US 20040179039A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0179039 A1
(43) Pub. Date:
Blattner et al.
(54) USING AVATARS TO COMMUNICATE
Publication Classi?cation
(76) Inventors: Patrick D. Blattner, Sterling, VA (US);
John D. Robinson, South Riding, VA
(US); Michael J. Blackwell, Lewis
Center, OH (US); John Thomas Love,
Sterling, VA (US); David S. Levinson,
Round Hill, VA (US)
Correspondence Address:
1425 K STREET, NW.
WASHINGTON, DC 20005-3500 (US)
(22) Filed:
Dec. 30, 2003
Related US. Application Data
(60)
Int. Cl? ..................................................... ..G09G 5/00
Us. 01. ......................... ..345/758; 345/753; 345/706
(57)
ABSTRACT
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 com
pose 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
11TH FLOOR
10/747,255
(51)
(52)
A graphical user interface on a display device for using a
computer to communicate using an avatar includes an
FISH & RICHARDSON RC.
(21) Appl. No.:
Sep. 16, 2004
Provisional application No. 60/450,663, ?led on Mar.
3, 2003. Provisional application No. 60/512,852, ?led
on Oct. 22, 2003.
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.
110
1
w BIMIQM1I1U1+182
a SuperBuddyFan1(—180a
O
- tmworkerg?j3p(—1s4
BossHsob
ChattinqChuck€180c
Admin Assistant(—180d
- Famly [3.14) 6186
Mom€180e
Dad(-180f
Brolheret?ng
130
i Zf?ire [122717116188
115
El Buddy Info
E1 Buddy (hat
El My Expressions
I] Notify ADI.
943%;
IM
Chat Write Into Setup
145
125
Read
Today
away Prefs
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 2 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
H-appyworlcll]? [9:31 AM]: 31
SuperBuddyFaM [9:31 AM]: '3'
155—
[2*], Buddy [min
B Buddy (1h at
El My lExlpregga'ilpng
E! Notify AOL
Reminder: AOL WI" ne'-.-erw'ask for yourvpaaswnrd or billing information.
FIG. 2
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 3 0f 19
00
US 2004/0179039 A1
Start instant messaging communication session
with recipient in which the sender is represented
by an avatar with multiple associated animations — 305
and multiple triggers
l
Display avatar and wallpaper having at
least one object capable of being
-— 307
animated
i
Receive text of a message
to be sent to recipient
—310
i
1
Send the message to
recipient
—315
V
Compare text of message
with animation triggers
—— 320
identify animation
— 330
associated with the trigger
Play the identi?ed animation
‘
I
Identify and play animation of '
at least one wallpaper object |l— 337
Monitor sender activity
Identify animation
associated with idle state
Play the identi?ed animation
FIG. 3
— 350
—— 355
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 19
2
gm;L
4
E
w
E
M?
.
snow
2?»ma
0 5:2
US 2004/0179039 A1
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 5 0f 19
FIG .
5
US 2004/0179039 A1
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 6 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
600
602a
'
Chem
1
Host system
602
504
C l'ien t
2
Establish instant message communication session
'
_
606
Receive input of text of a message to be
sentfrom the user of Client 1 to the user __608
of Client 2
612
Send the message to the server
>
Receive the
message and
fowvard to Client 2
-—610
>
614——
Search text of message for animation
Search text of message for animation
triggers to identify a type of animation to _616a
515b-~ triggers to identify a type of animation to
play
Play
Identify an animation having the identi?ed
type of animation for a ?rst avatar
6183
Identify an animation having the identi?ed
type of animation for a ?rst avatar
618b-
associated with the user of Client 1
associated with the user of Client 1
Play the identi?ed animation for the ?rst
Play the identi?ed animation for the ?rst
avatar that is associated with the user of —620a
Client 1
620b— avatar that is associated with the user of
Client 1
Based on the identi?ed type of animation
played for the ?rst avatar in response to —622a
a text trigger, identify a type of animation
to be played for a second avatar that is
associated with the user of Client 2
Based on the identi?ed type ofanimation
622b_ played for the ?rst avatar in response to
a text trigger, identify a type of animation
to be played for a second avatar that is
associated with the user of Client 2
Play the identi?ed type of animation for
248
Play the identi?ed type of animation for
the second avatar
624
i' _ ?irt-@3793}? 5niin5ti5n to‘bghiai'éi _:
i ‘for Wallpaper Of "16 fir-‘ft avatar and Play i
the second avatar
i _ l_den_tiiy_ty7pe_ota_n_in7la—tion io'b'eiiiaye'd' ':
6263
626‘); for wallpaper of the ?rst avatar and play |
: Identi?ed Wallpaper animation of the ?rst ,
I identi?ed wallpaper animation ofthe ?rst :
L iiiiiiii V _ avatar _________ _ J
I
i ------------------- "i
.
