Method for sending multi-media messages using customizable background images

• US 7,177,811 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Graf, Hans Peter, Cosatto, Eric, Civanlar, Mehmet Reha, Ostermann, Joern, LeCun, Yann Andre, Isaacson, Thomas M., Buda, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): {hacek over (S)}mits; Talivaldis Ivars
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ng; Eunice
• Application Number:
  US11/276,556
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 704/260
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information

Abstract

A method is provided for customizing a multi-media message created by a sender for a recipient, in which the multi-media message includes an animated entity audibly presenting speech converted from text by the sender. At least one image is received from the sender. Each of the at least one image is associated with a tag. The sender is presented with options to insert the tag associated with one of the at least one image into the sender text.

Claims

1. A method of customizing a multi-media message created by a sender for a recipient, the multi-media message having an animated entity audibly presenting speech converted from text created by the sender, the method comprising:

receiving at least one image from the sender;

associating each of the at least one image with a tag; and

presenting the sender with options to insert the tag associated with one of the at least one image into the sender text.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the sender inserts the tag associated with the one of the at least one image into the sender text, delivering the multi-media message with the one of the at least one image presented as background to the animated entity according to a position of the tag associated with the one of the at least one image in the sender text.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image is a static image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one image is a video.

5. A method of customizing a multi-media message created by a sender for a recipient, the method using stored predefined images having associated image tags and stored sender-created images having associated sender-created tags, the method comprising:

presenting the sender with options to insert image tags and sender-created tags into sender text; and

after the sender inserts the image tags or the sender-created tags, delivering the multi-media message with the predefined images or sender-created images associated with at least one of the inserted image tags or the sender-created tags presented as background to an animated entity according to a position of the respective tag within the sender text.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined images or sender-created images are no longer displayed as background to the animated entity as soon as a predetermined number of words after the position of the respective tag within the sender text begins to be delivered.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined images are either static images or video images.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the sender-created images are either static images or video images.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

presenting the sender with an option to remove the animated entity from a display using an animated entity remove tag.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the sender inserts the animated entity remove tag, delivering the multi-media message with the image associated with the inserted image tag presented as background while removing the animated entity according to a position of the animated entity remove tag within the sender text.

11. A method of sending a multi-media message from a sender to a recipient, the multi-media message including an animated entity for delivering a message having text, the method comprising:

presenting the sender with an option to add a name of the recipient to the multi-media message; and

presenting the sender with an option to modify a camera position using camera control tags within the text, the option to modify the camera position including one of move up, move down, move left, or move right.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting the sender with an option to choose from a list of at least one of predefined options or sender-added options for each of a plurality of template parameters for customizing the multi-media message.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting the sender with an option to choose at least one position from which the animated entity will deliver the multi-media message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein presenting the user with an option to choose at least one position from which the animated entity will deliver the message further comprises presenting the sender with an option to control animated entity entrance and departure features.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the sender with an option to choose an animated entity from a group of animated entities.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting the sender with an option to add an accessory comprising one of glasses, ear rings, a hat, a shirt, hair color, hair style, or facial hair to the animated entity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein presenting the sender with an option to add an accessory to the animated entity further comprises presenting the sender with a list of accessories, the list of accessories including accessories provided by a multi-media message service provider and accessories added by the sender.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein upon the sender choosing the option to add an accessory, presenting the sender with a preview of the animated entity with the added accessory.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing the sender with an option to insert at least one emoticon in the text of the message;

providing the sender with an option to modify an amplitude of the at least one emoticon inserted in the text of the message; and

once the sender chooses the at least one emoticon, delivering the multi-media message to the recipient, wherein

if the sender modifies the amplitude of the at least one emoticon inserted in the text, changing a color associated with the modified at least one emoticon.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the respective color of the modified at least one emoticon relates to an intensity of the respective modified amplitude.