WO2015110452A1

WO2015110452A1 - Scoolspace

Info

Publication number: WO2015110452A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/051092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurice De Hond; Luciano PINNA; Sander VEENHOF
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-21
Filing date: 2015-01-21
Publication date: 2015-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-21

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for interacting within a virtual meeting place. The method includes receiving an instruction from a client application in communication with a plurality of modules associated with both memory and at least one processor. The plurality may include an avatar module for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place. Further, the plurality may include a navigation module for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place that represents the associated place. Further still, the plurality may include an interaction module for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place. Yet further, the plurality may include a creation module for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place. The method may culminate by interpreting and executing the instruction.

Description

sCoolSpace

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This disclosure claims the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/929,796 filed on January 21, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to creation of a virtual meeting place that is a virtual representation of a place associated with one or more customizable and navigable avatars, and interaction between and among avatars, wherein each avatar is unique to a user within the virtual meeting place and indicates a real-time, physical presence on the avatar for that user in relation to the associated place.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Communication as well as monitoring attendance and location of people associated with a place, such as a school, office, factory, or otherwise in brick-and-mortar environments may occur by audiovisual inspection and/or documentary recordation. Interior decorators, employees, or students, for example, may decorate such places. To foster enhanced communication, monitoring, and creativity through decorating, for example, it is desirable, especially in today's world of pervasive, digitized technology, to translate such exemplified activities into a virtual meeting place representative of such brick-and-mortar environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one embodiment, there is a system that may include a plurality of modules in communication and associated with both memory and at least one processor. The plurality may include a processing module for transmitting data to and from a client application. Further, the plurality may include an avatar module for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place. Further still, the plurality may include a navigation module for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place that represents the associated place. Yet further, the plurality may include an interaction module for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place. And still yet further, the plurality may include a creation module for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place.

[0005] In another embodiment, there is a method that may include receiving an instruction from a client application in communication with a plurality of modules associated with both memory and at least one processor. The plurality may include an avatar module for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place. Further, the plurality may include a navigation module for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place that represents the associated place. Further still, the plurality may include an interaction module for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place. Yet further, the plurality may include a creation module for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place. The method may culminate by interpreting and executing the instruction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

[0007] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a three-dimensional environment or representation that may manifest itself in the physical surroundings of the user when it is viewed in augmented reality mode. [0009] FIG. 2 depicts an example screenshot of a graphical user interface having selectable buttons, which a student or other user associated with the virtual meeting place may select on a computer device having the app, in accordance with the disclosed methods and systems.

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts an example embodiment of a screenshot of communicating, here, a chat, occurring between avatars, in accordance with the disclosed methods and systems.

[0011] FIG. 4 depicts an example embodiment of a screenshot of a graphical user interface having selectable buttons, which a student or other user associated with the virtual meeting place may select on a computer device having the app for decorating a space within the virtual meeting place, in accordance with the disclosed methods and systems.

[0012] FIG. 5 depicts an example embodiment of a system for a virtual meeting place in accordance with the disclosed methods and systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The following is a description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are examples and are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0014] In addition, directional terms, such as "above," "below," "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, "above," "upper," "upward," "top," and similar terms refer to a direction away the earth's surface, and "below," "lower," "downward," "bottom," and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface, but is meant for illustrative purposes only, and the terms are not meant to limit the disclosure. [0015] sCoolSpace is an application or app (app) on a computer device, which, by non- limiting example, may be a computer laptop, a computer tablet, an iPad, a smart phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The student may use the app to create an avatar having global positioning satellite (GPS) capabilities within a defined area, such virtual schoolyard, where a student, alone or alongside other students represented by different avatars, may draw or otherwise provide artistic expression on a virtual wall. On the student's wall, portion thereof, or elsewhere within the schoolyard as permitted by configurable permissions and/or roles, a particular student/avatar may display one's work as well as meet and communicate with other students in the schoolyard via enabling logic for text and/or sound (e.g., voice), whether occurring in either an unshared timeframe or a shared timeframe having delayed or real-time exchange, over computer network(s). Although this disclosure discusses functionalities with respect to schools, it is understood that the student/teacher nomenclature used herein does not restrict the disclosure's intended use, and, to that point, supervisory (e.g., manager/employee) or non-supervisory (e.g. , subscriber/provider) type relationship among users of the app are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0016] When opening the "sCoolSpace™" (i.e., the name may change) app via a selectable icon or the like, where the app is available, for instance, by download as a plug-and-play or otherwise to a computer device, an option appears to view a demonstration. A demonstration providing tutelage is useful if users want to learn about the functionalities and results possible through using the app before actually using the app. Whether one selects to see and/or hear the optional demonstration, one may login through an issued userid and password, and then start the app.

