System and method for touch-based communications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- establishing, over a network, via a messaging server, an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user associated with a second computing device, said first and second computing devices being mobile devices comprising touchscreens configured for touch interactions, said establishment of the IM session causing the first computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the second user during said IM session, said establishment further causing the second computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the first user during said IM session, said graphical representations of the first user and second user each being an animated avatar associated with a respective user;
receiving, at the messaging server, an event signal generated by the first computing device via interaction with said displayed second user graphical representation, said interaction occurring via a touch interaction with the second user animated avatar displayed on the touchscreen of the first mobile device, said event signal comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user that is displayed on the first computing device during the IM session, said first user'"'"'s interaction comprising a touch gesture respective to the animated avatar of the second user;
analyzing, via the messaging server, said received event signal, and based on said analysis, determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal;
generating, via the messaging server, an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based on and in response to the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed by the second computing device during the IM session in response to receiving said event signal from said first computing device, said action is performed in association with the displayed graphical user representation of the first user that is displayed on the second computing device during the IM session; and
transmitting, from the messaging server over the network, the event message to the second computing device, said event message causing the second computing device to modify the display of the first graphical user representation in accordance with said action during said IM session, said modification comprising the first animated avatar performing an in-place animation and outputting a haptic output.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system and method for an interactive communication experience on mobile devices. In general, the present disclosure discusses dynamically manipulating or modifying graphic user representations during an electronic communication. The modification or manipulation of these graphic user representations enables users to convey nuances of mood and feelings rather than being confined to conveying them through conventional communications, including text, images, video, or selecting an appropriate emoticon or avatar from a palette of predetermined emoticons or avatars.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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establishing, over a network, via a messaging server, an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user associated with a second computing device, said first and second computing devices being mobile devices comprising touchscreens configured for touch interactions, said establishment of the IM session causing the first computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the second user during said IM session, said establishment further causing the second computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the first user during said IM session, said graphical representations of the first user and second user each being an animated avatar associated with a respective user; receiving, at the messaging server, an event signal generated by the first computing device via interaction with said displayed second user graphical representation, said interaction occurring via a touch interaction with the second user animated avatar displayed on the touchscreen of the first mobile device, said event signal comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user that is displayed on the first computing device during the IM session, said first user'"'"'s interaction comprising a touch gesture respective to the animated avatar of the second user; analyzing, via the messaging server, said received event signal, and based on said analysis, determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal; generating, via the messaging server, an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based on and in response to the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed by the second computing device during the IM session in response to receiving said event signal from said first computing device, said action is performed in association with the displayed graphical user representation of the first user that is displayed on the second computing device during the IM session; and transmitting, from the messaging server over the network, the event message to the second computing device, said event message causing the second computing device to modify the display of the first graphical user representation in accordance with said action during said IM session, said modification comprising the first animated avatar performing an in-place animation and outputting a haptic output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a messaging server, performs a method comprising:
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establishing, over a network, via the messaging server, an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user associated with a second computing device, said first and second computing devices being mobile devices comprising touchscreens configured for touch interactions, said establishment of the IM session causing the first computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the second user during said IM session, said establishment further causing the second computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the first user during said IM session, said graphical representations of the first user and second user each being an animated avatar associated with a respective user; receiving, at the messaging server, an event signal generated by the first computing device via interaction with said displayed second user graphical representation, said interaction occurring via a touch interaction with the second user animated avatar displayed on the touchscreen of the first mobile device, said event signal comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user that is displayed on the first computing device during the IM session, said first user'"'"'s interaction comprising a touch gesture respective to the animated avatar of the second user; analyzing, via the messaging server, said received event signal, and based on said analysis, determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal; generating, via the messaging server, an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based on and in response to the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed by the second computing device during the IM session in response to receiving said event signal from said first computing device, said action is performed in association with the displayed graphical user representation of the first user that is displayed on the second computing device during the IM session; and transmitting, from the messaging server over the network, the event message to the second computing device, said event message causing the second computing device to modify the display of the first graphical user representation in accordance with said action during said IM session, said modification comprising the first animated avatar performing an in-place animation and outputting a haptic output. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A messaging server comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the program logic comprising; logic executed by the processor for establishing, over a network, via the messaging server, an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user associated with a first computing device and a second user associated with a second computing device, said first and second computing devices being mobile devices comprising touchscreens configured for touch interactions, said establishment of the IM session causing the first computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the second user during said IM session, said establishment further causing the second computing device to visibly display a graphical representation of the first user during said IM session, said graphical representations of the first user and second user each being an animated avatar associated with a respective user; logic executed by the processor for receiving, at the messaging server, an event signal generated by the first computing device via interaction with said displayed second user graphical representation, said interaction occurring via a touch interaction with the second user animated avatar displayed on the touchscreen of the first mobile device, said event signal comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user that is displayed on the first computing device during the IM session, said first user'"'"'s interaction comprising a touch gesture respective to the animated avatar of the second user; logic executed by the processor for analyzing, via the messaging server, said received event signal, and based on said analysis, determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal; logic executed by the processor for generating, via the messaging server, an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based on and in response to the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed by the second computing device during the IM session in response to receiving said event signal from said first computing device, said action is performed in association with the displayed graphical user representation of the first user that is displayed on the second computing device during the IM session; and logic executed by the processor for transmitting, from the messaging server over the network, the event message to the second computing device, said event message causing the second computing device to modify the display of the first graphical user representation in accordance with said action during said IM session, said modification comprising the first animated avatar performing an in-place animation and outputting a haptic output.
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Specification