Animated Avatars for Virtual Presence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for virtual presence on Web pages only provide textual lists of users, lacking graphical representations that detract from the overall visual element and do not allow for interactive, animated avatars that can occupy specific positions on the page.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses animated avatar figures, which can be static or 3D models, to represent users on Web pages, allowing them to interact and communicate through chat and VoIP, with the ability to modify appearance and interact with virtual objects, using a combination of 2D and 3D graphics and a data protocol independent of chat protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If textual lists of users are used to represent virtual presence, then implementation is simple, but visual engagement and user interaction are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoiduser interaction quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses graphical avatars as visual copies or representations of users instead of plain text. Each user is represented by an animated avatar figure that visually mirrors their presence, allowing users to see and interact with graphical representations rather than text-only lists, thereby enhancing visual engagement while maintaining the underlying user representation function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different colors and visual characteristics for avatars to represent different users, states, and interactions. Avatars can display various colors and visual cues to indicate user presence, communication status, and interaction states, transforming the monochrome text list into a colorful, visually engaging interface that improves user interaction quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Productivity

If graphical avatars are added to Web pages, then visual engagement improves, but the overall visual element is detracted from

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual engagementVSAvoidvisual harmony

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions avatars in specific localized areas of the Web page rather than distributing them throughout the entire page. Avatars are typically placed in designated zones such as corners or side panels, allowing the main content area to maintain its visual integrity while providing graphical user representations in dedicated spaces, thus balancing visual engagement with overall page harmony

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent overlays avatars as a separate visual layer on top of the Web page content rather than integrating them directly into the page layout. This dimensional separation allows avatars to coexist with page content without disrupting the original visual design, as they occupy a different visual plane and can be independently positioned and styled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If animated avatars are implemented, then user interaction capability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements animated avatars that can dynamically change their appearance and behavior based on user actions and system states. Avatars perform animations such as waving, talking, or moving to indicate communication events, and their visual properties change to reflect different interaction states, providing rich user interaction capability through dynamic visual feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent structures the avatar system as modular components that can be independently managed and rendered. The Virtual Presence client software handles avatar generation and display as a separate module, while the Web browser handles page content, allowing the complexity of animated avatars to be isolated in a dedicated component rather than integrated throughout the entire system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If avatars are displayed on the browser window, then co-presence visualization improves, but integration with Web page content deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveco-presence visualizationVSAvoidpage content integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the Virtual Presence client software as an intermediary layer between the Web browser and the avatar display. This intermediary component retrieves user presence information, generates appropriate avatar representations, and renders them on the browser window, acting as a mediator that enables co-presence visualization without requiring direct modification of the Web page content or browser core functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8504926B2Model based avatars for virtual presence

Publication Date: 2013.08.06 LUPUS LABS UG

AI summary

An image generating system for simultaneous visual representative display of multiple computer users is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes hardware, software, and a system for generating various images for one or more users of a connected computer system, and imposing them onto the systems and ultimately the visual display of each user's system. The images, which may be known as avatars, may be static images, animated 2D, and/or animated 3D images. The images are simultaneously displayed on the outputs of each user. Each user may react and interact with the images of the other users through their own image.