IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,357,917
Granted Patent B2
US 12,357,917 · App. 17/994,492 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

System and method for surrogate gameplay

Inventors: Rashmi Palamadai (Naperville, IL); Richard Palazzo (Stewartsville, NJ); Eric Zavesky (Austin, TX); Oliver Spatscheck (Denison, TX); Ari Craine (Marietta, GA); Robert Koch (Norcross, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
A63F13/79A63F13/335A63F2300/5553
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,357,917
App. No.
17/994,492
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device having a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of: receiving a request from a first user of an electronic event to invoke a surrogate to control an avatar of the first user; retrieving data describing characteristics of the surrogate; and altering a presentation of the avatar for the first user made to a second user, wherein the data describing characteristics of the surrogate is used to alter the presentation of the avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims (32)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a request from a first user of an electronic event to invoke a surrogate to control an avatar of the first user;

sending, by the processing system, an indication of the request to a second user of the electronic event;

receiving, by the processing system, an authorization to invoke the surrogate from the second user;

retrieving, by the processing system, data describing characteristics of the surrogate; and

altering, by the processing system, a presentation of the avatar for the first user made to the second user, wherein the data describing the characteristics of the surrogate is used to alter the presentation of the avatar.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic event is a game.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presentation comprises a visual alteration.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altering comprises an audio alteration.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising altering, by the processing system, one or more aspects of an electronic environment within which the avatar is presented responsive to receiving the authorization.

6. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a request from a first user of an electronic event to invoke a surrogate to control an avatar of the first user;

retrieving data describing characteristics of the surrogate; and

altering a presentation of the avatar for the first user made to a second user, wherein the data describing characteristics of the surrogate is used to alter the presentation of the avatar.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the electronic event is a game.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the presentation comprises a visual alteration.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the altering comprises an audio alteration.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise altering one or more aspects of an electronic environment within which the avatar is presented responsive to receiving the request.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise forwarding the request to the second user of the electronic event for approval; and invoking the surrogate responsive to receiving an approval of the request from the second user.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

13. A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

invoking a surrogate to control an avatar in an electronic event responsive to a request by a first user operating the avatar in the electronic event; and

altering a presentation of the avatar made to a second user, wherein data describing characteristics of the surrogate is used to alter the presentation of the avatar.

14. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise forwarding the request to the second user of the electronic event for approval; and invoking the surrogate responsive to receiving an approval of the request from the second user.

15. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the electronic event is a game.

16. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the presentation comprises a visual alteration of the avatar.

17. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the altering comprises an audio alteration of the avatar.

18. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the surrogate is a user of a system hosting the electronic event.

19. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the surrogate is a non-user of a system hosting the electronic event.

20. The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the processing system comprises a plurality of processors operating in a distributed computing environment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2022
From: PALAMADAI, RASHMI; PALAZZO, RICHARD; ZAVESKY, ERIC; SPATSCHECK, OLIVER; CRAINE, ARI; KOCH, ROBERT
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 062037/0941 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240173628A1 · May 30, 2024
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