i
.
.
iiiii _ J
|
628b-——i Detect period of inactivity of Client 1 :
I_ ______________________ _J
i" _______________________ — 7
Identify and play animation of a type
k avatar
i ---------- "}---------- "i
.
| Detect period of inactivity of Client 1 H288
L eeeeeeeeee fl___________ _J
1
Receive the message
f _____________________ _ —l
i
:
l associated with a period of inactivity of Ii—630a
:
Client 1
i
identify and play animation of a type
:
630b—i associated with a period of inactivity of :
}
Client 1
.
|
I
FIG. 6
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 7 0f 19
00
select avatar from multiple
avatars
__ 705
|
|
I
l
l
.
.
|
I con?gure trlggers to various |
I predetermined animations }— 710
I of the selected avatar :
'
|
1
|
|
|
'
I
I
1
I
:
l
l
I
l
| con?gure appearance of the 1
1
selected avatar
I
l
I
select background for the :
selected avatar and
:
animation for objects in the I
background
I
|
I
create a trading card with
the selected avatar's image
I
l
I
: export the selected avatar
I
for use in another
:
application
I
l
|
l— 730
US 2004/0179039 A1
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 8 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
Loud and commanding,
Goofy, many and liken to
A bit aheepish, "dual!
drool. Thin monster’: 0
and confused’ bed
this dinowuv in very
describes thin guy,
pafadiva of his M‘.
8058
Slimey, lly, quiet, and
(always hissing away his
Saying 'Msol' ring: ??l
auv/I bell.
predators.
Upbeat and chipper, amwf
and iuyuI, (his mammal
never like: to be alone.
A bi? bani-up, bu? clwayl
Dopey, hath/rt mbdwhu
Slowpqcod and raluxad,
up to the challenge.
uh o lo! 0' quash'ona.
2113a frog prefers lo mops
around and be lazy.
Nd content with
The happy, play“ and.
9 hurls, ha Wantl to do
Campy and 0 bit ctaepy,
dials I'Ipa arc quits a
Everything "m1 human:
chowder.
Boxin 5
bning
Anxious, frantic, and
Ahvcya pacing
around.
Seem: quie', bill he's
willing to open up with
pectin of wiadam Mum
he'l combrklbla.
Pirate Skull
is no ona'n afar.
Friendly, happy and
Chc?y, gabby and ciwuyl
choorfvl. Ready to 90 out
and
ou'mpokon. Po||y loan 9
FIG. 8
good com/emotion.
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 9 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
00
w_)___
y
920 “
1
"
z i a It
Props, Room Lips ~
'
"
,
925
i.
1
i
A
’
Skin Tone
‘
~
‘591L113 Wm
a
a
.i
i
I
v
935
FIG. 9
,1
I
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 10 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
omow
cho p
43anu0mc2Q4,wL.5nx:m
m ow
mo ?
