Global event-based avatar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020249804-A1
Application number	US-202016845360-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2020
Priority date	Feb 6, 2019
Publication date	Aug 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program and a method for navigating an avatar based on time zones. A global event is identified that begins at a particular time on a given date; a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations is retrieved; and a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones is determined to have reached the particular time on the given date. In response, an avatar is generated for display on a map at a first of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone and is navigated to a second geographical location when a current time at a second time zone, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, a global event that begins at a particular time on a given date; receiving a user selection of an avatar while the avatar is at a first geographical location; determining a position of the avatar prior to being generated for display at the first geographical location; and in response to receiving the user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location, generating for display a video from a set of videos received from users at the determined position of the avatar.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations; determining that a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones has reached the particular time on the given date; and in response to determining that the current time at the first time zone has reached the particular time on the given date, generating for display an avatar representative of the global event on a map at the first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
navigating the avatar on the map from the first geographical location to a second geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations when a current time at a second time zone of the sequential list of time zones, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the global event comprises receiving a user selection of the global event from a list of global events, and wherein the avatar is displayed on an interactive map interface for a social media platform.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a sequential list of time zones including a plurality of time offsets relative to a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising:
searching for a first time offset of the plurality of time offsets that is earlier than each of the plurality of time offsets, the first time offset corresponding to the first geographical location; and
computing a current time at the first geographical location by adding or subtracting the determined offset to or from the UTC.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating a current location of the avatar from a previous location that is displayed on a map at specified time intervals or in real time, wherein the updated location of the avatar is closer in proximity to the first geographical location than the previous location.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a path that traverses each of a plurality of geographical locations, wherein the current location is updated to follow the path.

9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising dynamically adjusting the path based on one or more criteria.

10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:
determining a distance between the first geographical location and a second geographical locations; and
modifying a rate at which the current location of the avatar is updated based on the determined distance.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the rate is increased or decreased to cause the avatar to reach the second geographical location on the map when the current time at the second geographical location matches the particular time on the given date.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar comprises a blimp with an image or video that represents the global event, further comprising animating the avatar.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of videos correspond to videos received from friends of the user on a social media platform, further comprising sequentially playing back, in response to receiving the user selection, each video in the set of videos automatically, and wherein a collection of videos in the set of videos received from users at a second geographical location corresponding to the position of the avatar are temporarily stored such that the collection of videos becomes unavailable for access after a specified time period has elapsed since the global event began at the second geographical location.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar includes a plurality of states, further comprising:
prior to any time zone in a sequential list of time zones reaching the particular time on the given date, generating for display the avatar in a first state of the plurality of states on a map in close proximity to the first geographical location; and when the first time zone reaches the particular time on the given date: repositioning the avatar from being positioned in close proximity to the first geographical location to being positioned within the first geographical location; and changing a state of the avatar from the first state to a second of the plurality of states.

15 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining that a current time at the first geographical location is earlier than the particular time on the given date by a first threshold amount;
while that the current time at the first geographical location is earlier than the particular time on the given date by the first threshold amount, generating for display the avatar in a first state in close proximity to the first geographical location;
determining that the current time at the first geographical location is earlier than the particular time on the given date by a second threshold amount that is less than the first threshold amount; and
in response to determining that the current time at the first geographical location is earlier than the particular time on the given date by the second threshold amount, modifying the state of the avatar from the first state to a second state.

16 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to perform operations comprising: identifying a global event that begins at a particular time on a given date; receiving a user selection of an avatar while the avatar is at a first geographical location; determining a position of the avatar prior to being generated for display at the first geographical location; and in response to receiving the user selection of the avatar while the avatar is at the first geographical location, generating for display a video from a set of videos received from users at the determined position of the avatar.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
retrieving a sequential list of time zones associated with a plurality of geographical locations; determining that a current time at a first time zone of the sequential list of time zones has reached the particular time on the given date; and in response to determining that the current time at the first time zone has reached the particular time on the given date, generating for display an avatar representative of the global event on a map at the first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations associated with the first time zone.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
navigating the avatar on the map from the first geographical location to a second geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations when a current time at a second time zone of the sequential list of time zones, associated with the second geographical location, reaches the particular time on the given date.

19 . The system of claim 16 ,

Assignees

• Snap Inc

Inventors

• Alvi Sumbul
• Mark David
• Phifer Kimberly A
• Reid Graham
• Samaranayake Suraj Vindana
• Valdetaro Porto Alexandre

Classifications

• H04L51/52

  for supporting social networking services · CPC title

• H04L51/222

  using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title