People typically use a wide variety of communication devices, such as mobile telephones, computers, etc., to communicate information. For example, an individual may communicate news to a friend, family member, or colleague using email, instant messages, voice calls, etc. While such communication tools enable the individual to quickly communicate the details of the news, conventional communication devices typically do not include mood information associated with the individual sending or responding to the news. This mood information is often critical for properly interpreting the news.
Limited forms of conventional communication tools, e.g., instant messaging services, enable users to include generic mood-based symbols, such as a smiley face, angry face, sad face, etc., with their message. However, while these mood-based symbols provide mood information, they require a user to actively select the graphical symbol that best corresponds to their mood. Further, because these mood-based symbols are generic, the appearance of the mood-based symbols is independent of the user selecting the mood.
The present invention describes a method for providing an image in association with a call between two or more communication devices. One exemplary method comprises selecting or modifying a personal image of a user responsive to supplied mood data, and outputting the personal image to an output device in association with the call. In some embodiments, the personal image is output to a display. In other embodiments, the personal image is output to a transceiver, which transmits the personal image to a remote communication device.
The present invention also describes a communication device for providing mood-based personal images in association with a call. According to one exemplary embodiment, a communication device comprises a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to select or modify a personal image responsive to mood data supplied to the communication device. The output device is configured to output the personal image in association with the call. In some embodiments, the output device comprises a display. In other embodiments, the output device comprises a transceiver.
The present invention describes a communication device and a corresponding method for providing mood-based personal images in association with a call between two or more communication devices. As used herein, the term “communication device” may include a cellular wireless transceiver with or without a multi-line display; a Personal Communication System (PCS) terminal that may combine a wireless transceiver with data processing, facsimile, and data communication capabilities; a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) that can include a wireless transceiver, pager, Internet/intranet access, web browser, organizer, calendar, and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; a conventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver; a pager; or any other mobile device that includes a wireless transceiver to communicate information via a wireless interface. In addition, the term “communication device” may include a computer or any other digital communication device that includes a transceiver to communicate information via a cable interface.
User interface 110 may also include a microphone 122 and speaker 124. Microphone 122 receives audio input from the user, while speaker 124 projects audible sound to the user. In particular, microphone 122 converts the detected speech and other audible signals into electrical audio signals and speaker 124 converts analog audio signals into audible signals that can be heard by the user. Audio processing circuit 120 receives analog audio inputs from microphone 122 and provides the basic analog output signals to speaker 124. It will be appreciated that the audio processing circuit 120 in communication device 100 may include a voice recognition system (not shown) that receives and processes vocal instructions from the user.
System processor 130 performs various processing tasks, including controlling the overall operation of communication device 100 according to programs stored in memory 106. Memory 106 may include both random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Computer program instructions and data required for operation of communication device 100 are stored in non-volatile memory, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and/or flash memory, which may be implemented as discrete devices, stacked devices, or integrated with system processor 130.
The system processor 130 may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof, and may comprise a single microprocessor or multiple microprocessors. The microprocessors may be general-purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors, or other special purpose processors. Functions performed by system processor 130 may include signal processing and/or control of the overall operation of mobile device 100. In accordance with the present invention, and as discussed in greater detail below, system processor 130 may include an image processor 132 and/or selection circuit 134.
To communicate with other communication devices, communication device 100 includes at least one transceiver 102 coupled to transceiver interface 104. When transceiver 102 comprises a fully functional cellular radio transceiver, transceiver interface 104 comprises an antenna 104. In this scenario, transceiver 102 may operate according to any known standard, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), TIA/EIA-136, cdmaOne, cdma2000, UMTS, and Wideband CDMA. In addition, transceiver 102 may include baseband processing circuits to process signals transmitted and received by the transceiver 102. Alternatively, baseband processing circuits may be incorporated with system processor 130.
Further, transceiver 102 may also comprise a short-range wireless transceiver, such as a Bluetooth® transceiver 102 coupled to an antenna 104. As understood by those skilled in the art, Bluetooth® is a universal radio interface that enables two or more wireless devices to communicate wirelessly via short-range ad hoc networks. Jaap Haartsen in Ericsson Review No. 3, 1998, provides further details regarding Bluetooth® technology in “Bluetooth®—The universal radio interface for ad hoc, wireless connectivity.” While the present application may use the term “Bluetooth® transceiver” and “Bluetooth® network” to refer to a wireless interface for short-range communications, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to Bluetooth® systems and equipment, and that other short-range wireless interfaces, e.g., infra-red interfaces, are equally applicable.
The following describes the present invention in terms of the communication device 100 shown in
The present invention provides an improvement in real-time communications, such as voice calls or instant messaging. In particular, the present invention provides a method for generating, transmitting, and displaying mood-specific images in association with real-time communications. According to the present invention, a personal image is selected or modified responsive to supplied mood data, and the resulting mood-specific image is output to an output device, such as display 114 or transceiver 102. For example, the mood-specific image may be transmitted to the far-end user for display at the far-end terminal, or may be displayed on an electronic display on the user's own terminal. The personal image may be any image, drawing, photograph, caricature, etc., representative of the particular individual associated with the mood data.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a remote communication device 100 receives mood data from a near-end communication device 100 via transceiver 102 in association with a call, as shown in
The near-end communication device 100 may transmit the mood data to the remote communication device 100 by any known means. For example, the mood data may be transmitted with other packet data associated with the call over a wireless or cable interface according to any known means. In a GPRS or EDGE wireless system, for example, the mood data may be transmitted as part of a call setup message along with the phone number of the near-end communication device 100. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular communication protocol, and therefore, may be implemented using any communication protocol that allows related data to be transmitted.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the near-end communication device 100 may select or modify a personal image of the near-end user responsive to mood data directly provided by the near-end user. The resulting personal image is output to transceiver 102, which transmits the mood-specific image to remote communication device 100 in association with a call, as shown in
As discussed further below, the personal image is selected or modified responsive to supplied mood data. According to the present invention, there are various ways to supply the mood data. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the user may use keypad 112 to select the appropriate mood, i.e., happy, sad, angry, excited, stressed, worried, panicked, etc., from a menu of mood options. Similarly, when audio processing circuit 120 includes voice recognition capabilities, the user may provide the mood data by supplying an audio command to the communication device 100. For example, the user may state “happy” to select a happy mood, and therefore, to supply “happy” mood data to the communication device 100.
Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, communication device 100 may include a mood input device 140 that determines the user's mood based on one or more biological characteristics associated with the user. To that end, mood input device 140 may include one or more biofeedback sensors. As shown in
While mood input device 140 is shown as part of communication device 100, it will be appreciated that mood input device 140 may be external from and operatively connected to communication device 100 via a cable or a short-range wireless interface. Further, while mood processor 150 is shown as a separate device from system processor 130, those skilled in the art will appreciate that mood processor 150 may be incorporated with system processor 130.
Based on the supplied mood data, system processor 130 selects or modifies a personal image. According to one exemplary embodiment, an image processor 132 may retrieve a mood-neutral personal image of the user from memory 106, a network server (not shown), or any other electronic storage system accessible to the communication device 100. Image processor 132 then modifies the retrieved personal image according to any known means responsive to the supplied mood data to generate a mood-specific personal image. For example, as shown in
According to another exemplary embodiment, system processor 130 may include a selection circuit 134. In this embodiment, memory 106 (or a network server) stores a set of personal images for each of one or more users. Each image in a given set of personal images provides an image of the associated user with a specific facial expression that corresponds to a specific mood. Therefore, based on the supplied mood data, selection circuit 134 may select a personal image from a set of personal images corresponding to the near-end user to generate the desired mood-specific personal image. As with the modified personal image, the selected personal image may be a still image or an animated image
The above describes exemplary communication devices 100 that may be used to implement the present invention. To further describe the present invention,
The above describes using memory 106 to store personal images and/or image masks. To provide the desired images and/or masks to memory 106, I/O port 108 may be used to connect to and download desired images and/or masks from external devices. I/O port 108 may comprise any type of known serial port, parallel port, or combination serial and parallel port. Exemplary I/O ports 108 include a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an Ethernet port, infra-red port, or any I/O port used to download information from an external device to system processor 130 and/or to memory 106. The downloaded information may include, but is not limited to, photographs, image masks, digital images, software, and the like. For example, a user and/or a network provider may download one or more masks from an internet web site via I/O port 108. Similarly, a user may download one or more images from a computer, digital camera, etc., via I/O port 108. It will be appreciated that the downloaded images may comprise mood-neutral or mood-specific images of one or more users. Further, it will be appreciated that the downloaded mood-specific images may be externally generated by any number of methods. For example, an external system may apply different masks to a mood-neutral personal image to generate a plurality of mood-specific personal images of an individual. Alternatively, a camera may be used to photograph multiple mood-specific images of the individual.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.