Animation control method for multiple participants
AssigneePfaqutruma Research LLC
InventorBrian Mark SHUSTER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer system is used to host a virtual reality universe process in which multiple avatars are independently controlled in response to client input. The host provides coordinated motion information for defining coordinated movement between designated portions of multiple avatars, and an application responsive to detect conditions triggering a coordinated movement sequence between two or more avatars. During coordinated movement, user commands for controlling avatar movement may be in part used normally and in part ignored or otherwise processed to cause the involved avatars to respond in part to respective client input and in part to predefined coordinated movement information. Thus, users may be assisted with executing coordinated movement between multiple avatars.
Claims13
An apparatus comprising at least one computer processor coupled to at least one memory, the memory holding instructions that when executed by the at least one computer processor, cause the apparatus to:
- model an avatar in a virtual 3D environment;
- receive control inputs from a user controlling the avatar;
- the apparatus recording at least a portion of the avatar's movement for later playback;
- and
- making the movement available to other users controlling other avatars.
An apparatus comprising at least one computer processor coupled to at least one memory, the memory holding instructions that when executed by the at least one computer processor, cause the apparatus to:
- model at least a first avatar controlled by a first user, and a second avatar controlled by a second user, in a virtual 3D environment;
- generate an interface that allows the second user to alter a setting permitting or prohibiting the first user to cause the first avatar to engage the second avatar in a coordinated motion sequence;
- and
- block the first avatar from engaging in a coordinated motion sequence with the second avatar where the second user has the setting set to prohibit the first user to cause the first avatar to interact with the second avatar in the coordinated motion sequence.
An apparatus comprising at least one computer processor coupled to at least one memory, the memory holding instructions that when executed by the at least one computer processor, cause the apparatus to:
- model at least a first avatar controlled by a first user, and a second avatar controlled by a second user, in a virtual 3D environment;
- upon receipt of input from either the first or second user indicating a desire to engage the first and second avatars in a coordinated motion sequence, determine whether the motion sequence will have a dominant avatar;
- if the motion sequence will have a dominant avatar, assign a dominant role to one of the first or second avatars based at least in part on at least one of:
- the number of points the first or second user has accrued;
- the quality of points the first or second user has accrued;
- a rating of the first or second user;
- the number of times the first or second user has engaged in the coordinated sequence;
- or
- the number of times the first or second user has engaged in any coordinated sequences.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.