Method and system for topic based virtual environments and expertise detection
A method and system for creating a topic-based 3D virtual environment. The inventive method and system provides a 3D virtual environment that includes images, scenery, and content that relate to the topic of discussion in the virtual environment. If the virtual “meeting” should be adjourned or ended, the system saves the data, discussions that occurred during the meeting, and all the scenery and content related to the virtual meeting so that the meeting can be continued with all of the content and imagery in place. A virtual environment template containing this information is loaded and used for subsequent virtual meetings discussing the same topic.
1. A method for a topic-based virtual environment, the method comprising:
identifying at least one topic, the at least one topic being a subject of a virtual environment instance;
selecting a virtual environment template;
loading data from a database into the virtual environment template, the data being related to the at least one topic;
rendering the virtual environment instance, the virtual environment instance including the virtual environment template;
determining if there is enough interest in a topic to designate, from at least one participant, at least one interested user by calculating an interest score for each of the at least one participant and determining if the interest score exceeds an interest threshold level;
determining if there is enough interest in a topic to warrant an expert by determining if a number of communications occurring during the virtual environmental instance exceeds an expert threshold level; and
when there is enough interest in the topic to warrant an expert, analyzing activities of the at least one participant occurring during the virtual environment instance to identify a participant as an expert on the topic to other participants.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the database to include at least some information presented during the virtual environment instance.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising compiling a record of activities occurring during the virtual environment instance and storing the record of activities in the database.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the participant is based on contributions related to the at least one topic made by participants participating in the virtual environment instance.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inviting the identified participant to contribute to the subsequent virtual environment instance related to the at least one topic.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying an expert is based on a score, the score is based on a type of activities including at least one of bringing documents to the virtual environment instance, exchanging emails during the virtual environment instance, and presenting visual material during the virtual environment instance.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying an expert is based on a score, the score depends on a relevance to the topic of an input by a participant.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the relevance to the topic is associated with a document that is input by the participant.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the relevance to the topic is associated with content of a voice message supplied by the participant.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the relevance to the topic is associated with a web page displayed by the participant.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the score is based on a formula that is a function of relevance.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the score is based on a formula that includes a relevance times a base factor.
13. A system for constructing a topic-based virtual environment comprising:
a template selector, the template selector configured to select a virtual environment template related to at least one topic, the at least one topic being a subject of a virtual environment instance;
a database, the database configured to store data related to the at least one topic; and
a processor, the processor configured to:
load the data related to the at least one topic from the database into the virtual environment template, the virtual environment template included in the virtual environment instance;
determine if there is enough interest in a topic to designate, from at least one participant, at least one interested user by calculating an interest score for each of the at least one participant and determining if the interest score exceeds an interest threshold level;
determine if there is enough interest in a topic to warrant an expert by determining if a number of communications occurring during the virtual environmental instance exceeds an expert threshold level; and
when there is enough interest in the topic to warrant an expert, analyze activities of the at least one participant occurring during the virtual environment instance to identify a participant as an expert on the topic to other participants.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a topic engine, the topic engine updating the database to include at least some information presented during the virtual environment instance.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the database is configured to store a record of activities occurring during the virtual environment instance.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the participant based on contributions related to the at least one topic made by participants participating in the virtual environment instance.
17. A method of constructing a three-dimensional virtual environment template, the method comprising:
identifying a topic in an initial three-dimensional virtual environment instance;
obtaining data from a database, the obtained data related to the identified topic;
defining at least one three-dimensional placeholder within the initial three dimensional environment instance;
loading the identified data into the at least one three-dimensional placeholder;
selecting the three-dimensional virtual environment template for use in a subsequent three-dimensional virtual environment instance related to the topic identified in the initial three-dimensional virtual environment instance, the at least one three-dimensional placeholder used for the initial three-dimensional virtual environment instance appearing in the subsequent three-dimensional virtual environment instance;
determining if there is enough interest in a topic to designate, from at least one participant, at least one interested user by calculating an interest score for each of the at least one participant and determining if the interest score exceeds an interest threshold level;
determining if there is enough interest in a topic to warrant an expert by determining if a number of communications occurring during the virtual environmental instance exceeds an expert threshold level; and
when there is enough interest in the topic to warrant an expert, analyzing activities of the at least one participant occurring during the virtual environment instance to identify a participant as an expert on the topic to other participants.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising defining at least one three-dimensional object for use in the initial three-dimensional virtual environment instance.