Extensible Avatar API for Cross-Game Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current video game systems lack the ability to seamlessly share and render user-created avatars across different games and applications, requiring users to recreate avatars for each game and utilizing duplicate rendering functions, which is inefficient and limits customization.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize an API to allow video game applications to retrieve and render avatar data, enabling the sharing of avatars across multiple games and applications, with the system handling rendering and animation, and allowing for dynamic accessorization and updating of avatar assets independently of the game application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users create avatars in each individual video game application, then each game has its own customized avatar, but users must recreate avatars for each game and rendering functions are duplicated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAvatar sharing capabilityVSAvoidSystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: an avatar creation system that generates avatar data structures, an avatar data storage system that maintains avatar information, and multiple video game applications that retrieve and use avatar data. This segmentation allows avatars to be created once and shared across applications without requiring each application to have its own avatar creation logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The avatar data structure and rendering system are designed to be universal and application-agnostic. The same avatar data structure can be used across different video game applications, and the rendering functions can be shared between the system and applications. This multi-functionality enables a single avatar to be used in multiple contexts without recreation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If video game applications use their own rendering functions for avatars, then applications have full control over avatar rendering, but rendering functions are duplicated and resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRendering efficiencyVSAvoidApplication control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary avatar rendering system is introduced between the avatar data storage and the video game applications. This intermediary system provides standardized rendering functions that applications can use, eliminating the need for each application to implement its own rendering logic. The intermediary system acts as a mediator that maintains application control through standardized interfaces while providing efficient shared rendering capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If avatar accessories are added after game release, then content can be updated dynamically, but it may occupy additional resources that the application expects to be available

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDynamic content update capabilityVSAvoidResource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system is designed to be dynamic, allowing avatar accessories and other content to be added or modified after the game is released. The avatar data structure and storage system can accommodate new content without requiring application updates, enabling dynamic content updates while maintaining resource efficiency through shared system resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Speed

If avatar assets are retrieved from local storage only, then retrieval is fast, but the system cannot be updated independently of the game application

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAsset retrieval speedVSAvoidIndependent update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary avatar data storage system is introduced between the local storage and the video game applications. This intermediary system can retrieve avatar assets from multiple sources including local storage and external servers, allowing the system to be updated independently of the game application. The intermediary system maintains fast retrieval by using local storage when available while providing the flexibility to update content through external sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8446414B2Programming APIS for an extensible avatar system

Publication Date: 2013.05.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Disclosed is an application programming interface (API) that provides for an extensible avatar system. In one embodiment an API may allow video game applications to retrieve structures of data which represent an avatar. The game can then take those structures and incorporate the data into its own rendering system. In another embodiment an API may allow a video game application to render an avatar to a render target or texture wherein the video game system performs rendering and animation functions.