SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOUCH-BASED COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20140143682A1
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Druck, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,410,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/07 characterised by the inclusion of specific contents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for an interactive communication experience on mobile devices. In general, the present disclosure discusses dynamically manipulating or modifying graphic user representations during an electronic communication. The modification or manipulation of these graphic user representations enables users to convey nuances of mood and feelings rather than being confined to conveying them through conventional communications, including text, images, video, or selecting an appropriate emoticon or avatar from a palette of predetermined emoticons or avatars.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

facilitating, over a network via a server computing device, visible display of a first graphical user representation associated with a first user of a first computing device and a second graphical user representation associated with a second user of a second computing device, said first and second graphical user representations being visibly displayed on the first and second computing devices in accordance with an instant messaging session between the first user and the second user;

receiving, at the server computing device, an event signal from the first computing device, the event signal corresponding to input at the first computing device by the first user, the input comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user displayed on the first computing device during the instant messaging session;

determining, via the server, an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal;

generating, via the server, an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based upon the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed on the second computing device during the instant messaging session; and

transmitting, from the server over the network, the event message to the second computing device for execution of said action during the instant messaging session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating of the event message is based upon and in accordance with the interaction data within the event signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the event from a plurality of events within an event library based upon said interaction data, said identifying comprises matching at least a portion of the interaction data with at least one event among the plurality; and

generating the event message in accordance with the identified event from the event library.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of events within the event library correspond to animations of a graphical user representation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of events within the event library correspond to haptic events.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said action within the event message comprises an animation of the second user'"'"'s graphical user representation on the second computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said action within the event message comprises a haptic output, said haptic output comprising vibrating the second computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said action within the event message comprises an animation of the second user'"'"'s graphical user representation and a corresponding haptic effect on the second computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said interaction with the displayed graphical user representation of the second user by the first user comprises the first user interacting with a touch screen interface associated with the first computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said action within said event message is based upon a type of said interaction performed by the first user in relation to the second user graphical user representation displayed on the first computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second graphical user representations are avatars associated respectively with the first and second user.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a computing device, performs a method comprising:

facilitating, over a network, visible display of a first graphical user representation associated with a first user of a first computing device and a second graphical user representation associated with a second user of a second computing device, said first and second graphical user representations being visibly displayed on the first and second computing devices in accordance with an instant messaging session between the first user and the second user;

receiving an event signal from the first computing device, the event signal corresponding to input at the first computing device by the first user, the input comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user displayed on the first computing device during the instant messaging session;

determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal;

generating an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based upon the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed on the second computing device during the instant messaging session; and

transmitting, over the network, the event message to the second computing device for execution of said action during the instant messaging session.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein said generating of the event message is based upon and in accordance with the interaction data within the event signal.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying the event from a plurality of events within an event library based upon said interaction data, said identifying comprises matching at least a portion of the interaction data with at least one event among the plurality; and

generating the event message in accordance with the identified event from the event library.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of events within the event library correspond to animations of a graphical user representation.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of events within the event library correspond to haptic events.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said action within the event message comprises an animation of the second user'"'"'s graphical user representation on the second computing device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said action within the event message comprises a haptic output, said haptic output comprising vibrating the second computing device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said action within the event message comprises an animation of the second user'"'"'s graphical user representation and a corresponding haptic effect on the second computing device.

20. A system comprising:

at least one computing device comprising;

memory storing computer-executable instructions; and

one or more processors for executing said computer-executable instructions, comprising;

facilitating, over a network, visible display of a first graphical user representation associated with a first user of a first computing device and a second graphical user representation associated with a second user of a second computing device, said first and second graphical user representations being visibly displayed on the first and second computing devices in accordance with an instant messaging session between the first user and the second user;

receiving an event signal from the first computing device, the event signal corresponding to input at the first computing device by the first user, the input comprising data indicative of the first user'"'"'s interactions with the graphical user representation of the second user displayed on the first computing device during the instant messaging session;

determining an event based upon the interaction data within the event signal;

generating an event message for transmittal to the second computing device based upon the determined event, the event message comprising an action to be performed on the second computing device during the instant messaging session; and

transmitting, over the network, the event message to the second computing device for execution of said action during the instant messaging session.