UNLOCKING EMOTICONS USING FEATURE CODES
First Claim
1. A method of making a graphic available to be transmitted over a communication network, the method comprising:
- in a computer operatively connected to the communication network, granting access to a first graphic that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message to be transmitted over the communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message during a chat session;
said computer preventing selection by the sender of a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message;
receiving, using the computer over the communication network, content of the first chat message entered by the sender, the content comprising the first graphic available for selection by the sender;
transmitting the first chat message comprising the first graphic from the computer over the communication network;
receiving a code associated with a manufactured good into the computer;
said computer registering the manufactured good based at least in part on the code;
in response to said registering, said computer granting access to the restricted graphic, allowing selecting the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message; and
subsequent to allowing selection of the restricted graphic, receiving, using the computer over the communication network, content of the second chat message entered by the sender, the content of the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided is a method of making a graphic available to be transmitted over a communication network. Access is granted to a graphic that a sender of a first communication can select for inclusion in the first communication to be transmitted over the communication network. Selection by the sender of a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first communication is prevented. Using a computer operatively connected to the communication network, the content of the first communication entered by the sender is received, and includes the graphic available for selection by the sender. The first communication including the graphic is transmitted over the communication network. A code associated with a product is received, and the product is registered based at least in part on the code. In response to successful registration of the product, the sender is granted access to the restricted graphic, allowing the sender to select the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second communication.
155 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of making a graphic available to be transmitted over a communication network, the method comprising:
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in a computer operatively connected to the communication network, granting access to a first graphic that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message to be transmitted over the communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message during a chat session; said computer preventing selection by the sender of a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message; receiving, using the computer over the communication network, content of the first chat message entered by the sender, the content comprising the first graphic available for selection by the sender; transmitting the first chat message comprising the first graphic from the computer over the communication network; receiving a code associated with a manufactured good into the computer; said computer registering the manufactured good based at least in part on the code; in response to said registering, said computer granting access to the restricted graphic, allowing selecting the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message; and subsequent to allowing selection of the restricted graphic, receiving, using the computer over the communication network, content of the second chat message entered by the sender, the content of the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of making a graphic available to be transmitted over a communication network, the method comprising:
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using a computer for presenting a virtual character to a sender of a first chat message to be transmitted in real time during a synchronous chat session, wherein the computer accepts control signals to control the virtual character from the sender during participation of the sender in an activity on a website that operates using said computer; associating the sender with a user account on the website; granting access to a first graphic on the website, said granting access allowing the sender to select said first graphic for inclusion in the first chat message to be transmitted over the communication network, wherein the first graphic comprises an appearance representative of an emotion; preventing selection by the sender of a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message, wherein the restricted graphic comprises an appearance representative of another emotion that is different than the emotion represented by the first graphic; presenting a chat interface on the website for entry of text to be included in the first chat message; receiving, using the computer, the first chat message entered by the sender comprising the first graphic available for selection by the sender and the text entered by the sender via the chat interface on the website; transmitting the first chat message over the communication network to display the first graphic and the text together on the website to an intended recipient of the first chat message; receiving, over the communication network, a code associated with a manufactured good entered by the sender on the website; registering the manufactured good on the website based at least in part on the code; in response to said registering on the website, granting the sender access to the restricted graphic, and after said registering, allowing the sender to select the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message to be transmitted over the communication network; in response to said registering, updating the user account to reflect the registering of the manufactured good and to grant the sender continued access to the restricted graphic, and allowing the sender to select the restricted graphic for inclusion in another chat message to be transmitted in real time during a subsequent synchronous chat session during which subsequent synchronous chat session the user does not register said manufactured good; subsequent to granting access to the restricted graphic, allowing the second chat message entered by the sender including the restricted graphic and another text entry entered by the sender on the website to be transmitted to an intended recipient of the second chat message. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of transmitting a graphic over a communication network, the method comprising:
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using a computer operatively connected to the communication network, displaying a first graphic in a chat interface that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message prepared by the sender using the computer to be transmitted over the communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message using another computer during a chat session, wherein the chat interface excludes from selection by the sender to be included in the first chat message a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message; using the computer, transmitting content of the first chat message entered by the sender into the chat interface over the communication network, the content comprising the first graphic; in response to the sender registering a manufactured good based on a code associated with the manufactured good, displaying the chat interface comprising the restricted graphic to the sender with the computer and allowing selection by the sender of the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message prepared with the computer to be transmitted over the communication network; and using the computer, transmitting the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic over the communication network to be delivered to a recipient of the second chat message. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer comprising a non-transitory, computer-accessible memory and a processor, the computer being programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a first graphic in a chat interface that a sender of a first chat message can select for inclusion in the first chat message prepared by the sender using the computer to be transmitted over a communication network to a recipient who is to receive the first chat message using another computer during a chat session, wherein the chat interface displayed by the computer excludes from selection by the sender to be included in the first chat message a restricted graphic for inclusion in the first chat message; transmitting content of the first chat message entered by the sender into the chat interface over the communication network, the content comprising the first graphic; in response to the sender registering a manufactured good based on a code associated with the manufactured good, displaying the chat interface comprising the restricted graphic to the sender and allowing selection by the sender of the restricted graphic for inclusion in a second chat message prepared using the computer to be transmitted over the communication network; and transmitting the second chat message comprising the restricted graphic over the communication network to be delivered to a recipient of the second chat message. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification