Attention Degree Evaluation in 3D Virtual Worlds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D virtual world systems lack effective methods for real-time monitoring and statistical collection of attention degree within virtual environments, making it difficult to identify hotspots and provide relevant search features.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that evaluate attention degree in 3D virtual worlds by obtaining geometrical information about avatar view fields and virtual objects, determining associations between them, and calculating attention scores based on visibility and relative positions, using area of interest division to simplify computations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If real-time monitoring of avatar behavior is implemented to collect attention degree statistics, then the ability to provide hot spot search and trend information is improved, but the computational complexity and system resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattention degree informationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the virtual world into multiple areas of interest (AOIs) and further divides each AOI into grid cells. This spatial segmentation allows the system to monitor avatar behavior in a distributed manner across multiple regions simultaneously, reducing the computational burden on any single processing unit and enabling scalable real-time monitoring of attention degree statistics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical spatial dimension by organizing the monitoring system into multiple levels: virtual world → areas of interest → grid cells. This dimensional organization allows parallel processing of avatar behavior data across different spatial scales, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive real-time monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive avatar behavior monitoring is performed to calculate attention degree for all virtual objects, then the accuracy of hot spot identification is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattention degree measurementVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the virtual world into multiple areas of interest and further segments each AOI into grid cells. This segmentation allows the system to calculate attention degree independently for each grid cell containing virtual objects, enabling parallel processing that maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing overall processing time through distributed computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent focuses computational resources on grid cells that contain virtual objects and have avatar presence, rather than uniformly processing the entire virtual world. This selective partial action maintains accurate attention degree measurement for relevant areas while reducing unnecessary computational load on empty or irrelevant regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the virtual world is divided into multiple areas of interest and grid cells for monitoring, then the efficiency of attention degree calculation is improved, but the system complexity and data management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattention degree calculation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements segmentation of the virtual world into areas of interest and grid cells, which enables parallel and distributed calculation of attention degree across multiple regions. This segmentation improves calculation efficiency by allowing simultaneous processing in different grid cells while maintaining a manageable system structure through hierarchical organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic avatar view fields that automatically adjust and move with avatar positions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adaptively monitor different regions as avatars move, improving calculation efficiency for relevant areas while avoiding the need for static, pre-defined monitoring zones that would increase system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8933939B2Method and apparatus for search in virtual world
Publication Date: 2015.01.13 WRP IP MANAGEMENT LLC
  • US8933939B2 patent drawing
  • US8933939B2 patent drawing
  • US8933939B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and apparatus for evaluating attention degree in 3D virtual world are provided, the 3D virtual world comprising at least one virtual object and at least one avatar controlled by user, the at least one avatar having corresponding avatar view field. The method comprises: obtaining geometrical information about the avatar view field and geometrical information about the virtual object; determining the association between the avatar view field and the virtual object based on the geometrical information; evaluating attention degree of the virtual object based on the association; and providing evaluation result on attention degree of the virtual object. Corresponding apparatus is also provided. The above method and apparatus have provided attention degree related statistic collection and search feature for the virtual world.