Dynamic destination-determined multimedia avatars for interactive on-line communications

• US 6,453,294 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wargaming.Net Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US09/584,599
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419-473, 704/259, 704/260, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 704/235
• US Class Current: 704/270.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Transforms are used for transcoding input text, audio and/or video input to provide a choice of text, audio and/or video output. Transcoding may be performed at a system operated by the communications originator, an intermediate transfer point in the communications path, and/or at one or more system(s) operated by the recipient(s). Transcoding of the communications input, particular voice and image portions, may be employed to alter identifying characteristics to create an avatar for a user originating the communications input.

Claims

1. A method for controlling communications, comprising:

receiving communications content and determining a text, audio, or video input mode of the content;

determining a user-specified text, audio, or video output mode for the content for delivering the content to a destination; and

transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination utilizing a transcoder selected from the group consisting of a text-to-text transcoder, a text-to-audio transcoder, a text-to-video transcoder, an audio-to-text transcoder, an audio-to-audio transcoder, an audio-to-video transcoder, a video-to-text transcoder, a video-to-audio transcoder, and a video-to-video transcoder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

transcoding the content at a system at which the content is initially received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

transcoding the content at a system intermediate to a system at which the content is initially received and a system to which the content is delivered.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

transcoding the content at a system to which the content is delivered.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

altering speech characteristics of the originator.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

altering pitch, tone, bass or mid-range of the content.

8. A system for controlling communications, comprising:

means for receiving communications content and determining a text, audio, or video input mode of the content;

means for determining a user-specified text, audio, or video output mode for the content for delivering the content to a destination; and

means for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination utilizing a transcoder selected from the group consisting of a text-to-text transcoder, a text-to-audio transcoder, a text-to-video transcoder, an audio-to-text transcoder, an audio-to-audio transcoder, an audio-to-video transcoder, a video-to-text transcoder, a video-to-audio transcoder, and a video-to-video transcoder.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

means for transcoding the content at a system at which the content is initially received.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

means for transcoding the content at a system intermediate to a system at which the content is initially received and a system to which the content is delivered.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

means for transcoding the content at a system to which the content is delivered.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

means for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

means for altering speech characteristics of the originator.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

means for altering pitch, tone, bass or mid-range of the content.

15. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for controlling communications, comprising:

instructions for receiving communications content and deter a text, audio, or video input mode of the content;

instructions for determining a user-specified text, audio, or video output mode for the content for delivering the content to a destination; and

instructions for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination utilizing a transcoder selected from the group consisting of a text-to-text transcoder, a text-to-audio transcoder, a text-to-video transcoder, an audio-to-text transcoder, an audio-to-audio transcoder, and audio-to-video transcoder, a video-to-text transcoder, a video-to-audio transcoder, and a video-to-video transcoder.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

instructions for transcoding the content at a system at which the content is initially received.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

instructions for transcoding the content at a system intermediate to a system at which the content is initially received and a system to which the content is delivered.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

instructions for transcoding the content at a system to which the content is delivered.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for transcoding the content from the text, audio, or video input mode to the user-specified text, audio, or video output mode prior to delivering the content to the destination further comprises:

instructions for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

instructions for altering speech characteristics of the originator.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions for creating an avatar for an originator of the content by altering identifying characteristics of the content further comprises:

instructions for altering pitch, tone, bass or mid-range of the content.