Avatars Reflecting User States

• US 20110296324A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stahl, Geoff, Goossens, Thomas, Baumann, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating and using customized avatar instances to reflect current user states are disclosed. In various implementations, the user states can be defined using trigger events based on user-entered textual data, emoticons, or states of the device being used. For each user state, a customized avatar instance having a facial expression, body language, accessories, clothing items, and/or a presentation scheme reflective of the user state can be generated. When one or more trigger events indicating occurrence of a particular user state are detected on the device, the avatar presented on the device is updated with the customized avatar instance associated with the particular user state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving first user input associating a user state with an instance of an avatar representing a user, the instance of the avatar having a facial expression representative of the user state;

detecting occurrence of one or more trigger events on a device, the one or more trigger events indicating presence of the user state; and

updating a current instance of the avatar presented on a user interface of the device with the instance of the avatar associated with the user state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user state is one of a plurality of preset user states, and wherein receiving the first user input associating the user state with the instance of the avatar further comprises:

presenting the plurality of preset user states, each of the preset user states is associated with a respective preset avatar instance having a respective facial expression representative of the preset user state; and

for each of the plurality of preset user states;

receiving respective second user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the preset user state, the respective second user input adjusting the facial expression shown on the preset avatar instance associated with the preset user state; and

associating the customized avatar instance with the preset user state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the respective second user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the preset user state further comprises:

receiving the second user input on a facial feature of the preset avatar instance, the second user input adjusting at least one of a location, shape, or size of the facial feature; and

generating the customized avatar instance based on the adjusted facial feature.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the respective second user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the preset user state further comprises:

receiving the second input on the facial expression of the preset avatar instance, the second user input adjusting an emotional intensity level associated with the facial expression; and

generating the customized avatar instance based on the facial expression having the adjusted emotional intensity level.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

creating and storing a user state definition for the user state based on the first user input, the user state definition specifying the one or more trigger events indicating presence of the user state and referencing the instance of the avatar associated with the user state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user state is one of a plurality of preset user states, and wherein receiving the first user input associating the user state with the instance of the avatar further comprises:

presenting a plurality of preset avatar instances having respective facial expressions representative of the preset user state, wherein the preset avatar instances have been generated based on common characteristics of a plurality of customized avatar instances associated with the preset user state by a plurality of other users; and

receiving the first user input selecting one of the plurality of preset avatar instances as the avatar instance for the user state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input associating the user state with the instance of the avatar further comprises:

receiving second user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the user state, the second user input adjusting a facial expression shown on a preset avatar instance associated with the user state and at least one of accessories and clothing items on the preset avatar instance; and

associating the customized avatar instance with the user state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input associating the user state with the instance of the avatar further comprises:

receiving second user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the user state, the second user input adjusting a presentation scheme for a preset avatar instance associated with the user state, the presentation scheme include at least one of a background image, a background sound effect, or an animation effect accompanying the presentation of the avatar in a user interface; and

associating the customized avatar instance with the user state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user state is user-defined, and wherein receiving the first user input associating the user state with the instance of the avatar further comprises:

receiving second user input defining the user state, the second user input specifying the one or more trigger events that indicate presence of the user state;

receiving third user input for generating a customized avatar instance for the user state; and

associating the customized avatar instance with the user-defined user state.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user state is defined by a textual string, the textual string being one of a word, a phrase, an emoticon, a punctuation, or a text format that conveys an emotional connotation associated with the user state, and

wherein detecting the occurrence of the one or more trigger events on the device further comprises detecting occurrences of the textual string in a textual message sent from the device.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user state is defined by a predetermined time associated with a special occasion, and

wherein detecting the occurrence of the one or more events on the device further comprises detecting arrival of the predetermined time on the device.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user state is defined by a manner in which the user is interacting with the device, the manner of interaction includes at least one of a speed, frequency, and outcome of the interaction, and

wherein detecting the occurrence of the one or more trigger events on the device further comprises detecting that inputs are being received from the user in the manner that defines the user state.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user state is defined by a state of the device, the state of the device includes at least one of a type of the device, a power level of the device, and a bandwidth of the device, and

wherein detecting the occurrence of the one or more trigger events on the device further comprises detecting a match between a current state of the device and the device state that defines the user state.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the current instance of the avatar presented on the user interface of the device with the instance of the avatar associated with the user state further comprises:

determining that the avatar is currently presented on the user interface and that the avatar instance that is currently presented differs from the instance of the avatar associated with the user state; and

replacing the avatar instance currently presented with the avatar instance associated with the user state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein replacing the avatar instance further comprises:

providing intermediate instances of the avatar on the user interface to show a smooth transition from the current avatar instance to the updated avatar instance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transition from the current avatar to the updated avatar instance occurs at a speed that is dependent on the user state.

17. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving first user input defining a user state by one or more trigger events;

receiving second user input specifying a customized avatar instance to represent the user state, the customized avatar instance showing a user-defined facial expression on a personalized avatar associated with the user;

associating the customized avatar instance with the user-defined user state;

detecting occurrence of the one or more trigger events on a device; and

updating a current instance of the personalized avatar presented on a user interface of the device with the customized avatar instance associated with the user state.

18. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving first user input associating a user state with an instance of an avatar representing a user, the instance of the avatar having a facial expression representative of the user state;

detecting occurrence of one or more trigger events on a device, the one or more trigger events indicating presence of the user state; and

updating a current instance of the avatar presented on a user interface of the device with the instance of the avatar associated with the user state.

19. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving first user input defining a user state by one or more trigger events;

receiving second user input specifying a customized avatar instance to represent the user state, the customized avatar instance showing a user-defined facial expression on a personalized avatar associated with the user;

associating the customized avatar instance with the user-defined user state;

detecting occurrence of the one or more trigger events on a device; and

updating a current instance of the personalized avatar presented on a user interface of the device with the customized avatar instance associated with the user state.

20. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving first user input defining a user state by one or more trigger events;

receiving second user input specifying a customized avatar instance to represent the user state, the customized avatar instance showing a user-defined facial expression on a personalized avatar associated with the user;

associating the customized avatar instance with the user-defined user state;

detecting occurrence of the one or more trigger events on a device; and

updating a current instance of the personalized avatar presented on a user interface of the device with the customized avatar instance associated with the user state.