Method and apparatus for generating virtual objects

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a first request for a first virtual object, obtaining first data regarding the first virtual object responsive to the obtaining of the first request, analyzing the first data to identify a first plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object, wherein the first plurality of characteristics include a first visual aspect of the first virtual object, a first auditory aspect of the first virtual object, a first scent aspect of the first virtual object, and a first haptic aspect of the first virtual object, and responsive to the analyzing of the first data, enabling at least a first sensory unit of a plurality of sensory units to render the first virtual object in accordance with the first plurality of characteristics. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   obtaining, from a first source, first data pertaining to a first plurality of characteristics for a first virtual object;   modifying the first data to generate second data;   storing the second data to a second source;   obtaining a request from a first communications device for the first virtual object subsequent to the storing of the second data to the second source;   responsive to the obtaining of the request, analyzing the second data as accessed from the second source and at least one profile associated with the first communications device, a first user of the first communications device, or a combination thereof, to identify a second plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object; and   responsive to the analyzing of the second data and the at least one profile, enabling at least one of a plurality of sensory units to render the first virtual object in accordance with the second plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 obtaining an input;   analyzing the input in conjunction with the first data to identify a third plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object, wherein the third plurality of characteristics is at least partially differentiated from the first plurality of characteristics; and   rendering the first virtual object in accordance with the third plurality of characteristics by disabling at least a first sensory unit of the plurality of sensory units, enabling at least a second sensory unit of the plurality of sensory units, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the input comprises a user input generated by the first user, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 obtaining a request from a second communications device for the first virtual object subsequent to storing the second data to the first source;   analyzing the second data and a second at least one profile associated with the second communications device, a second user of the second communications device, or a combination thereof, to identify a fourth plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object; and   responsive to the analyzing of the second data and the second at least one profile, enabling at least one of the plurality of sensory units to render the first virtual object in accordance with the fourth plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first data identifies a first location of a first haptic aspect of the first virtual object relative to a second location of the first user. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of sensory units comprises a first haptic unit, wherein the first haptic unit comprises a pulsed laser, and wherein the first data identifies an operating output power level associated with the pulsed laser, an operating frequency associated with the pulsed laser, or a combination thereof, in accordance with the first location of the first haptic aspect relative to the second location of the first user. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the input comprises third data generated by a user equipment, a sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the input corresponds to a passage of time, an occurrence of an event or condition that is being monitored by the processing system, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the third plurality of characteristics includes a visual aspect of the first virtual object, an auditory aspect of the first virtual object, a scent aspect of the first virtual object, a haptic aspect of the first virtual object, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 subsequent to rendering the first virtual object in accordance with the second plurality of characteristics, determining that a number of communications devices within a threshold distance of the first virtual object is greater than a threshold amount; and   responsive to the determining that the number of communications devices within the threshold distance of the first virtual object is greater than the threshold amount, disabling at least a first sensory unit of the plurality of sensory units, enabling a second sensory unit of the plurality of sensory units, or a combination thereof, to render the first virtual object in accordance with a third plurality of characteristics, wherein the third plurality of characteristics is at least partially differentiated from the second plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the enabling of the at least one of the plurality of sensory units causes the first virtual object to be rendered as part of a panoramic content item. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics includes a first taste aspect associated with the first virtual object. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 obtaining an input that indicates that a context of an environment in which the first virtual object is rendered calls for a second virtual object; and   responsive to the obtaining of the input, rendering the second virtual object in accordance with a third plurality of characteristics by enabling at least a second sensory unit of the plurality of sensory units.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 analyzing first data from a first network to identify a first plurality of characteristics for a first virtual object;   rendering the first virtual object in accordance with the first plurality of characteristics, wherein the rendering occurs via a second network;   obtaining at least one input that causes a modification to the first data to generate second data regarding the rendering of the first virtual object, the modification resulting in a second plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object;   storing the second data in the first network and the second network;   obtaining a request for the first virtual object subsequent to the storing of the second data in the second network;   responsive to the obtaining of the request, accessing the second data from the second network without accessing the second data from the first network;   analyzing the second data accessed from the second network and at least one profile associated with a first communications device, a first user of the first communications device, or a combination thereof, to identify a third plurality of characteristics for the first virtual object; and   responsive to the analyzing of the second data and the at least one profile, rendering the first virtual object in accordance with the third plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the obtaining of the request comprises obtaining the request from the first communications device. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the obtaining of the at least one input comprises receiving a user input from the first communications device via the second network. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting the second data to cause the second data to be stored in a database of the first network, a server of the first network, or a combination thereof, such that the second data is accessible to a second communications device communicatively coupled to the first network via a social media platform.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the rendering of the first virtual object in accordance with the first plurality of characteristics comprises an engagement of a first sensory unit that renders a visual aspect of the first virtual object, an engagement of a second sensory unit that renders an auditory aspect of the first virtual object, an engagement of a third sensory unit that renders a scent aspect of the first virtual object, and an engagement of a fourth sensory unit that renders a haptic aspect of the first virtual object, and wherein a behavior of the first virtual object is identified in accordance with the first plurality of characteristics and in response to a user input. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the obtaining of the request is responsive to a validation of at least one credential of a user of the first communications device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the user is different from the first user. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining, by a processing system including a processor, first data via a first network, the first data pertaining to a first characteristic of a first virtual object;   obtaining, by the processing system, a first input that is directed to a first modification of a second characteristic of the first virtual object, the obtaining of the first input resulting in a first modified characteristic of the first virtual object;   responsive to the obtaining of the first input, modifying, by the processing system, the first data in accordance with the first modified characteristic of the first virtual object, the modifying resulting in second data;   storing, by the processing system, the second data in a second network, wherein the second network is different from the first network;   subsequent to the storing of the second data, obtaining, by the processing system, a second input that is directed to a second modification of a third characteristic of the first virtual object;   responsive to the obtaining of the second input, obtaining, by the processing system, third data associated with the first virtual object via the first network, wherein the third data includes the second modification of the third characteristic;   modifying, by the processing system, the first data in accordance with the third data to generate fourth data; and   storing, by the processing system, the fourth data in the second network.