Method and apparatus for providing dynamic moods for avatars

• US 20050223328A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Patwardhan, Chintamani, Torgemane, Henri, Lim, Hanjoo, Ashtekar, Ashish
• Application Number:
  US11/047,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/706
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing dynamic moods for updating online identities are disclosed. For example, when a user updates the moods and/or gestures of his or her avatar(s), the mood and/or gesture changes are stored in a user database. The changes are also detected by an event router that sends a mood change notification in real time to all pertinent servers that are currently supporting on-line applications for the user. The servers will send the mood change notification in real time to pertinent clients, e.g., an instant messenger client, a mobile instant messenger client, an interactive game client and the like. As a result, dynamic mood changes to a user'"'"'s avatar can be shown in real time to other users interacting with the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing dynamic moods to an online identity;

comprising;

detecting a mood change to the online identity created by a user;

updating a user database to reflect said mood change to the online identity; and

sending a mood change notification relating to said mood change to the online identity in real time to at least one server that is supporting an online application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said online application is an instant messenger (IM) application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending said change notification to an instant messenger client.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending said change notification to a mobile instant messenger client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said online application is an interactive game application.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending said change notification to an interactive game client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting a manual entry by said user to effect said mood change.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting at least one predefined term in at least one text message generated by said user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting at least one signal from a game being played by said user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said mood change comprises at least one of:

a mood change and a gesture change.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing dynamic moods to an online identity, comprising of:

detecting a mood change to the online identity created by a user;

updating a user database to reflect said mood change to the online identity; and

sending a mood change notification relating to said mood change to the online identity in real time to at least one server that is supporting an online application.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said online application is an instant messenger (IM) application.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

sending said change notification to an instant messenger client.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

sending said change notification to a mobile instant messenger client.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said online application is an interactive game application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

sending said change notification to an interactive game client.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting a manual entry by said user to effect said mood change.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting at least one predefined term in at least one text message generated by said user.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said detecting a mood change comprises:

detecting at least one signal from a game being played by said user.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said mood change comprises at least one of:

a mood change and a gesture change.

21. An apparatus for providing dynamic moods to an online identity;

comprising;

means for detecting a mood change to the online identity created by a user;

means for updating a user database to reflect said mood change to the online identity; and

means for sending a mood change notification relating to said mood change to the online identity in real time to at least one server that is supporting an online application.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said online application is an instant messenger (IM) application.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for sending said change notification to an instant messenger client;

or

means for sending said change notification to a mobile instant messenger client.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said online application is an interactive game application.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for sending said change notification to an interactive game client.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for detecting a mood change comprises:

means for detecting a manual entry by said user to effect said mood change;

means for detecting at least one predefined term in at least one text message generated by said user;

or

means for detecting at least one signal from a game being played by said user.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said mood change comprises at least one of:

a mood change and a gesture change.