Video enhancement of an avatar

1. A method for a transmitting communication device to enhance one or more virtual images at a recipient communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing an initial avatar;

receiving a digital image from a video source;

obtaining one or more network performance parameters;

modifying the digital image based upon the one or more network performance parameters to produce a modified digital image;

combining the modified digital image with the initial avatar to produce a modified avatar;

generating a change message based upon identifying one or more differences between the modified avatar and the initial avatar; and

transmitting the change message to the recipient communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the initial avatar to the recipient communication device prior to transmitting the change message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial avatar is stored in video frame format and wherein the step of combining the modified digital image with the initial avatar further comprises:

subtracting the initial avatar from the modified digital image on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the initial avatar from the recipient communication device prior to storing the initial avatar.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial avatar is selected from a plurality of stored reference avatars.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether a difference between the modified avatar and the digital image is within a predetermined precision parameter prior to generating the change message, wherein the change message is generated only when the difference between the modified avatar and the digital image is greater than the predetermined precision parameter.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of generating the change message comprises:

generating the change message to use a maximum available bandwidth based on the network performance parameters when the difference between the modified avatar and the digital image is greater than the predetermined precision parameter; and

generating the change message to use less than the maximum available bandwidth when the difference between the modified avatar and the digital image is less than the predetermined precision parameter.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change message further includes an animation control datum.

9. A communication device comprising:

a video source for generating a digital image;

a network performance monitor for determining one or more network performance parameters for a network in which the communication device is operating;

a memory for storing one or more reference avatars and one or more modified avatars;

an image processor coupled to the video source, the network performance monitor, and the memory, the image processor adapted to:

modify the digital image based upon the one or more network performance parameters to produce a modified digital image;

combine the modified digital image with a reference avatar to produce a modified avatar, and

generate a change message based upon identifying one or more differences between the modified avatar and the reference avatar; and

a transmitter coupled to the image processor for transmitting the change message to a recipient communication device.

10. A communication device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is further adapted to transmit a communication notification message to the recipient communication device, wherein the communication device further includes a receiver adapted to receive a response to the communication notification message from the recipient communication device, and wherein the network performance monitor estimates an available bandwidth of the network based on a round trip time associated with transmission of the communication notification message and receipt of the response to the communication notification message.

11. A communication device comprising:

a camera configured to digitally capture an image;

a network performance monitor for determining one or more network performance parameters for a network in which the communication device is operating;

a memory for storing at least a reference avatar;

a processor coupled to the camera, the network performance monitor, and the memory, the processor adapted to:

modify the image based upon the one or more network performance parameters to produce a modified image;

combine the modified image with the reference avatar to produce a modified avatar,

determine one or more differences between the modified avatar and the reference avatar; and

generate a change instruction based upon the one or more differences;

an avatar video compressor, coupled to the processor, configured to create a change message based upon the change instruction; and

a transmitter, coupled to the avatar video compressor, configured to transmit the change message.

12. A communication device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:

a receiver, coupled to the processor, configured to receive a second change message, the second change message providing instruction for the processor to modify a second reference avatar stored in the memory, wherein the processor is further adapted to modify the second reference avatar based on the second change message to produce a modified second avatar; and

a display, coupled to the processor, configured to display the modified second avatar.