Contextual templates for modifying objects in a virtual universe

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for modifying object styles in a virtual universe. An object is rendered in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates. The first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style. In response to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, a second contextual style template is identified from the plurality of contextual style templates. The set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style. The object is rendered in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.

1 . A computer implemented method of modifying object styles in a virtual universe, the computer implemented method comprising:
 rendering an object in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates, wherein the first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style;   responsive to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, identifying a second contextual style template from the plurality of contextual style templates, wherein the set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style; and   rendering the object in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a user selection of the second contextual style template. 
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: detecting a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object to form the set of contextual changes, wherein the set of avatars within the viewable field of the object triggers implementation of the second style template to change the first style of the object to the second style. 
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the second contextual style template comprises at least one of floating the object, moving the object along a fixed path, cloning the object, changing a size of the object, changing texture of the object, changing a background of the object, changing a font size associated with the object, and changing a color of the object. 
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a real world identity of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object.   
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object; and   identifying characteristics of the set of users based on the real world identity of each user, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a characteristic of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object.   
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the second contextual style is selected from a group consisting of a blend style, a high visibility style, a corporate style, a youth style, a modern style, a classic style, and a holiday style. 
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 retrieving a set of restrictions for the object; and   applying the set of restrictions to the second contextual style to limit modifications to the object.   
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the object comprises a plurality of components, and further comprising:
 modifying a set of components in the plurality of components using the second geometric and texture data to form the modified object.   
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the set of contextual changes comprises at least one of a time of day, a day of the week, a day of the month, a day of the year, and a holiday. 
   
   
       11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a number of avatars within a viewable field of the object. 
   
   
       12 . A computer program product for modifying object styles in a virtual universe, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:   computer usable program code configured to render an object in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates, wherein the first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style;   computer usable program code configured to identify a second contextual style template from the plurality of contextual style templates in response to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, wherein the set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style; and   computer usable program code configured to render the object in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.   
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to detect a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object to form the set of contextual changes, wherein the set of avatars within the viewable field of the object triggers implementation of the second style template to change the first style of the object to the second style.   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to determine a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a real world identity of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to determine a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object; and   computer usable program code configured to identify characteristics of the set of users based on the real world identity of each user, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a characteristic of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to retrieve a set of restrictions for the object; and   computer usable program code configured to apply the set of restrictions to the second contextual style to limit modifications to the object.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bus system;   a communications system coupled to the bus system;   a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code; and   a processing unit coupled to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to render an object in accordance with a first contextual style template from a plurality of contextual style templates, wherein the first contextual style template comprises first geometric and texture data to display the object with a first style; identify a second contextual style template from the plurality of contextual style templates in response to detecting a set of contextual changes associated with the object, wherein the set of contextual changes triggers implementation of the second contextual style template to change the first style of the object to a second style; and render the object in accordance with second geometric and texture data in the second contextual style template to form a modified object, wherein the modified object is displayed with the second style.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to detect a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object to form the set of contextual changes, wherein the set of avatars within the viewable field of the object triggers implementation of the second style template to change the first style of the object to the second style. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to determine a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a real world identity of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to determine a real world identity of a set of users controlling a set of avatars within a viewable field of the object; and identify characteristics of the set of users based on the real world identity of each user, wherein the set of contextual changes comprises a characteristic of a user controlling an avatar that is within a given proximity of the object.