AVATAR ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
1. A network device, comprising:
- a transceiver to send and receive data over a network; and
a processor that is operative to perform actions, comprising;
receiving contact information for a user, wherein the contact information includes information about a plurality of social networking members;
selectively displaying a plurality of avatars, each avatar representing one of the plurality of social network members, wherein the avatars are displayed relative to another avatar within a client device display screen based in part on a frequency of interaction with the user;
receiving a request for a communication between the user and a member represented by one of the displayed avatars; and
in response to the request automatically modifying a visual relationship between the avatar associated with the member participating in the communication with the user and at least one other displayed avatar.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed towards providing dynamic and interactive avatars of social networking members for use in visually displaying interactions and activities within a messaging context. A user interface is provided that enables relationships toy be displayed within a messaging context through automatic and/or dynamic grouping and/or re-arranging of avatars representing the member and a messaging user. Similar to, albeit it different from, an actual social event/party the dynamic displaying of members'"'"' avatars reflects how groups of people may interact. Thus, the disclosed embodiments provide a dynamic visual interface illustrating social congregation and interactions between members of a messaging social network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network device, comprising:
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a transceiver to send and receive data over a network; and a processor that is operative to perform actions, comprising; receiving contact information for a user, wherein the contact information includes information about a plurality of social networking members; selectively displaying a plurality of avatars, each avatar representing one of the plurality of social network members, wherein the avatars are displayed relative to another avatar within a client device display screen based in part on a frequency of interaction with the user; receiving a request for a communication between the user and a member represented by one of the displayed avatars; and in response to the request automatically modifying a visual relationship between the avatar associated with the member participating in the communication with the user and at least one other displayed avatar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A processor readable storage medium that includes data and instructions, wherein the execution of the instructions on a computing device provides for managing a messaging session by enabling actions, comprising:
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receiving contact information for a user, wherein the contact information includes information about a plurality of social networking members; selectively displaying a plurality of avatars, each avatar representing one of the plurality of social network members, wherein the avatars are displayed relative to another avatar within a client device display screen associated with the user based in part on a frequency of interaction with the user; receiving a request for a communication between the user and a member represented by one of the displayed avatars; and in response to the request, automatically modifying a visual relationship between the avatar associated with the member participating in the communication with the user and at least one other displayed avatar. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for managing a communications, comprising:
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identifying contact information from a user and a plurality of members to a social network; employing the contact information to display within a computer display screen a messaging session that visually displays a plurality of avatars, each avatar being associated with a member within the plurality of members, and wherein each avatar is displayed relative to another avatar based in part on a user preference grouping, and a frequency of interaction with the user; receiving a request for a communication between the user and a member represented by one of the displayed avatars; and in response to the receiving the request enabling the communication session to be established and further automatically modifying a visual relationship between the avatar associated with the member participating in the communication with the user and at least one other displayed avatar to indicate that the member is in communications with the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for enabling a communications over a network, comprising:
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a data store configured to manage contact information for a plurality of members to a social network; and avatar messaging component that includes data and instructions, wherein the execution of the instructions on a computing device enable actions, comprising; determining frequencies of interactions between each of the plurality of members and a user of a client device; displaying a plurality of avatars, each avatar representing one of the plurality of members, wherein the avatars are displayed relative to another avatar within a display screen associated with the user based in part on the determined frequencies of interactions with the user; receiving a request for a communication between the user and a member represented by one of the displayed avatars; and in response to the request, enabling a communication session between the member and the user and further automatically modifying a visual relationship between the avatar associated with the member participating in the communication with the user and at least one other displayed avatar wherein the modification indicates that the communication session is active with the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification