US 11,893,647 B2Granted

Location-based virtual avatars

AssigneeSnap Inc.

InventorsJonathan Brody, Leonid Gorkin, Andrew Lin, Evan Spiegel, Daniel Amitay, Sheridan Kates, Walton Lin, John Rauser, Amer Shahnawaz, Marcel M. Yung

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Abstract

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by determining the current activities of users based on location sensor information from the users' computing devices and generating customized media content items based on their activities. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a processor;
and
memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via a server, from a client computing device of a user, an electronic communication comprising:
location information from a location sensor coupled to the client computing device, the location information indicating a current location of the client computing device, and movement information of the client computing device;
determining, via the server, a current activity of the user based on the location information, determining a current activity comprising:
determining, via the server, that the user is traveling based on the movement information, wherein determining that the user is traveling comprises determining a type of travel;
generating, via the server, a first media content item comprising a map interface that includes the current location of the client computing device and an avatar of the user traveling at the current location based on the type of travel, the map interface being generated based on the location information and the avatar being generated based on avatar information for the user and the current activity;
causing, via the server, the first media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device;
identifying, via the server, a venue associated with the location information based on the client computing device transmitting the current location from inside the venue, wherein, in response to identifying that the venue is a restaurant, the current activity is determined to be eating based on the identified venue and on a social media post, and in response to identifying the venue is a bar, the current activity is determined to be drinking based on the identified venue and on the social media post;
generating, via the server, a second media content item comprising the map interface that includes the current location of the client computing device, and an identification data including a name of the venue being displayed at the current location in the map interface, and updating the avatar of the user to display the avatar holding an item to mimic the current activity being displayed at the current location in the map interface;
and
causing, via the server, the second media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device.

10 more elements

A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, via a server having a processor from a client computing device of a user, an electronic communication comprising location information from a location sensor coupled to the client computing device, the location information indicating a current location of the client computing device, and movement information of the client computing device;
determining, by the processor, a current activity of the user based on the location information, determining a current activity comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the user is traveling based on the movement information, wherein determining that the user is traveling comprises determining a type of travel;
generating, by the processor, a first media content item comprising a map interface that includes the current location of the client computing device and an avatar of the user traveling at the current location based on the type of travel, the map interface being generated based on the location information and the avatar being generated based on avatar information for the user and the current activity;
causing, by the processor, the first media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device;
identifying a venue associated with the location information based on the client computing device transmitting the current location from inside the venue, wherein, in response to identifying that the venue is a restaurant, the current activity is determined to be eating based on the identified venue and on a social media post, and in response to identifying the venue is a bar, the current activity is determined to be drinking based on the identified venue and on the social media post;
generating, by the processor, a second media content item comprising the map interface that includes the current location of the user's client computing device, an identification image or text including a name of the venue being displayed at the current location in the map interface, and updating the avatar of the user to display the avatar holding an item to mimic the current activity being displayed at the current location in the map interface;
and
causing, by the processor, the media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, via a server having a processor from a client computing device of a user, an electronic communication comprising location information from a location sensor coupled to the client computing device, the location information indicating a current location of the client computing device, and movement information of the client computing device;
determining, by the processor, a current activity of the user based on the location information, determining a current activity comprising:
determining, by the processor, that the user is traveling based on the movement information, wherein determining that the user is traveling comprises determining a type of travel;
generating, by the processor, a first media content item comprising a map interface that includes the current location of the client computing device and an avatar of the user traveling at the current location based on the type of travel, the map interface being generated based on the location information and the avatar being generated based on avatar information for the user and the current activity;
causing, by the processor, the first media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device;
identifying a venue associated with the location information based on the client computing device transmitting the current location from inside the venue, wherein, in response to identifying that the venue is a restaurant, the current activity is determined to be eating based on the identified venue and on a social media post, and in response to identifying the venue is a bar, the current activity is determined to be drinking based on the identified venue and on the social media post;
generating, by the processor, a second media content item comprising the map interface that includes the current location of the user's client computing device, an identification image or text including a name of the venue being displayed at the current location in the map interface, and updating the avatar of the user to display the avatar holding an item to mimic the current activity being displayed at the current location in the map interface;
and
causing, by the processor, the media content item to be displayed on a display screen of the client computing device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/628,408Filed 20 Jun 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 Apr 2017
Published: US 2018/0315133 A11 Nov 2018
Granted: 6 Feb 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H04L 51/52
User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail: for…
A63F 13/216
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
A63F 13/79
Game security or game management aspects: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
A63F 13/795
Involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories: for finding other players; for building a team; for…