WO2007085161A1

WO2007085161A1 - A method for viewing virtual image information and the system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007085161A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/002873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ting Wang
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-01-26
Filing date: 2006-10-26
Publication date: 2007-08-02
Also published as: CN1859117A; CN100442694C

Abstract

A method for viewing virtual image information in the data communication field includes: a communication server receives a requesting message of viewing a virtual image from the first user, the requesting message of viewing the virtual image including the user identifier of the viewed user; the communication server acquires the virtual image information corresponding to the state information of the viewed user from a virtual image information unit; the communication server sends the response message including the virtual image information of the viewed user to the first user. There is also a system for viewing virtual image information. With the technical schemes of the invention, the user viewing the virtual image information of the other users can not only see the basic virtual pictures but also the state information of the viewed user from the information of the pictures.

Description

Method and system for viewing avatar information This application claims to be submitted to the Chinese Patent Office on January 26, 2006, and the application number is 200610033439. X The Chinese patent application entitled "A avatar implementation method and system" is preferred. The entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of data communications, and in particular, to a method and system for viewing avatar information. Background technique

Ins tant messenger is a popular communication tool among computer users. Instant messaging tools enable users to communicate with other users over the Internet. In the interaction of user information using instant communication tools, in order to enhance the physical risks between users, a photo-like visible image can be customized for each user, and the interaction between the users is more interesting by interacting with these "photos". We call these image images that express user characteristics as "network virtual images". Through this technology, the communication service function of the instant communication tool is expanded, and the additional value-added capability of the instant communication tool is improved.

The existing network avatar technology in instant messaging mainly provides a user with avatar images of other users through an instant messaging server, and usually the avatar images of each user are stored in the instant messaging server. Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a networking diagram of an existing network avatar viewing system. Referring to the networking diagram shown in FIG. 1 , a method for viewing other network avatars of other users is briefly introduced.

For example, if the first user wants to see the avatar picture of the second user, the first user sends a network avatar request for the second user to the instant messaging server via the network, if the avatar picture of the second user is stored in the instant communication In the server, the instant messaging server directly converts the avatar image into a corresponding response protocol packet, and then sends the response protocol packet to the first user, and then the first user restores the image information in the response protocol packet to the requested one. The network avatar image is displayed.

As can be seen from the above method, when viewing the network avatar information of other users, the avatar picture of the viewed user is simply provided to the hope through the instant communication server. The user who is viewing, because the avatar information that can be viewed is limited to the avatar image selected by the user being checked, the information that can be viewed. More single, less information.

Summary of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for viewing avatar information, which can provide users with richer avatar information of other viewed users.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for viewing avatar information, the method comprising: receiving, by a communication server, an avatar viewing request message from a user, the avatar request message including a user identifier of the viewed user; Obtaining avatar information corresponding to the viewed user state information to the avatar information unit; the communication server transmitting a response message including the viewed user avatar information to the first user.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a viewing system for avatar information, including a communication server, and a first information interaction interface between the communication server and the user, and further includes an avatar information unit, and the avatar information unit and the communication The second information exchange between the servers,

The communication server includes a retrieval condition editing unit, configured to determine an avatar retrieval condition of the viewed user according to the avatar viewing request message, where the retrieval condition includes basic virtual picture information selected by the viewed user and status information of the viewed user or Representative identifiers of the foregoing two kinds of information;

The avatar information unit specifically includes an information storage subunit for storing avatar information corresponding to the user state information, and an information retrieval subunit for retrieving the required information from the information storage subunit according to the retrieval condition provided by the communication server. Avatar information;

The avatar information unit feeds back the retrieved avatar information to the communication server through the second interface, and the communication server feeds back to the user who initiated the foregoing view request message through the first interface.

The communication server of the embodiment of the present invention obtains the avatar information corresponding to the viewed user state information by using the avatar information unit, so that the user who initiates the viewing request can obtain not only the most basic avatar picture information of the viewed user, but also The status information of the viewed user enriches the viewing content of the avatar information. DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of networking of an existing avatar information viewing system;

2 is a schematic structural diagram of a preferred embodiment of an avatar information viewing system according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a method for viewing avatar information according to the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. A schematic diagram of networking.

detailed description

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of an avatar information viewing system according to the present invention. The viewing system shown in this embodiment includes an instant messaging server 21, an avatar information unit 22, a first information interaction interface 20 between the instant messaging server 21 and the user, and between the instant messaging server 21 and the avatar information unit 22. The second information interaction interface. Specifically, the instant communication server 21 includes a retrieval condition editing unit 211 and a user authorization information unit 212; the virtual image information unit 22 includes an information storage subunit 221 and an information retrieval subunit 222. The avatar information viewing system of the embodiment will be described in detail with the first user wishing to view the second user as an example.

