Systems and methods for communicating

• US 10,182,157 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine Satchell
• Original Assignee: SWARM SYSTEMS PTY LTD
• Inventors: Satchell, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William D
• Application Number:
  US15/199,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 715734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A communication system (1) comprising: determining means operable to determine an attribute of a communication device; identifying means operable to identify an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling access to a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a storage device that stores (a) identifying information indicative of a telephone number of a communication device and (b) activity information identifying an activity of at least one user of the communication network; and

a processor configured to;

allow the communication device to access the activity information identifying the activity of the at least one user of the communication network stored by the storage device based on finding a match between the stored identifying information and identification data of the communication device; and

replace the activity information with another activity information identifying another activity of the at least one user of the communication network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification data comprises one of a telephone number, a PIN code or an IP address associated with the communication device, and wherein the processor receives the identification data from the communication network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stored identifying information of the communication device comprises a communication device identifier, wherein the communication device identifier is stored in connection with a library of activity information for the at least one user that is accessible by the communication device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to authenticate a user of the communication device to access content in the storage device based on the telephone number of the communication device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a non-volatile RAM of a mobile telephone handset, a portable digital assistant, or a computer communication system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activity information identifying the activity comprises an image which when viewed conveys some information about the activity that the user of the communication device is engaged in.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to create one of a text, an audio message, or a video message for transmission that is based at least in part on the identification data of the communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication network forms or supports a social network or a business network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to log on a user of the communication device onto the communication network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activity information identifying the activity comprises a text, an audio, or a video message that provides a description of the activity information.

11. A method for controlling access to a communication network, the method comprising:

storing identifying information indicative of a telephone number of a communication device;

storing activity information identifying an activity of at least one user of the communication network;

allowing the communication device to access the activity information identifying the activity of the at least one user of the communication network stored by the storage device based on finding a match between the stored identifying information and the identification data of the communication device; and

replacing the activity information with another activity information identifying another activity of the at least one user of the communication network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to authenticate a user of the communication device to access content in the storage device based on the telephone number of the communication device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to at least:

store identifying information indicative of a telephone number of a communication device;

store activity information identifying an activity involved in by at least one user of a communication network;

allow the communication device to access the activity information identifying the activity involved in by at least one user of the communication network stored by the storage device based on finding a match between the stored identifying information and identification data of the communication device; and

replace the activity information with another activity information identifying another activity of the at least one user of the communication network.

14. An apparatus for providing communication between communication devices, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing (a) identifying information indicative of a telephone number of a communication device, and (b) activity information identifying an activity of at least one user of the communication network;

means for allowing the communication device to access the activity information identifying an activity of at least one user of the communication network stored by the storage device based on comparing the stored identifying information to identification data of the communication device; and

means for replacing the activity information with another activity information identifying another activity of the at least one user of the communication network.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the storing means comprises a storage device, and wherein the receiving and allowing means comprises a processor.