ENABLING AN IM USER TO NAVIGATE A VIRTUAL WORLD
A user is enabled to interact with a virtual world environment using an instant messenger application by enabling a user to enter the virtual world environment using the instant messenger application that includes an instant messaging (IM) user interface, generating and managing an avatar to represent the user in the virtual world environment, monitoring a sub-portion of the virtual world environment corresponding to a current location of the user in the virtual world environment, determining descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment based on the monitoring, and providing the user with the determined descriptions of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the virtual world environment via the IM user interface.
1 .- 19 . (canceled)
20 . A computer-implemented method for enabling electronic communications between users, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:
enabling a first user to navigate a first environment by controlling a representation of the first user in the first environment;
capturing a first paralinguistic indicator made by the first user, the first paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the first environment and reflecting at least one of a facial expression or gesture;
translating the first paralinguistic indicator into a message configured for text-based communications in a second environment, the message comprising at least one of a text description of the at least one facial expression or gesture indicated by the first paralinguistic indicator and a second paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the second environment, the second paralinguistic indicator comprising a graphical object and being different from the first paralinguistic indicator; and
providing the message to a second user.
21 . The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , the method further comprising the following operation performed by the at least one processor:
providing the second user with a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment.
22 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the description comprises a textual description of at least one of:
an environment associated with the sub-portion of the first environment,
proximity of other users to the representation in the sub-portion of the first environment, and
activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the first environment.
23 . The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , the method further comprising the following operations performed by the at least one processor:
enabling the second user to provide preference information related to a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment; and
providing the second user with the description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the first environment in accordance with the preference information.
24 . The computer-implemented method of claim 23 , wherein the preference information includes at least one of:
a quantity of descriptions to be provided to the second user,
a type of descriptions to be provided to the second user, and
a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the second user.
25 . A system that enables users electronic communications between users, the system comprising:
a memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
enable a first user to navigate a first environment by controlling a representation of the first user in the first environment;
capture a first paralinguistic indicator made by the first user, the first paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the first environment and reflecting at least one of a facial expression or gesture;
translate the first paralinguistic indicator into a message configured for text-based communications in a second environment, the message comprising at least one of a text description of the at least one facial expression or gesture indicated by the first paralinguistic indicator and a second paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the second environment, the second paralinguistic indicator comprising a graphical object and being different from the first paralinguistic indicator; and
provide the message to a second user.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
access a collection of descriptions determined to be relevant to the second user;
monitor a sub-portion of the first environment corresponding to a current location of the representation in the first environment;
identify, from the collection of descriptions, a sub-set of descriptions based on monitoring the sub-portion of the first environment and a threshold number; and
provide the second user with the sub-set of descriptions.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
determine that a quantity associated with the collection of descriptions exceeds the threshold number;
determine an interest rating for each description in the collection of descriptions; and
provide the second user with the sub-set of the descriptions based on the interest ratings.
28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
determine that a quantity associated with the collection of descriptions exceeds the threshold number;
determine an interest rating for each description in the collection of descriptions;
access user interest preferences;
compare the interest rating with at least one of the user interest preferences; and
identify descriptions to be included in the sub-set of descriptions based on the comparison.
29 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
receive, from a messaging interface of the second environment, a detailed information request from the second user regarding a particular description provided to the second user;
identify detailed information related to the particular description; and
provide the second user with the detailed information related to the particular description.
30 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
provide the second user with a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment.
31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the description comprises a textual description of at least one of:
an environment associated with the sub-portion of the first environment,
proximity of other users to the representation in the sub-portion of the first environment, and
activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the first environment.
32 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
enable the second user to provide preference information related to a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment; and
provide the second user with a description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the first environment in accordance with the preference information.
33 . The system of claim 32 , wherein the preference information includes at least one of:
a quantity of descriptions to be provided to the second user,
a type of descriptions to be provided to the second user, and
a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the second user.
34 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
enabling a first user to navigate a first environment by controlling a representation of the first user in the first environment;
capturing a first paralinguistic indicator made by the first user, the first paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the first environment and reflecting at least one of a facial expression or gesture;
translating the first paralinguistic indicator into a message configured for text-based communications in a second environment, the message comprising at least one of a text description of the at least one facial expression or gesture indicated by the first paralinguistic indicator and a second paralinguistic indicator configured for communications in the second environment, the second paralinguistic indicator comprising a graphical object and being different from the first paralinguistic indicator; and
providing the message to a second user.
35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , the operations further comprising:
providing the second user with a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment.
36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the description comprises a textual description of at least one of:
an environment associated with the sub-portion of the first environment,
proximity of other users to the representation of the second user in the sub-portion of the first environment, and
activities being performed by other users currently located in the sub-portion of the first environment.
37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , the operations further comprising:
enabling the second user to provide preference information related to a description of activities taking place in a sub-portion of the first environment; and
providing the second user with the description of activities taking place in the sub-portion of the first environment in accordance with the preference information.
38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the preference information includes at least one of:
a quantity of descriptions to be provided to the second user,
a type of descriptions to be provided to the second user, and
a list of other users about whom descriptions are to be provided to the second user.
39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the first paralinguistic indicator is configured for non-verbal communications.