Dynamic background selection in a chat interface
Methods and systems provide dynamic background selection in a chat interface. First, the system receives metadata about a chat session comprising a number of participants. The system then determines a virtual background based on one or more background selection criteria and at least a subset of the metadata about the chat session. Finally, the system displays, for each of the participants in the chat session, a spatial chat user interface including the determined virtual background, with the one or more spatialized avatars overlaid on the virtual background and positioned spatially within it.
1 . A method for providing dynamic background selection in a chat interface, comprising:
receiving a plurality of metadata about a chat session comprising a plurality of participants, the plurality of participants exchanging a plurality chat messages;
determining a virtual background for a spatial chat user interface (UI) based on one or more background selection criteria and at least a subset of the plurality of metadata about the chat session, wherein:
the spatial chat UI comprises:
a navigation portion;
a chat portion; and
the virtual background; and
the one or more background selection criteria comprise at least one availability status of a participant of the plurality of participants;
receiving a fixed arrangement of avatar positions for the plurality of participants within the virtual background submitted by a host or administrator of the chat session; and
displaying, for each of the participants within the chat session the spatial chat UI comprising:
one or more spatialized avatars within the virtual background, wherein each of the spatialized avatars:
is a representation of one of the plurality of participants overlaid on the virtual background; and
is positioned in a spatialized fashion within the virtual background, the position of the spatialized avatar within the virtual background corresponding to the physical position of the represented participant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined virtual background is configured to be dynamically modified or replaced based on one or more of the background selection criteria and the at least a subset of the plurality of metadata about the chat session.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined virtual background is configured to be dynamically modified or replaced based on one or more text-based or non-text-based chat messages within the chat session.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more background selection criteria comprises a prespecified list of calendar events.
5 . The method of claim 1 , the background selection criteria comprises a prespecified default background selection.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metadata about the chat session includes one or more of: session name, participants, an administrator, subject matter, organizational department, assigned project, and geolocational data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the background selection criteria comprises a session type.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of metadata is retrieved from one or more client devices associated with the plurality of participants.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the background selection criteria comprises working locations for the plurality of participants.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the spatialized avatars is associated with a visual indication of an availability status of the corresponding participant, the availability status comprising an indication of an activity level of the participant and a last active time within the chat session.
11 . A communication system comprising one or more processors configured to perform operations including:
receiving a plurality of metadata about a chat session comprising a plurality of participants, the plurality of participants exchanging a plurality chat messages;
determining a virtual background based for a spatial chat UI on one or more background selection criteria and at least a subset of the plurality of metadata about the chat session, wherein:
the spatial chat UI comprises:
a navigation portion;
a chat portion; and
the virtual background; and
the one or more background selection criteria comprise at least one availability status of a participant of the plurality of participants;
receiving a fixed arrangement of avatar positions for the plurality of participants within the virtual background submitted by a host or administrator of the chat session; and
displaying, for each of the participants within the chat session the spatial chat UI comprising:
one or more spatialized avatars within the virtual background, wherein each of the spatialized avatars:
is a representation of one of the plurality of participants overlaid on the virtual background; and
is positioned in a spatialized fashion within the virtual background, the position of the spatialized avatar within the virtual background corresponding to the physical position of the represented participant.
12 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the determined virtual background is configured to be dynamically modified or replaced based on one or more of the background selection criteria and the at least a subset of the plurality of metadata about the chat session.
13 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the determined virtual background is configured to be dynamically modified or replaced based on one or more text-based or non-text-based chat messages within the chat session.
14 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more background selection criteria comprises a prespecified list of calendar events.
15 . The communication system of claim 11 , the background selection criteria comprises a prespecified default background selection.
16 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the metadata about the chat session includes one or more of: session name, participants, an administrator, subject matter, organizational department, assigned project, and geolocational data.
17 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the background selection criteria comprises a session type.
18 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of metadata is retrieved from one or more client devices associated with the plurality of participants.
19 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the background selection criteria comprises working locations for the plurality of participants.
20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing dynamic background selection in a chat interface, comprising:
instructions for receiving a plurality of metadata about a chat session comprising a plurality of participants;
instructions for determining a virtual background for a spatial chat UI based on one or more background selection criteria and at least a subset of the plurality of metadata about the chat session, wherein:
the spatial chat UI comprises:
a navigation portion;
a chat portion; and
the virtual background; and
the one or more background selection criteria comprise at least one availability status of a participant of the plurality of participants;
instructions for displaying, for each of the participants within the chat session the spatial chat UI comprising:
one or more spatialized avatars within the virtual background, wherein each of the spatialized avatars:
is a representation of one of the plurality of participants overlaid on the virtual background; and
is positioned in a spatialized fashion within the virtual background, the position of the spatialized avatar within the virtual background corresponding to the physical position of the represented participant.