WO2002057953A1

WO2002057953A1 - Method and system for the implementation of virtual animated characters within a data communication network-based application

Info

Publication number: WO2002057953A1
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amir Lorber; Alon Matalon
Original assignee: Bug-Life Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-01-18
Filing date: 2001-01-18
Publication date: 2002-07-25

Abstract

In a computing and data communication network a method and system for the implementation of virtual animated characters within network-based applications. On a server system (22) within a data communication network a set of multimedia files (40, 42) representing animated characters, and a set of program routines (38) including an animation engine are established. On the server system a set of application-specific page files (36) is established, designed to be downloaded to a client system (12) in order to drive a specific application. The page files include suitable commands for the downloading of the program and multimedia files to a client system. The page files include commands regarding the execution of the program files. The animation engine including predetermined control tables effect the display/play of the multimedia files in temporal synchronization with the specific application on the client system.

Description

Published: For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid-

— with international search report ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations " appearing at the beginning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VIRTUAL

ANIMATED CHARACTERS WITHIN A DATA COMMUNICATION

NETWORK-BASED APPLICATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system , for the implementation of graphical objects, representing virtual animated characters within network-based computer applications, in general; and to a method and system for the utilization of the virtual animated characters as virtual on-site personnel providing guidance to users accessing a network site, in particular.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART In recent years, electronic computing devices have become ubiquitous. Computers today are substantially more powerful, exponentially faster and have significantly more storage and processor power than ever before. The corresponding growth in availability, speed, storage and processing capabilities have provided computers with the suitable characteristics to be utilized as effective building blocks for the creation of a global all-pervasive computing and networking environment.

Over time a large number of operative data networks have appeared. The best-known and most widespread computer network is referred to as the Internet. The Internet is a set of sub-networks communicatively linked through specific interfacing devices, referred to as gateways, using the TCP/IP protocol. The World Wide Web is a superior protocol, built on the Internet Network. The Web is a graphically oriented user-friendly interface, which permits network users to interact with stored information units, by way of specifying the location of the desired information.

- 1 Access to the Web can currently be easily accomplished via inexpensive hardware and software means, such as personal computers, cellular phones, mobile computing devices, standard communication infrastructure, suitable communication protocols, and interfacing software, such as network browsers. By virtue of this ready access, the Web has become very popular, and is used for a wide variety of purposes such as on-line shopping, gaming, stock trading, on-line learning, research, reference, advertising, hotel/train/airline reservations, socialization, community activities, entertainment, and the like. For example, many Web sites catering especially to the young, providing services such as educational material, homework assistance, popular music exchange, social interaction, computer gaming, and the like. The number of network locations, i.e., accessible software and hardware platforms providing content and services to network users, continually expand as more and more commercial enterprises are making substantial parts of their operations available on the Internet. On-line advertising has arrived and is spreading, enabling even Web sites with no commercial potential to profit by allocating space for advertisers. Due to the advertising revenue depending on the number of visitors to a specific site, fierce competition has evolved, while Web sites struggle to attract more visitors. Consequently, Web sites continuously attempt to improve themselves by providing useful content, up-to-date information, enhanced services, and more attractive user interfaces. In order to enhance the interface process for the user, sites increasingly utilize graphically sophisticated displays creating useful information sources with added entertainment value. Computer-generated visual images and associated sound effects are being increasingly integrated with the traditional text based displays.

Visual images have immense impact on human beings, in general, and therefore have a natural attraction to viewers of Web site displays. In the past, a wide variety of technologies were developed to create and manipulate images with the assistance of computers. Lately, the speed of the graphical research and development has considerably accelerated. Currently, practically all Web sites are rich in graphical objects such as images, animation, and videos, which automatically download to users' computers as they connect to the sites. Animated graphical objects are also are being used more and more, for assisting users to access and interact with specific information sources. Such graphical objects are typically computer files, which are formatted as a set of animated sequences, and designed for a wide variety of purposes, such as the representation of virtual characters. More and more virtual animated characters are being used as electronic salespersons, digital assistants, virtual experts and the like. The graphical objects can also represent virtual characters, which are capable of responding to the users' demands regarding the location of network related-information, for providing guidance, making suggestions, directing, instructing and providing other types of useful information required by the users.