First, a brief description of several devices related to or included in the system of the present embodiment will be briefly described. The first user may be a computer connected to the network, a mobile phone, or the like, and can acquire the avatar information of the second user from the instant communication server 21, and display the specific avatar according to the avatar information. Acquiring and displaying avatar information can be through instant messaging software, such as the current popular MSN, QQ, etc., or through network communication tools such as chat rooms. The user authorization information unit 212 of the instant messaging server 21 stores a list of user authorization information, and the instant messaging server 21 is configured to acquire the avatar information from the avatar information unit 22 and transmit it to the first user. The avatar information unit 22 is for storing avatar information corresponding to the user status information, and may be set separately or in the instant messaging server.

Secondly, in combination with the specific working principle of the avatar information viewing system of the embodiment, the internal structure thereof is further explained in detail. Still taking the first user as an example to view the second user.

When the first user wishes to view the avatar information of the second user, the avatar viewing request message is sent to the instant communication server 21 through the first information interaction interface 20. Further, the user authorization information unit 212 of the instant messaging server 21 queries the status information of the second user that the first user has permission to view according to the user authorization information list (shown in Table 1) stored therein. Taking Table 1 as an example, an exemplary description is made, and authorization information between users is stored in the user authorization information list.

Table 1

Among them, the types of work status include busy, leisure, stealth, etc., and the types of expression states include happiness, pain, anger, and the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although Table 1 only lists the operational status and expression status, it includes, but is not limited to, the two statuses. The avatar information is stored in the avatar information unit, and the avatar information range in the table is only used to indicate that the first user can view the basic content included in the second user avatar information, but the specific avatar information or its representative identifier ( If the picture number is to be provided by the avatar information unit, the content of the avatar information range may not be included in the user authorization information list. The authorization information shown in the above table indicates that the first user can view the working status of the second user, that is, the first user has the viewing right for the working status information of the second user.

Whether the permissions or non-permissions of the various status information in Table 1 are set by the system or user. The system can open certain user state information by default, such as working status (including busy, idle, stealth, etc.), and is set to be information that cannot be changed by the user. By default, it is open to the user, and all users can obtain each other by default. These status information, no authorization required. For the status information that can be changed by the user, the user can actively authorize other specified users, and the designated user can directly query the information such as the status of the obtained user; or the requesting party requests authorization: the requesting party issues an authorization request message, instant communication The server forwards the message to the requested party for confirmation, and the corresponding information can be obtained after confirmation by the requested party. The authorization request message may include specific status information requested, and the requested party may confirm that some or all of them are open to the requesting party. After the user authorization information unit 212 queries that the first user has the right to view the work status information of the second user, the search condition editing unit 211 determines the avatar search condition of the second user. The retrieval condition specifically includes the basic virtual picture information selected by the second user and the working status information of the second user (for example, the working status is busy). Generally, the basic virtual picture information in the retrieval condition may be represented by the image ID.

Thereafter, the instant messaging server 21 transmits the above retrieval condition to the virtual information unit 22 via the first information interaction interface 23. The avatar information corresponding to the user state information is stored in the information storage subunit 221 of the avatar information 22. Then, the information retrieval sub-unit 222 of the avatar information 22 searches in the information storage sub-unit according to the retrieval condition provided by the instant communication server, and retrieves the avatar information corresponding to the second user state information, which is usually convenient for retrieval. The information retrieval sub-unit 222 generates a corresponding avatar information retrieval identifier according to a certain program according to the retrieval condition sent by the instant communication server 21. Of course, the process of generating the avatar information retrieval identifier may also be completed by the instant messaging server, for example, by the retrieval condition editing unit 211, such that the retrieval condition that the instant communication server 21 sends to the information retrieval sub-unit 221 in the avatar information unit is A retrieval identifier substantially representing two types of information included in the foregoing retrieval condition, that is, basic virtual picture information selected by the second user and working state information of the second user. There are various ways for the specific implementation of the information storage sub-unit 221, and only two more preferred embodiments are described below.