[0017] The app has associated logic, for an administrator or the like, for digital security and to set the actual metes and bounds of the school's schoolyard, a setting that may include use of an integrated or associated digital camera to a computer device. In relation to that setting, enabling logic allows an administrator or the like to embellish or disregard any aspect of the actual metes and bounds of the school's schoolyard; prudence may dictate such for school security. Further enabling logic associated with the app permits a student to create an avatar for oneself. The avatar, itself, consists of two pieces that a user may configure. For each of these parts, enabling logic associated with the app permits a user to select an image from the photo gallery or upload a new photo, e.g. , a photograph of the student, a favorite pet, or any other design or indicia. The selected or uploaded image may be cropped to fit in either the head or the body of the avatar.

[0018] The avatar may include an indicator, such as a small circle below the avatar, at the moment the student arrives in the schoolyard, which may mirror the fact of whether the student is within the school building, i.e., absent from or present at actual school. Thus, in this example embodiment, the virtual schoolyard may double as a factual roster for school attendance each day. In other example embodiments, the virtual schoolyard does not mirror the fact of whether a particular student is at school on a particular day. And, in yet other embodiments, the indicator may tell the distance the student is from the schoolyard, even if the student is not at school, and is, for instance, at home or elsewhere via GPS -functionality associated with app on the student's computer device.

[0019] The administrator may choose, or, a software version may permit, the schoolyard to be depicted in two dimensions, three dimensions with or without markers, and/or provide augmented reality, whereby a student/avatar may look around and see the components of the virtual schoolyard, including other students/avatars. Stated otherwise, sCoolSpace™ may be viewed from a bird's eye view perspective. But, as shown in Figure 1 , the three-dimensional environment may manifest itself in the physical surroundings of the user when it is viewed in augmented reality mode. A toggle button permits the user to switch between the two views. It is noted that the logic, whether reduced to hardware or found in software, associated with the app permits one to configure and re-configure avatars, schoolyards, art work, etc. at any time and as many times as desired.

[0020] Within the virtual schoolyard, students/avatars may communicate, through integration and implementation of application program interfaces to the app, wherein such communication, envisaged, for example, as a cartoon-like cloud above the avatar, is achieved through instant messenger, Facetime^®, Skype^®, etc. Furthermore, configurable permissions associated with an avatar within a particular space, e.g., the entire schoolyard or only part(s) thereof, allow that avatar to use tools to shape and change the space with uploads or photos, i.e., personalize the space. The students/avatars may be invited to the virtual schoolyard through the "Message Center."

[0021] More to communication and movement, avatars may navigate across various spaces within or even external to a configurably defined area such as a schoolyard. To locate and meet other avatars, the group icon may be clicked to request an overview of fellow group members. Clicking on one of the avatars in the requested overview opens a set of functions that enable interaction with one or more of the avatars. For example, a "communicate" button may be used to seek establishment of a Facetime^® connection with the user. There may be a button to meet-up at the space where the other avatar resides. "Invite" accomplishes a meet-up in the other way around. That is, the avatar is invited to the space where the user resides. When a user that is called is not online, then the invite is sent as an iOS invite message or similar message on other operating systems. The "home" button leads to the home space of the other avatar. Figure 2 depicts an example screenshot of the foregoing buttons, which a student may select on his computer device having the app.

[0022] Accordingly, sCoolSpace™ is a virtual meeting place for students, who may navigate around the schoolyard in a dynamic creative space using their avatars. Students may access the schoolyard at any time be using an app. For each school, it functions as a closed environment, but schools could be combined into shared schoolyards, or other environs, if an administrator makes that election to the configurable virtual area in which student/avatars populate.

[0023] As previously suggested, communication between avatars may happen in numerous ways, such as by Facetime^®. A one-to-one connection to another avatar can be achieved by clicking the "communicate" button, as shown in Figure 1, in the avatar dialogue box. The dialogue box may be accessed either via the group icon or by a double click on a particular avatar. Another way to communicate is by chatting. Text entered in the text area may be shown as a cartoon bulb above the avatar, and a short list of recent chat lines is shown to all users present. Figure 3 shows a screenshot of a chat occurring between avatars. The chat may include emoticons, when the emoticon keyboard is activated on the device. [0024] The app's "Wall of Fame" may be a staging area for exhibiting the students' digital works of art. Furthermore, students may build their own spaces by using digital components, e.g., pictures, videos, drawings, text, etc., and using the app's 3-D tool to manipulate the same for either the student's or others' works of art if the app's configuration files provide the student with permission set by default or overridden by an administrator.

[0025] Users have access to three different types of spaces: the school square, a group space and an individual space. In each space, specific restrictions and permissions are applicable. In the school space, coaches/teachers are in charge of designing this space. In the schoolyard, anyone may contribute graphics and photographs to this space. And, in personal spaces, only the user owning the space may edit this space. A user can move his or her avatar to another space by pressing one of the space icons. Movement through the virtual schoolyard is also possible under the app's functionalities by the student touching his computer device's display on the place where the student wants his avatar to be.

