IP Library Granted Patent US 12,594,499
Granted Patent B2
US 12,594,499 · App. 18/140,467 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Auxiliary virtual object control in virtual scene

Inventor: Fenlin Cai (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
A63F13/58A63F13/426G06T19/20G06V10/761G06T2219/2004G06T2219/2016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,594,499
App. No.
18/140,467
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for controlling an auxiliary virtual object in a virtual scene, a first virtual object is controlled to select a lock target in the virtual scene for the auxiliary virtual object. A lock command for the selected lock target is received. The auxiliary virtual object is controlled to enter a first assist state based on the lock command when the lock target is a second virtual object in the virtual scene. The auxiliary virtual object is configured to automatically perform at least one action on the second virtual object in the first assist state.

Claims (81)

1 . A method for controlling an auxiliary virtual object in a virtual scene, the method comprising:

controlling a first virtual object to select a lock target in the virtual scene for the auxiliary virtual object;

receiving a lock command for the selected lock target;

displaying the auxiliary virtual object in a first form;

based on the lock target being a second virtual object in the virtual scene,

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to enter a first assist state based on the lock command, the auxiliary virtual object being configured to automatically perform at least one action on the second virtual object in the first assist state; and

based on the lock target being a scene location in the virtual scene,

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to a target location corresponding to the lock target based on the lock command, and

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to enter a second assist state and to switch from being displayed in the first form to being displayed in a second form of the second assist state at the target location.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

controlling the first virtual object to pick up a virtual item;

acquiring an attribute value of the first virtual object; and

calling, via the virtual item, the auxiliary virtual object based on the attribute value of the first virtual object satisfying a calling condition of the auxiliary virtual object.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the first virtual object to select the lock target comprises:

displaying a front sight pattern;

controlling the first virtual object to perform an aiming operation on the lock target with the front sight pattern; and

selecting the second virtual object in the virtual scene as the lock target based on the front sight pattern pointing at the lock target.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving the lock command comprises:

displaying a lock control function to lock onto the selected lock target; and

receiving the lock command in response to selection of the lock control function.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the auxiliary virtual object in a following state in which the auxiliary virtual object moves along with the first virtual object; and

based on the lock target being the second virtual object, the controlling the auxiliary virtual object includes controlling the auxiliary virtual object to switch from the following state to the first assist state in which the at least one action is automatically performed in response to the lock command.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, based on the lock target being the second virtual object, the controlling the auxiliary virtual object comprises:

acquiring a distance between the auxiliary virtual object and the lock target;

based on the distance being less than a target distance, controlling the auxiliary virtual object to perform the at least one action on the lock target; and

based on the distance not being less than the target distance, controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to a first target area corresponding to the lock target and perform the at least one action on the lock target in the first target area.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to the first target area comprises:

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to a second target area that includes the first target area, and

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to be in an interactive preparation state when the auxiliary virtual object moves to the second target area, the auxiliary virtual object holding a virtual assistance item; and

controlling the auxiliary virtual object in the interactive preparation state to move from the second target area toward the first target area, and

during movement from the second target area toward the first target area, controlling an orientation of the virtual assistance item to face the lock target by adjusting an orientation of the auxiliary virtual object in the interactive preparation state with respect to the lock target.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, based on the lock target being the second virtual object, the controlling the auxiliary virtual object comprises:

acquiring a skill state of a virtual skill of the auxiliary virtual object; and

based on the skill state being an active state, controlling the auxiliary virtual object to perform, on the lock target, the at least one action corresponding to the virtual skill.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

after execution of the at least one action corresponding to the virtual skill is completed, controlling the virtual skill to switch from the active state to an inactive state, and displaying a remaining duration in which the virtual skill is in the inactive state; and

when the remaining duration reaches a remaining duration threshold, controlling the virtual skill to switch from the inactive state to the active state, and controlling the auxiliary virtual object to perform, on the lock target, the at least one action corresponding to the virtual skill.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, based on the lock target being the second virtual object in the virtual scene, the method further comprises:

displaying lock prompt information indicating that the second virtual object is the lock target; and

displaying state prompt information indicating that the auxiliary virtual object is in the first assist state.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, based on the lock target being the scene location, the controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to the target location comprises:

when a distance between the lock target and the first virtual object exceeds a target distance, acquiring a vertical height of a lock point corresponding to the lock target from a ground in the virtual scene; and

when the vertical height does not exceed a height threshold, determining a location of a vertical projection point of the lock point on the ground as the target location, and controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to the target location.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary virtual object in the second assist state is configured to

reduce an effect of an action performed by the second virtual object from a first side of the auxiliary virtual object, or

enhance an effect of an action performed by the first virtual object from a second side of the auxiliary virtual object.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the second virtual object is highlighted when viewed through the auxiliary virtual object in the second assist state.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a recall command for the auxiliary virtual object; and

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to exit the first assist state in response to the recall command.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the receiving the recall command comprises:

receiving the recall command based on one of a recall control for the auxiliary virtual object and a distance between the auxiliary virtual object and the first virtual object exceeding a distance threshold.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the controlling the auxiliary virtual object to exit the first assist state comprises:

based on the at least one action being completed, controlling the auxiliary virtual object to exit the first assist state in response to the recall command; and

based on the at least one action not being completed, controlling the auxiliary virtual object to exit the first assist state in response to the recall command after execution of the at least one action is completed.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

control a first virtual object to select a lock target in a virtual scene for an auxiliary virtual object;

receive a lock command for the selected lock target;

display the auxiliary virtual object in a first form;

based on the lock target being a second virtual object in the virtual scene,

control the auxiliary virtual object to enter a first assist state based on the lock command, the auxiliary virtual object being configured to automatically perform at least one action on the second virtual object in the first assist state; and

based on the lock target being a scene location in the virtual scene,

control the auxiliary virtual object to move to a target location corresponding to the lock target based on the lock command, and

control the auxiliary virtual object to enter a second assist state and to switch from being displayed in the first form to being displayed in a second form of the second assist state at the target location.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary virtual object in the second assist state is configured to:

reduce an effect of an action performed by the second virtual object from a first side of the auxiliary virtual object, or

enhance an effect of an action performed by the first virtual object from a second side of the auxiliary virtual object.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform:

controlling a first virtual object to select a lock target in a virtual scene for an auxiliary virtual object;

receiving a lock command for the selected lock target;

displaying the auxiliary virtual object in a first form;

based on the lock target being a second virtual object in the virtual scene,

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to enter a first assist state based on the lock command, the auxiliary virtual object being configured to automatically perform at least one action on the second virtual object in the first assist state; and

based on the lock target being a scene location in the virtual scene,

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to move to a target location corresponding to the lock target based on the lock command, and

controlling the auxiliary virtual object to enter a second assist state and to switch from being displayed in the first form to being displayed in a second form of the second assist state at the target location.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19 , wherein the auxiliary virtual object in the second assist state is configured to:

reduce an effect of an action performed by the second virtual object from a first side of the auxiliary virtual object, or

enhance an effect of an action performed by the first virtual object from a second side of the auxiliary virtual object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: CAI, FENLIN
To: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 063468/0179 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202110605036.2 · May 31, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2022091115 · May 6, 2022
Related Publication 20230256341A1 · Aug 17, 2023
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