In a preferred embodiment, the information storage sub-unit 221 stores a composite picture of various basic virtual pictures and status information. For example, it is assumed that the basic virtual picture that the user can select includes two basic virtual pictures and two basic virtual pictures. The state is divided into two types: busy and idle. The expression state is divided into two types: happiness and pain. Then, in the information storage sub-unit 221, the composite picture 1 information (basic virtual picture 1 + busy) is stored, (basic virtual picture 1) +free) composite picture 2 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + happiness) composite picture 3 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + pain) composite picture 4 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + busy + happiness) composite picture 5 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + busy + pain) composite picture 6 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + leisure + happiness) composite picture 7 information, (basic virtual picture 1 + free + pain) composite picture 8 information And 8 other composite picture information about the basic virtual picture 1 similar to the above 8 kinds of composite picture information. It can be seen that there are a total of the total viewing system of the avatar information. The information storage subunit is a combination of a small variety of basic virtual picture information and various status information.

In 221, how many kinds of composite picture information are stored correspondingly, and for the convenience of information retrieval, it is preferable to correspond to one search mark for each composite picture information. Then, the information retrieval sub-unit 222 can directly search in the information storage sub-unit 221 according to the avatar retrieval identifier provided by the instant communication server 21 or generated by itself, and retrieve the composite picture information having the same retrieval identifier.

In a second preferred embodiment, only the basic virtual picture information is stored in the information storage sub-unit 221, and the basic virtual picture information is retrieved in the information storage sub-unit 221 according to the retrieval condition (or the retrieval identifier representing the retrieval condition). Thereafter, the state information included in the retrieval condition can be synthesized on the basis of the basic virtual picture according to a predetermined program, and the synthesized picture information can be supplied to the instant communication server 21. For example, if the information storage sub-unit 221 stores a total of 10 basic virtual picture information, the information retrieval sub-unit 222 gives the retrieval condition that: the second user adopts the basic virtual picture 1, and the first user can only view the working status of the second user. The current working status of the second user is busy. Then, the information retrieval sub-unit 222 retrieves the basic virtual picture 1 information that satisfies the above-described retrieval condition from the information storage sub-unit 221, and then synthesizes the information that the working state is busy, that is, the second, on the basic virtual picture according to a predetermined program. The avatar information corresponding to the current busy working state of the user.

Regardless of one of the above preferred embodiments or the second preferred embodiment, the avatar information corresponding to the different state information of the viewed user is different, and the difference in the state information of the household is through the basic virtual image in the avatar information. Changes are reflected. Specifically, a difference in state information may be represented by a color, a pattern, or a combination of both of a part (or portions) of the basic virtual picture. For example, the difference in the working state of the second user can be reflected by the border of the basic virtual picture, the busy is a red border, the free is a blue border, and the stealth is a green border; the difference of the expression state can pass the color of the face in the basic virtual picture. It is reflected, such as the happy face is pink, the painful face is yellow, and the angry face is red. In terms of the foregoing retrieval conditions, the first user has the right to view the working status of the second user as busy, and has no right to view the expression state of the second user, so that the virtual information unit can be enabled by one or both of the preferred embodiments. The avatar information provided to the instant messaging server is that the basic virtual picture 1 has a red border and the face color is white. Since the first user does not have permission to view the second user The expression, and the expression information is reflected by the color of the face, so it can be white to represent the face color.

After the information retrieval sub-unit 221 retrieves the avatar information corresponding to the state information of the viewed user (such as the second user in the embodiment), the avatar information unit 22 feeds back to the instant communication server 21 through the second information interaction interface 23. Then, the instant messaging server 21 feeds back to the initiating first user through the first information interaction interface 20. The first user can then see the avatar information of the second user he is entitled to view. For example, the basic virtual picture is the user's avatar, the work status picture is the background of the avatar, red is busy, blue is free, and green is invisible. At this time, if the working state of the second user is idle, the virtual image picture displayed on the first user (ie, the avatar information corresponding to the second user state) should be the second user avatar of the blue background.

