# US 2021/0240315 A1 · Global event-based avatar > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240315 A1 - Document ID: US20210240315A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/235,030 - Filed: 2021-04-20 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-06 - Assignees: Snap Inc. - Applicants: Snap Inc. - Inventors: Sumbul ALVI; David MARK; Kimberly A. PHIFER; Graham REID; Suraj Vindana SAMARANAYAKE; Alexandre VALDETARO PORTO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240315A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 16/90335: {Query processing} - H04L 51/222: using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area - H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a method for navigating an avatar based on time zones. A global event is identified that begins at a particular time on a given date; a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations is retrieved; and a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones is determined to have reached the particular time on the given date. In response, an avatar is generated for display on a map at a first of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone and is navigated to a second geographical location when a current time at a second time zone, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: generating for display an avatar at a current display position corresponding to a first geographical location; determining a distance between the first geographical location and a second geographical location; setting a rate at which the current display position of the avatar is updated based on the determined distance; and updating, based on the rate, the current display position of the avatar to a new display position that is closer in proximity to the second geographical location than the first geographical location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a global event that begins at a particular time on a given date, the global event corresponding to the avatar; receiving, at a current time, a user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: in response to receiving the user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location, generating for display a video from a set of videos received from users at the first geographical location, the set of videos being received from the users, during a time prior to the current time and prior to the avatar being progressed to the second geographical location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations; determining that a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones has reached a particular time on a given date associated with a global event; and in response to determining that the current time at the first time zone has reached the particular time on the given date, generating for display the avatar representative of a global event on a map at the first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: navigating the avatar on the map from the first geographical location to the second geographical location when a current time at a second time zone of the sequential list of time zones, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving the sequential list of time zones including a plurality of time offsets relative to a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: searching for a first time offset of the plurality of time offsets that is earlier than each of the plurality of time offsets, the first time offset corresponding to the first geographical location; and computing the current time at the first geographical location by adding or subtracting the determined offset to or from the UTC. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a path that traverses each of a plurality of geographical locations, wherein the current display position is updated to follow the path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising dynamically adjusting the path based on one or more criteria. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rate is increased or decreased to cause the avatar to reach the second geographical location when a current time at the second geographical location matches a particular time on a given date associated with a global event. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar comprises a blimp with an image or video that represents a global event. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a set of videos correspond to videos received from friends of a user on a social media platform, further comprising sequentially playing back each video in the set of videos automatically on the avatar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a collection of videos in the set of videos received from users at the second geographical location corresponding to the position of the avatar are temporarily stored such that the collection of videos becomes unavailable for access after a specified time period has elapsed since a global event began at the second geographical location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar includes a plurality of states, further comprising: prior to any time zone in a sequential list of time zones reaching a particular time on a given date, generating for display the avatar in a first state of the plurality of states on a map in close proximity to the first geographical location; and when a first time zone reaches the particular time on the given date, changing a state of the avatar from the first state to a second of the plurality of states. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a processor configured to perform operations comprising: generating for display an avatar at a current display position corresponding to a first geographical location; determining a distance between the first geographical location and a second geographical location; setting a rate at which the current display position of the avatar is updated based on the determined distance; and updating, based on the rate, the current display position of the avatar to a new display position that is closer in proximity to the second geographical location than the first geographical location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, the operations further comprising: identifying a global event that begins at a particular time on a given date, the global event corresponding to the avatar; receiving, at a current time, a user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, the operations further comprising: in response to receiving the user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location, generating for display a video from a set of videos received from users at the first geographical location, the set of videos being received from the users, during a time prior to the current time and prior to the avatar being progressed to the second geographical location. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, the operations further comprising: retrieving a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations; determining that a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones has reached a particular time on a given date associated with a global event; and in response to determining that the current time at the first time zone has reached the particular time on the given date, generating for display the avatar representative of a global event on a map at the first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, the operations further comprising navigating the avatar on the map from the first geographical location to the second geographical location when a current time at a second time zone of the sequential list of tune zones, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: generating for display an avatar at a current display position corresponding to a first geographical location; determining a distance between the first geographical location and a second geographical location; setting a rate at which the current display position of the avatar is updated based on the determined distance; and updating, based on the rate, the current display position of the avatar to a new display position that is closer in proximity to the second geographical location than the first geographical location.