Offering menu items to a user

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device ( 1 ) offering a plurality of menu items to a user. In order to enable a user friendly selection of the menu items, the electronic device ( 1 ) comprises a screen ( 60 ), user input means ( 70 ), storing means ( 50 ) adapted to store parameters for a virtual model of a user and processing means ( 31 ). The processing means ( 31 ) are adapted to generate a visual representation of a virtual user model ( 61 ) on the screen ( 60 ) based on the stored parameters for the virtual model of a user, to cause a movement of a visually represented virtual user model ( 61 ) depending on a user input, to detect a movement of a visually represented virtual user model ( 61 ) that is associated to a particular menu item, which menu item is offered for any of a plurality of applications, and to call a function that is assigned to the particular menu item.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining measurement data from at least one sensor of an apparatus;   generating an avatar of a user of the apparatus;   generating a visual representation of a virtual model of at least one object; and   causing, at least in part, a movement of the avatar of the user or the virtual model of the at least one object based on the measurement data from the at least one sensor,   wherein the apparatus or the avatar of the user interacts with the virtual model of the at least one object through a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the avatar of the user and the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object are defined using a terminal-independent avatar definition language; and wherein a first avatar profile for the avatar of the user and a second avatar profile for the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object contain device-specific information to adapt the terminal-independent avatar definition language to a specific terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is a game user interface for an avatar-aware game application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 integrating the avatar of the user into the avatar-aware game application.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface presents the avatar of the user or the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object arranged along a representation of a street. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a behavior of the avatar of the user or the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object based on a location information determined from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 processing the measurement data to determine context information associated with a physical environment,   wherein the behavior of the avatar of the user is further based on the context information.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a location sensor. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one sensor;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 determine measurement data from at least one sensor of an apparatus; 
 generate an avatar of a user of the apparatus; 
 generate a visual representation of a virtual model of at least one object; and 
 cause, at least in part, a movement of the avatar of the user or the virtual model of the at least one object based on the measurement data from the at least one sensor, 
 wherein the apparatus or the avatar of the user interacts with the virtual model of the at least one object through a graphical user interface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the avatar of the user and the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object are defined using a terminal-independent avatar definition language; and wherein a first avatar profile for the avatar of the user and a second avatar profile for the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object contain device-specific information to adapt the terminal-independent avatar definition language to a specific terminal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface is a game user interface for an avatar-aware game application. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 integrate the avatar of the user into the avatar-aware game application.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface presents the avatar of the user or the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object arranged along a representation of a street. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determine a behavior of the avatar of the user or the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object based on a location information determined from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 process the measurement data to determine context information associated with a physical environment,   wherein the behavior of the avatar of the user is further based on the context information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a location sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:
 determining measurement data from at least one sensor of an apparatus;   generating an avatar of a user of the apparatus;   generating a visual representation of a virtual model of at least one object; and   causing, at least in part, a movement of the avatar of the user or the virtual model of the at least one object based on the measurement data from the at least one sensor,   wherein the apparatus or the avatar of the user interacts with the virtual model of the at least one object through a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the avatar of the user and the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object are defined using a terminal-independent avatar definition language; and wherein a first avatar profile for the avatar of the user and a second avatar profile for the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object contain device-specific information to adapt the terminal-independent avatar definition language to a specific terminal. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical user interface is a game user interface for an avatar-aware game application, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 integrating the avatar of the user into the avatar-aware game application.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the graphical user interface presents the avatar of the user or the visual representation of the virtual model of the at least one object arranged along a representation of a street.