[0026] When a user is allowed to edit a space, the "create" button is active. By pressing the button, a set of creation tools appears. With reference to Figure 4's screenshot, selections include:

• wall panel - this will add a new empty wall panel within the space

• ground panel - this will add a new empty wall panel within the space

• cut out - when one of the panels is activated, clicking this button starts a transparency cutter

• delete - a panel can be deleted

• photo/upload - an image from the camera roll or a photo can be added to the current active panel.

When panels are clicked or otherwise selected, their activation is shown by a color animation. Activated panels may be moved, rotated or resized using multi-touch gestures on the display associated with the user's computer device.

[0027] Users and groups may be managed using an online central management system (CMS) associated or integrated into the app. In this tool, a chat-log may be viewed to monitor unwanted behavior in the chat environments. [0028] An exemplary computer system for use with the disclosed methods and systems may include a processor, which is coupled to host bus coupled to cache memory. A host-to- personal computer interface (PCI) bridge is coupled to main memory, which includes cache memory and main memory control functions, and provides bus control to handle transfers among the PCI bus, processor, cache, main memory, and host bus. A PCI bus provides a standard interface for connecting peripherals, such as a local area network card. A PCI-to- industry standard architecture (ISA) bridge functions as a PCI target on the PCI bus to manage transfers between PCI bus and ISA bus, universal serial bus functionality, integrated drive electronics device functionality, power management functionality, a real-time clock, direct memory access control, interrupt support, and system management bus support. Peripheral devices and input/output devices can be attached to various interfaces (e.g., parallel interface, serial interface, infrared interface, keyboard interface, mouse interface, fixed disk, removable storage device) coupled to ISA bus.

[0029] Basic input/output system is coupled to the ISA bus, and incorporates the necessary processor executable code for a variety of low-level system functions and system boot functions. BIOS can be stored in any computer readable medium, including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, flash memory, random access memory, read only memory, and communications media conveying signals encoding the instructions (e.g., signals from a network). In order to attach the computer system to another computer system to copy files over a network, a local area network card is coupled to PCI bus and to PCI-to- ISA bridge. Similarly, to connect the computer system to an ISP to connect to the Internet using a telephone line connection, a modem is connected to a serial port and the PCI-to-ISA Bridge.

[0030] While the foregoing computer systems are capable of executing the disclosure described herein, these computer systems are simply examples of computer systems and user computer systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other computer system designs are capable of performing the disclosure described herein.

[0031] Another embodiment of the disclosure is implemented as a program product for use within a device such as, for example, those above-described methods and systems. The program(s) of the program product defines functions of the embodiments (including the methods described herein) and can be contained on a variety of media including but not limited to: (i) information permanently stored on non- volatile storage-type accessible media (e.g., write and readable as well as read-only memory devices within a computer such as read-only memory, flash memory, CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive); (ii) alterable information stored on writable storage-type accessible media (e.g., readable floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive); and (iii) information conveyed to a computer through a network. The latter embodiment specifically includes information downloaded onto either permanent or even sheer momentary storage-type accessible media from the World Wide Web, an internet, and/or other networks, such as those known, discussed and/or explicitly referred to herein. Such data-bearing media, when carrying computer-readable instructions that direct the functions of the present disclosure, represent embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of this disclosure, may be part of an operating system or a specific application, component, program, module, object, or sequence of instructions. The computer program of this disclosure typically comprises a multitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computer into a machine-readable format and hence executable instructions. Also, programs are comprised of variables and data structures that either reside locally to the program or are found in memory or on storage devices. In addition, various programs described hereinafter may be identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of this disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature that follows is used merely for convenience, and thus this disclosure should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

[0033] In one example embodiment, the computer system, and methods enabled by the same, comprise a server having a processor and a memory, wherein the server is in network communication with a database and at least one modifiable educational app, wherein the at least one modifiable educational app is proprietary to a publisher. A first set of logical instructions, associated with an integration application, are associated with the computer system for modifying the at least one modifiable educational app to yield a modified educational app. A second set of logical instructions, associated with the integration application, are for recording usage data of the modified educational app in the database. A third set of logical instructions, associated with the integration application, are for obtaining at least a portion of the usage data recorded in the database. A fourth set of logical instructions, associated with the integration application, are for analyzing the at least a portion of the usage data to yield a comparison. A fifth set of logical instructions, associated with the integration application, are for generating a configurable report of the comparison. The first set, second set, third set, fourth set, and fifth set of the logical instructions are stored on at least one or more storage devices for execution by one or more processors via one or more memories of the computer system.

