IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,042,623
Granted Patent B2
US 11,042,623 · App. 16/831,432 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Expression recognition in messaging systems

Inventors: Eric Leuthardt (St. Louis, MO); Scott Stern (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: FaceToFace Biometrics, Inc.
G06F21/32G06F3/00G06F3/011G06F3/0304G06F21/629G06Q30/0271H04L63/0861H04W4/21H04W12/06G06F2203/011G06K9/00302H04W4/12H04W12/65
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,042,623
App. No.
16/831,432
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include a messaging system capable of expression-based communication and/or expression-based actions. The messaging system can run on a computing device. For example, the messaging system monitors a camera feed from a camera of the computing device to detect a biometric signature when a messaging interface of the messaging application is actively being used. The messaging system can match the detected biometric signature against a known profile utilizing a facial recognition process to authenticate an operating user to use the messaging application. The messaging system can determine a human expression based on the detected biometric signature utilizing an expression recognition process to associate a contextual tag with an activity on the messaging interface. The messaging system can then communicate with a message server system to associate the contextual tag with content presented to the operating user or a conversation participated by the operating user via the messaging application.

Claims (32)

1. A computer device comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:

receive a selection of an emoticon;

monitor a sensor feed provided by one or more sensors of the computer device to detect a plurality of human facial expression states;

automatically generate a dynamic emoticon that simulates the detected plurality of human facial expression states on the selected emoticon based on the sensor feed of the plurality of human facial expression states; and

route a message with the dynamic emoticon to a second computer device.

2. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein a messaging interface is used to compose the message, and wherein the dynamic emoticon is embedded as part of the message.

3. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to detect a facial profile and to match the facial profile against a known facial profile utilizing a facial recognition process to authenticate an operating user.

4. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the detected plurality of human facial expression states includes a smile, a laugh, a grimace, a frown, a pout, or any combination thereof.

5. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the detected plurality of human facial expression states includes an expression corresponding to a mood or an emotion, a micro expression, a stimulated expression, a neutralized expression, a masked expression, or any combination thereof.

6. The computer device of claim 1 , where the at least one processor is further programmed to analyze a human facial expression using an expression recognition process to detect the human facial expression state.

7. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic emoticon is embedded at a displayable portion of the message.

8. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein a human facial expression is captured in real-time from the one or more sensors.

9. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to detect a plurality of human facial expression states on a periodic basis based on a predetermined period of time.

10. The computer device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor feed is analyzed for an expression recognition process and a biometric recognition process.

11. A computer-implemented method of operating a messaging application, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of an emoticon;

monitoring a sensor feed provided by one or more sensors of a computer device to detect a plurality of human facial expression states;

automatically generating a dynamic emoticon that simulates the detected plurality of human facial expression states on the selected emoticon based on the sensor feed of the plurality of human facial expression states; and

route a message with the dynamic emoticon to a second computer device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein a messaging interface is used to compose the message, and wherein the dynamic emoticon is embedded as part of the message.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting a facial profile and matching the facial profile against a known facial profile utilizing a facial recognition process to authenticate an operating user.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the detected plurality of human facial expression states includes a smile, a laugh, a grimace, a frown, a pout, or any combination thereof.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the detected plurality of human facial expression states includes an expression corresponding to a mood or an emotion, a micro expression, a stimulated expression, a neutralized expression, a masked expression, or any combination thereof.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising analyzing a human facial expression using an expression recognition process to detect the human facial expression state.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein a human facial expression is captured in real-time from the one or more sensors.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising continuously detecting human facial expression states using one or more sensors of the computer device after detecting a first human facial expression state.

19. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a computer device having at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

receive a selection of an emoticon;

monitor a sensor feed provided by one or more sensors of the computer device to detect a plurality of human facial expression state;

automatically generate a dynamic emoticon that displays the selected emoticon changing to the plurality of detected human facial expression states based on the sensor feed of the plurality of human facial expression states; and

route a message with the dynamic emoticon to a second computer device, wherein the second computer device displays the selected emoticon changing to the detected plurality of human facial expression states.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 , wherein the detected plurality of human facial expression states includes a smile, a laugh, a grimace, a frown, a pout, or any combination thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2020
From: LEUTHARDT, ERIC; STERN, SCOTT
To: FACETOFACE BIOMETRICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052239/0074 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16397787 · Apr 30, 2019
Continuation 14643810 · Mar 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62051031 · Sep 16, 2014
Provisional Application 61985059 · Apr 28, 2014
Provisional Application 61950423 · Mar 10, 2014
Related Publication 20200226239A1 · Jul 16, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,536,263 US 12,639,411