Avatar background alteration

A system for altering an avatar background in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, comprising:

• a computing device, comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory, wherein the memory contains instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to:
• receive, from a first device of a first user, configuration settings specifying how a background of a first user's avatar is to be presented to a second user in the 3D virtual environment, wherein the first user's avatar represents the first user at a location of a first virtual camera, wherein the first user's avatar and first virtual camera are controlled by the first user, and wherein the configuration settings comprise user selections for an avatar background color, at least one coloring property based on the avatar background color, a cutoff shape of a video stream of the first user, whether the first avatar has a volumetric appearance, a framerate for applying background removal, and a smoothness to any edges of the video stream;
• capture the video stream of the first user on the first device, wherein the video stream captures the first user and physical surroundings of the first user;
• analyze the video stream to determine which portions of the video stream represent the first user and which portions represent the physical surroundings;
• alter the portions of the video stream determined to represent the physical surroundings to produce an altered background;
• and
• send the configuration settings and the video stream with the altered background to a second device of the second user to render, from the perspective of a second virtual camera corresponding to the second user and based on the configuration settings, the first user's avatar such that the first user is able to specify how the altered background is used to render the first user's avatar when presented to the second user, wherein the second virtual camera corresponds to a location of a second avatar, and wherein the second user's virtual camera and second avatar are controlled by the second user.

A computer implemented method for rendering an avatar in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment, comprising:

• receiving, from a first device of a first user, configuration settings specifying how a background of a first user's avatar is to be presented to a second user in the 3D virtual environment, wherein the first user's avatar represents the first user at a location of a first virtual camera, wherein the first user's avatar and first virtual camera are controlled by the first user, and wherein the configuration settings comprise user selections for an avatar background color, at least one coloring property based on the avatar background color, a cutoff shape of a video stream of the first user, whether the first avatar has a volumetric appearance, a framerate for applying background removal, and a smoothness to any edges of the video stream;
• capturing the video stream of the first user on the first device, wherein the video stream captures the first user and physical surroundings of the first user, wherein the physical surroundings is a solid colored background and appears as the background of the first user's avatar;
• analyzing the video stream to determine which portions of the video stream represent the first user and which portions are the solid colored background;
• sending the configuration settings and the video stream with the solid colored background to a second device of the second user to render, from the perspective of a second virtual camera corresponding to the second user and based on the configuration settings, the first user's avatar such that the first user is able to specify how the solid colored background is used to render the first user's avatar when presented to the second user, wherein the second virtual camera corresponds to a location of a second avatar, and wherein the second user's virtual camera and second avatar are controlled by the second user.