ANIMATED DELIVERY OF ELECTRONIC MESSAGES

• US 20150215249A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MITII, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MITII, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruns-Bielkowicz, Miroslawa, Ahmadshahi, Michael M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,397,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic message is transformed into moving images uttering the content of the electronic message. Methods of the present invention may be implemented on devices such as smart phones to enable users to compose text and select an animation character which may include cartoons, persons, animals, or avatars. The recipient is presented with an animation or video of the animation character with a voice that speaks the words of the text. The user may further select and include a catch-phrase associated with the character. The user may further select a background music identifier and a background music associated with the background music identifier is played back while the animated text is being presented. The user may further select a type of animation and the animation character will be animated according to the type of animation.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method of communicating, comprising:

(i) composing an electronic message;

(ii) selecting an animation character;

(iii) transmitting the electronic message and animation character;

(iv) receiving the electronic message and animation character;

(v) converting the electronic message into speech;

(vi) generating moving images of the animation character;

(vii) transmitting the speech and moving images;

(viii) receiving the speech and moving images;

(ix) outputting the speech; and

(x) displaying the moving images.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(xi) receiving a background-music identifier; and

(xii) outputting a background music according to the background-music identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(xi) selecting a type of animation; and

wherein the step of generating moving images of the animation character comprises generating moving images of the animation character according to the type of animation.

4. A machine implemented method of communicating, comprising:

(i) receiving an electronic message and an animation character;

(ii) converting the electronic message into speech;

(iii) generating moving images of the animation character;

(iv) outputting the speech; and

(v) displaying the moving images.

5. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, which provides instructions that, when executed by a processing system, causes the processing system to perform communication operations according to a method as in claim 4.

6. A device having a processing unit and program code stored on a storage device of said device, said program code to perform a method as in claim 4 when executed by said processing unit.

7. A method for providing a user interface for communicating, the user interface being accessible via a device, said method comprising a method as in claim 4.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, which provides instructions that, when executed by a processing system, causes the processing system to perform communication operations according to a method as in claim 7.

9. A device having a processing unit and program code stored on a storage device of said device, said program code to perform a method as in claim 7 when executed by said processing unit.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic message is one of instant message, personal message, text message, e-mail, and voicemail.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the animation character is one of human, animal, cartoon, and avatar.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of converting the electronic message into speech comprises utilizing pre-recorded speech of the animation character.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of converting the electronic message into speech comprises synthesizing speech of the animation character.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of generating moving images of the animation character comprises utilizing pre-animated images of the animation character.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of generating moving images of the animation character comprises animating images of the animation character.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of outputting the speech comprises playing back the speech.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic message comprises a catch-phrase associated with the animation character.

18. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

(vi) receiving a background-music identifier; and

(vii) outputting a background music according to the background-music identifier.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

(vi) selecting a type of animation; and

wherein the step of generating moving images of the animation character comprises generating moving images of the animation character according to the type of animation.

20. A computer network system for communication, comprising:

(a) a first device having a processing unit and program code stored on a storage device of said first device, said program code to perform a method when executed by said processing unit, said method, comprising;

(i) composing an electronic message;

(ii) selecting an animation character;

(iii) transmitting the electronic message and animation character;

(b) a server having a processing unit and program code stored on a storage device of said server, said program code to perform a method when executed by said processing unit, said method, comprising;

(i) receiving the electronic message and animation character;

(ii) transmitting the electronic message and animation character;

(c) a second device having a processing unit and program code stored on a storage device of said second device, said program code to perform a method when executed by said processing unit, said method, comprising

(i) receiving the electronic message and animation character;

(ii) converting the electronic message into speech;

(iii) generating moving images of the animation character;

(iv) outputting the speech; and

(v) displaying the moving images.