IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,191,497
Granted Patent B2
US 9,191,497 · App. 11/955,786 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Method and apparatus for implementing avatar modifications in another user's avatar

Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr. (Crystal Lake, IL); Dean Thorson (Grayslake, IL)
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
H04M3/42H04M1/72544H04M2203/1025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,191,497
App. No.
11/955,786
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus that implements avatar modifications to another user's avatar from a first mobile communication device is disclosed. The method may include selecting an avatar modification to relating to a user of a second mobile communication device based on input from a user, and sending a signal to initiate transmission of selected avatar modification to at least one of the second mobile communication device, an avatar management server, and a plurality of mobile communication devices wherein the user's avatar modification may be viewed by other mobile communication device users.

Claims (23)

1. A method for implementing avatar modifications to another user's avatar from a first mobile communication device, comprising:

selecting, at the first mobile communication device, an avatar modification relating to a user of a second mobile communication device;

sending a signal to initiate transmission of the selected avatar modification to at least one of the second mobile communication device, an avatar management server, and a plurality of mobile communication devices to show the avatar modification on at least one third mobile communication device; and

wherein the avatar modification expires after a predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected avatar modification shows one of emotions, mood, state or mind, presence, and present status, on the second communication device user's avatar.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating the avatar modification, wherein the created avatar modification is selected as the avatar modification relating to the user of the second mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device are members of a mobile communication group, one member of the group causing other members of the group to view the second mobile communication device user's avatar with modification.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein another member of the mobile communication group may modify the avatar modification.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected avatar modification shows the user's avatar as one of smiling, frowning, crying, sleeping, angry, and laughing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each mobile communication device is one of a portable MP3 player, a satellite radio receiver, an AM/FM radio receiver, a satellite television, a portable music player, a portable computer, a wireless radio, a wireless telephone, a portable digital video recorder, a cellular telephone, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

8. A mobile communication device that implements avatar modifications to another user's avatar, comprising:

a processor;

a user interface;

a communication interface;

an avatar management unit that selects an avatar modification relating to a user of a second mobile communication device based on input from a user on the user interface, and sends a signal using the communication interface to initiate transmission of the selected avatar modification to at least one of the second mobile communication device, an avatar management server, and a plurality of mobile communication devices to show the avatar modification on at least one third mobile communication device; and

wherein the avatar modification expires after a predetermined time period.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the selected avatar modification shows one of emotions, mood, state or mind, presence, and present status, on the second communication device user's avatar.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the avatar management unit receives an avatar modification created by a user, wherein the created avatar modification is selected based on the user's input.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device are members of a mobile communication group, one member of the group causing other members of the group to view the second mobile communication device user's avatar modification.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein another member of the mobile communication group may modify the avatar modification.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the selected avatar modification shows the user's avatar as one of smiling, frowning, crying, sleeping, angry, and laughing.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile communication device is one of a portable MP3 player, a satellite radio receiver, an AM/FM radio receiver, a satellite television, a portable music player, a portable computer, a wireless radio, a wireless telephone, a portable digital video recorder, a cellular telephone, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2014
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
To: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 034625/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2012
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
Reel/Frame 028829/0856 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2010
From: MOTOROLA, INC
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC
Reel/Frame 025673/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2007
From: ALBERTH, WILLIAM P., JR.; THORSON, DEAN
To: MOTOROLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 020241/0240 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090158160A1 · Jun 18, 2009