It should be noted that if the avatar information obtained by the instant messaging server 21 from the avatar information unit 22 is itself a avatar picture, it can be directly displayed to the user; if the avatar information is the number of the avatar picture, the first user also To search for the corresponding avatar picture, the avatar picture here can be stored in the first user. If the first user has no right to view all the states of the second user, the first user can only see the basic virtual picture of the second user.

It can be seen from the above embodiment that, compared with the viewing system of the existing user avatar information, the avatar information unit (which is independent of the instant messaging server or set in the instant messaging server) is introduced to make the user's state information. It can be directly reflected on the basic virtual picture selected by the user by color, pattern or a combination of the two, so that the other user avatar information that the request initiator can view is not limited to the basic virtual picture, but also can be viewed from the picture. Or the various status information of the viewed party enriches the resources that can be viewed. Moreover, since the state information is embodied by the change of the basic virtual picture itself, that is, the visual display of the picture form is more convenient and vivid than the state information display of the text form. In addition, if the status information that the user is allowed to view is more, if it is displayed by text, it will feel messy, and it will be reflected by the change of a certain part of the basic virtual picture, even if the state information that needs to be expressed is particularly large, the user It doesn't look like it will feel messy. Further, since the authorization information between the users related to the working state is saved even in the communication server, the confidentiality of the viewed user is increased, and it is possible to flexibly set the working state that the other user is allowed to view.

Based on the same inventive concept as the above-mentioned avatar information viewing system, the present invention further discloses an embodiment of a avatar information viewing method. Please refer to the flowchart of the avatar information viewing method of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. A schematic networking diagram of an embodiment of a method for viewing avatar information of the present invention is shown. It should be noted that, since the present embodiment and the foregoing avatar information viewing system are based on the same inventive concept, the two have more identical or corresponding technical features. For the sake of brevity, the same or corresponding content as the foregoing embodiment is only briefly described. Those skilled in the art can easily implement the technical solutions described in this embodiment by referring to the foregoing embodiments.

Step 201: The first user sends an avatar request message to the instant messaging server. The message includes a first user identifier and a second user identifier, and indicates that the second user is the viewed object by way of express or implied. Users can send avatar request messages through instant messaging software, or use network communication software such as chat room software;

Step 202: The instant messaging server parses the first user and the second user identifier in the avatar request message, where the first user is the requesting party (the initiator of the request is viewed), and the second user is the requested party (the user being viewed);

Step 203: The instant messaging server queries the user authorization list according to the user identifier, and determines the second user status information that the first user has permission to view. The default setting may be: if the user authorization information list does not have the second user pair first. If the user's 4 authorized information, the first user has the right to view all the states of the second user; or the first user has no right to view all the states of the second user.

Step 204: The instant messaging server acquires corresponding avatar information from the avatar information unit according to the determined user state information; the avatar information herein may be an avatar image to be displayed to the first user, or may be an avatar The number of the picture.

Table 2 is an example of determining the user avatar image that the user should display based on the user status information: Table 2

User basic virtual picture User working status User expression status Displayed picture

Busy (adding happiness to the avatar (virtual image face avatar has red side red border) to pink) box, face is pink free (adding pain to avatar (virtual image face avatar has blue Avatar

Blue border) is yellow) box, face is yellow stealth (add anger for avatar (virtual image face avatar has green border on green border) is red) box, face is red if first user has no right to view The second user's expression status, but has the right to view the working status, the displayed picture is shown in Table 3:

table 3

User basic virtual map

User work status User expression status Displayed pictures

Busy (adding happiness to the avatar (virtual image face avatar has red side red border) / permission for pink) / no permission box, face is white avatar (free for leisure (for avatar plus pain ( The avatar face avatar has a blue border, the face is white) blue border) / has permission for yellow) / no permission box, the face is white stealth (add anger for avatar (virtual image face avatar has The green border on the green border) / the permission is red) / the no permission box, the specific process of the white instant messaging server acquiring the avatar information corresponding to the second user state information to the avatar information unit includes: First, the instant communication server And transmitting, to the avatar information unit, the basic virtual picture information selected by the second user and the state information of the second user or the representative identifiers of the foregoing two types of information (ie, the avatar retrieval identifier described above); and then, the avatar information unit is configured according to The above received information is retrieved in its stored avatar information repository; then, virtual The image information retrieval unit to the avatar information to the IM server, the server even if the communication unit receives the second information from the avatar information corresponding to the user status information from the virtual. Step 205: The instant messaging server sends an avatar request response message to the first user, where the avatar information is included.

