# US 12,015,818 B2 · Video distribution system for live distributing video containing animation of character object generated based on motion of distributor user, video distribution method, and storage medium storing thereon video distribution program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,818 B2 - Document ID: US12015818B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/084,182 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28 - Assignees: GREE, Inc. - Applicants: GREE, Inc. - Inventors: Naohide Otsuka; Takashi Yasukawa; Yousuke Yamanouchi; Yasunori Kurita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015818B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations} - G06T 13/40: of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings - G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts - H04N 21/2187: Live feed - H04N 21/258: Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data {(arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30)} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/472: End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content {(end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612)} - H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} - H04N 21/8146: {involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics} - G06T 2219/2004: Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract One aspect of the invention relates to a video distribution system for live distributing a video containing a virtual space and an animation of a character object generated based on a motion of a distributor user. The video distribution system determines, when receiving from a viewer user watching the video a participation request to request participation in the video, which one of first and second groups the viewer user belongs to. If the viewer user is determined to belong to the first group, the video distribution system arranges a specific avatar of the viewer user in a first region within the virtual space. If the viewer user is determined to belong to the second group, the video distribution system arranges the specific avatar in a second region within the virtual space as long as a condition for participation is satisfied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for allowing viewing of a first video on a client device of each of a plurality of viewer users, the first video containing a virtual space and an animation of a character object generated based on a motion of a distributor user, the system comprising: one or more computer processors, wherein the one or more computer processors execute computer-readable instructions to: in response to receiving a participation request for participation in the first video from a first user belonging to a first group among the plurality of viewer users, allow a first avatar of the first user to participate in the first video by arranging the first avatar of the first user in a first region in the virtual space; and in response to receiving a display request from the first user while the first avatar is arranged in the first region, generate a second video in which the first avatar is displayed along with the character object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein in the second video, the first avatar is arranged in a character display region in which the character object is arranged. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein in response to selection of a display request button displayed on a first client device of the first user, the display request is generated by the first client device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein in response to the first avatar participating in the first video, the display request button is displayed on the first client device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the display request button is displayed on the first client device only when 3D display information for displaying the first avatar three-dimensionally is stored in a storage, and wherein the first avatar is displayed three-dimensionally in the character display region in the second video. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first avatar is displayed two-dimensionally in the first region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein an elapsed time after the first avatar being displayed along with the character object in the second video is measured, wherein a remaining time during which the first avatar is allowed to remain displayed along with the character object is calculated based on the elapsed time, and wherein the remaining time is displayed on the client device along with the second video. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first avatar is eliminated from the second video based on an instruction from the distributor user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a motion of the first avatar is controlled based on a motion instruction generated in response to selection of a motion instruction button displayed on the first client device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the motion instruction button is displayed on the first client device only when the first avatar is participating in the first video. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first avatar is prohibited from participating in other videos different from the first video while participating in the first video. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein an upper limit of a number of users belonging to the first group is less than an upper limit of a number of users belonging to a second group different from the first group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein an upper limit of a number of users whose avatars are displayed along with the character object is less than an upper limit of a number of users belonging to the first group. ### Claim 14 A method performed by one or more computer processors executing computer-readable instructions to allow viewing of a first video on a client device of each of a plurality of viewer users, the first video containing a virtual space and an animation of a character object generated based on a motion of a distributor user, the method comprising: in response to receiving a participation request for participation in the first video from a first user belonging to a first group among the plurality of viewer users, allowing a first avatar of the first user to participate in the first video by arranging the first avatar of the first user in a first region in the virtual space; and in response to receiving a display request from the first user while the first avatar is arranged in the first region, generating a second video in which the first avatar is displayed along with the character object. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for allowing viewing of a first video on a client device of each of a plurality of viewer users, the first video containing a virtual space and an animation of a character object generated based on a motion of a distributor user, the program causing one or more computer processors to: in response to receiving a participation request for participation in the first video from a first user belonging to a first group among the plurality of viewer users, allow a first avatar of the first user to participate in the first video by arranging the first avatar of the first user in a first region in the virtual space; and in response to receiving a display request from the first user while the first avatar is arranged in the first region, generate a second video in which the first avatar is displayed along with the character object.