Using avatars to communicate

• US 20040179039A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Blackwell, Michael J., Blattner, Patrick D., Robinson, John D., Levinson, David S., Love, John Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/747,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

A graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer to communicate using an avatar includes an instant message sender display. The instant message send display has a sender portion that displays a sender avatar capable of displaying multiple animations, a message compose area capable of displaying text included in the message sent from the sender to the recipient, and communication controls. At least one communication control is operable to receive an indication that the message displayed in the message compose area is to be send from the sender to the recipient. The sender avatar is animated in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient.

Claims

1. A computer program product that when executed generates a graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer to communicate using an avatar, the graphical user interface comprising:

an instant message sender display having;

a sender portion that displays a sender avatar capable of displaying multiple animations,

a message compose area capable of displaying text included in the message sent from the sender to the recipient, and

communication controls, at least one communication control being operable to receive an indication that the message displayed in the message compose area is to be sent from the sender to the recipient,

wherein the sender avatar is animated in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the instant message sender display comprises a recipient portion that displays a recipient avatar capable of displaying multiple animations in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient, a message history area capable of displaying the content of multiple messages sent between the sender and the recipient and identifying an identity associated with the recipient.

3. The computer program product of claim 2 wherein the recipient avatar is animated in response to an animation of the sender avatar.

4. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a contact list display for displaying potential recipients.

5. The computer program product of claim 4 wherein the contact list display indicates whether each potential recipient is available to receive a message.

6. The computer program product of claim 4 wherein the potential recipients are grouped and associated with an indication of a group identity.

7. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein a potential recipient displayed on the contact list is associated with a potential recipient avatar, further comprising:

displaying the potential recipient avatar on the contact list in association with an identity of the potential recipient, and

animating the potential recipient avatar on the contact list in response to animation of the potential recipient avatar displayed elsewhere.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the animation of the potential recipient avatar on the contact list comprises an animation that is substantially similar to the animation of the potential recipient avatar displayed elsewhere.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the animation of the potential recipient avatar on the contact list comprises an animation that is different than the animation of the potential recipient avatar displayed elsewhere.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the animation of the potential recipient avatar on the contact list comprises an animation that is representative of the animation of the potential recipient avatar displayed elsewhere.

11. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein graphical user interface is used for an instant messaging communication session.

12. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the trigger comprises a portion of the text of the message.

13. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the trigger comprises all of the text of the message.

14. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an environmental condition associated with the sender.

15. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates a personality characteristic associated with the sender.

16. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an emotional state associated with the sender.

17. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates a setting characteristic associated with the sender.

18. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an activity associated with the sender.

19. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the sender avatar is animated in response to the passing of a predetermined amount of time during which the sender does not communicate a message to the recipient.

20. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the sender avatar is animated in response to the passing of a predetermined amount of time during which the sender does not use a computing device that is used by the sender to communicate with the recipient in the communications session.

21. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the avatar animation used as the communication conduit comprises a breakout animation that involves displaying avatar outside of normal display space occupied by the avatar.

22. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the sender avatar is animated to produce sounds used for verbal communication.

23. A graphical user interface configured for presentation on a display device and comprising:

a sender portion that displays a sender avatar capable of displaying multiple animations;

a message compose area capable of displaying text included in the message sent from the sender to the recipient; and

communication controls, at least one communication control being operable to receive an indication that the message displayed in the message compose area is to be sent from the sender to the recipient,

wherein the sender avatar is animated in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient.

24. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein the instant message sender display comprises a recipient portion that displays a recipient avatar capable of displaying multiple animations in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient, a message history area capable of displaying the content of multiple messages sent between the sender and the recipient and identifying an identity associated with the recipient.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 24 wherein the recipient avatar is animated in response to an animation of the sender avatar.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a contact list display for displaying potential recipients.

27. The graphical user interface of claim 26 wherein the contact list display indicates whether each potential recipient is available to receive a message.

28. The graphical user interface of claim 26 wherein the potential recipients are grouped and associated with an indication of a group identity.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 26, wherein a potential recipient displayed on the contact list is associated with a potential recipient avatar, further comprising:

displaying the potential recipient avatar on the contact list in association with an identity of the potential recipient; and

animating the potential recipient avatar on the contact list in response to animation of the potential recipient avatar displayed elsewhere.

30. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an environmental condition associated with the sender.

31. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates a personality characteristic associated with the sender.

32. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an emotional state associated with the sender.

33. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates a setting characteristic associated with the sender.

34. The graphical user interface of claim 23 wherein appearance or animation of the sender avatar indicates an activity associated with the sender.

35. A system for generating a graphical user interface configured for presentation on a display device and comprising:

means for generating a sender portion that displays a sender avatar capable of displaying multiple animations;

means for generating a message compose area capable of displaying text included in the message sent from the sender to the recipient; and

means for generating communication controls, at least one communication control being operable to receive an indication that the message displayed in the message compose area is to be sent from the sender to the recipient,

wherein the sender avatar is animated in response to a trigger related to content of a message sent from a sender to a recipient.