EP0736996A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for transmitting voice messages in a multiuser interactive virtual environment
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1996-03-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2016-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a set of at least one server that receives an input audio signal representative of a sound generated at a first locale associated with a first user device and transmits an output audio signal to a second user device wherein the output audio signal is related to both the input audio signal and the MIVE. More specifically, after receiving the input audio signal is associated with a first entity inhabiting a first location within the MIVE, the server identifies a set of at least one audio mapping. The set of at least one audio mapping comprises an audio mapping that relates a second entity inhabiting a second location within the MIVE to the first entity. The audio mapping is based upon a set of characteristics of the MIVE. Based upon the audio mapping, the set of at least one server modifies the input audio signal to form an output audio signal. Finally, the set of at least one server transmits the output audio signal to a user device associated with the second entity. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Funkhouser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/60; H04L65/75; H04L65/765; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method comprising: (a) receiving in a set of at least one server an input audio signal associated with a first entity inhabiting a first location within a multiuser interactive virtual environment; (b) identifying an audio mapping relating a second entity inhabiting a second location within said multiuser interactive virtual environment to said first entity based upon a set of characteristics of said multiuser interactive virtual environment; (c) based upon a set of at least one audio mapping comprising said audio mapping, modifying said input audio signal to form an output audio signal; and (d) transmitting said output audio signal to a user device associated with the second entity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: (a) receiving in said set of at least one server a set of other data, said set of other data and said input audio signal comprising a set of input data; (b) based upon said set of input data, modifying said audio mapping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the step of modifying said audio mapping occurs prior to the step of modifying said input audio signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the step of modifying said audio mapping occurs after the step of modifying said input audio signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of any of the preceding claims further comprising: (a) receiving in said set of at least one server a set of additional input audio signals associated with a set of additional entities inhabiting a set of additional locations within said multiuser interactive virtual environment; and (b) identifying a set of additional audio mappings relating said second entity to said set of additional entities; wherein said set of at least one audio mapping comprises said set of additional audio mappings.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of any of the preceding claims further comprising modifying a voice transform relating said first entity and said second entity based upon said audio mapping.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the set of characteristics includes a distance from the first entity to the second entity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
26 words
The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the set of characteristics includes an orientation of the second entity with respect to the first entity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the set of characteristics includes a simulation of the propagation of sound within said multiuser interactive virtual environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said simulation results in a voice associated with said first entity being imperceivable to said second entity owing to a geometry of said multiuser interactive virtual environment.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the step of modifying said input audio signal comprises multiplying a volume associated with the audio signal by a value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A set of at least one server comprising: (a) means for receiving an input audio signal associated with a first entity inhabiting a first location within a multiuser interactive virtual environment; (b) means for identifying an audio mapping relating a second entity inhabiting a second location within said multiuser interactive virtual environment to said first entity based upon a set of characteristics of said multiuser interactive virtual environment; (c) means for modifying said input audio signal to form an output audio signal, said means for modifying being responsive to a set of at least one audio mapping comprising said audio mapping; and (d) means for transmitting said output audio signal to a user device associated with the second entity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The set of at least one server of claim 12 comprising: (a) means for receiving in said set of at least one server a set of other data, said set of other data and said input audio signal comprising a set of input data; (b) means for modifying said audio mapping based upon said set of input data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The set of at least one server of claim 12 or claim 13 further comprising: (a) means for receiving in said set of at least one server a set of additional input audio signals associated with a set of additional entities inhabiting a set of additional locations within said multiuser interactive virtual environment; and (b) means for identifying a set of additional audio mappings relating said second entity to said set of additional entities; wherein said set of at least one audio mapping comprises said set of additional audio mappings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The set of at least one server of any of claims 12 to 14 further comprising means for modifying a voice transform relating said first entity and said second entity based upon said audio mapping.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The set of at least one server of any of claims 12 to 15 wherein the set of characteristics includes a distance from the first entity to the second entity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The set of at least one server of any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the set of characteristics includes an orientation of the second entity with respect to the first entity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The set of at least one server of any of claims 12 to 17 wherein the means for modifying said input audio signal comprises means for multiplying a volume associated with the audio signal by a value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.