Electronic device and computer-readable storage medium for providing virtual space

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024062459-A1
Application number	US-202318346569-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 3, 2023
Priority date	Aug 17, 2022
Publication date	Feb 22, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an electronic device includes: a display, a communication circuit, a memory configured to store instructions, and a processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, when the instructions are executed: identify a first input representing selecting at least one object corresponding to at least one user among a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of users, identify a second input for executing a second application, change the first user interface to a second interface including the virtual space based on the first input and the second input, and control the communication circuit to transmit, to at least one external electronic device of the least one user, a signal configured to cause the at least one external electronic device to display a notification for guiding entry into the virtual space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a display; a communication circuit; a memory configured to store executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions by accessing the memory, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: while a first application for communication with another user is being executed, identify a first input representing selecting at least one object corresponding to at least one user among a plurality of objects corresponding to a plurality of users distinct from a user of the electronic device, displayed in a first user interface of the first application; based on the first input being identified, identify a second input for executing a second application for communicating the at least one user through a character representing the user in a virtual space; based on the first input and the second input, change the first user interface to a second interface of the second application including the virtual space including the character and at least one character representing the at least one user; and based on the first input and the second input, control the communication circuit to transmit, to at least one external electronic device of the least one user, a signal configured to cause the at least one external electronic device to display a notification for guiding entry into the virtual space.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to identify the virtual space based on a third input representing that one of a plurality of virtual spaces is selected.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control the display to display an element for displaying the plurality of objects while a plurality of contacts are displayed in the first user interface based on execution of the first application, and in response to a fourth input for the element, display the plurality of objects respectively corresponding to the plurality of users in the first user interface.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of objects respectively corresponding to the plurality of users comprise a plurality of thumbnails of a plurality of characters respectively corresponding to the plurality of users, and a plurality of labels indicating states of the plurality of users in association with the plurality of thumbnails.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising global positioning system (GPS) circuit,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: control the display to display a thumbnail of the character and a label indicating a state of the user of the electronic device in a first area of the first area and the second area configured in the first user interface, and control the display to display the plurality of labels in the second area of the first area and the second area, and wherein the label indicating the state of the user of the electronic device is displayed based on a location of the user identified based on the GPS circuit.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera; and a microphone, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: switch an operation mode of the second application from a standby mode to a connection mode based on identifying that the at least one user enters the virtual space using the at least one character, activate the camera and the microphone while the operation mode of the second application is the connection mode, obtain information on the user of the electronic device using the camera and the microphone, and based on the information on the user, control motion of the character.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display a plurality of visual objects for controlling activity of the character in the virtual space, superimposed on the virtual space based on the at least one user entering the virtual space using the at least one character.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify an input for a first visual object for displaying content in the virtual space, among the plurality of visual objects, and based on the input for the first visual object, control the display to display at least one content among a plurality of contents stored in the memory in association with the character in the virtual space.

9 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify an input for a second visual object for changing the operation mode of the second application among the plurality of visual objects, switch the operation mode of the second application from the connection mode to the standby mode based on the input for the second visual object, and while the operation mode of the second application is the standby mode, deactivate the camera and the microphone.

10 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify an input for a third visual object for exiting the virtual space among the plurality of visual objects, and suspend, based on the input for the third visual object, execution of the second application based on the input for the third visual object.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive a signal configured to cause the electronic device to display a notification for guiding entry into the virtual space from at least one of a plurality of external electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of users based on execution of the second application being suspended, and provide, based on the signal, the notification using a part of the character displayed on a home screen, and enter one of the plurality of virtual spaces using the character by executing the second application in response to identifying at least one touch input for the part of the character.

12 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
display the home screen using the display based on execution of the second application being suspended, and in response to identifying at least one touch input on the home screen, control the display to display a plurality of images representing a plurality of virtual spaces including the virtual space, which can be entered in a state that the execution of the second application is suspended.

13 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display the plurality of images representing a plurality of virtual spaces including the virtual space, which can be entered while the operation mode of the second application is standby mode.

14 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
identify a fifth input for entering another virtual space distinct from the virtual space by the user of the electronic device, while the user is in the virtual space using the character, and control the display to display a list of virtual spaces, including the virtual space and the other virtual space, in which the user entered.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions, which, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device including a display, a communication circ

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Jonghyuck
• Kim Moonjeong
• Kim Youngrog
• Kim Taeyeong
• Sung Wonkyu
• Song Taeyang
• Lee Changhan
• Park Jihea
• Hong Hyunju

Classifications

• H04M1/72403

  with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G01S5/02

  using radio waves (using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00) · CPC title