Interacting avatars in an instant messaging communication session
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for animating a first avatar based on perceived animation of a second avatar, the method comprising:
- graphically representing a first user using a first avatar capable of being animated;
graphically representing a second user using a second avatar capable of being animated wherein communication messages are being sent between the first user and the second user;
receiving an indication of content communicated by the first user;
identifying a first category that is associated with the second user;
identifying an animation based on the content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user; and
in response to and based on the received indication of content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user, animating the first avatar such that the first avatar appears to interact with the second avatar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An avatar that represents an user in a communications session is animated, without user manipulation, based on the animation of another avatar that represents another user in the same instant messaging communication session. The avatars may be displayed in a single instant messaging window, and the displayed animations may create an appearance that the avatars are interacting with one another. An avatar animation may be based on the content communicated by a user and a category that is associated with a user.
519 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for animating a first avatar based on perceived animation of a second avatar, the method comprising:
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graphically representing a first user using a first avatar capable of being animated;
graphically representing a second user using a second avatar capable of being animated wherein communication messages are being sent between the first user and the second user;
receiving an indication of content communicated by the first user;
identifying a first category that is associated with the second user;
identifying an animation based on the content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user; and
in response to and based on the received indication of content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user, animating the first avatar such that the first avatar appears to interact with the second avatar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented method for animating a first avatar based on perceived animation of a second avatar, the method comprising:
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graphically representing a first user using a first avatar capable of being animated;
graphically representing a second user using a second avatar capable of being animated wherein communication messages are being sent between the first user and the second user;
receiving an indication of content communicated by the first user;
identifying an animation based on the content communicated by the first user; and
in response to and based on the received indication of content communicated by the first user, animating the first avatar such that the first avatar appears to interact with the second avatar - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an computer readable medium, the computer program product including an avatar that is configured to display multiple animations in an instant messaging communication session between two users and instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:
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graphically represent a first user using a first avatar capable of being animated;
graphically represent a second user using a second avatar capable of being animated wherein communication messages are being sent between the first user and the second user;
receive an indication of content communicated by the first user;
identify a first category that is associated with the second user;
identify an animation based on the content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user; and
in response to and based on the received indication of content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user, animate the first avatar such that the first avatar appears to interact with the second avatar. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for animating a first avatar based on perceived animation of a second avatar, the system comprising:
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means for graphically representing a first user using a first avatar capable of being animated;
means for graphically representing a second user using a second avatar capable of being animated wherein communication messages are being sent between the first user and the second user;
means for receiving an indication of content communicated by the first user;
means for identifying a first category that is associated with the second user;
means for identifying an animation based on the content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user; and
means for animating the first avatar such that the first avatar appears to interact with the second avatar in response to and based on the received indication of content communicated by the first user and the first category that is associated with the second user.
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Specification