SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPRESENTATION OF ELECTRONIC MAIL USERS USING AVATARS
First Claim
1. A method of graphically representing an email user, comprising:
- at a sending communication device, sending an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier with an email message;
at a receiving communication device, determining whether an email message received from the sending communication device includes an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, andif an accompanying avatar is found, displaying the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface;
if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, searching for an avatar associated with the avatar identifier and locally stored at the receiving communication device, and displaying the locally stored avatar if found.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a system and method for graphically representing an email user. In an embodiment, the method may comprise: at a sending communication device, sending an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier with an email message; at a receiving communication device, scanning an email message for an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, and if an accompanying avatar is found, displaying the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface; if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, searching for an avatar locally stored at the receiving communication device, and displaying the locally stored avatar if found. The method further comprises sending and receiving a mood avatar or mood avatar identifier indicative of the mood of the user. The mood avatar may be selected at the sending communication device using a mood analyzer, or receiving a mood input from a user.
419 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of graphically representing an email user, comprising:
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at a sending communication device, sending an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier with an email message; at a receiving communication device, determining whether an email message received from the sending communication device includes an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, and if an accompanying avatar is found, displaying the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface; if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, searching for an avatar associated with the avatar identifier and locally stored at the receiving communication device, and displaying the locally stored avatar if found. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communication system for representing an email user, comprising:
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a sending communication device configured to send an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier with an email message; a receiving communication device configured to determine whether an email message received from the sending communication device includes an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, and if an accompanying avatar is found, display the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface; if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, search for an avatar associated with the avatar identifier and locally stored at the receiving communication device, and display the locally stored avatar if found. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A data processor readable medium storing data processor code that when loaded into communication devices adapt the devices to represent email users using avatars, the data processor readable medium comprising:
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code for sending from a sending communication device an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier with an email message; code for determining whether an email message received from the sending communication device includes an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, and if an accompanying avatar is found, displaying the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface; if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, searching for an avatar associated with the avatar identifier and locally stored at the receiving communication device, and displaying the locally stored avatar if found. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A communication device for sending an email message from an email user, comprising:
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means for selecting an avatar identifying the email user; and means for sending the avatar or an avatar identifier associated with the avatar with the email message to a receiving communication device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A communication device for receiving an email message from an email user, comprising:
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means for determining whether an email message received from a sending communication device includes an accompanying avatar or avatar identifier, and if an accompanying avatar is found, displaying the avatar with the email message in a message list user interface; if an accompanying avatar identifier is found, search for an avatar associated with the avatar identifier and locally stored at the receiving communication device, and displaying the locally stored avatar if found. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification