KATMAI TECH INC.

Disclosed herein is a web-based videoconference system that allows for video avatars to navigate within a virtual environment. Various methods for efficient modeling, rendering, and shading are disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein is a web-based videoconference system that allows for video avatars to navigate within a virtual environment. Various methods for efficient modeling, rendering, and shading are disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are aspects for altering avatar backgrounds and rendering volumetric avatars in a three-dimensional virtual environment. An aspect begins by receiving, from a first device of a first user, configuration settings specifying how a background of a first user's avatar is to be presented to a second user in the 3D virtual environment. The aspect continues by capturing a video stream of the first user and altering portions of the video stream. The configuration settings and the video stream with the altered background are used to render the first user's avatar. Another aspect begins by receiving configuration settings and a video stream with a background. The aspect continues by rendering a front surface, back surface, and side surface of an avatar based on the configuration settings and video stream.

Disclosed herein are aspects for altering avatar backgrounds and rendering volumetric avatars in a three-dimensional virtual environment. An aspect begins by receiving, from a first device of a first user, configuration settings specifying how a background of a first user's avatar is to be presented to a second user in the 3D virtual environment. The aspect continues by capturing a video stream of the first user and altering portions of the video stream. The configuration settings and the video stream with the altered background are used to render the first user's avatar. Another aspect begins by receiving configuration settings and a video stream with a background. The aspect continues by rendering a front surface, back surface, and side surface of an avatar based on the configuration settings and video stream.

A method is disclosed for videoconferencing in a three-dimensional virtual environment. In the method, a video stream captured from a camera on a first device of a first user and a specification of an emote are received. The specification is input by the first user through the first device. Then, the video stream is mapped onto a three-dimensional model of an avatar. From a perspective of a virtual camera of a second user, the three-dimensional virtual environment is rendered for display to the second user through a second device. This rendering includes the mapped three-dimensional model of the avatar, and the emote attached to the three-dimensional model of the avatar, where the emote emits sound played by the second device.

Disclosed herein is a web-based videoconference system that allows for video avatars to navigate within a virtual environment. Various methods for efficient modeling, rendering, and shading are disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are aspects for altering avatar backgrounds and rendering volumetric avatars in a three-dimensional virtual environment. An aspect begins by receiving, from a first device of a first user, configuration settings specifying how a background of a first user's avatar is to be presented to a second user in the 3D virtual environment. The aspect continues by capturing a video stream of the first user and altering portions of the video stream. The configuration settings and the video stream with the altered background are used to render the first user's avatar. Another aspect begins by receiving configuration settings and a video stream with a background. The aspect continues by rendering a front surface, back surface, and side surface of an avatar based on the configuration settings and video stream.

Disclosed herein is a web-based videoconference system that allows for video avatars to navigate within a virtual environment. Various methods for efficient modeling, rendering, and shading are disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are aspects for resituating virtual cameras and avatars in a virtual environment. An aspect begins by rendering the virtual environment, including a first avatar and a second avatar. The virtual environment is rendered on a first device, belonging to a first user, and from a perspective of a first virtual camera controlled by the first user. The first avatar represents the first user at a location of the first virtual camera. The second user views the virtual environment from a perspective of a second virtual camera at a location of the second avatar. The aspect proceeds by repositioning the first virtual camera and the first avatar to a first location and resituating the second avatar to a second location. The aspect concludes by sending a message instructing a second device, belonging to the second user, to resituate the second virtual camera to the second location.

A method is disclosed for videoconferencing in a three-dimensional virtual environment. In the method, a position and direction, a specification of an emote, and a video stream are received. The position and direction specify a location and orientation in the virtual environment and are input by a first user. The specification of the emote is also input by the first user. The video stream is captured from a camera on a device of the first user that is positioned to capture photographic images of the first user. The video stream is mapped onto a three-dimensional model of an avatar. From a perspective of a virtual camera of a second user, the virtual environment is rendering for display to the second user. The rendered environment includes the mapped three-dimensional model of the avatar located at the position and oriented at the direction and the emote attached to the video stream-mapped avatar.