Animation in threaded conversations

• US 9,911,222 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TangoMe Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TangoMe Incorporated
• Inventors: Setton, Eric, Raz, Uri, Barile, Ian, Lee, Geoff, Odell, Jamie, Phan, Huy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ge, Jin
• Application Number:
  US13/839,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 345473
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A method for augmenting a threaded conversation between a first device and a second device. The method includes: receiving a selection of a selectable animation, via a selection of a selectable animation representation, at the first device, wherein the selectable animation is configured for augmenting the threaded conversation; and incorporating the selection of the selectable animation into the threaded conversation such that the selectable animation appears in a conversation view of the first device and the second device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for augmenting a threaded conversation between a first device and a second device, said method comprising:

displaying a selectable picture image representing a set of selectable animation representations, whereupon, a selection of said selectable picture image renders a display of said set of selectable animation representations,

said selectable picture image includes only an image without alphanumeric text;

receiving a selection of a selectable animation, via said selection of said selectable animation representation of said set of selectable animation representations, at a touch screen display of said first device,

said selectable animation augmenting said threaded conversation,

each selectable animation, in said selection of the selectable animation representations, being location specific selectable animation determined based on a location of the first device;

incorporating said selection of said selectable animation into said threaded conversation such that said selectable animation appears in a conversation view of said first device and said second device,

said selectable animation is superimposed as an overlay on said threaded conversation such that said selectable animation is concurrently superimposed and overlaid upon said conversation view of said threaded conversation; and

displaying at said second device, purchasing information for said location specific selectable animation.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a set of selectable animation representations at said first device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection of said selectable picture image, displaying said set of selectable animation representations.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said displaying said set of selectable animation representations comprises:

displaying said set of selectable animation representations in an animation control bar that replaces an existing control bar on a display screen of said first device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said displaying said set of selectable animation representations comprises:

displaying said set of selectable animation representations in a list format.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said displaying said set of selectable animation representations comprises:

displaying said set of selectable animation representations in a carousel format.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an activation action for said selectable animation; and

in response to receiving said activation action, playing said selectable animation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

playing said selectable animation repeatedly in response to a receipt of repeated activation actions.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at said second device, concurrently with an appearance of said selectable animation in said conversation view, the purchasing information associated with a set of selectable animation representations.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at said first device, at an end of a video conference, concurrently with an appearance of said selectable animation in said conversation view, purchasing information associated with a set of selectable animation representations.

11. A first device for participation in a threaded conversation, said first device comprising:

a touch screen display disposed on said first device for displaying a threaded conversation with a second device, for displaying a selectable picture image, and for receiving user input;

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

displaying said selectable picture image representing a set of selectable animation representations, whereupon, a selection of said selectable picture image renders a display of said set of selectable animation representations,

said selectable picture image includes only an image without alphanumeric text;

receiving a selection of a selectable animation at said touch screen display, via a selection of a selectable animation representation,

said selectable animation augmenting said threaded conversation,

each selectable animation, in said selection of the selectable animation representations, being location specific selectable animation determined based on a location of the first device;

incorporating said selection of said selectable animation into said threaded conversation appearing at said second device,

said selectable animation is superimposed as an overlay on said threaded conversation;

transmitting said threaded conversation comprising said selection of said selectable animation,

said threaded conversation comprising said selection is displayed in a conversation view at said second device such that said selectable animation is concurrently superimposed and overlaid upon said conversation view of said threaded conversation; and

displaying at said second device, purchasing information for said location specific selectable animation.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a video camera.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a microphone.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause a computer processor to perform a method of:

displaying, at a touch screen display of a first device, a selectable picture image representing a set of selectable animation representations, whereupon, a selection of said selectable picture image renders a display of said set of selectable animation representations,

said selectable picture image includes only an image without alphanumeric text;

receiving a selection of a selectable animation, via said selection of said selectable animation representation, at said touch screen display of said first device,

said selectable animation augmenting a threaded conversation,

each selectable animation, in said selection of the selectable animation representations, being location specific selectable animation determined based on a location of the first device;

incorporating said selection of said selectable animation into said threaded conversation such that said selectable animation appears in a conversation view of said first device and a second device,

said selectable animation is superimposed as an overlay on said threaded conversation such that said selectable animation is concurrently superimposed and overlaid upon said conversation view of said threaded conversation; and

displaying, at said second device and concurrently with the appearance of said selectable animation in said conversation view, purchasing information for said location specific selectable animation.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

displaying, at said first device, said purchasing information associated with said selectable animation.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein said displaying, at said first device, said purchasing information associated with said selectable animation comprises:

displaying, at said first device, concurrently with an appearance of said selectable animation in said conversation view, said purchasing information associated with said selectable animation.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said displaying, at said second device, said purchasing information associated with said selectable animation comprises:

displaying an animation package available for a limited number of days for a cost to a user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said displaying, at said second device, said purchasing information associated with said selectable animation comprises:

displaying an animation package available for a limited number of days for no cost to a user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said displaying, at said second device, purchasing information associated with said selectable animation comprises:

displaying a first set of selectable purchasing information images, whereupon in response to receiving a selection of said first set of selectable purchasing information images, displaying a first set of details of said purchasing information.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said displaying, at said second device, purchasing information associated with said selectable animation comprises:

displaying a second set of selectable purchasing information images, whereupon in response to receiving a selection of said second set of selectable purchasing information images, displaying a second set of details of said purchasing information.