Method and system for proximity based voice chat

Abstract

A method for use in processing audio includes receiving audio data associated with each of two or more characters in a virtual world, determining a proximity of the other characters in the virtual world for each of the characters, altering the received audio data based on the determined proximity of another one of the characters for each of the characters, and providing the altered audio data to a client associated with the other character for which the audio data was altered for each of the characters.

1 . A method for use in processing audio, comprising: 
 receiving audio data associated with each of two or more characters in a virtual world;    for each of the characters, determining a proximity of the other characters in the virtual world;    for each of the characters, altering the received audio data based on the determined proximity of another one of the characters; and    for each of the characters, providing the altered audio data to a client associated with the other character for which the audio data was altered.    
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 for each of the characters, mixing the altered audio data into a multi-channel format.    
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 for each of the characters, encoding the multi-channel format stream.    
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 in each of the clients, mixing the altered audio data with other audio and playing it out through one or more speakers.    
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the step of altering the received audio data comprises scaling volume levels of the audio data.  
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the step of altering the received audio data comprises introducing effects into the audio data.  
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the effects comprise a delay effect.  
     
     
         8 . A method for use in processing audio, comprising: 
 receiving audio data from each of a plurality of client computers coupled to an interactive network, wherein each client computer is associated with a character represented in a program executed on each computer;    determining a relative location of the characters in an environment defined by the program;    altering characteristics of the audio data received from each of the client computers based upon the determined relative locations of the characters in the environment defined by the program; and    providing the altered audio data received from each of the client computers to another one of the client computers corresponding to the character for which the audio data was altered.    
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 mixing the altered audio data received from each of the client computers into a multi-channel format.    
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 encoding each of the multi-channel format streams.    
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 in each of the client computers, mixing the altered audio data with other audio and played out through one or more speakers.    
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the step of altering characteristics of the audio data comprises introducing effects into the audio data.  
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the effects comprise a delay effect.  
     
     
         14 . A system for use in processing audio, comprising: 
 a server that is configured to:    receive audio data associated with each of two or more characters in a virtual world;    for each of the characters, determine a proximity of the other characters in the virtual world;    for each of the characters, alter the received audio data based on the determined proximity of another one of the characters; and    for each of the characters, provide the altered audio data to a client associated with the other character for which the audio data was altered.    
     
     
         15 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the server is further configured to: 
 for each of the characters, mix the altered audio data into a multi-channel format.    
     
     
         16 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the server is further configured to: 
 for each of the characters, encode the multi-channel format stream.    
     
     
         17 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the server is further configured to: 
 in each of the clients, mix the altered audio data with other audio and playing it out through one or more speakers.    
     
     
         18 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the altering the received audio data comprises scaling volume levels of the audio data.  
     
     
         19 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the altering the received audio data comprises introducing effects into the audio data.  
     
     
         20 . A system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the effects comprise a delay effect.