Virtual Avatar Control Using Selective Multi-Source Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling virtual avatars are reliant on specific input sources, such as cameras, and lack resilience to network errors and faults, leading to inefficiencies and increased hardware requirements.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that utilizes a plurality of input sources with active and inactive states, selectively receiving input data to update a base model for the virtual avatar, reducing reliance on single sources and enhancing system resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single input source (e.g., camera) is used to control the virtual avatar, then the system is simpler to implement, but the system lacks resilience to network errors and faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple input sources (camera, microphone, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen) into a unified control system for the virtual avatar. The processor receives and processes input data from any of these sources, merging their functions to create a resilient system that can operate with any single source or in combination, thereby achieving reliability without requiring all sources to be simultaneously active.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with universal input handling capability where the processor can accept and process various types of input data from different sources (imaging, audio, tactile, network). This multi-functionality allows any single input source to independently control the virtual avatar, providing resilience while avoiding the complexity of managing dedicated processing paths for each source.
2Productivity
If data is continuously received from all input sources, then the virtual avatar can be fully controlled, but the processor receives and processes a large amount of potentially superfluous input data
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by selectively receiving input data only from active input sources rather than continuously processing data from all sources. The processor determines which input sources are active and processes only the relevant input data types, thereby maintaining full control capability while reducing the volume of data to be processed and minimizing energy consumption.
3Reliability
If multiple input sources are always active, then the system is more resilient, but the hardware requirements and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts which input sources are active based on current operational needs and conditions. Rather than maintaining all input sources in a permanently active state with corresponding hardware always engaged, the system activates specific input sources only when needed, providing resilience through conditional multi-source support while optimizing hardware resource utilization and reducing processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and computer-implemented method for controlling a virtual avatar on an electronic device, the method comprising: providing a base model that defines a virtual avatar associated with a user; receiving input data from a plurality of input sources, wherein the plurality of input sources includes an imaging source configured to provide images of the user's face, wherein each of the plurality of input sources has an active state and an inactive state, and input data is only received from an input source in the active state; processing the input data; updating the base model in response to the processed input data to update at least one property of the virtual avatar and rendering the updated base model to display the virtual avatar on a display screen.