Step ² 06: The first user parses the avatar information, and displays the avatar picture of the second user. If the avatar information is a avatar picture, it is directly displayed to the user; if the avatar information is the number of the avatar picture, the first user also queries the corresponding avatar picture according to the number, where the avatar picture can be stored in Within the first user. If the first user has no right to view all the states of the second user, the first user basically avatars the picture.

The field of application of the present invention may include network services such as instant messaging, chat rooms, etc. A more specific example of the application of the technical solution of the present invention to the field of instant messaging is given below. An instant pass user A initiates an avatar request to another instant pass terminal user B because of the service requirement, and the corresponding processing flow is as follows: First, the terminal A forms a request protocol packet, and the packet indicates the user B identification number that needs to be requested; The protocol packet finally reaches the instant messaging server through the network (wired or wireless); again, the instant messaging server parses the request packet to obtain the identification numbers of the users A and B; and then, the instant messaging server judges A according to the stored user relationship data. The user can read the B user information permission, and extract the information content that the B user can publicly use for the A household (such as the user status is "busy", the user gender is "male", the user mood is "happy", etc.), and combined with user B Selecting a basic virtual picture identification number to form an avatar retrieval identifier;

Then, the instant messaging server sends the avatar retrieval identifier to the network avatar information unit, completes the resource retrieval, and obtains the corresponding image image (the image includes: a basic user avatar indicating gender as a male) photo, , indicating busy and idle State and mood special identifier, etc., and return resources (graphics) to the instant messaging server; further, the instant messaging server will form the protocol (resource) to form the protocol packet, and return the protocol packet to the network (wired or wireless) Instant messaging end user A; Finally, terminal A parses the protocol packet to obtain a network avatar graphics resource for user B.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and modifications of the invention

Claims

Rights request

A method for viewing avatar information, the method comprising: the communication server receiving an avatar viewing request message from a first user, wherein the virtual image viewing request message includes a user identifier of the viewed user;

The communication server acquires avatar information corresponding to the viewed user status information to the avatar information unit;

The communication server transmits a response message including the viewed user avatar information to the first user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the avatar information corresponding to the different state information of the viewed user is different, and the difference of the user state information is determined by the self-change of the basic virtual image in the avatar information. reflect.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the difference in state information is embodied by a color, a pattern, or a combination of both of the portions of the basic virtual picture.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the status information of the viewed user comprises a working status and/or an expression status.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the communication server acquires the avatar information corresponding to the viewed user state information to the avatar information unit, the method further comprises: the communication server querying the first user Status information of the viewed user who has permission to view;

The avatar information corresponding to the viewed user status information is specifically: avatar information corresponding to the viewed user status information that the first user has permission to view.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the specific process of the communication server acquiring the virtual image information corresponding to the viewed user state information to the avatar information unit comprises:

The communication server sends the basic virtual picture information selected by the viewed user and the status information of the viewed user or the representative identifier of the two types of information to the avatar information unit;

The communication server receives avatar information corresponding to the viewed user status information from the avatar information unit.

The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: the avatar information unit according to status information of the viewed user provided by the communication server; The basic virtual picture information selected by the user or the representative identifier of the foregoing two types of information is searched in the stored avatar information database;

The retrieved avatar information is sent to the communication server.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication server is an instant messaging server.

9. A viewing system for avatar information, comprising: a communication server, and a first information interaction interface between the communication server and the user, further comprising: an avatar information unit, and the avatar information unit and the communication server a second information interaction interface, the communication server includes a retrieval condition editing unit, configured to determine an avatar retrieval condition of the viewed user according to the avatar viewing request message, where the avatar retrieval condition includes a basic selected by the viewed user Virtual picture information and status information of the viewed user or a representative identifier of the foregoing two types of information;

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the avatar information corresponding to the different state information of the viewed user is different, and the difference of the user state information is determined by the self-change of the basic virtual image in the avatar information. reflect.

The viewing system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the communication server further comprises a user authorization information unit, configured to save an authorization status of each user to view status information;

The retrieval condition editing unit determines the status information of the viewed user that the user who initiated the viewing request has the right to view according to the authorization status provided by the user authorization information unit.

The avatar realization system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the avatar information unit is provided inside or outside the communication server.

The avatar implementation system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the communication server is an instant communication server.