IP Library Granted Patent US 9,256,861
Granted Patent B2
US 9,256,861 · App. 13/035,035 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Modifying avatar behavior based on user action or mood

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,256,861
App. No.
13/035,035
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for enabling the selection of wallpaper to modify the mood projected by an avatar. The mood projected by an avatar may be modified, for example, by modifying behaviors and/or appearance of the avatar to characterize a mood to be projected. The mood projected by an avatar also may be modified based on user action, such as user input of a mood to be projected by the avatar.

Claims (27)

1. A computer-implemented method for modifying an avatar associated with an identity of a user of a communications application, the method comprising:

monitoring, by at least one processor, at least one additional application executing on a computing device associated with the user, the at least one additional application being distinct from the communications application;

inferring, based on the monitored at least one additional application, a mood of the user of the communications application; and

modifying the avatar based on the inferred mood of the user of the communications application.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the modified avatar to another user of the communications application with whom the user is communicating.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the mood of the user includes determining behavior of the user from the monitored application.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the behavior of the user includes determining at least one of a duration of online presence of the user, an intensity of online activity of the user, or a type of online activity of the user from the monitored application.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises changing an appearance of the avatar in response to the inferred mood.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises playing an animation of the avatar in response to the inferred mood such that the played animation is different from an animation played for the avatar when unmodified.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises modifying a text trigger used to animate the avatar in response to the inferred mood such that the text trigger is different from a text trigger used to animate the avatar when unmodified, the text trigger including a character string in a message sent using the communication application.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises modifying a wallpaper that defines a visually perceivable background for the avatar.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein modifying the wallpaper comprises animating one or more wallpaper objects of the wallpaper.

10. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method modifying an avatar associated with an identity of a user of a communications application, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one additional application executing on a computing device associated with the user, the at least one additional application being distinct from the communications application;

inferring, based on the monitored at least one additional application, a mood of the user of the communications application; and

modifying the avatar based on the inferred mood of the user of the communications application.

11. The system of claim 10 , the method

further comprising presenting the modified avatar to another user of the communications application with whom the user is communicating.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein inferring the mood of the user includes determining behavior of the user from the monitored application.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining the behavior of the user includes determining at least one of a duration of online presence of the user, an intensity of online activity of the user, or a type of online activity of the user from the monitored application.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises changing an appearance of the avatar in response to the inferred mood.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises playing an animation of the avatar in response to the inferred mood such that the played animation is different from an animation played for the avatar when unmodified.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises modifying a text trigger used to animate the avatar in response to the inferred mood such that the text trigger is different from a text trigger used to animate the avatar when unmodified, the text trigger including a character string in a message sent using the communication application.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein modifying the avatar comprises modifying a wallpaper that defines a visually perceivable background for the avatar.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein modifying the wallpaper comprises animating one or more wallpaper objects of the wallpaper.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034544/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2012
From: AOL INC.
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028799/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: BLATTNER, PATRICK D.
To: AMERICA ONLINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 026125/0215 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: AOL LLC
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 026125/0301 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 14, 2011
From: AMERICA ONLINE, INC.
To: AOL LLC
Reel/Frame 026125/0713 →