3D Virtual Check-in Markers for In-Game Social Sharing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing social sharing methods in gaming environments, such as battle arena shooting games, are limited to outside of the game battle and do not allow for real-time sharing of social information within the three-dimensional virtual environment.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a three-dimensional virtual environment that allows virtual characters to create and display check-in markers, which record and share social information with other virtual characters upon arrival, enabling real-time social information sharing within the virtual environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If social information is shared outside the game battle using screenshots and social programs, then players can share game insights, but real-time sharing within the three-dimensional virtual environment is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesocial information sharing capabilityVSAvoidreal-time sharing within virtual environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions social information sharing from a two-dimensional external interface (screenshots displayed in social programs) to a three-dimensional immersive experience within the virtual environment. Check-in markers are placed at specific 3D coordinates in the game world, allowing players to share experiences spatially rather than through external communication channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The check-in marker serves as an intermediary object that bridges social information sharing and the game environment. Instead of requiring players to exit the game to share insights, the marker acts as a persistent in-game object that encapsulates social information and makes it accessible to other players within the virtual space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If players use screenshots and external social programs to share game insights, then sharing is enabled, but the sharing process occurs outside the game battle context

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesocial sharing functionalityVSAvoidtime to share information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating check-in markers with embedded social information at the moment a player reaches a significant location or achieves an event in the game. This eliminates the need for players to manually capture screenshots and later share them through external applications, as the sharing action is already prepared and integrated into the game flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the social sharing functionality with the game battle context by integrating check-in markers directly into the three-dimensional virtual environment. The social information sharing mechanism is combined with the game's spatial navigation and event systems, allowing players to share insights while remaining immersed in the game without switching to external applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If check-in markers are placed in the three-dimensional virtual environment, then real-time social information sharing is enabled, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvein-game social sharing capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The check-in marker is designed as a multi-functional object that serves multiple purposes: it marks significant locations, stores social information, guides other players to experiences, and enables social interaction. This universal design consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems for location marking, information storage, and social communication into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The check-in marker system operates autonomously within the game environment. Once placed, the marker automatically persists in the virtual space, maintains its associated social information, and responds to player interactions without requiring continuous external management. The system self-manages the complexity of coordinating social information display and player navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250025786A1Social Methods And Systems Based on Three-Dimensional Virtual Environments

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

This application discloses a social method and apparatus based on a three-dimensional virtual environment, a device, and a medium, and belongs to the field of virtual environments. The method includes: displaying a first virtual character located at a first position in a three-dimensional virtual environment; receiving a check-in operation, the check-in operation including an operation of editing first social information for a first event; and displaying a first check-in marker created by the first virtual character at a second position in the three-dimensional virtual environment, the first check-in marker being configured for displaying, to a virtual character arriving at the second position, the first social information edited by the first virtual character for the first event. In the foregoing solution, a check-in marker may be placed in the three-dimensional virtual environment to share social information with another virtual character in the three-dimensional virtual environment.