Using an avatar to generate user profile information
First Claim
1. A method for generating user profile information, the method comprising:
- accessing a stored user profile corresponding to a user, the user profile including user profile data types and values of the user profile data types;
accessing an avatar selected to represent the user in an instant messaging exchange;
detecting attributes of the selected avatar;
accessing a data structure that associates avatar attributes and user profile data types;
determining, based on associations in the accessed data structure, user profile data types that correspond to the detected attributes; and
based on results of the determining, updating values of the user profile data types in the accessed user profile to reflect the detected attributes.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instant messaging user may be represented in communications with other users by an avatar that is capable of being animated or may convey information about the user by displaying other types of self-expression items, such as non-animated icons, sounds, wallpaper, or objects associated with an avatar or wallpaper. In such a case, the avatar and self-expression items may have characteristics that relate to information that corresponds to or represents the user or their interests. The characteristics of the avatar and self-expression items chosen by the instant messaging user may be used to glean user characteristics or other types of information that describe the user in some way, such as the user'"'"'s geographical location, occupation, and various hobbies and interests.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for generating user profile information, the method comprising:
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accessing a stored user profile corresponding to a user, the user profile including user profile data types and values of the user profile data types; accessing an avatar selected to represent the user in an instant messaging exchange; detecting attributes of the selected avatar; accessing a data structure that associates avatar attributes and user profile data types; determining, based on associations in the accessed data structure, user profile data types that correspond to the detected attributes; and based on results of the determining, updating values of the user profile data types in the accessed user profile to reflect the detected attributes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for generating user profile information, the system comprising:
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at least one processing device; a storage, the storage storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to perform the following operations; access a stored user profile corresponding to a user, the user profile including user profile data types and values of the user profile data types; access an avatar selected to represent the user in an instant messaging exchange; detect attributes of the selected avatar; access a data structure that associates avatar attributes and user profile data types; determine, based on associations in the accessed data structure, user profile data types that correspond to the detected attributes; and based on results of the determining, update values of the user profile data types in the accessed user profile to reflect the detected attributes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification