IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,311,266
Granted Patent B2
US 12,311,266 · App. 17/668,789 · Granted May 27, 2025

Method and apparatus for using virtual prop, device, and storage medium

Inventors: Chao Liang (Shenzhen, CN); Zhihong Liu (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
A63F13/56A63F13/537
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,311,266
App. No.
17/668,789
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method and apparatus for using a virtual prop, a device, and a storage medium, relating to supporting virtual environments. The method includes: displaying a user interface rom a first visual character's perspective; in response to a use instruction, controlling the first visual character to use a first virtual prop to generate a defense range an attack from another virtual prop; and intercepting the second virtual prop based on determining that the another virtual prop will likely fall within the defense range of the first virtual prop.

Claims (69)

1. A method for using a virtual prop, performed by a computer device, the method comprising:

displaying a first user interface (UI), the first UI comprising a first virtual environment image, the first virtual environment image corresponding to an image of a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character;

controlling, in response to a use instruction for a first virtual prop, the first virtual character to use the first virtual prop;

determining whether the first virtual prop may be placed at a region in contact with a placement point;

controlling, based on a triggering option for the first virtual prop and a determination that the first virtual prop may be placed at the region, the first virtual character to launch the first virtual prop to the placement point using a predetermined flight path, wherein the first virtual prop is configured to intercept, within a defense range of the region, a target virtual prop configured to chase a target virtual character;

detecting a presence of a second virtual prop that is configured to chase the first virtual character; and

intercepting the second virtual prop based on a determination that the second virtual prop has entered the defense range.

2. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the target virtual character is at least one of the first virtual character or a second virtual character, the second virtual character and the first virtual character belonging to a same team and

wherein the intercepting the second virtual prop is further based on determining that the target virtual character is within the defense range.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the intercepting the second virtual prop further comprises:

destroying the second virtual prop; or

controlling the first virtual prop to launch a third virtual prop to shoot the second virtual prop down.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the defense range comprises a space range with a distance to the placement point of the first virtual prop less than an effective radius, and wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining a position of the second virtual prop in a release process; and

determining that the second virtual prop has entered the defense range based on a distance between the placement point of the first virtual prop and the position of the second virtual prop being less than or equal to the effective radius.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the first virtual character to use the first virtual prop comprises:

determining the placement point of the first virtual prop in response to the use instruction for the first virtual prop.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the determining the placement point of the first virtual prop comprises:

calculating the predetermined flight path according to at least one parameter of the perspective and a position of the first virtual character, and at least one of a throwing direction, a starting point for throwing, a throwing force, or a throwing speed of the first virtual prop; and

determining an end point of the predetermined flight path as the placement point of the first virtual prop.

7. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

displaying a first action effect based on the placement point being an effective region, the first action effect being used for prompting that the first virtual prop is capable of being placed at the placement point; or

displaying a second action effect based on the placement point not being the effective region, the second action effect being used for prompting that the first virtual prop is incapable of being placed at the placement point.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein:

the first action effect comprises at least one of a first light circle special effect or a first prompt information; and

the second action effect comprises at least one of a second light circle special effect or a second prompt information.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

destroying the first virtual prop based on a quantity of intercepted second virtual props reaching a first threshold; or

destroying the first virtual prop based on a use duration of the first virtual prop reaching a second threshold.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

display a first user interface (UI), the first UI comprising a first virtual environment image, the first virtual environment image being an image corresponding to an image of a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character;

control, in response to a use instruction for a first virtual prop, the first virtual character to use the first virtual prop;

determine whether the first virtual prop may be placed at a region in contact with a placement point;

control, based on a triggering option for the first virtual prop and a determination that the first virtual prop may be placed at the region, the first virtual character to launch the first virtual prop to the placement point using a predetermined flight path, wherein the first virtual prop is configured to intercept, within a defense range of the region, a target virtual prop configured to chase a target virtual character;

detect a presence of a second virtual prop that is configured to chase the first virtual character; and

intercept the second virtual prop based on determining that the second virtual prop has entered the defense range.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the target virtual character is at least one of the first virtual character or a second virtual character, the second virtual character and the first virtual character belonging to a same team, and

wherein the intercepting the second virtual prop is further based on determining that the target virtual character is within the defense range.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

destroy the second virtual prop or control the first virtual prop to launch a third virtual prop to shoot the second virtual prop down.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the defense range comprises a space range with a distance to the placement point of the first virtual prop less than an effective radius, the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

position of the second virtual prop in a release process; and

determine that the second virtual prop has entered the defense range based on a distance between the placement point of the first virtual prop and the position of the second virtual prop being less than or equal to the effective radius.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

determine a placement point of the first virtual prop in response to the use instruction for the first virtual prop.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

calculate a flight path of the first virtual prop according to at least one parameter of the perspective and a position of the first virtual character, and at least one of a throwing direction, a starting point for throwing, a throwing force, or a throwing speed of the first virtual prop; and

determine an end point of the flight path as the placement point of the first virtual prop.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

display a first action effect based on the placement point being an effective region, the first action effect being used for prompting that the first virtual prop is capable of being placed at the placement point; or

display a second action effect based on the placement point not being the effective region, the second action effect being used for prompting that the first virtual prop is incapable of being placed at the placement point.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein

the first action effect comprises at least one of a first light circle special effect or a first prompt information; and

the second action effect comprises at least one of a second light circle special effect or a second prompt information.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10 , the memory further storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the apparatus to:

destroy the first virtual prop based on a quantity of intercepted second virtual props reaching a first threshold; or

destroy the first virtual prop based on a use duration of the first virtual prop reaching a second threshold.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

display a first user interface (UI), the first UI comprising a first virtual environment image, the first virtual environment image corresponding to an image of a virtual environment observed from a perspective of a first virtual character;

control, in response to a use instruction for a first virtual prop, the first virtual character to use the first virtual prop;

determine whether the first virtual prop may be placed at a region in contact with a placement point;

control, based on a triggering option for the first virtual prop and a determination that the first virtual prop may be placed at the region, the first virtual character to launch the first virtual prop to the placement point using a predetermined flight path, wherein the first virtual prop is configured to intercept, within a defense range of the region, a target virtual prop configured to chase a target virtual character;

detect a presence of a second virtual prop that is configured to chase the first virtual character; and

intercept the second virtual prop based on determining that the second virtual prop has entered the defense range.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the target virtual character is at least one of the first virtual character or a second virtual character, the second virtual character and the first virtual character belonging to a same team; and

wherein the intercepting the second virtual prop is further based on determining that the target virtual character is within the defense range.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2022
From: LIANG, CHAO; LIU, ZHIHONG
To: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 058973/0730 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010071034.5 · Jan 21, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2020129801 · Nov 18, 2020
Related Publication 20220161138A1 · May 26, 2022
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