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US 9,002,885 B2Granted
Media playback in a virtual environment
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsLane Merrifield, Raul Guerra, Michael P. Yingling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A framework is provided for selecting media files for playback in a computer game. In one embodiment, user actions in the computer game are monitored. Further, user characterizations of media files may also be retrieved. The user characterizations may be input by a plurality of users via a media player application. A media file may be then selected for playback based on the monitored user actions and retrieved user characterizations. The selected media file may better suit an emotional experience of a user playing the computer game.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method to tailor selection of media for playback to a user of a virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and media characterizations by other users, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of a virtual world application providing the virtual environment;
- monitoring activity of the user in the virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment includes a virtual object having a user interface for controlling media playback without requiring use of any media player application;
- retrieving media characterizations of a plurality of media files from a second media source that is not part of the virtual world application, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the virtual world application;
- and
- selecting a second media file from the plurality of media files for playback to the user in the virtual environment, by operation of one or more computer processors and based on at least the monitored activity of the user and the retrieved media characterizations, without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the second media file, in order to tailor selection of media for playback to the user in the virtual environment;
- wherein playback of the plurality of media files is controllable via the user interface of the virtual object and without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, in order to reduce incidence of interruption of use the virtual environment.
3 more elements
A computer-implemented method to provide a user interface integrated into a virtual environment and for controlling playback of external media of a user, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- providing the virtual environment for the user by a virtual world application;
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of the virtual world application;
- providing the user interface for controlling media playback, wherein the user interface is integrated into a virtual object in the virtual environment;
- receiving, from the user and via the user interface, a request to play a second media file from a second media source that is not part of the virtual world application;
- outputting the second media file for playback to the user in the virtual environment, responsive to the request and by operation of one or more computer processors;
- and
- providing media characterizations of a plurality of media files from the second media source external to the virtual environment, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the virtual world application, wherein the user interface of the virtual object permits control of media playback without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, wherein a media file from the plurality of media files is selected for playback to the user in the virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and the provided media characterizations, without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the media file.
4 more elements
A computer-implemented method to tailor selection of media for playback to a user of a virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and media characterizations by other users, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of a virtual world application providing the virtual environment;
- selecting, from the plurality of media files from a second media source that is not part of the virtual application, a second media file for playback to a user in a virtual environment, by operation of one or more computer processors and based on the monitored activity of the user in the virtual environment and based further on media characterizations of a plurality of media files, without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the second media file, wherein the media characterizations are specified by one or more users other than the user and via a media player application separate from the virtual world application, whereby selection of media is tailored for playback to the user in the virtual environment, based on media characterizations by other users;
- outputting the second media file for playback to the user in the virtual environment;
- and
- providing a user interface for controlling media playback, wherein the user interface is integrated into a virtual object in the virtual environment, wherein the user interface of the virtual object permits controlling playback of the plurality of media files without requiring use of the media player application, in order to reduce incidence of interruption of use the virtual environment.
2 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation to tailor selection of media for playback to a user of a virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and media characterizations by other users, the operation comprising:
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of a virtual world application providing the virtual environment;
- monitoring activity of the user in the virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment includes a virtual object having a user interface for controlling media playback without requiring use of any media player application;
- retrieving media characterizations of a plurality of media files from a second media source that is not part of the virtual world application, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the virtual world application;
- selecting a second media file from the plurality of media files for playback to the user in the virtual environment, by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program, and based on at least the monitored activity of the user and the retrieved media characterizations, without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the second media file, in order to tailor selection of media for playback to the user in the virtual environment;
- wherein playback of the plurality of media files is controllable via the user interface of the virtual object and without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, in order to reduce incidence of interruption of use the virtual environment.
2 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation to provide a user interface integrated into a virtual environment and for controlling playback of external media of a user, the operation comprising:
- providing the virtual environment for the user by a virtual world application;
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of the virtual world application;
- providing the user interface for controlling media playback, wherein the user interface is integrated into a virtual object in the virtual environment;
- receiving, from the user and via the user interface, a request to play a second media file from a second media source that is not part of the virtual world application;
- outputting the second media file for playback to the user in the virtual environment, responsive to the request and by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program;
- and
- providing media characterizations of a plurality of media files from the second media source external to the virtual environment, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the virtual world application, wherein the user interface of the virtual object permits control of media playback without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, wherein a media file from the plurality of media files is selected for playback to the user in the virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and the provided media characterizations, without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the media file.
4 more elements
A system to tailor selection of media for playback to a user of a virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and media characterizations by other users, the system comprising:
- one or more computer processors;
- and
- a memory containing a program executable by the one or more computer processors to perform an operation comprising:
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of a virtual world application providing the virtual environment;
- monitoring activity of the user in the virtual environment, wherein the virtual environment includes a virtual object having a user interface for controlling media playback without requiring use of any media player application;
- retrieving media characterizations of a plurality of media files from a second media source that is not part of the virtual world application, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the virtual world application;
- and
- selecting a second media file from the plurality of media files for playback to the user in the virtual environment, based on at least the monitored activity of the user and the retrieved media characterizations and without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the second media file, in order to tailor selection of media for playback to the user in the virtual environment;
- wherein playback of the plurality of media files is controllable via the user interface of the virtual object and without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, in order to reduce incidence of interruption of use the virtual environment.
6 more elements
A system to provide a user interface integrated into a virtual environment and for controlling playback of external media of a user, the system comprising:
- one or more computer processors;
- and
- a memory containing a program executable by the one or more computer processors to perform an operation comprising:
- providing the virtual environment for the user;
- outputting a first media file for playback for the user in the virtual environment, wherein the first media file is from a first media source that is part of the virtual world application;
- providing the user interface for controlling media playback, wherein the user interface is integrated into a virtual object in the virtual environment;
- receiving, from the user and via the user interface, a request to play a second media file from a second media source that is not part of the program;
- outputting the second media file for playback to the user in the virtual environment, responsive to the request;
- and
- providing media characterizations of a plurality of media files from the second media source external to the virtual environment, wherein the media characterizations are input by a plurality of users other than the user and each using a respective media player application of one or more media applications for managing the plurality of media files and the media characterizations, wherein the respective media player application is separate from the program, wherein the user interface of the virtual object permits control of media playback without requiring use of any of the one or more media player applications, wherein a media file is selected from the plurality of media files for playback to the user in the virtual environment, based on monitored activity of the user and the provided media characterizations and without requiring, from the user, any input specifying the media file.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.