Device for accessing an environment for multi-user interaction

• US 20060040744A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vetelainen, Asko Lauri Antero
• Application Number:
  US10/925,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

A device for accessing an environment for multi-user interaction, comprising: a receiver for receiving an identifier associated with a first user when the first user enters the environment; a controller for checking the received identifier against a database including a plurality of different identifiers; and means for providing an alert to a user of the device if the received identifier corresponds to an identifier included in the database.

Claims

1. A device for accessing an environment for multi-user interaction, comprising:

a receiver for receiving an identifier associated with a first user when the first user enters the environment;

a controller for checking the received identifier against a database including a plurality of different identifiers; and

means for providing an alert to a user of the device if the received identifier corresponds to an identifier included in the database.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing an alert does not provide an alert to the user if the received identifier does not correspond to an identifier included in the database.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing an alert provides a second alert, different to the alert, if the received identifier does not correspond to an identifier included in the database.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the database includes a first portion of data for each of the plurality of different identifiers and a second portion of data for at least one of the plurality of different identifiers, whereby the controller checks the first portion of data in response to an identifier.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller checks for the presence of the second portion of data in the database and if the second portion of data is present, the controller requests the means for providing an alert to provide an alert derived from the second portion of data.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller checks for the presence of the second portion of data in the database and if the second portion of data is not present, the controller provides a second alert derived from at least a part of the first portion of data.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second alert is derived by audio synthesis.

8. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first portion of data comprises a user'"'"'s name and ID data unique to the first user.

9. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first portion of data comprises a telephone number associated with the first user.

10. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second portion of data comprises voice data or multimedia data.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing an alert is an audio output device.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the alert is an audio alert from the audio output device.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the alert is a reproduction of voice data from the audio output device.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is operable to access a server which controls the environment for multi-user interaction.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, for accessing a server which controls a second environment for multi-user interaction, wherein a further database, associated with the second environment for multi-user interaction, is stored on the server that controls the second environment for multi-user interaction.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environment for multi-user interaction is a software application.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environment for multi-user interaction is a chat room.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the environment for multi-user interaction is a computer game.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is a portable handheld radiotelephone.

20. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile game console.

21. A method for identifying when a first user enters an environment for multi-user interaction, comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with the first user;

checking the received identifier against a database including a plurality of different identifiers; and

providing an alert to a user if the received identifier corresponds to an identifier included in the database.

22. A program for a computer comprising:

means for determining that an identifier associated with the first user has been received;

means for checking the received identifier against a database including a plurality of different identifiers; and

means for requesting an alert to be provided to a user of the computer if the received identifier corresponds to an identifier included in the database.

26. A data carrier storing a program for a computer as claimed in claim 22.

23. A database, associated with an environment for multi-user interaction, for storing information corresponding to at least one user, the information including a plurality of different identifiers for respective users and voice data associated with at least one user.

24. A graphical user interface for displaying:

a database, associated with an environment for multi-user interaction, for storing information corresponding to at least one user, the information including a plurality of different identifiers for different users and voice data associated with at least one user, wherein the graphical user interface is responsive to an input from a user to modify the identifier or voice data associated with a user.

25. A program for a computer for providing a graphical user interface as claimed in claim 24.

27. A data carrier storing a program for a computer as claimed in claim 25.