Patent US6876754B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6876754B1
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System and method for visual chat
Assignee: Distributed Media Solutions LLC
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Filing: 2003-02-07
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Granted: 2005-04-05
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Expires: 2023-02-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an inventive method for providing visual chat. A character image is read into memory representing a character a user wishes to be for the duration of the visual chat. Continuous frames of video images are then received, typically using video camera, which include image data of a person. The head image of the person is then tracked by the system, and portions of the head image are extracted from the video images. These extracted portions are preferably features of the person in the video image. Finally, the extracted portions of the head image are blended into corresponding areas of the character image, such that the features of the blended character image match the features of the person, and change as the features of the person change.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Kellner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L65/60; H04L65/75; H04L65/762; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for providing a visual chat session, the method comprising the operations of: reading a character image into memory; receiving video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; tracking a portion of a person image in the video images; executing an image gathering operation for obtaining a portion of the person image; and executing an influencing operation for influencing the character image utilizing the obtained portion of the person image; wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from a head portion of the person image, and wherein the influencing operation includes a blending operation comprising the operation of: blending the obtained portion of the person image into the character image to create a blended character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image; the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change; and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for providing a visual chat session, the method comprising the operations of: reading a character image into memory; receiving video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; tracking a portion of a person image in the video images; executing an image gathering operation for obtaining a portion of the person image; and executing an influencing operation for influencing the character image utilizing the obtained portion of the person image; wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from a head portion of the person image, and wherein the influencing operation includes a blending operation comprising the operation of: blending the obtained portion of the person image into the character image to create a blended character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image; the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change; and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the process of tracking the portion of the person image includes the operations of: determining a basic location of the head portion of the person image; processing the head portion of the person image; determining a line of symmetry for the head portion; and determining the location of features within the head portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the operations of: receiving audio signals; and processing the audio signals, whereby the audio signals may be processed to correspond to the character image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A computer system for providing a visual chat session, the computer system suitable for use in a distributed computing environment, the computer system comprising: a computer processor; memory for storing a character image; a camera for obtaining video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; and logic embodied on a computer readable medium, including computer executable instructions for: tracking a head portion of a person image in the video images; obtaining a portion of the person image, wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from the head portion of the person image; and blending the portion of the person image into the character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image, the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change, and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A computer system for providing a visual chat session, the computer system suitable for use in a distributed computing environment, the computer system comprising: a computer processor; memory for storing a character image; a camera for obtaining video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; and logic embodied on a computer readable medium, including computer executable instructions for: tracking a head portion of a person image in the video images; obtaining a portion of the person image, wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from the head portion of the person image; and blending the portion of the person image into the character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image, the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change, and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the computer executable instructions for tracking the head portion comprises: logic for determining a basic location of the head portion of the person image; logic for processing the head portion of the person image; logic for determining a line of symmetry for the head portion; and logic for determining the location of features within the head portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer system as recited in claim 4 , further comprising: a microphone capable of transmitting audio signals; and logic to process the transmitted audio signals, whereby the audio signals may be processed to correspond to the character image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a visual chat session, the computer program comprising: a character input code segment that reads a character image into memory; a video code segment that receives video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; a tracking code segment that tracks a head portion of a person image in the video images; a gathering code segment that obtains a portion of the person image, wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from the head portion of the person image; and a blending code segment that blends the portion of the person image into the character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image, the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change, and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a visual chat session, the computer program comprising: a character input code segment that reads a character image into memory; a video code segment that receives video images including image data of a person, wherein the video images include a plurality of video frames; a tracking code segment that tracks a head portion of a person image in the video images; a gathering code segment that obtains a portion of the person image, wherein the portion of the person image is obtained from the head portion of the person image; and a blending code segment that blends the portion of the person image into the character image, wherein the blended character image includes features corresponding to features of the person image, the features of the blended character image change as the features of the person change, and at least one feature of the blended character comprises the obtained portion of the person image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer program as recited in claim 7 , wherein the tracking code segment comprises: a head locating code segment for determining a basic location of the head portion of the person image; a processing code segment for processing the head portion of the person image; a symmetry code segment for determining a line of symmetry for the head portion; and a feature locating code segment for determining the location of features within the head portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program as recited in claim 7 , further comprising: a code segment that receives audio signals; and a code segment that processes the audio signals, whereby the audio signals may be processed to correspond to the character image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-04-04 | 2008-10-04 | 2009-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-04 | 2012-10-04 | 2013-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-04 | 2016-10-04 | 2017-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |