Systems and Methods for Communicating

• US 20080134055A1
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine Satchell
• Original Assignee: SMART INTERNET TECHNOLOGY CRC PTY LTD
• Inventors: Satchell, Christine
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A communication system (1) comprising: determining means operable to determine an attribute of a communication device; identifying means operable to identify an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

determining means operable to determine an attribute of a communication device;

identifying means operable to identify an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and

communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising replacing means operable to replace the avatar with another avatar.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identifying means is operable to identify the avatar by comparing the attribute to a communication device identifier that is associated with the avatar.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising recording means arranged to allow the person to record the communication device identifier.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the replacing means is further operable to replace the communication device identifier with another communication device identifier.

6. The communication system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising selecting means operable to allow the person to select the avatar from a plurality of other avatars.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the selecting means is further operable to allow the communication device identifier to be selected from a plurality of other communication device identifiers.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the communicating means is operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device in a virtual environment.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the determining means is operable to determine the attribute by processing caller identification data associated with the communication device.

10. The communication system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising messaging means operable to create a text, an audio and/or a video message that is associated with the avatar.

11. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the avatar and the plurality of other avatars depict an activity that involves the person.

1-1. A communication system comprising:

determining means operable to determine an attribute of a communication device;

identifying means operable to identify an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and

communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device in a virtual environment.

2-2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising replacing means operable to replace the avatar with another avatar.

3-3. The communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identifying means is operable to identify the avatar by comparing the attribute to a communication device identifier that is associated with the avatar.

4-4. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising recording means arranged to allow the person to record the communication device identifier.

5-5. The communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the replacing means is further operable to replace the communication device identifier with another communication device identifier.

6-6. The communication system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising selecting means operable to allow the person to select the avatar from a plurality of other avatars.

7-7. The communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the selecting means is further operable to allow the communication device identifier to be selected from a plurality of other communication device identifiers.

8-8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the determining means is operable to determine the attribute by processing caller identification data associated with the communication device.

9-9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising messaging means operable to create a text, an audio and/or a video message that is associated with the avatar.

10-10. The communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the avatar and the plurality of other avatars depict an activity that involves the person.

11-11. The communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile telephone and the attribute comprises a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

12. The communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile telephone and the attribute comprises a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

13. A communication system comprising:

an environment support means operable to support at least one virtual environment that can be accessed by a first person; and

a communicating means operable to communicate an avatar in the virtual environment to the first person subsequent to the first person accessing the environment, the avatar being such that it can convey to the first person information about a second person.

14. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, which the environment support means is operable to determine a level of authority associated with the second person, and provide the second person with access to the virtual environment if the level of authority is deemed appropriate.

15. The communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person to assign the level of authority.

16. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the environment support means is such that it allows the first person to arrange the virtual environment such that it has a desired appearance.

17. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person and the second person to exchange other information via the virtual environment.

18. The communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the other information comprises multi-media content.

19. The communication system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the communicating means is further operable to allow the second person to control whether the avatar conveys the information to the first person.

20. The communication system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person to access the virtual environment via a communication network, the communicating means also being operable to communicate the avatar in the virtual environment to the first person via the communication network.

12-12. A communication system comprising:

an environment support means operable to support at least one virtual environment that can be accessed by a first person; and

a communicating means operable to communicate an avatar in the virtual environment to the first person subsequent to the first person accessing the environment, the avatar being such that it can convey to the first person information about a second person.

13-13. The communication system as claimed in claim 12, which the environment support means is operable to determine a level of authority associated with the second person, and provide the second person with access to the virtual environment if the level of authority is deemed appropriate.

14-14. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person to assign the level of authority.

15-15. The communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the environment support means is such that it allows the first person to arrange the virtual environment such that it has a desired appearance.

16-16. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person and the second person to exchange other information via the virtual environment.

17-17. The communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the other information comprises multi-media content.

18-18. The communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the communicating means is further operable to allow the second person to control whether the avatar conveys the information to the first person.

19-19. The communication system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the environment support means is operable to allow the first person to access the virtual environment via a communication network, the communicating means also being operable to communicate the avatar in the virtual environment to the first person via the communication network.

