Interactive communication between a plurality of users

• US 7,124,372 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glen David Brin
• Original Assignee: Glen David Brin
• Inventors: Brin, Glen David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US10/171,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 715/758, 715/757, 715/753, 715/759, 715/751, 715/837, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program for interactive communication among a plurality of users. The invention, called Holocene Conversation Mode (“HCM”), takes advantage of the observation that human beings have developed or utilize a number of real-world characteristics to participate in, perceive, control, and glean subtleties from conversations. These characteristics include proximity and orientation of a listener to other speakers, memory ageing, emphasis by a speaker, relative importance of a speaker to a listener, reputation of a speaker, and the unique human ability to “filter” words of special interest to a listener from overheard conversations. HCM includes a suite of techniques, including spatial and content compression as a function of some of such characteristics, that can be implemented in various combinations in computer software. HCM supports other forms of user interaction, such as allowing a user to give or send an object to another user, or to allow a user to take an object from another user. In addition, HCM supports “kiosks”, in which users can interact with non-human resources in the context of a host-defined environment.

Claims

1. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display space having at least two dimensions;

(b) displaying a plurality of orientation controls, each having a corresponding user space, within the conversation display space;

(c) enabling a user to move or reorient an associated orientation control relative to at least one other orientation control within the conversation display space;

(d) enabling communication of content between at least two user spaces corresponding to such orientation controls; and

(e) varying the size of user spaces as a function of distance between user spaces and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation display space is user-centric.

3. The method of claim 1, further including enabling at least one user to add perception attributes to the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user.

4. The method of claim 1, further including displaying content entered by a user in the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user, and enabling such user to add perception attributes to at least some of such content.

5. The method of claim 1, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

6. The method of claim 1, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

7. The method of claim 1, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein after a user space has been decreased in size, further including enabling a user to restore the size of such user space.

9. The method of claim 1, further including displaying selected amounts of content communicated by each user within the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user.

10. The method of claim 9, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of distance between user spaces.

11. The method of claim 9, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of orientation between user spaces.

12. The method of claim 9, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the reputation of each user.

13. The method of claim 12, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

14. The method of claim 9, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated.

15. The method of claim 9, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated and as a function of characteristics of such content.

16. The method of claim 1, further including displaying content communicated by each user in the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user, and applying filtering criteria to select at least one user space.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the filtering criteria include characteristics of such content.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against the content of a user space.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against metadata associated with a user space.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the filtering criteria include the reputation of a user.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the filtering criteria include at least one perception attribute associated with the content of a user space.

22. The method of claim 16, further including changing at least one perception attribute of a user space or of the content of a user space as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

23. The method of claim 16, further including communicating a paging indicator based as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

24. The method of claim 1, further including enabling transfer of an object between user spaces.

25. The method of claim 1, further including enabling interaction between a user space and a kiosk.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the interaction includes transfer of an object between the user space and the kiosk.

27. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a world view of the user spaces.

28. The method of claim 1, further including selectively suppressing display of at least one user space.

29. The method of claim 1, further including enabling a privacy mode whereby content of a user is communicated only to selected other users.

30. The method of claim 1, further including outputting a chronological interleaved transcript of content communicated among selected users.

31. The method of claim 1, further including displaying all communicated content only to at least one selected user, and enabling such at least one selected user to selectively communicate such content to selected other users.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein each orientation control is integrated with its corresponding user space.

33. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display space having at least two dimensions;

(b) displaying a plurality of orientation controls, each having a corresponding user space, within the conversation display space;

(c) enabling a user to move or reorient an associated orientation control relative to at least one other orientation control within the conversation display space;

(d) enabling communication of content between at least two user spaces corresponding to such orientation controls;

(e) displaying content communicated by each user in the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user; and

(f) varying the size of the content of at least one user space as a function of distance between such user space and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

34. The method of claim 33, further including varying the size of such content as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

35. The method of claim 33, further including varying the size of such content as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

36. The method of claim 33, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein after the size of such content has been decreased in size, further including enabling a user to restore the size of such content.

38. The method of claim 33, further including displaying selected amounts of content communicated by each user within the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user.

39. The method of claim 38, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of distance between user spaces.

40. The method of claim 38, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of orientation between user spaces.

41. The method of claim 38, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the reputation of each user.

42. The method of claim 41, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

43. The method of claim 38, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated.

44. The method of claim 38, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated and as a function of characteristics of such content.

45. The method of claim 33, further including displaying content communicated by each user in the user space corresponding to the orientation control associated with such user, and applying filtering criteria to select at least one user space.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the filtering criteria include characteristics of such content.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against the content of a user space.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against metadata associated with a user space.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the filtering criteria include the reputation of a user.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the filtering criteria include at least one perception attribute associated with the content of a user space.

51. The method of claim 45, further including changing at least one perception attribute of a user space or of the content of a user space as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

52. The method of claim 45, further including communicating a paging indicator based as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

53. The method of claim 33, further including selectively suppressing display of at least one user space.

54. The method of claim 33, further including enabling a privacy mode whereby content of a user is communicated only to selected other users.

55. The method of claim 33, further including outputting a chronological interleaved transcript of content communicated among selected users.

56. The method of claim 33, further including displaying all communicated content only to at least one selected user, and enabling such at least one selected user to selectively communicate such content to selected other users.

57. The method of claim 33, wherein each orientation control is integrated with its corresponding user space.

58. The method of claim 33, further including enabling transfer of an object between user spaces.

59. The method of claim 33, further including enabling interaction between a user space and a kiosk.

60. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display space having at least two dimensions;

(b) displaying a plurality of user spaces within the conversation display space;

(c) enabling a user to move or reorient an associated user space relative to at least one other user space within the conversation display space;

(d) enabling communication of content between at least two user spaces; and

(e) varying the size of user spaces as a function of distance between user spaces and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the conversation display space is user-centric.