_
who? 8.9..
m ow
one
AW5mEw%sn:E atwo; @.320:
Noe
omvow
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 11 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
Avatar 1
appearance 1
1102a— Online Persona 1
1106a
—-1104a
behavior 1
1108a
Online Persona 2
Avatar 2
appearance 2
1106b
—1104b
behavior 2
1108b
1102c-—— Online Persona 3
Avatar 3A
appearance 3
1102d —
Online Persona 4
11060
— 1 104c
behavior 3A
1 108::
Avatar 35
appearance 3
1102e— Online Persona 5
1106c
—1104d
behavior 38
FIG. 11A
1 108d
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 12 0f 19
1 100
1105
Create or Modify
Personality including
Avatar
1110
Store Personality
j
1115
Assign Personality
1120
Start Instant Messaging j
Session with First Potential
Recipient
1125
Render User Interface for j
First Potential Recipient
1130
Start Instant Messaging
Session with Second
Potential Recipient
1135
Render User Interface J
for Second Potential
Recipient
FIG. 11B
US 2004/0179039 A1
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 13 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
1200
21M, :
Personality 1—1205
Personality 2—1210
Personality 3—1215
Personality 4———1220
Personality 5—1225
Personality 6—1230
Personality ?———1235
Personality 8———1240
Personality 9—1245
Personality 1 0—125o
: El Buddy
'
El Notify AOL
Personality 11—1255
3 information
Reminde
a Snag MattKelMul’s Personality—-—-12eo
\. :7 My Persuna|ities—1265
FIG. 12
,_
11'].
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 14 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
1300
Multiple Personalities
0
1305
l
Mane em mt Area
Q My Expressions
l — Member enters Cl’uooser.
A
2 — Cllcks ‘Change icon‘
cwn aoy
supersuddy
3 - Selecls [can and c||d<5 ‘Save '
4 > Clicks “Save Into Personallty' (saves
all four current expressions,
Um
1
Perionall
El
[EEE]
v
Mane cmenl Area...
II
1: www
5 — Pop-up prompts merrber to name
Personallty.
13503
6 - Cllcks "Management Area’
7 — Management Area allows delete and
rename of pizrsunalltlesv
1329""“13125
1340
mm
1340!:
Manly us Current 6- Close
1355
l
Supe_rBuddies
1350
Name your Personnllty‘
1345
1380
DfAynImunGNwI-Kw
FIG. 13
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 15 0f 19
1400
US 2004/0179039 A1
1405
Receive User Selection of New
Online Persona, including Avatar, to
Assign
1410
Render Updated User Interface with _/
Avatar
FIG. 14
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 16 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
1 500
1510
MONITOR FOR OUT-OF-BAND COMMUNICATIONS INDICATOR
/
1520
NO
DETECTED?
1530
DETERMINE WHETHER ACTION TO MODIFY AVATAR Is REQUIRED
/
1540
No
ACTION
REQUIRED?
1550
MODIFY AVATAR APPEARANCE 0R BEHAVIOR
"
SEND MODIFIED AVATAR WITH NEXT INSTANT MESSAGE
FIG. 15
/
1560
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 17 0f 19
US 2004/0179039 A1
Sow]M
EmSQw:E oi?m .5396 Wone
Fmog Em2wm: 3E926w>
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 18 0f 19
n
u
US 2004/0179039 A1
n
n
_
n
UU
D
_
_-
_
_
u
nn
u
_
_
m
m
32EL
L
_
-
_
_
_
_
_
_
"2 90m "Enwum>m
_
_
_
_
_
_
m
22 _
u
n
u
n m
m
m
m
n
nu
n_
n
n
_
_
_
_
|_J‘|
m
H
Em"wmwEmé
hr.QE
cum[lg
?
mok
r
Patent Application Publication Sep. 16, 2004 Sheet 19 0f 19
Instant Message Sender
System
1808
US 2004/0179039 A1
1 800
avatar model ?les IL
1 avatar expression ?les l
1808a
1808b
avatar wallpaper ?les
1808c
1605——
1610
instant messaging
communication
1807
Instant Message Host
application
System
l
|
avatar model p ayer
instant messaging
1809
server software
1832
I
user pro?le data
avatar model
181334
associations to users
3
avatar model
repository
1835
avatar model ?les
1836
avatar expression
4
1615—
mes
I837
avatar wallpaper
4 838
?les
Instant Message Recipient
System
avatar model ?les
1828
}
1828a
avatar expression ?les
1828b
avatar wallpaper ?les
1828c
1620—
instant messaging
communication
1827
application
I
avatar model player
1829
FIG. 18
'