Static and dynamic video calling avatars

• US 8,970,656 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Goodman, Lee N., Eichen, Elliot G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/722,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 348/14.07, 348/14.1, 348/14.12, 370/276, 455/413, 455/418, 455/412.1, 704/235, 709/204, 709/203, 709/218, 715/780, 715/706, 715/719, 715/757, 482/8, 702/184, 725/13, 725/14
• US Class Current: 348/14.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A communication device may include logic configured to detect a request to initiate a video call by the user of the communication device; select an avatar for the video call, wherein the avatar corresponds to an image selected by the user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the user; determine a facial expression associated with the user of the communication device; select an avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression; and incorporate the selected avatar facial expression into a video stream associated with the video call.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a computer device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the computer device, a request to initiate a video call from a first user device to a second user device;

requesting, by the computer device, a first avatar for a first user associated with the first user device from a video avatar system that stores the first avatar remotely from the first user device;

receiving, by the computer device, the first avatar from the video avatar system, wherein the first avatar corresponds to an image selected by the first user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the first user; and

incorporating, by the computer device, the first avatar into a video stream to the second user device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, by the computer device, a second avatar for a second user associated with the second user device from the video avatar system;

receiving, by the computer device, the second avatar from the video avatar system; and

incorporating, by the computer device, the second avatar into a video stream to the first user device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user device includes:

a mobile communication device associated with the first user;

a personal computer device associated with the first user;

or

a video calling device associated with the first user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a condition associated with the first user;

providing information relating to the identified condition to the video avatar system; and

wherein the first avatar has been selected by the first user to be associated with the condition.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the condition associated with the first user includes at least one of:

a location associated with the first user;

a time of day;

a day of week;

a contact group associated with the second user;

or

a status associated with the first user.

6. A method, performed by a communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, by the communication device, a request to initiate a video call by a user of the communication device;

selecting, by the communication device, an avatar for the video call, wherein the avatar corresponds to an image selected by the user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the user;

determining, by the communication device, a facial expression associated with the user of the communication device;

selecting, by the communication device, an avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression; and

incorporating, by the communication device, the selected avatar facial expression into a video stream associated with the video call.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device includes:

capturing an image of the user'"'"'s face using a sensor device associated with communication device; and

wherein determining the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device includes;

analyzing the captured image to identify the facial expression associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor associated with the communication device includes:

one or more cameras attached to a pair of glasses worn by the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein analyzing the captured image to identify the facial expression associated with the user includes one or more of:

determining a position of the user'"'"'s head in the captured image;

determining a position of the user'"'"'s eyebrows in the captured image;

determining a position of the user'"'"'s cheekbones in the captured image;

or

determining a position of the user'"'"'s lips in the captured image.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device includes:

analyzing audio signals associated with the video call.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein analyzing audio signals associated with the video call includes:

determining whether the user is talking; and

wherein selecting the avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression, includes;

selecting a talking avatar facial expression, when the user is talking.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device includes:

determining the facial expression based on user input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the facial expression based on user input includes:

receiving a selection of the avatar facial selection from a list of avatar facial expressions provided to the user;

or

receiving user manipulation of an avatar image, wherein the user manipulation corresponds to a gesture performed by the user on the avatar image displayed by the communication device.

14. A communication device comprising:

logic configured to;

detect a request to initiate a video call by a user of the communication device;

select an avatar for the video call, wherein the avatar corresponds to an image selected by the user to be used as a replacement for a video stream for video calls associated with the user;

determine a facial expression associated with the user of the communication device;

select an avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression; and

incorporate the selected avatar facial expression into a video stream associated with the video call.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein when the logic is configured to determine the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device, the logic is further configured to:

capture an image of the user'"'"'s face using a sensor device associated with communication device; and

wherein, when the logic is configured to determine the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device, the logic is further configured to;

analyze the captured image to identify the facial expression associated with the user.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the sensor device associated with the communication device includes:

one or more cameras attached to glasses worn by the user.

17. The communication device of claim 15, wherein when the logic is configured to analyze the captured image to identify the facial expression associated with the user, the logic is further configured to one or more of:

determine a position of the user'"'"'s eyebrows in the captured image;

determine a position of the user'"'"'s cheekbones in the captured image;

or

determine a position of the user'"'"'s lips in the captured image.

18. The communication device of claim 14, wherein when the logic is configured to determine the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device, the logic is further configured to:

determine whether the user is talking; and

wherein, when the logic is configured to select the avatar facial expression for the selected avatar, based on the determined facial expression, the logic is further configured to;

select a talking avatar facial expression, when the user is talking.

19. The communication device of claim 14, wherein when the logic is configured to determine the facial expression associated with the user of the communication device, the logic is further configured to:

determine the facial expression based on user input.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein when the logic is configured to determine the facial expression based on user input, the logic is further configured to:

receive a selection of the avatar facial selection from a list of avatar facial expressions provided to the user;

or

receive user manipulation of an avatar image, wherein the user manipulation corresponds to a gesture performed by the user on the avatar image displayed by the communication device.