62. The method of claim 60, further including enabling at least one user to add perception attributes to the user space associated with such user.

63. The method of claim 60, further including displaying content entered by a user in the user space associated with such user, and enabling such user to add perception attributes to at least some of such content.

64. The method of claim 60, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

65. The method of claim 60, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

66. The method of claim 60, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

67. The method of claim 60, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of the time content was communicated.

68. The method of claim 60, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of the time content was communicated and as a function of characteristics of such content.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein after a user space has been decreased in size, further including enabling a user to restore the size of such user space.

70. The method of claim 60, further including displaying selected amounts of content communicated by each user in the user space associated with such user.

71. The method of claim 70, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of distance between user spaces.

72. The method of claim 70, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of orientation between user spaces.

73. The method of claim 70, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the reputation of each user.

74. The method of claim 73, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

75. The method of claim 70, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated.

76. The method of claim 70, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated and as a function of characteristics of such content.

77. The method of claim 60, further including displaying content communicated by each user in the user space associated with such user, and applying filtering criteria to select at least one user space.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the filtering criteria include characteristics of such content.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against the content of a user space.

80. The method of claim 77, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against metadata associated with a user space.

81. The method of claim 77, wherein the filtering criteria include the reputation of a user.

82. The method of claim 77, wherein the filtering criteria include at least one perception attribute associated with the content of a user space.

83. The method of claim 77, further including changing at least one perception attribute of a user space or of the content of a user space as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

84. The method of claim 77, further including communicating a paging indicator based as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

85. The method of claim 60, further including enabling transfer of an object between user spaces.

86. The method of claim 60, further including enabling interaction between a user space and a kiosk.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the interaction includes transfer of an object between the user space and the kiosk.

88. The method of claim 60, further including displaying a world view of the user spaces.

89. The method of claim 60, further including selectively suppressing display of at least one user space.

90. The method of claim 60, further including enabling a privacy mode whereby content of a user is communicated only to selected other users.

91. The method of claim 60, further including outputting a chronological interleaved transcript of content communicated among selected users.

92. The method of claim 60, further including displaying all communicated content only to at least one selected user, and enabling such at least one selected user to selectively communicate such content to selected other users.

93. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display space having at least two dimensions;

(b) displaying a plurality of user spaces within the conversation display space;

(c) enabling a user to move or reorient an associated user space relative to at least one other user space within the conversation display space;

(d) enabling communication of content between at least two user spaces; and

(e) displaying content communicated by each user in the user space associated with such user, and varying the size of the content of at least one user space as a function of distance between user spaces and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

94. The method of claim 93, further including varying the size of such content as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

95. The method of claim 93, further including varying the size of such content as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

96. The method of claim 93, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

97. The method of claim 93, further including displaying selected amounts of content communicated by each user in the user space associated with such user.

98. The method of claim 97, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of distance between user spaces.

99. The method of claim 97, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of orientation between user spaces.

100. The method of claim 97, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the reputation of each user.

101. The method of claim 100, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

102. The method of claim 97, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated.

103. The method of claim 97, further including selecting the amount of content displayed as a function of the time such content was communicated and as a function of characteristics of such content.

104. The method of claim 93, further including displaying content communicated by each user in the user space associated with such user, and applying filtering criteria to select at least one user space.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein the filtering criteria include characteristics of such content.

106. The method of claim 104, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against the content of a user space.

107. The method of claim 104, wherein the filtering criteria include comparing selected comparison terms against metadata associated with a user space.

108. The method of claim 104, wherein the filtering criteria include the reputation of a user.

109. The method of claim 104, wherein the filtering criteria include at least one perception attribute associated with the content of a user space.

110. The method of claim 104, further including changing at least one perception attribute of a user space or of the content of a user space as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

111. The method of claim 104, further including communicating a paging indicator based as a result of meeting the filtering criteria.

112. The method of claim 93, further including selectively suppressing display of at least one user space.

113. The method of claim 93, further including enabling a privacy mode whereby content of a user is communicated only to selected other users.

114. The method of claim 93, further including outputting a chronological interleaved transcript of content communicated among selected users.

115. The method of claim 93, further including displaying all communicated content only to at least one selected user, and enabling such at least one selected user to selectively communicate such content to selected other users.

116. The method of claim 93, further including enabling transfer of an object between user spaces.

117. The method of claim 93, further including enabling interaction between a user space and a kiosk.

118. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display universe;

(b) displaying, within the conversation display universe, a corresponding user space for each of a plurality of users;

(c) enabling each user to input content within the user space corresponding to such user, and communicating such content to the corresponding user space of at least one other user;

(d) for at least one user, displaying the content communicated by each other user within the user spate corresponding to each such other user; and

(e) selectively varying the size of such content as a function of distance between user spaces and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

119. The method of claim 118, further including varying the size of such content as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

120. The method of claim 118, further including varying the size of such content as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

121. The method of claim 118, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

122. A method of interactive communication between a plurality of users, including:

(a) displaying a conversation display universe;

(b) displaying, within the conversation display universe, a corresponding user space for each of a plurality of users;

(c) enabling each user to input content within the user space corresponding to such user, and communicating such content to the corresponding user space of at least one other user; and

(d) varying the size of the user spaces as a function of distance between user spaces and at least one of;

orientation between user spaces, the reputation of users, the time content was communicated, or the characteristics of such content.

123. The method of claim 122, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of user centric orientation between user spaces.

124. The method of claim 122, further including varying the size of user spaces as a function of mutual orientation between user spaces.

125. The method of claim 122, further including automatically determining the reputation of each user.

126. The method of claim 122, wherein after a user space has been decreased in size, further including enabling a user to restore the size of such user space.