20-20. The communication system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the information conveyed by the avatar to the first person comprises audio and/or video information.

21. The communication system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the information conveyed by the avatar to the first person comprises audio and/or video information.

22. A communication system comprising:

identifying an avatar that conveys information about a person; and

communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to a mobile communication device.

23. A communication method comprising the steps of:

determining an attribute of a communication device;

identifying an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and

communicating the avatar to the communication device.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of replacing the avatar with another avatar.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of identifying the avatar comprises identifying the avatar by comparing the attribute to a communication device identifier that is associated with the avatar.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of recording the communication device identifier.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising the step of replacing the communication device identifier with another communication device identifier.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the step of selecting the avatar from a plurality of other avatars.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of selecting the communication device identifier from a plurality of other communication device identifiers.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of communicating the avatar to the communication device in a virtual environment.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of determining the attribute comprises determining the attribute by processing caller identification data that is associated with the communication device.

44. Software comprising at least one instruction for causing a computing device to carry out the method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 43.

45. A computer readable medium comprising the software as claimed in claim 44.

21-21. A communication method comprising the steps of:

determining an attribute of a communication device;

identifying an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and

communicating the avatar to the communication device in a virtual environment.

22-22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising the step of replacing the avatar with another avatar.

23-23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of identifying the avatar comprises identifying the avatar by comparing the attribute to a communication device identifier that is associated with the avatar.

24-24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of recording the communication device identifier.

25-25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising the step of replacing the communication device identifier with another communication device identifier.

26-26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of selecting the avatar from a plurality of other avatars.

27-27. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising the step of selecting the communication device identifier from a plurality of other communication device identifiers.

28-28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the step of determining the attribute comprises determining the attribute by processing caller identification data that is associated with the communication device.

29-29. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of creating a text, an audio and/or a video message that is associated with the avatar.

30-30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the avatar and the plurality of other avatars depict an activity that involves the person.

31-31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the communication device is a mobile telephone and the attribute is a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the step of creating a text, an audio and/or a video message that is associated with the avatar.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the avatar and the plurality of other avatars depict an activity that involves the person.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the communication device is a mobile telephone and the attribute is a telephone number of the mobile telephone.

35. A communication method comprising the steps of:

supporting at least one virtual environment that can be accessed by a first person; and

communicating an avatar in the virtual environment to the first person subsequent to the first person accessing the environment, the avatar being such that it can convey to the first person information about a second person.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising the step of determining a level of authority associated with the second person, and providing the second person with access to the virtual environment if the level of authority is deemed appropriate.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the step of the first person assigning the level of authority.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the step of supporting the virtual environment comprises the step of arranging the virtual environment such that it has a desired appearance.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the step of exchanging other information between the first person and the second person via the virtual environment.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the other information comprises multi-media content.

32-32. A communication method comprising the steps of:

supporting at least one virtual environment that can be accessed by a first person; and

communicating an avatar in the virtual environment to the first person subsequent to the first person accessing the environment, the avatar being such that it can convey to the first person information about a second person.

33-33. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising the step of determining a level of authority associated with the second person, and providing the second person with access to the virtual environment if the level of authority is deemed appropriate.

34-34. The method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the step of the first person assigning the level of authority.

35-35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the step of supporting the virtual environment comprises the step of arranging the virtual environment such that it has a desired appearance.

36-36. The method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising the step of exchanging other information between the first person and the second person via the virtual environment.

37-37. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the other information comprises multi-media content.

38-38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the step of communicating the avatar to the first person comprises the step of controlling whether the avatar conveys the information to the first person.

39-39. The method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the step of allowing the first person to access the virtual environment via a communication network, and the step of communicating the avatar in the virtual environment to the first person via the communication network.

40-40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the information conveyed by the avatar to the first person comprises audio and/or video information.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the step of communicating the avatar to the first person comprises the step of controlling whether the avatar conveys the information to the first person.

41-42. -42. (canceled)

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the step of allowing the first person to access the virtual environment via a communication network, and the step of communicating the avatar in the virtual environment to the first person via the communication network.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the information conveyed by the avatar to the first person comprises audio and/or video information.