Source: http://patents.com/us-10083393.html
Timestamp: 2018-12-14 13:07:40
Document Index: 435238439

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2008334049', 'Application No. 200880123673', 'application No. 2010', 'Application No. 10', 'application No. 2008801236739', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2013', 'application No. 2008801236739', 'application No. 200880123673']

US Patent # 1,008,3393. Interactive avatar for social network services - Patents.com
United States Patent 10,083,393
Nims , et al. September 25, 2018
Nims; Jason (Beaverton, OR), Tagliabue; Roberto (Lake Oswego, OR), Quatrochi; Danielle (Beaverton, OR)
Family ID: 40677038
14/521,678
US 20150046847 A1 Feb 12, 2015
12324140 Nov 26, 2008 8892999
60991589 Nov 30, 2007
Current CPC Class: A63B 24/0059 (20130101); G06F 19/00 (20130101); G06F 17/3089 (20130101); G06N 3/006 (20130101); G06Q 10/10 (20130101); A61B 5/744 (20130101); A61B 5/0022 (20130101); A61B 5/1118 (20130101); G06F 21/6245 (20130101); H04L 65/403 (20130101); H04L 67/38 (20130101); G06Q 50/01 (20130101); A63B 69/0028 (20130101); A63B 2024/0068 (20130101); A63B 2024/0096 (20130101); A63B 2071/0638 (20130101); A63B 2220/20 (20130101); A63B 2220/40 (20130101); A63B 2225/50 (20130101); A63B 2230/06 (20130101); A63B 2230/75 (20130101); A63F 2300/407 (20130101); A63F 2300/5553 (20130101); A63F 2300/572 (20130101); A63F 2300/609 (20130101); A63F 2300/69 (20130101); A63F 2300/8005 (20130101); A61B 5/4866 (20130101); A63B 24/0075 (20130101)
Current International Class: G06N 3/00 (20060101); H04L 29/06 (20060101); G06F 21/62 (20130101); A61B 5/11 (20060101); A61B 5/00 (20060101); G06Q 10/10 (20120101); A63B 24/00 (20060101); G06Q 50/00 (20120101); G06F 17/30 (20060101); A63B 71/06 (20060101); A63B 69/00 (20060101)
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The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/324,140, entitled "INTERACTIVE AVATAR FOR SOCIAL NETWORK SERVICES," filed Nov. 26, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/991,589, filed Nov. 30, 2007. The above-noted applications are incorporated by reference and made a part hereof.
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a computing system through an electronic avatar widget executing on a first network site, athletic performance information of a user from a second network site different from the first network site; generating an avatar associated with the user on the first network site by executing portable code included in the electronic avatar widget, wherein the first network site and the second network site each host a different website on which the avatar is displayed; displaying, in the electronic avatar widget, the athletic performance information of the user received from the second network site; detecting that the avatar corresponding to the user has been set to private on the second network site; and in response to detecting that the avatar has been set to private on the second network site, modifying the electronic avatar widget on the first network site to hide the athletic performance information from a selected subset of users on the first network site and generating an alternate avatar associated with the user and a private mode, and generating a message to the user on the first network site indicating that the avatar has been set to private from the second network site.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes a display of athletic performance statistics of the user.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein modifying the electronic avatar widget includes modifying the display of athletic performance statistics.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving avatar information from the first network site and modifying an appearance of the electronic avatar widget including modifying an appearance of the avatar.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the electronic avatar widget to hide the avatar in response to detecting that the avatar has been set to private.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes an interactive option to create an avatar.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network site is a webpage.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic avatar widget includes dialogue for the avatar.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dialogue is user-modifiable.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar is user generated through the first network site and wherein the method further comprises uploading the user generated avatar to the second network site.
