Virtual creature displayed on a television
US6931656B1 · kind B1 · utility
73Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4532
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An animated virtual creature is generated on a display such as a television set, in order to simulate a pet or to facilitate user interface functions. In one embodiment, one or more signals corresponding to the program being watched are monitored. When certain events are detected based on this monitoring, the animated character is controlled in a manner that corresponds to the detected event. In another embodiment, the animated virtual creature responds to program selections made by a user in a program recommendation system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.