Interactive method for communication data to communication network users

• US 20040030596A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyber'Act
• Original Assignee: Cyber'Act
• Inventors: Delafosse, Marc, Blaise, Marc, Delafosse, Michel, Attar, Oussama
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

The invention concerns an interactive method for communicating data to users (1) of a communication network (3). Each user (1) is provided with a computer equipment (2) connected to the electronic communication network (3). The method uses at least a virtual object (6). Said method comprises the following steps which consist in: distributing, via the communication network (3), data enabling the computer equipment (2) to display fixed and/or animated images (10) and/or to compute screen pages (10) and display them; distributing, via the communication network (3), data enabling the computer equipment (2) to compute the virtual object (6) and display it by overstriking on the images and/or the screen pages (10); real remote control of the virtual object (6) and simultaneous animation thereof by an operator (7) independent relative to the images and/or the screen pages (10)

Claims

1. Interactive method of communicating information to users (1) of a communications network (3);

each user (1) having a computer (2) connected to the communications network (3);

the said method employing at least one virtual object (6);

the said method comprising the following stages;

the step of broadcasting, via the said communications network (3), data enabling the said computer (2) to display still and/or animated images (10) and/or to process screen pages (10) and view them,

the step of broadcasting via the said communications network (3) data enabling the said computer (2) to process the said virtual object (6) and to display it superimposed on the said images (10),

the step for the user (1) and/or for an operator (7) to animate the said virtual object (6),

the step for the said operator (7) to remotely control the said virtual object (6) in real-time and to animate it in a simultaneous and independent manner with respect to the said images and/or the said screen pages (10).

2. Method according to claim 1, the said process furthermore comprising the following stages:

the step of capturing an audiovisual sequence of the user (1),

the step of emitting and transmitting the said audiovisual sequence to the operator (7) via the said communications network (3),

(so that the operator can observe the user and analyze his behavior).

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, the said method furthermore comprising the following stages:

the step of capturing the questions asked by the user (1),

the step of emitting and transmitting to the operator (7) the said questions asked by the user (1) via the said communications network (3),

(so that the operator can hear the user and analyze his behavior).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the said method furthermore comprising the following stages:

the step of capturing the voice data issued by the operator (7) and intended for the user (1),

the step of issuing and transmitting to the user (1) the voice data issued by the operator (7) via the said communications network (3),

(so that the user can listen to the information supplied by the operator).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the said method furthermore comprising the step of issuing and transmitting to the operator (7), via the said communications network (3) a copy of the said images (10) and/or the said screen pages viewed by the user (1),

(so that the operator can likewise process the images viewed by the user).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the said method furthermore comprising the step of assisting the operator (7) with an artificial intelligence which can replace him entirely or partially.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the said method furthermore comprising the step of connecting the operator (7) to at least one data base (9) containing multimedia information, particularly of text, images, sound, videos, and 3D animation sequences,

(so that the operator can answer questions asked by the user and can transmit to the user the information which he needs).

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, such that the virtual object (6) appears in the form of a stylized graphic personage (6) in 3 dimensions.

9. Method according to claim 8 such that the step, for the operator (7), of controlling and animating the said graphic personage comprises the step of animating in order to symbolize particularly a product, a service, a brand, a business or an association for which the said graphic personage (6) has the mission, particularly, of informing, promoting or selling.

10. Method according to any one of claims 8 or 9, such that the step, for the operator (7), of controlling and animating the said graphic personage comprises the step of endowing it:

with graphic expressions, particularly animation of the lips and eyes,

with vocal expressions, particularly intonations, the said expressions expressing the reactions of the said personage (6) to the actions, needs and expectations of the user (1).

11. Method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, such as the step, for the operator (7), of controlling and animating the said graphic personage (6) comprises:

the step of shifting him about on the said image and/or on the said screen page (10),

the step of varying his size, his shape and his color,

the step of providing him with gestures, particularly movements of the head, arms and legs;

the said factors of movement, size and gesticulation being in relation particularly to the zones of the said image and/or of the said screen page (10) and the contextual situation between the user (1) and the operator (7) for whom the said personage (6) acts.

12. Method according to claim 11, such that the step, for the operator (7), of controlling and animating the said graphic personage (6) includes the step of adding accessories (6d), according to the development of the contextual situation, by means of which the operator (7) completes the said expressions and the said factors of motion, size and gesture.

13. Method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, such that the step, for the operator (7), of controlling and animating the said graphic personage (6) includes the step of animating the said graphic personage (6) to activate those areas (10c) of said images and/or of said screen pages (10) which can be activated.

21. System according to any one of claims 1 to 20 such that the virtual object (6) appears in the form of a stylized graphic personage (6) in 3 dimensions.

