- Number
- 9770661
- Published
- 2017-09-26
- Filed
- 2011-08-03
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Priebe; Christopher
- CPC
- G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; A63F13/75
- Verdict
- Set aside zone-based positioning virtual worlds - platform infra
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
Abstract
Techniques are described for displaying avatars within a virtual environment in a way that avoids an appearance of offensive content. Embodiments of the invention receive a request specifying a first location within the virtual environment to move a firstuser-controlled virtual object to. A zone encompassing the specified location is then identified and a second location within the identified zone is determined. Embodiments then output the virtual environment for display in a manner that shows the first user-controlledvirtual object positioned at the determined second location within the virtual environment.
Background
BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the appended drawings.(2) It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.(3) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configured to operate an avatar positioning component, according to one embodiment of the present invention.(4) FIG. 2 is a screenshot of a virtual environment, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.(5) FIG. 3 is a screenshot of a virtual environment divided into a plurality of zones, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.(6) FIG. 4 is a screenshot of a virtual environment illustrating a request to reposition an avatar, according to one embodiment described inthe present disclosure.(7) FIG. 5 is a screenshot of a virtual environment configured with an avatar positioning component, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.(8) FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying avatars in a virtual environment, according to one embodiment described in the present disclosure.(9) FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for display
Claims
1. A method of controlling avatar positioning within a virtual environment, comprising: determining an avatar positioning policy for preventing arrangements of avatars in the virtual environment; dividing the virtual environment into a plurality of zones, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective exclusive portion of the virtual environment; receiving a request, from a first client device associated with a first set of user credentials, to move a first user-controlled virtual object within the virtual environment to a first location that is currently unoccupied by any virtual objects; responsive to the request: selecting, by an avatar positioning component, a zone from the plurality of zones, based on a determination that the respective exclusive portion of the virtual world for the selected zone encompasses the first location; determining, by the avatar positioning component, a second location within the selected zone according to the avatar positioning policy and that is different than the first location, the determining comprising at least one of: (i) randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone and (ii) pseudo-randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone; outputting the virtual environment for display, at the first client device from which the request was received, in a manner showing the first user-controlled virtual object positioned at the requested first location; and outputting the virtual environment for display, at a second client device distinct from the first client device and associated with a second set of user credentials, in accordance with the avatar positioning policy, such that thefirst user-controlled virtual object is positioned at the determined second location within the virtual environment, rather than the requested first location.
6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program that, when executed, performs an operation for controlling avatar positioning within a virtual environment, the operation comprising: determining an avatar positioning policy for preventing arrangements of avatars in the virtual environment; dividing the virtual environment into a plurality of zones, wherein eachzone of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective exclusive portion of the virtual environment; receiving a request, from a first client device associated with a first set of user credentials, to move a first user-controlled virtual object within the virtual environment to a first location that is currently unoccupied by any virtual objects; responsive to the request: selecting, by an avatar positioning component, a zone from the plurality of zones, based on a determination that the respective exclusive portion of the virtual world for the selected zone encompasses the first location; determining, by the avatar positioning component, a second location within the selected zone according to the avatar positioning policy and that is different than the first location, the determining comprising at least one of: (i) randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone and(ii) pseudo-randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone; outputting the virtual environment for display, at the first client device from which the request was received, in a manner showing the first user-controlled virtual object positioned at the requested first location; and outputting the virtual environment for display, at a second client device distinct from the first client device and associated with a second set of user credentials, in accordance with the avatar positioning policy, such that the first user-controlled virtual object is positioned at the determined second location within the virtual environment, rather than the requested first location.
11. A system, comprising: a processor; and a memory containing a program that, when executed on the processor, performs anoperation for controlling avatar positioning within a virtual environment, the operation comprising: determining an avatar positioning policy for preventing arrangements of avatars in the virtual environment; dividing the virtual environment into a plurality of zones, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective exclusive portion of the virtual environment; receiving a request, from a first client device associated with a first set of user credentials, to move a first user-controlled virtual object within the virtual environment to a first location that is currently unoccupied by any virtual objects; responsive to the request: selecting, by an avatar positioning component, a zone from the plurality of zones, based on a determination that the respective exclusive portion of the virtual world for the selected zone encompasses the first location; determining, by the avatar positioning component, a second location within the selected zone according to the avatar positioning policy and that is different than the first location, the determining comprising at least one of: (i) randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone and (ii) pseudo-randomly selecting the second location within the selected zone; outputting the virtual environment for display, at the first client device from which the request was received, in a manner showing the first user-controlled virtual object positioned at the requested first location; and outputting the virtual environment for display, at a second client device distinct from the first client device and associated with a second set of user credentials, in accordance with the avatar positioning policy, such that thefirst user-controlled virtual object is positioned at the determined second location within the virtual environment, rather than the requested first location.