more fully featured the appearance of the avatar image becomes. When an advertisement is to be displayed on a user's client device, an advertisement is selected based on information in the user profile. The avatar image for the user's advertising avatar may be presented within the advertisement when the advertisement is presented on the user's client device. The presence of the avatar image within an advertisement may provide an indication to the user that the advertisement supports user interaction. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110239117 | Natural User Interaction in Shared Resource Computing Environment - Sharing and exchanging information in a Shared Resource Computing (SRC) environment are disclosed. Example systems include a shared resource computing server and a plurality of peripheral devices. The SRC server may include functionality configured to share and exchange information between the peripheral devices, including functionality to determine the physical position of the peripheral devices, functionality to associate avatars to the peripheral devices, and functionality to display the avatars within a representation of the environment. Alternate embodiments may also include functionality for user authentication and functionality for sending a document between peripheral devices. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20120011440 | Method for Online Grid Associations - A method of permitting account holders to communicate, interact and otherwise associate at least one primary grid account with additional grids by linking avatars via unique associations in a database between 3-dimensional online environments. A process is used where a user can register and make purchases relating to item listings and the association between the primary grid and the at least one additional grids. In addition, a process of delivery identification, linking avatars and listing and linking items also are combined. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120079377 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR PLACING AN ASSET ON A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model. Each asset can be associated with a pivot point and with an asset normal. A contact point on the surface of a model where an asset is to be positioned may be identified, and a surface normal that may be perpendicular to the surface at the contact point may also be identified. Then, the asset can be placed on the model such that the position of the pivot point of the asset may coincide with the position of the identified contact point on the surface of the model, and such that the orientation of the asset normal may match the orientation of the identified surface normal. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120079378 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR INTEGRATING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL ASSET WITH A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for integrating a three-dimensional asset with a three-dimensional model. Each asset can include a base surface and either a protrusion or a projection extending from the base. Once the asset is placed at a particular position with respect to the model, one or more vertices defining a periphery of the base surface can be projected onto an external surface of the model. Then, one or more portions of the asset can be deformed to provide a smooth transition between the external surface of the asset and the external surface of the model. In some cases, the asset can include a hole extending through the external surface of the model for defining a cavity. A secondary asset can be placed in the cavity such as, for example, an eyeball asset placed in an eye socket asset. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120089908 | LEVERAGING GEO-IP INFORMATION TO SELECT DEFAULT AVATAR - Default selections presented to a client device can be customized when the client device accesses an online service via a network. A geographic location for the client device can be determined from network address information for the device. Socioeconomic information characteristic of the geographic location can be obtained from a first database. A socioeconomic-factor-dependent default menu selection can be customized according to the socioeconomic information. Supplemental information relevant to the menu selection can be obtained from a second database that maps user feedback that is relevant to the menu selection in that geographic location. The default selection can be updated according to the supplemental information. Updating the default selection may optionally include changing a duration for which a particular selection from a sequence of selections is presented on the client device. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120096352 | CONTROLLING SOCIAL NETWORK VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY PLACES THROUGH PROBABILITY OF INTERACTION METHODS - A system and method for controlling a social network based virtual world, in which users are represented by avatars that in turn are linked to the user's real world social network social profiles. The users may virtually meet in various different virtual meeting places or “rooms”. In order to promote development of new and productive virtual relationships with a high degree of relevance to the user's real world experience, the system makes use of probability to interact (PTI) methods and algorithms. The PTI method keeps track of both the respective user's real-world interactions and virtual world interactions, computes one or more PTI values, and uses these PTI values to control the distribution of the user's avatars in a social interaction optimized manner. The PTI methods may also be used to control avatar appearance, suggest virtual events, and control the output of virtual event search engines. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120254749 | System And Method For Controlling Life Goals - A method and system for assisting a user in achieving a goal are described. Input related to the goal is received from the user. The input includes body sensor data from a body sensor worn by the user, a photograph of the user and/or an avatar configured by the user. Data related to the goal is mined from at least one external source. The user is provided with at least one recommendation for achieving the goal based on the input from the user and the mined data. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120278713 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION - A computer system is provided. The computer system includes a memory, at least one processor coupled to the memory, and an assessment component executed by the at least one processor. The assessment component is configured to execute a conversation between at least one user and a computer-simulated character and determine a competency level displayed by the at least one user based on at least one response option received during the conversation. In the computer system, the at least one response option may includes a plurality of response options and the assessment component may be further configured to calculate an overall score based on the plurality of response options. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20130031475 | SOCIAL NETWORK BASED VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY PLACES - A method of providing virtual meeting environments for user controlled avatars. Each avatar is associated with user information from at least one social network (Facebook), and the user's profile picture and sex controls the general appearance of the avatars. The avatar's appearance can also be customized according to their user's social network relationships such as friends, friends of friends, or strangers. Various online virtual events, such as virtual parties, meeting rooms and the like may be created, and other social network users invited to participate by sending their avatars to the meeting environment. There the avatars may move about and interact with one another according to real-world rules, such as the rule that only avatars that are portrayed as physically being closely associated to each other in the virtual world may chat or interact, as well as exchange social network user information. Virtual environment search engines are also provided. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130031476 | VOICE ACTIVATED VIRTUAL ASSISTANT - A method and system is presented for providing information to a user interactively using a conversation manager thereby mimicking a live personal assistant. Communication between the user and the system can be implemented orally and/or by using visual cues or other images. The conversation manager relies on a set of functions defining very flexible adaptive scripts. As a session with a user is progressing, the conversation manager, obtains information from the user refining or defining more accurately what information is required by the user. Responses from the user result in the selection of different scripts or subscripts. In the process of obtaining information, data may be collected that is available either locally, from a local sensor, or remotely from other sources. The remote sources are accessed by automatically activating an appropriate function such as a search engine and performing a search over the Internet. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130167025 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE USER ASSISTANCE - The present invention relates to a system and method for assisting online users through a computer generated human-like animated character. Further, the invention provides the method for enabling the said human-like animated character for intuitively responding to user queries. The present invention provides automated answers of the said user queries by mining the data from a real-time updatable database displayed on the screen or display. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130179779 | TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSACTING VIA AN ANIMATED ASSISTANT - Techniques for transacting via an animated assistant are provided. A kiosk processes an animated assistant that entices users to approach. Once a user approaches the animated assistant attempts to recognize the user and engages the user via an unspoken universal language using symbol imagery when the user is not recognized. When the user is recognized, the user is engaged via a preferred spoken language. The animated assistant guides the user through one or more automated transactions via the kiosk. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130275869 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A VIRTUAL TOUR WITHIN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - 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 a virtual tour of a virtual venue within a virtual environment. The virtual tour is then displayed within the virtual environment. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140075305 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFINING AND RESPONDING TO HELP REQUEST IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT SERVICE - A method includes providing a virtual environment service, wherein a plurality of characters interacting with each other; providing a first user, with a first user account associated with a first user level of the virtual environment service; providing a second user, with a second user account associated with a second user level of the virtual environment service, the second user level being higher than the first user level. The method further includes defining a help request relating to the virtual environment service, by the first user; allocating the help request to the second user; responding to the help request by the second user; generating feedback by the first user in response to the responding; and modifying the second user level based on the feedback. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140281963 | FRAMELESS VIDEO SYSTEM - A frameless audio/video object (FAVO) that provides information to a user. In one embodiment, the FAVO is interactive, such as having hotspots for allowing a user to select more features or information. The information may be advertising. The user can select a desirable FAVO, such as a favorite celebrity. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140310595 | AUGMENTED REALITY VIRTUAL PERSONAL ASSISTANT FOR EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION - A computing system for virtual personal assistance includes technologies to, among other things, correlate an external representation of an object with a real world view of the object, display virtual elements on the external representation of the object and/or display virtual elements on the real world view of the object, to provide virtual personal assistance in a multi-step activity or another activity that involves the observation or handling of an object and a reference document. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140317502 | VIRTUAL ASSISTANT FOCUSED USER INTERFACES - Conversation user interfaces that are configured for virtual assistant interaction may include contextual interface items that are based on contextual information. The contextual information may relate to a current or previous conversation between a user and a virtual assistant and/or may relate to other types of information, such as a location of a user, an orientation of a device, missing information, and so on. The conversation user interfaces may additionally, or alternatively, control an input mode based on contextual information, such as an inferred input mode of a user or a location of a user. Further, the conversation user interfaces may tag conversation items by saving the conversation items to a tray and/or associating the conversation items with indicators. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20150067500 | ON-LINE INTERACTION SYSTEM - An avatar display system monitors the activities or status of different members on a network site. Avatars representing the different members are displayed in conjunction with an on-line application according to the different identified member activities or status. Different avatar display techniques and filtering schemes are used to both promote and improve interactions between different members of the on-line application or website. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150074524 | MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUAL ASSISTANT ACTION ITEMS - An aspect provides a method, including: operating an audio receiver and a memory of an information handling device to store audio; receiving input activating a virtual assistant of the information handling device; and after activation of the virtual assistant, processing the audio stored to identify one or more actionable items for the virtual assistant. Other aspects are described and claimed. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150121215 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MULTIMEDIA ACCESSIBLITY - A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, determine a first impairment associated with a first user of a first end user device, receive user input captured at a second end user device during a communication session between the first and second end user devices, store instructions for executing a group of adjustment techniques for modifying the user input where the group of adjustment techniques includes amplifying selective frequencies and translating the user input into sign language images, select an adjustment technique from among the group of adjustment techniques, adjust the user input according to the adjustment technique to generate adjusted user input, and provide the adjusted user input to the first end user device during the communication session. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20160004299 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING, VERIFYING AND ADJUSTING THE AFFECTIVE STATE OF A USER - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, devices and methods for assessing, verifying and adjusting the affective state of a user. An electronic communication is received in a computer terminal from a user. The communication may be a verbal, visual and/or biometric communication. The electronic communication may be assigned at least weighted descriptive value and a weighted time value which are used to calculate a current affective state of the user. Optionally, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to verify the current affective state if the current affective state is ambiguous. The optional interaction may continue until the current affective state is achieved. Next, the computer terminal may be triggered to interact with the user to adjust the current affective state upon a determination that the current affective state is outside an acceptable range from a pre-defined affective state. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160070581 | VIRTUAL TELLER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A virtual assistant ecosystem is presented. One can instantiate or construct a customized virtual assistant when needed by capturing a digital representation of one or more objects. A virtual assistant engine analyzes the digital representation to determine the nature or type of the objects present. The engine further obtains attributes for a desirable assistant based on the type of objects. Once the attributes are compiled the engine can then create the specific type of assistant required by the circumstances. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160110044 | PROFILE-DRIVEN AVATAR SESSIONS - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance avatar technology. An avatar engine identifies a session profile to apply to an avatar session when evaluating user actions generated by a user for potential expression in avatar actions associated with an avatar. The engine evaluates the user actions to determine if the user actions agree with the session profile for the avatar session. When the user actions do agree, they may be expressed through the avatar. For at least a user action that does not agree with the session profile for the avatar session, the avatar is driven to express a modified version of the user action that does agree with the session profile. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20190146815 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GUIDING A USER IN UTILIZING FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES OF A COMPUTER BASED DEVICE | 05-16-2019 |
