User interface for multi-sensory emoticons in a communication system

• US 20060025220A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Arthur, Erik John, Macauley, James David
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing dynamic emoticons during chat sessions across game consoles are disclosed. A dynamic emoticon may include haptic, visual, and/or auditory components. Each component may have an associated intensity level, e.g., based on a pressure with which a user of the game console presses a controller button or actuates a control input. The emoticon'"'"'s auditory component may include or identify a sound effects filter or a known audio file; the emoticon'"'"'s visual component may include or identify a visual effects filter or a known video or graphic file; the emoticon'"'"'s haptic component may cause vibration of or force feedback on the controller. Emoticons may be sent from one voice chat participant'"'"'s game console to another voice chat participant'"'"'s game console across a network such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A user interface generated by instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and executable on a computer, said user interface comprising on one or more related views of a display:

a list of participants in a voice chat session;

a menu comprising a list of emoticons selectable by a user for sending data corresponding to a user-selected emoticon to a user-selected voice chat participant.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having a haptic component.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having an audio component.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon capable of having an intensity level.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the intensity level is based on a button pressure input by the user in selecting the emoticon.

6. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the auditory component identifies a prerecorded file.

7. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the auditory component identifies a sound effects filter.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having a visual component.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the visual component identifies a prerecorded file.

10. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the visual component identifies a visual effects filter for modifying existing content displayed on a display device.

11. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the visual component comprises a graphic file for display on a receiving game console, without permanently saving the graphic file on the receiving game console.

12. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon based on an emoticon script.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the emoticon script defines script elements and element actions.

14. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the script elements comprise haptic, auditory and visual elements.

15. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the auditory component comprises an audio file for playback on a receiving game console, without permanently saving the audio file on the receiving game console.

16. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having a system component.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the system component alters an on/off state of a physical light element on a data processing system.

18. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the system component ejects a drive tray on a data processing system.

19. A method of generating a user interface, comprising:

a game console detecting participants in a voice chat session of which a user of the game console is participating;

displaying on a display connected to the game console the list of participants in the voice chat session for user selection of an emoticon recipient; and

displaying a list of emoticons selectable by the user to send to the emoticon recipient.

20. The method of generating a user interface of claim 19, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having a haptic component.

21. The method of generating a user interface of claim 19, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon having an audio component.

22. The method of generating a user interface of claim 19, wherein the list of emoticons comprises an emoticon capable of having an intensity level.

23. A method of generating a user-interface, comprising:

a game console detecting participants in a voice chat session of which a user of the game console is participating;

displaying on a display device connected to the game console the list of participants in the voice chat session; and

while a particular participant in the voice chat session is speaking, displaying a graphical indication on the display indicating that the particular participant is speaking.

24. In a user interface of a game console, said user interface displayed on a display device connected to the game console, a method of sending an emoticon to a voice chat participant, comprising steps of:

rendering a graphic list of participants in a voice chat session in which a user of the game console is participating;

receiving input from the user selecting one the voice chat participants;

receiving input from the user selecting an emoticon to send to the selected voice chat participant.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of rendering a graphic list of emoticons from which the user can choose.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending an emoticon message to a game console corresponding to the selected voice chat participant, said emoticon message conveying information regarding the selected emoticon.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the emoticon message comprises a haptic component.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the emoticon message comprises an auditory component.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the emoticon message comprises an intensity level.

30. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave interpretable by a receiving game console, said data signal communicating an emoticon instruction message comprising a haptic component.

31. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave interpretable by a receiving game console, said data signal communicating an emoticon instruction message comprising an intensity level.

32. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave interpretable by a receiving game console, said data signal communicating an emoticon instruction message comprising an auditory component.

33. The data signal of claim 32, wherein the auditory component identifies a prerecorded file.

34. The data signal of claim 32, wherein the auditory component identifies a sound effects filter.

35. The data signal of claim 32, wherein the auditory component comprises an audio file for playback on the receiving game console, without permanently saving the audio file on the receiving game console.

36. The data signal of claim 32, further comprising a visual component.

37. The data signal of claim 36, wherein the visual component identifies a prerecorded file.

38. The data signal of claim 36, wherein the visual component identifies a visual effects filter for modifying existing content displayed on a display device.

39. The data signal of claim 36, wherein the visual component comprises a graphic file for display on the receiving game console, without permanently saving the graphic file on the receiving game console.

40. A system for sending an emoticon from a first participant in a voice chat session to a second participant in a voice chat session, said system comprising:

a display device for outputting video content from a game console to which the display device is connected;

a controller connected to the game console;

said force-feedback controller comprising a plurality of inputs for inputting information to the game console, and comprising a force-feedback capability for providing haptic output to a user of the system; and

the game console comprising a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of the game console, cause the game console to perform steps comprising;

rendering on the display device a list of participants in the voice chat session;

receiving a selection of the second participant as input from the first participant via the controller;

receiving a haptic emoticon command as input from the first participant via the controller; and

sending a haptic emoticon message to a second game console corresponding to the second participant.