12. A method comprising: generating, by a computing system, an electronic avatar corresponding to a user, the electronic avatar executing through a first network site; receiving, by the computing system, physical activity information for physical activity performed by the user from a second network site different from the first network site, wherein the first network site and the second network site each host a different website on which the electronic avatar is displayed; displaying, on the first network site, the physical activity information of the user received from the second network site; modifying, by the computing system, an appearance of the electronic avatar on the first network site based on the received physical activity information; receiving, by the computing system, a request to place the electronic avatar on the second network site; and in response to receiving the request, generate portable executable code that, when executed, is configured to: generate the electronic avatar on the second network site; detect that the electronic avatar has been set to private on the second network site; and modify an appearance of the electronic avatar on the first network site to hide the athletic performance information from a selected subset of users on the first network site and generate an alternate avatar associated with the user and a private mode, in response to detecting that the electronic avatar has been set to private on the second network site; and generate a message to the user on the first network site indicating that the avatar has been set to private from the second network site.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable executable code is further configured to generate an interactive option to create another avatar.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second network site is a social networking site.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the electronic avatar includes receiving user customization to an appearance of the electronic avatar.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a privacy setting of the electronic avatar to the second network site.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable executable code, when executed, is further configured to hide at least one of: the electronic avatar and the physical activity information upon determining the privacy setting has been changed to specified setting.
Within the social network service, a user may be represented by an avatar. Generally speaking, an avatar may be a graphical two-dimensional icon or a 3-dimensional model that may represent a user. An avatar may be as simple as a picture of the user or may be a graphical object that may represent the user's actions, beliefs, interests, appearance, identity, personality, and the like. An avatar may be further animated. In addition to representing the characteristics recited above, a user may opt to utilize an avatar--particularly a graphical icon or model--to maintain their anonymity while participating in and interacting with the social network service.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example avatar creation and customization interface through which a user may create a new avatar. Avatar creation interface 300 may initially display a default avatar 301, feature categories 303, specific features 305, a randomize option 307, a publish option 309 and a cancel option 311. Starting from default avatar 301, a user may modify various characteristics such as hair style or color, facial expression, lips, eye brows, eyes, nose, shirt, pants, shoes and accessories. Although not illustrated, other characteristics may also be modifiable. For example, in some embodiments, an avatar's body shape, ears and hands may be customized. Using categories 303, each of the above mentioned characteristics may be customized according to the user's preference. In one example, and as illustrated, a user may modify the shoes that avatar 301 is wearing. In particular, specific features 305 include a variety of shoes that are available to the user for his or her avatar. In some instances, new shoes or other features might only be available upon completion of a certain challenge, action, goal or the like. The shoes available for the avatar could also correspond to a latest actual shoe model offered by a shoe manufacturer or some other shoe design currently in fashion among users. The unavailable shoes 315 or other feature might be shown in a dark outline (i.e., without significant details) along with the goal 317 that needs be met. For example, some shoes might not be available for selection until a user has run a specified distance. A user may further select the `X` option 313 if he or she wishes to remove shoes from avatar 301. Additionally, a user may select a color of the shoe or other feature being customized using color palette 319. An unlocked lock symbol 321 next to or otherwise associated with a selectable feature may indicate that the selectable feature is newly available to the user.
According to one or more aspects, if a user has created an avatar, notification window 601 may display avatar related options 607 such as customize your avatar 607a. However, if the user has not created an avatar, notification window 601 may instead display an invitation or option to create an avatar. Such an option 701 is illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, even without having an avatar created, a user may still accumulate awards and/or points based on various achievements.
FIG. 8 illustrates a screen shot of an exemplary embodiment according to the description above. Three avatars 801 representing three users are displayed in various locations within the application window. More specifically, the three avatars 801 appear at various depths in the foreground against a background. In an embodiment, the background may be a running track, a street marathon course, a trail, or any other background related to walking, jogging, or running. The background may further represent a weight room, gymnasium, or any other suitably related backgrounds should the athletic performance of the user relate to weight training, aerobic training, and the like. Alternatively, the background may be completely arbitrary or whimsical to contribute to the departure of the overall avatar environment from reality. As illustrated, the middle avatar 801b represents the user who is executing and viewing the avatar application. The avatar 801c to the right represents the user immediately ahead in the competition or race while the avatar 801a to the left represents the user immediately behind in the competition or race.
The top of the application includes a scroll bar 803 representing at least a portion of the competition or race. In an embodiment, the scroll bar 803 represents the entire race from beginning to end while the remainder 805 of the window (i.e., the portion of the application window including the avatars) might only display a graphical representation of a portion of the entire race. The location of some or all of the users participating in the competition or race may be displayed in the scroll bar as tick marks, dots, or other similar indicia (e.g., ticks 807). Further, the location of the user executing and viewing the avatar application may be highlighted by an arrow 809 or other pointer. The tick mark 807a, dot, or other similar indicium may further still have a color, size, or shape that differentiates it from others. As discussed above, the user may roll over or otherwise select a tick mark, dot, or other indicium to display the corresponding, user name, identity, and/or progress within the competition or race.
While participating in the race or competition, a user may generate a comment by inputting text and/or symbols in a comment entry box. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the comment entry box 811 (in an embodiment containing the prompt "What are you thinking?") is located adjacent to and below the race or competition area defined by the background and the avatars 801 superimposed thereon. When a user inputs a comment in entry box 811, a dialogue box, bubble or the like will pop up or otherwise appear adjacent to the avatar within the application representing the user from whom the comment initiated.
FIG. 9 illustrates a dialogue bubble 902 appearing and extending from avatar 801c upon entry of a comment (i.e., "wild") submitted by the user associated with avatar 801c. In an embodiment, the comment will be visible to other users whose avatars are in the same window or frame of the race or competition. Further, an indication (not shown) may appear in the scroll bar should a user post a comment whose avatar is not within the same window or frame of the race or competition. Any user may then roll over or select the tick mark, dot, or other similar indicium of the commenting user/avatar to review the comment. In another embodiment, additional avatars may be introduced into a race or competition representing professional athletes or in the form of "avatar trainers" that may offer motivational messages or other commentary.
FIG. 12 illustrates a code retrieval interface 1200 where a user may obtain code for placing an avatar widget on a site. Selecting "GRAB THE CODE" option 1203, for example, may automatically cause the user's device to copy the code segment onto a clipboard. Alternatively, a user may select the "check out the code" option 1207 that causes the code to be displayed in interface 1200. The user may then manually copy the code from interface 1200. A sample widget 1205 may be displayed in another portion of interface 1200 to illustrate the appearance of the widget generated using the code. In one or more arrangements, widget code includes MACROMEDIA FLASH code.
FIG. 17 illustrates a social networking community or group page 1700 that includes members whose avatars 1703 may be displayed in an avatar display area 1705. Avatar display area 1705 may include a background that is representative of an activity, a location or some other type of image. For example, display area 1705 has a street view background that may correspond to an "around the block" marathon theme. Other types of images or backgrounds may include an image of a desk top, a retail store and the like.
As an incentive (or a further incentive) to complete the user's resolution, various awards or prizes may be unlocked upon completion of the user's resolution or a portion of the resolution. For example, a resolution or goal may be divided into mini-goals for each week, day, month, bi-week and the like. Upon completing the mini-goal, the user may be awarded with a prize. In one configuration, the prize or award may include an accessory (e.g., a shirt, shoes, pants, headband, other wearable items, new hairstyle, etc.) for the user's avatar. FIG. 26 illustrates a notification 2600 of a new award issued to a user upon completion of a January portion of his or her resolution/goal. The award may indicate the event. For example, a shirt awarded to a user for completion of the January mini-goal may include the words "Congrats January '09."
FIG. 27 illustrates a goal tracker for a particular month. Goal tracker 2700 includes a progress bar 2705 that specifies how far a user is in reaching the goal. The goal tracker 2700 may be generated to track target levels on a monthly, weekly or daily basis based on an overall yearly goal or resolution. For example, if a user's goal is to run 240 miles in a year, monthly goals may be generated for running 20 miles per month. Progress bar 2705 may be filled in accordance with a level of progress. The goal tracker 2700 may further be shared with friends or other users. A user may move from monthly goal to monthly goal using options 2710a and b. Subgoals (e.g., monthly or weekly goals based on a yearly resolution) might not be divided evenly. For example, a running subgoal for January may be less than a subgoal for May based on weather forecasts.
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