[0034] Turning now to a discussion of FIG. 5, depicted is a system 500 for a virtual meeting place. The system may include a plurality 505 of modules, whether local and/or remote to each other, that are in communication, whether via wired and/or wireless network(s), and associated with both memory 510 and at least one processor 515. The plurality 505 may include a configuration module 520 for configuring restrictions and permissions for functionalities of the modules within the plurality 505 for each user of the system 500. That is, the configuration module 520 has logic that enables an administrative authority to set boundaries on each user represented by a unique avatar. For instance, an administrator may set permissions for one type of user (e.g., a grouping of users established by the administrator or similar person having administrative privileges over the system 500) or a specific user to decorate one or more walls within the virtual meeting place, set restrictions on which walls the same user may not decorate, or combinations thereof. In order to assist in setting these restrictions and permissions, as well as other configuring tasks, the configuration module 520 may include a content management system (CMS) 521 and other enabling logic, whether, for example, partly or completely existing in an online application in communication with the system 500 or integrated as code reduced to hardware and/or software.

[0035] The system 500 may also include a processing module 525 for transmitting data, such as commands, instructions, code, logic, and so forth to and from a client application 555, such as one loaded on a user's mobile device, in wired and/or wireless network communication 550 with the system 500. Here, for instance, the system 500 may include logic for transmitting user-account sign-on security in order to ensure only authorized users of the system 500 are granted access to the system's 500 virtual meeting place. Further, the system 500 may include an avatar module 530 for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place. Further still, the system 500 may include a navigation module 535 for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place, wherein the virtual meeting place is a virtual representation of the associated place. Yet further, the system 500 may include an interaction module 540 for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place. And still further, the system 500 may include a creation module 545 for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place.

[0036] While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosed invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for a virtual meeting place, comprising: a plurality of modules in communication and associated with both memory and at least one processor, the plurality comprising: a processing module for transmitting data to and from a client application; an avatar module for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place; a navigation module for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place, wherein the virtual meeting place is a virtual representation of the associated place; an interaction module for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place; and a creation module for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality further comprises a configuration module for configuring restrictions and permissions for functionalities of the modules within the plurality for each user of the system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the configuration module comprises a content management system (CMS).

4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the client application is loaded on a mobile device associated with the user.

5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the processing module comprises logic for accessing the system by user-account security

6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the navigation module comprises logic for moving the avatar unique to the user by the user clicking on the avatar and then clicking on a location within the virtual meeting place, whereby the avatar moves to the location if restrictions and permissions permit.

7. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the navigation module comprises logic for selecting, optionally switching between, and rendering a three-dimensional representation and an augmented reality representation of the virtual meeting place.

8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the navigation module, the interaction module, or combinations thereof comprise logic, rendered on a graphical user interface on a visual display further associated with the system, for: requesting an overview of the one or more avatars, or at least one group thereof, that are associated with the virtual meeting place; requesting connection in order for the avatar to communicate with the one or more avatars, or the at least one group thereof, associated with the virtual meeting place; requesting navigation of the avatar to the one or more spaces where the one or more avatars, or the at least one group thereof, reside within the virtual meeting place; and inviting the avatar to navigate to the one or more spaces where the one or more avatars, or the at least one group thereof, reside within the virtual meeting place; and notifying the avatar of missed invitations.

9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the interaction module comprises logic for communicating over an intranet, an internet, instant messaging application, Facetime^®, Skype^®, or other social network application by one or more avatars associated with the virtual meeting place.

10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the creation module comprises interactive tools for decorating the one or more spaces, wherein the interactive tools are rendered on a graphical user interface on a visual display further associated with the system.

11. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more spaces comprise a school space for dedicated to administrative or non- student users of the system, a schoolyard space that dedicated to as a public space for all users of the system, and a personal space dedicated to an individual user of the system.

12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the associated place is a school, and each of the avatars represent different people associated with the school.

13. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each module within the plurality is local or remote to the client application.

14. A method for interacting within a virtual meeting place, the method comprising: receiving an instruction from a client application in communication with a plurality of modules associated with both memory and at least one processor, wherein each module of the plurality is local or remote to the client application, and the plurality comprises: an avatar module for customizing an avatar unique to a user, wherein the avatar indicates real-time, physical presence of the user relative to an associated place; a navigation module for navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place, wherein the virtual meeting place is a virtual representation of the associated place; an interaction module for messaging between users represented by avatars associated with the virtual meeting place; and a creation module for decorating one or more spaces within the virtual meeting place; interpreting, subsequent to the receiving, the instruction; and executing the instruction by enabling logic associated with one or more modules in the plurality.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the executing comprises customizing the avatar unique to the user, indicating the real-time, physical presence of the user relative to the virtual meeting place, navigating the avatar within the virtual meeting place, communicating by the avatar with one or more avatars, or the at least one group thereof, that reside within the virtual meeting place, decorating the one or more spaces permitted within the virtual meeting place, and combinations thereof.