23. System according to either one of claims 21 or 22, such that the said personage (6) is given:

graphic expressions, particularly of the lips and eyes,

vocal expressions, particularly intonations,

the said expressions being controlled and produced by the operator (7) and expressing the reactions of the said personage (6), in relation to the comportment, needs and expectations of the user (1).

24. System according to any one of claims 21 to 23, such that the said personage (6), controlled by the operator (7), is:

mobile on the screen page and/or on the said still and/or animated image (10),

of variable size, shapes and colors,

provided with gestures, particularly head, arm and leg movements;

the said factors of movement, size and gesture being in relation particularly with the zones of the screen page and/or the said still and/or animated image (10) and the contextual situation between the user (1) and the operator (7) on whose behalf the said personage (6) acts.

25. System according to claim 24, such that the said personage (6) comprises accessories (6d) controlled by the said operator (7) according to the development of the contextual situation, by means of which the operator (7) completes the said expressions and the said factors of mobility, size and gesture.

26. System according to one of claims 24 or 25, such that the said personage (6) comprises activation means (6c) to activate the activatable zones of the screen pages and/or of the said still and/or animated images (10);

the said activation means (6c) being controlled by the said operator (7).

27. Process according to one of claims 1 to 12, the said process being such that the said operator is situated in a call center and/or in his home.

14. Interactive system of communication of data to users (1) of a communications network (3), each user (1) having a computer (2) connected to the said communications network, the said system employing at least one virtual object (6);

the said system comprising a first server (4) connected to the said computer (2) of each user (1) via the said communications network (3), the said first server (4) distributing data enabling the said computer (2) to display still and/or animated images and/or to process screen pages (10);

the said system including a second server (5) connected to the said computer (2) of each user (1) via the said communications network (3), the said second server (5) distributing data enabling the said computer (2) to process the said virtual object (6);

the said virtual object (6) being activated by an operator (7) by means of a control computer (8) associated with said second server (5) and/or by a user 1) by means of a control device (2b) associated with the said computer (2) which he uses;

the said virtual object (6) being remotely controlled in real-time by a said operator (7) by means of the said control computer associated with said second server (5);

the said computer (2) of each user (1) including visualization means (2a) for the said still and/or animated images and/or of said screen pages (10) and of said virtual object (6), the said virtual object (6) being displayed superimposed on the said still and/or animated images and/or on said screen pages (10), the said screen pages and/or the said still and/or animated images (10) and the said virtual object (6) being animated simultaneously and independently by the first server (4) and by the said control computer (8), respectively, associated with the said second server (5).

15. System according to claim 14, such that the computer (2) of the user (1) is connected to a camera (2e) to capture an audiovisual sequence from the user (1), the said computer (2) of the user (1) including means (2f) of emission to transmit the said audiovisual sequence to the said control computer (8) of the operator (7) via the said communications network (3), the said control computer (8) of the operator (7) comprising means (8a) for viewing the said visual sequence,

(so that the operator can observe the user and analyze his behavior).

16. System according to one of claims 14 or 15 such that the computer (2) of the user (1) is connected to a microphone (2c) to capture the said computer (2) of the user (1), the said computer (2) of the user (1) comprising means (2f) of emission to transmit the said questions asked by the user (1) to the said control computer of the operator (7) via the said communications network (3), the said control computer of the operator (7) comprising a loudspeaker enabling the operator (7) to hear the questions asked by the user (1).

17. System according to any one of claims 14 to 16 such that the control computer of the operator (7) is connected to a microphone to capture the voice data issued by the operator (7) and intended for the user (1), the said computer of the operator (7) including means (8e) of emission to transmit the said voice data to the computer (2) of the user (1) via the said communications network, the said computer (2) of the user (1) comprising a loudspeaker (2d) enabling the user (1) to hear the voice data emitted by the operator (7).

18. System according to any one of claims 14 to 17, such that the computer (2) of the user (1) comprises emission means (2f) for transmitting a copy of the screen page and/or of said still and/or animated images viewed by the user (1) to the control computer of the operator (7) via the said communications network, the said control computer (8) of the operator (7) comprising means for displaying (8a) the said screen page and/or the said still and/or animated images (10),

(such that the operator can also scan the screen page and/or the said still and/or animated images (10) displayed by the user).

19. System according to any one of claims 14 to 18 such that the said operator (7) is assisted by an artificial intelligence which can replace him entirely or in part.

20. System according to anyone of claims 14 to 19 such that the control computer (8) of the operator (7) is connected to at least one data base (9) containing multimedia data, particularly:

text, images, sound, videos, and 3D animation sequences.

(such that the operator can respond to the questions asked by the user and can transmit to the user the information he needs).

28. System according to any one of claims 14 to 26, the said system being such that the said control computer (8) as associated with the said second server (5) is situated in a call center and/or in the home of the said operator (7).

22. System according to claim 31 such that the said personage (6) symbolizes particularly a product, a service, a trademark, a business or a collective for which he has particularly the mission to inform, to promote or to sell.