US5907328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic and configurable viewpoint switching in a 3D scene
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-08-27
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Granted: 1999-05-25
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Expires: 2017-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for automatically changing a user's avatar's displayed view perspective in a virtual world upon execution of a gesture by the avatar, and in which the view perspective is changed for each gesture. The configuration of the view perspective switching specifies an action, a speed, a position and a return time. An avatar implementing the present invention allows the user to avoid manual view perspective switching which interferes with the immersive environment of a virtual world.
Inventors
- 👤 Abbot Purdy Brush II
- 👤 David Bruce Lection
- 👤 Sandeep Kishan Singhal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for automatically changing the displayed perspective for an avatar in a virtual world traversed by a user's avatar when a gesture is executed by the avatar, said method comprising the steps of: traversing said virtual world with an avatar; displaying a view perspective for said avatar in said virtual world; requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; programmatically displaying a new view perspective for said avatar, said new view perspective being programmably associated with said gesture; executing said gesture after said new perspective has been established; and programmatically switching from said new perspective back to the previously displayed perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for automatically changing the displayed perspective for an avatar in a virtual world traversed by a user's avatar when a gesture is executed by the avatar, said method comprising the steps of: traversing said virtual world with an avatar; displaying a view perspective for said avatar in said virtual world; requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; programmatically displaying a new view perspective for said avatar, said new view perspective being programmably associated with said gesture; executing said gesture after said new perspective has been established; and programmatically switching from said new perspective back to the previously displayed perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said new view perspective is configured for each said gesture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a view perspective animation speed at which perspective display switching is performed to and from said new view perspective.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a view perspective position for said new perspective display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a return time delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before reverting to said previous view perspective.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said view perspective action is chosen from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to a new view perspective, or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said view perspective position is configured, by including the steps of: selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer system wherein a user's view perspective in a displayed virtual world is automatically changed upon a user's avatar execution of a gesture in sad world, said computer system comprising: means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar; means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture; means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the previously displayed view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer system wherein a user's view perspective in a displayed virtual world is automatically changed upon a user's avatar execution of a gesture in sad world, said computer system comprising: means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar; means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture; means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the previously displayed view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a new said view perspective is configured each said gesture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective animation speed for switching to and from said new view perspective.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective position for said new view perspective.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before animating back to the previously displayed view perspective.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said view perspective action is chosen from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to said new view perspective or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising: means for selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and means for selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product on a computer-readable media wherein a user's view perspective in a virtual world is automatically changed upon executing a gesture, said computer program product comprising: computer-readable program code means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar; computer-readable program code means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; computer-readable program code means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture; computer-readable program code means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and computer-readable program code means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer program product on a computer-readable media wherein a user's view perspective in a virtual world is automatically changed upon executing a gesture, said computer program product comprising: computer-readable program code means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar; computer-readable program code means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture; computer-readable program code means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture; computer-readable program code means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and computer-readable program code means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 23 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 23 wherein a new said view perspective is configured for each gesture.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective animation speed at which view perspective switching is performed to and from said new view perspective.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective position for said new view perspective.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a time delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before animating back to the previously displayed view perspective.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 26 wherein said view perspective action is configured from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to a new view perspective or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 28 further comprising: computer-readable program code means for selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and computer-readable program code means for selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 31 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product as claimed in claim 31 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |