Method and system for enhanced messaging using emotional and locational information

• US 9,998,886 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Lau, Chung, Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US15/686,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20170353841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging

Abstract

Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information, such as emotional information, from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a data storage device storing at least computer program code for facilitating communication among users of mobile electronic devices, the computer program code stored on the data storage device including at least;

computer program code for receiving message content for an electronic message via a first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for accessing emotional information;

computer program code for accessing location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for determining whether at least one indication has been received via the first mobile electronic device to influence whether at least a portion of the emotional information is to be provided with the electronic message, the at least one indication received being user-initiated via the first mobile electronic device and being for the electronic message;

computer program code for determining based at least in part on the at least one indication whether the at least a portion of the emotional information is to be provided with the electronic message;

computer program code for determining whether at least a portion of the location information is to be provided with the electronic message;

computer program code for identifying a plurality of other mobile electronic devices thereof that are to receive the electronic message; and

computer program code for initiating sending of the electronic message along with (i) the at least a portion of the emotional information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network, provided that the computer program code for determining whether the at least a portion of the emotional information is to be provided determines that the at least a portion of the emotional information is to be provided with the electronic message, and/or (ii) the at least a portion of the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network, provided that the computer program code for determining whether at least a portion of the location information is to be provided with the electronic message determines that the at least a portion of the location information is to be provided with the electronic message.

2. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for augmenting the electronic message to include the at least a portion of the location information.

3. A computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the at least a portion of the location information, prior to the computer program code for augmenting acting to augment the electronic message to include the at least a portion of the location information.

4. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the at least a portion of the location information of the first mobile electronic device, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending such to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices, wherein the computer program code for modifying the at least a portion of the location information produces modified location information that facilitates display of a graphical representation of the at least a portion of the location information, and

computer program code for coupling the modified location information to the electronic message, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending such to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

5. A computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the message content comprises graphical content.

6. A computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the computer program code for modifying the at least a portion of the location information produces modified location information based at least in part on a local network.

7. A computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the computer program code for accessing the location information is configured to determine the location information based on at least location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device.

8. A computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the computer program code for accessing the location information is configured to determine the location information based on at least (i) location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device, or (ii) other location data associated with a local network available for use by the first mobile electronic device.

9. A computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device is provided at least in part by a local positioning system.

10. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the data storage device comprises:

computer program code for processing the location information to determine a location designation of the first mobile electronic device; and

computer program code for coupling the location designation to the electronic message, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending of the electronic message along with the at least a portion of the location information to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

11. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code stored in the data storage device comprises:

computer program code for augmenting the electronic message to include the at least a portion of the emotional information.

12. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the emotional information corresponds to an emotional state of a user of the first mobile electronic device.

13. A computing device as recited in claim 12, wherein the emotional information to be provided with the electronic message includes at least a graphical symbol that represents the emotional state.

14. A computing device as recited in claim 13, wherein the emotional state of the user is at least one of sad, happy, mad, stressed or excited.

15. A computing device as recited in claim 13, wherein the message content comprises image data.

16. A computing device as recited in claim 13,

wherein the first mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone,

wherein the graphical symbol comprises a face icon, and

wherein the message content comprises graphical content.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangible stored thereon for facilitating communication among users of mobile electronic devices, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving message content for an electronic message via a first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for identifying a plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof that are to receive the electronic message;

computer program code for accessing location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for determining whether at least one indication has been received via the first mobile electronic device to influence whether emotional information and/or location information is to be provided with the electronic message, the at least one indication received being user-initiated and received via the first mobile electronic device and being for the electronic message;

computer program code for determining based at least in part on the at least one indication whether the emotional information and/or the location information is to be provided with the electronic message; and

computer program code for initiating sending of the electronic message with the emotional information and/or the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network, provided that the computer program code for determining whether the emotional information and/or location information is to be provided determines that the emotional information and/or the location information is to be provided with the electronic message.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for augmenting the electronic message to include the location information prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending such to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the location information acquired from the first mobile electronic device, prior to the computer program code for augmenting acting to augment the electronic message to include the location information.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the location information of the first mobile electronic device, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending of the electronic message along with the at least a portion of the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices, wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information produces modified location information that facilitates display of a graphical representation of the location information, and

computer program code for coupling the modified location information to the electronic message, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending of the electronic message along with the at least a portion of the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the message content comprises graphical content.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information produces modified location information based at least in part on a local network.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 22, wherein the local network comprises a Wi-Fi network.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the computer program code for accessing the location information comprises determining the location information based on at least location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the computer program code for accessing the location information comprises determining the location information based on at least (i) location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device, and (ii) other location data associated with a local network available for use by the first mobile electronic device.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device is provided at least in part by a local positioning system.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the location information to determine a location designation of the first mobile electronic device; and

computer program code for coupling the location designation to the electronic message, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending of the electronic message along with the at least a portion of the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a message from another mobile electronic device via the at least one wireless network, the received message including at least received status information; and

computer program code for displaying at least a portion of the received message with at least one representation of the received status information.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the received status information includes at least location information associated with the another mobile electronic device, and wherein the at least one representation of the retrieved status information at least represents the location information associated with the another mobile electronic device.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the received status information includes at least movement information associated with the another mobile electronic device, and wherein the at least one representation of the retrieved status information at least represents a visual representation of the movement information associated with the another mobile electronic device.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the received status information includes at least temperature information associated with a location of the another mobile electronic device, and wherein the at least one representation of the received status information at least represents a visual representation of the temperature information.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the location information to determine a location designation of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for associating the location designation to the electronic message, prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending of the electronic message with the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices;

computer program code for receiving a message from another mobile electronic device via the at least one wireless network;

computer program code for determining whether the received message includes at least received status information; and

computer program code for displaying at least a portion of the received message and at least one representation of the retrieved status information when the computer program code for determining determines that the received message includes at least the received status information.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 32,

wherein the emotional information to be provided with the electronic message is represented as a graphical symbol,

wherein the first mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone,

wherein the graphical symbol comprises a face icon, and

wherein the message content comprises graphical content.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17,

wherein the emotional information to be provided with the electronic message is represented as a graphical symbol,

wherein the first mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone, and

wherein the graphical symbol comprises a face icon.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 34, wherein the emotional information being represented as the graphical symbol is at least one of sad, happy, mad, stressed or excited.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the message content comprises image data.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangible stored thereon for facilitating augmented communication among users of mobile electronic devices, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving message content for an electronic message via a first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for identifying a plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof that are to receive the electronic message;

computer program code for accessing location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for modifying the location information of the first mobile electronic device, wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information produces modified location information that facilitates display of a graphical representation of the location information;

computer program code for determining whether at least one indication has been received via the first mobile electronic device to influence whether emotional information and the modified location information are to be provided with the electronic message, the at least one indication received being user-initiated and received via the first mobile electronic device and being for the electronic message;

computer program code for determining, based at least in part on the at least one indication, whether the emotional information and the modified location information are to be provided with the electronic message;

computer program code for coupling the emotion information and the modified location information to the electronic message to produce an augmented electronic message, provided that the computer program code for determining whether the emotional information and the modified location information are to be provided with the electronic message determines that the emotional information and the modified location information are to be provided with the electronic message; and

computer program code for initiating sending of the augmented electronic message with the emotional information and the modified location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the augmented electronic message as augmented is a single electronic message including the message content, the emotional information and the modified location information, and wherein the augmented electronic message is easily distributed and rendered.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the message content comprises graphical content.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information produces the modified location information based at least in part on a local network.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 40, wherein the local network comprises a Wi-Fi network.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the location information is based on at least location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device.

43. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the location information is based on at least (i) location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device, and (ii) other location data associated with a local network available for use by the first mobile electronic device.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device is provided at least in part by a local positioning system.

45. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the emotional information is regarding a user of the first mobile electronic device.

46. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 45,

wherein the emotional information to be provided with the electronic message is represented as a graphical symbol, and

wherein the first mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone.

47. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the graphical symbol comprises a face icon, and wherein the emotional information being represented as the graphical symbol is at least one of sad, happy, mad, stressed or excited.

48. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the message content comprises image data.

49. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the augmented electronic message as augmented is (i) a single, composite electronic message including the message content, the emotional information and the modified location information, and (ii) able to be efficiently distributed and rendered.

50. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 49, wherein the message content comprises graphical content.