Intelligent collaborative media

• US 20050010637A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Dempski, Kelly L., Chung, Christopher K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4053 without floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method for enhancing multimedia information shared on electronic systems. The electronic systems are capable of receiving multimedia information and presenting multimedia information. In combination with the multimedia information, a representation is presented which is based on the shared multimedia information. The representation may be an avatar for display. Further, the representation may be based on control of the multimedia information, content of the multimedia information or reaction to the multimedia information.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing shared multimedia information in a communication session between a first participant on a first electronic system and a second participant on a second electronic system comprising:

presenting multimedia information in the communication session identically on the first electronic system and on the second electronic system;

determining an avatar of the first participant based on the multimedia information presented in the communication session, the avatar being separate from the multimedia information; and

presenting the avatar on the second electronic system in the communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia information is created prior to the communication session, and

wherein actions of the avatar are created during the communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia information is a television broadcast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting multimedia information in the communication session comprises presenting multimedia information identically on the first electronic system and on the second electronic system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting multimedia information on the second electronic system comprises displaying the multimedia information on a first portion of a display of the second electronic system, and

wherein presenting the avatar on the second electronic system comprises displaying the avatar on a second portion of the display of the second electronic system, the first portion and the second portion being mutually exclusive of one another.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting multimedia information on the second electronic system comprises displaying the multimedia information on a display of the second electronic system, and

wherein presenting the avatar on the second electronic system comprises displaying the avatar on the display of the second electronic system, the representation overlaying at least a portion of the multimedia information on the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar is based, in part, on an actual representation of the first participant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the avatar comprises determining an avatar to convey mood of the first participant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the avatar comprises determining an avatar to convey expression of the first participant.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the avatar comprises modifying the avatar based on the multimedia information presented in the communication session.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein modifying the avatar is based on the multimedia information presented in the communication session and based on a choice of avatar.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an avatar of the second participant based on the multimedia information presented in the communication session, the avatar of the second participant being separate from the multimedia information; and

presenting the avatar of the second participant on the first electronic system in the communication session.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an avatar comprises determining the avatar based on content of the shared multimedia information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the avatar based on content of the shared multimedia information comprises:

comparing at least a portion of the content of the shared multimedia information with participant information; and

determining the avatar based on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the shared multimedia information comprises audio information;

and

wherein determining the avatar based on content of the shared multimedia information comprises comparing at least a portion of the audio information, and based on the comparison, selecting an avatar.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the shared multimedia information comprises video;

and

wherein determining the avatar based on content of the shared multimedia information comprises comparing extended data of the video with predetermined data and, based on the comparison, selecting an avatar.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the extended data comprise extended text, and

wherein comparing extended data with predetermined data comprises comparing the extended text with predetermined text.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the extended data comprise extended event information in the video, and

wherein comparing extended data with predetermined data comprises comparing extended event information with predetermined events.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an avatar comprises determining the avatar based on control of the shared multimedia information by the first participant.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the shared multimedia information comprises a video, and

wherein determining the avatar based on control of the shared multimedia information by the first participant comprises control of the video by the first participant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein control of the video is selected from the group consisting of rewinding the video, playing the video, stopping the video, fast-forwarding the video, pausing the video, skipping to another portion of the video, controlling volume of the video, and zooming to at least a portion of the video.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the shared multimedia information comprises still images, and

wherein determining the avatar based on control of the shared multimedia information by the first participant comprises control of presentation of the still images.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an avatar comprises determining the avatar based on reaction to the shared multimedia information by the first participant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first participant reaction to the shared multimedia information comprises sensory data sensing the reaction of the first participant.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensory data comprises auditory data from the first participant,

wherein the avatar has a mouth, and

wherein determining the avatar based on the reaction comprises modifying the mouth of the avatar to mimic speaking.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensory data comprises movement data of the first participant, and

wherein determining the avatar based on the reaction comprises determining the avatar based on the movement data of the first participant.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the avatar based on the movement data of the first participant comprises modifying the avatar to mimic the movement data of the first participant.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first participant reaction to the shared multimedia information comprises reaction data input by the first participant.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the avatar is performed simultaneously with presenting the shared multimedia information.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the avatar is performed prior to presenting the shared multimedia information.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the avatar is performed after presenting the shared multimedia information.

32. A method for enhancing shared multimedia information in a communication session between a first participant on a first electronic system and a second participant on a second electronic system comprising:

presenting multimedia information in the communication session identically on the first electronic system and on the second electronic system;

determining a representation of the first participant based on the multimedia information presented in the communication session, the representation being separate from the multimedia information; and

presenting the representation on the second electronic system in the communication session, the representation conveying spatial information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the representation is an avatar and wherein the spatial information is a location of the avatar on a display.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the representation comprises an audio representation with spatial orientation.

35. The method of claim 34, when the first participant moves, the spatial orientation of the representation changes based on the movement of the first participant.

36. A method for enhancing a communication session between a first participant on a first television receiver and a second participant on a second television receiver comprising:

determining activity of the first participant;

presenting multimedia information on the second television receiver;

determining a representation of the first participant based on the activity of the first participant, the representation being separate from the multimedia information presented on the second television receiver; and

presenting the representation on the second television receiver in the communication session.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the representation is an avatar.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein determining activity of the first participant comprises determining whether the first participant is watching television on the first television receiver.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

sending a message from the second participant to the first participant to engage in a shared multimedia presentation; and

presenting multimedia information in the communication session identically on the first television receiver and on the second television receiver.

40. A system for enhancing a video presentation between a first participant and a second participant comprising:

a first electronic system capable of presenting the video presentation, the first electronic system having an input device;

a second electronic system in communication with the first electronic system for receiving data based on input from the input device, the second electronic device comprising;

receiver for receiving the video presentation;

memory for storing at least a portion of the data based on the input and avatar information of the first participant;

processor in communication with the memory and the receiver for selecting an avatar to be presented based on the at least a portion of the data and the avatar information; and

video display monitor in communication with the processor for presenting the avatar selected by the processor and for presenting the video presentation, the presenting of the video presentation being identical to the video presentation presented on the first electronic system.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the receiver comprises a broadcast signal receiver, and

wherein the video presentation comprises a broadcast television presentation.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the input device comprises a microphone,

wherein the data based on input from the input device comprises audio data,

wherein the avatar has a mouth, and

wherein the processor modifies the mouth of the avatar to mimic speaking.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the input device comprises a remote controller,

wherein the data based on input from the input device comprises control data for the video presentation, and

wherein the processor selects the avatar based on the control data.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard,

wherein the data based on input from the input device comprises control data for the avatar, and

wherein the processor selects the avatar based on the control data.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the second electronic system comprises a set-top box.

46. A system for enhancing a video presentation between a first participant and a second participant comprising:

a first electronic system capable of presenting the video presentation;

a second electronic system in communication with the first electronic system, the second electronic device comprising;

receiver for receiving the video presentation;

memory for storing at least a portion of the video presentation and avatar information of the first participant;

processor in communication with the memory and the receiver for selecting an avatar to be presented based on content of the video presentation and the avatar information; and

video display monitor in communication with the processor for presenting the avatar selected by the processor and for presenting the video presentation, the presenting of the video presentation being identical to the video presentation presented on the first electronic system.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the video presentation comprises video data and extended data,

wherein the avatar information comprises first participant user preferences, and

wherein the processor selects the avatar based on comparison of the first participant user preferences with the extended data.