System and method for generating suggested alternatives for visual or audible submissions

• US 7,716,231 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Henshaw, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S
• Application Number:
  US10/985,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution

Abstract

Alternative representations are generated from a user'"'"'s audible or visual data submission (e.g., user'"'"'s picture) for use as part of an online account profile or user identification in an online service (e.g., online gaming user profile) or computer device. A specific representation is selected for use with the online account or computing device. Furthermore, a specific representation of the user'"'"'s audible or visual data that is suitable for a particular display device (e.g., television, cellular telephone) can be generated and presented.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating user identification information, comprising:

receiving at a server a data submission, the data submission for user identification associated with a user account and comprising one of a video file, an audio file, a multimedia file, and a picture file that is employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account;

determining at the server at least one alternative data item for user identification associated with the user account, the alternative data item based on the data submission and employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account;

outputting the at least one alternative data item;

receiving an indication of a selected one of the at least one alternative data item; and

associating at the server the at least one alternative data item with the user account.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the at least one alternative data item for selection via an output device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the selection with an account identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selection is received via a user account interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selected data item alternative from the user account.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the selected alternative data item with the user account.

7. A system for generating alternatives user identification information, comprising:

an input device that receives a data submission, the data submission for user identification associated with a user account and comprising one of a video file, an audio file, a multimedia, and a picture file that is employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account;

a processor that receives the data submission from the input device, determines at least one alternative data item for user identification associated with the user account, the alternative data item based on the data submission and employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account, outputs the at least one alternative data item, receives an indication of a selected one of the at least one alternative data item, and associates the at least one alternative data item with the user account.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises one of a keyboard, a hard drive, a diskette, a compact disk, a removable storage device, an infrared signal, and the Internet.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an output device that outputs the at least one alternative data item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the output device comprises one of a television, a computer monitor, a handheld mobile device, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a gaming console, a multimedia console, a watch, a home theater, and speakers.

11. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which when executed by a computing device causes the device to perform a method for generating user identification information, the method comprising:

receiving at a server a data submission, the data submission for user identification associated with a user account and comprising one of a video file, an audio file, a multimedia file, and a picture file that is employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account;

determining at the server at least one alternative data item for user identification associated with the user account and employed to generate at least one of a visual or audible output that identifies the user account, the alternative data item based on the data submission and selected to be viewable on a target medium;

outputting the at least one alternative data item;

receiving an indication of a selected one of the at least one alternative data item; and

associating at the server the at least one alternative data item with the user account.