Recently a number of programs have emerged which implement graphical animated objects within the Web framework. One such product is a program called 'Flash', which is an authoring software developed by Macromedia, Inc. 'Flash' is used for creating vector graphics-based animation programs. Although the product provides full-screen navigation interfaces, graphic illustrations, and limited interactive capabilities, it has several disadvantages. Like most products of this type, 'Flash' is a plug-in that has to be installed on the users computing platforms, in association with the users' network browser. The files created and utilized by 'Flash' are special files with an uncommon format, and require irregular handling. Similar to other existing techniques, the particular files and supportive software routines, including a specially developed media player component, have to be downloaded on to the Web-site platform and installed therein before displaying the animation. Thus the user has to wait for considerable amount of time before the site has loaded completely. When accessing such Web sites with exceptional features, such as sound or Flash animation, one of the greatest disadvantages is the length of time

- 3 - required for downloading pages and associated files from the Web sites. It would be easily perceived that when a Web site takes too long to download, potential visitors may be put off and move on to other Web sites. If the specific Web site is advertising or attempting to sell products or services, then potential customers are lost.

Therefore, it would be easily perceived by those with ordinary skill in the art, that there is a requirement for more advanced techniques for utilizing virtual characters which are designed to provide Web sites with attractive, entertaining, and useful user interfaces. Such tools would preferably function as an existing Web site add-on. In addition, such tools should be operative without requiring excessive modifications to user-side software and should speed up the downloading process of pages and associated files from Web sites to the user platforms.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention regards a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems. The system is utilized to implement one or more virtual animated characters within a network-based computer application. The system contains an animation engine for visually displaying and aurally playing a set of multimedia files in temporal synchronization with the network-based computer application.

A second aspect of the present invention regards a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems, and a method for the implementation of one or more virtual animated characters within a computer application. The method includes the creation and installation of a set of program files that contain routines and associated tables constituting the animation engine on a server system. The method further includes the execution of the animation engine, in order to accomplish the visual display and the aural play of the virtual animated character in temporal synchronization with the computer application on a client system.

A third aspect of the present invention regards a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems, and a method of integrating at least one virtual animated character with a network-based computer application. The method includes the steps of establishing a set of program files that hold routines and associated control tables of the animation on the server system, installing a set of multimedia files that hold a respective set of multimedia objects, which represent at least one virtual animated character. The method further includes inserting a set of commands to a linked set of application driver files on the server system. The commands are aimed to activate the program files in order to substantiate at least one virtual character in temporal synchronization within the network-based computer application. The method further includes the execution of the animation engine on the client system according to the set of commands within the linked set of application driver files in the second computer system.

Each and all of the above aspects of the present invention provide for the implementation of virtual animated characters within network-based computer applications. Each and all of the above aspects of the present invention provide for the integration of virtual animated characters into with network-based computer applications.

Each and all of the above aspects of the present invention provide for a temporal synchronization of the virtual animated characters with the network-based application.

Each and all of the above aspects of the present invention provide for a substantially improved loading of the multimedia files associated with a network-based application downloaded to the second computer. Each and all of the above aspects of the present invention provide for substantially improved performance of the second computer system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a computing and communication environment within which the proposed method and system can be utilized, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the operative components of the proposed method and system, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 illustrates the animation engine architecture, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is an illustration of exemplary action script commands, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a semi-pictorial illustration of an exemplary application screen displayed on a display device of a client system, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

- 6 - DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A method and system for the implementation of virtual animated network application-based characters is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data network is the Internet and more specifically, the World Wide Web (Web). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the virtual characters that are referred to are 3D animated interactive simulated personalities, manifested via the execution of specific sets of files containing animation sequences and accompanying sound files. The characters are integrated with a specific Web application, running as a Web server, implemented on a computer platform across the network. The animation, sound, and program files are downloaded from the Web server on to client systems, following specific requests, which are introduced by the client systems. Suitable commands regarding the animation engine, which encodes the virtual characters, and additional instructions regarding the data structure, are appropriately embedded within the associated application's HTML files.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the virtual animated characters are utilized as simulated helpers that provide assistance to users who are attempting to locate desired information on a Web site. It is important to note that in other preferred embodiments of the present invention, various other data network infrastructures could be used, such as Local Area Networks (LAN), cellular telephone systems, satellite networks, and the like. The virtual animated characters could be further used within a wide variety of applications, and could have diverse roles such as digital messengers, synthetic newscasters, virtual sales personnel for electronic front-shops, virtual experts for solving diverse problems, virtual tourist guides, virtual toys, and the like. Subsequently, it is important to note that the following description of a preferred embodiment is provided as an exemplary realization of the underlying ideas of the invention, in order to present a detailed and clear explanation of the proposed method and system. None of the following descriptions relating to

- 7 - specific characteristics of the preferred embodiment are meant to be limiting, as the bounds of the present invention will be defined only by the attached claims.

The method and system proposed is accomplished in the following manner: Sets of HTML pages constituting Web-based applications are installed on a computer platform hosting a Web server system. The sets of pages are designed to be downloaded by clients operating from computer platforms across the network in order to be run on the corresponding client system. Sets of suitable commands are introduced within the HTML pages to effect the downloading of suitable multimedia files and associated program files, in order to enable the playing of the multimedia files concurrently and substantially synchronized with the Web-based application. When a client system user desires to access and interact with a Web site, the user introduces a page access request in the format of the HTML page address, through the services of a network browser, installed on the user's computer platform. The browser accesses the specific page file installed on the requested Web site, and begins to download the page file. The execution of the page file begins asynchronously with the downloading process. According to the specific instructions, or symbols present in the HTML file, the page is displayed on the client system's display device. When the browser locates a reference to an external file, such as a multimedia file or an external application such as a Java applet, the referenced files are downloaded on to the client's computer, and are executed or played by the browser. Programs are compiled and subsequently executed. Animation and sound files are suitably played by appropriate multimedia player routines. The proposed method effects the orderly downloading of additional routines alongside the HTML pages. These additional routines are operative in the implementation of virtual characters synchronized with the Web application. In effect, the routines download a specifically developed animation engine. The animation engine provides the sequential download of all multimedia files necessary for the multimedia player to substantiate the full script of a virtual character. The engine also provides a multimedia loader routine that will load the entire set of required multimedia files and control files in order to control the operation of the animation engine. The control scripts are arranged in such a manner so as to provide substantially accurate synchronization of the HTML page being displayed and the virtual animated characters being activated on the Web site. In this manner, the animated character is displayed as an integral part of the Web page. In addition to the automatic interaction with the page, the character is given the capability of interacting with the user. It is important to note that in addition to the described functions, features and elements, diverse other operative components and functions are contemplated for the proposed system and method. Sets of animated characters could be used advantageously as virtual toys for children, or as specially distributed gifts; user profiles could be assembled using supplementary techniques; the virtual characters could be endowed with the ability to play music; and the behavior of the characters could be continuously and automatically modified according the assembled users' profiles, or according to common usage patterns.

Referring now to FIG. 1 illustrative of the computing and communication environment within which the proposed method and system is implemented, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Client systems 10,12,14,16 installed on remote computing platforms across a data network 20 are intermittently connected to server systems 22,24,26,28, installed on remote computing platforms across the data network 20. The connection is accomplished by utilizing standard communication devices, such as modems or Network Interface Cards and data network 20 particles, such as communication lines, gateway devices, routers (not shown), and the like. Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the computing

- 9 - devices are personal computers (PC), in other different embodiments of the present invention, client systems 10,12,14,16 could operate on other hardware devices, such as laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), cellular phones, game consoles, workstations, interactive TV devices, and the like. Furthermore, although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, data communication network 20 is the Internet, in other different embodiments of the present invention network 20 could be a cellular phone network, a satellite network, a Local Area Network (LAN), an interactive TV system, or any combination thereof. Where a combination of different types of networks are used as the basic infrastructure to the proposed method and system, the connections between the particles of the different networks will be provided by suitable gateway devices, head-ends, transceivers, and the like.

Clients 10,12,14,16 connect to servers 22,24,26,28 in order to receive content such as textual information, services, digital products, digital certificates, and the like. The connection could also provide clients 10,12,14,16 with rich content, in addition to or along with the basic information content, by the downloading of graphical structures, referred to as multimedia files. Multimedia files are transmitted from servers 22,24,26,28 in suitable file formats. The files thus received could have various contents, such as pictures, video, animation, sound, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2 which shows a detailed block diagram of the operative components of the proposed method and system. Server system 22 is installed on a hardware or software platform within a data communication network such as the Web. Server 22 comprises operating system 30, communication device 32, and storage device 34.

All major computer platforms (hardware and software) require, and sometimes include, an operating system. UNIX, Linux, Windows 98, Windows NT, OS/2, AIX, DEC, Mac OS, are all examples of operating systems. In the

- 10 - preferred embodiment of the present invention, operating system 30 is Windows NT developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation. It would be easily perceived by one skilled in the art, that in different embodiments, other operating systems could be used. Operating system 30 is a set of routines that control, manage and supervise the execution of the applications running in the computer system. Additionally, operating system 30 manages a wide variety of tasks, such as the sharing of memory, multitasking, input/output, error recovery, messaging, and the like. Communication device 32 is responsible for the management of the information transmitted to and received from remote platforms in the network. Device 32 can be a modem or a Network Interface Card (NIC). Storage device 34 contains all the appropriate data structures, necessary for the proper operation of server 22. Storage device 34 is preferably a hard disk with sufficient storage place to store the entire set of digitally encoded software files, constituting the applications of server 22. Storage device 34 includes HTML files 36, program files 38, animation files 40, and sound files 42. HTML files 36 are hypertext documents for use on the Web. An HTML page contains textual information, surrounded by a set of symbols or codes which indicate the display format of the text. Additionally, an HTML page can specify a link to another HTML document stored on the same server or on a remote server across the Web. Advanced versions of HTML pages provide symbols or codes and associated parameters referring to "external" (typically multimedia) files and programs. Program files 38 could be small applications typically written in the Java language, developed and distributed by Sun Microsystems. Program files 38 can be sent to the user along with HTML file 36. Program files 38 can perform various tasks without having to send a user request back to the server. It will be clear to one skilled in the art that in different embodiments of the present invention other development techniques could be used, such as the JavaScript technology or the ActiveX technology developed and distributed by the Microsoft Corporation. Animation files 40 are

- 11 - data structures storing encoded animated graphical objects. A large number of animation file formats currently exist. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Graphical Interchange Format (GIF) files are used. Sound files 42 store encoded patterns corresponding to audio information. Although a wide variety of audio file formats currently exists in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, WAV files are used. WAV file format is an audio file format that has become a standard PC audio file format.

A set of HTML files 36 with associated program files 38, animation files 40, and sound files 42 could constitute as a particular Web-based application. When a client such as client 12 accesses server 22, the specifically addressed HTML page 36 is downloaded to client 12. The associated program files 38, animation files 40, and sound files 42 are downloaded along with the HTML file 36 by virtue of the appropriate control codes referring to files 38,40,42 introduced into the body of HTML file 36. Client system 12 is installed on a hardware or software platform within a data communication network such as the Web. Client 12 comprises operating system 40, communication device 42, display device 44, user interface 46, and storage device 48. Operating system 40 is a set of routines that control, manage and supervise the execution of the applications running in the computer system. Additionally, operating system 40 manages a wide variety of tasks, such as the sharing of memory, multitasking, input/output, error recovery, messaging, and the like. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, operating system 40 is Windows NT, developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation. It would be easily perceived by one skilled in the art that in different embodiments of the present invention, other operating systems could be used, such as Sun Microsystem's OS, and the like. Communication device 42 is responsible for the management of the information transmitted to and received from remote platforms in the network. Device 42 can be a modem or a Network Interface Card (NIC). Display device 44 is responsible for displaying the HTML

- 12 - pages, formatted according to the codes embedded in the downloaded HTML files 36. Device 44 can be any of the standard display devices, such as a video screen monitor. User interface 46 is responsible for interfacing between the user and display device 44. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, interface 46 is a graphical user interface (GUI). Storage device 48 contains all the appropriate data structures necessary for the proper operation of client 12. Storage device 48 is preferably a hard disk with sufficient storage space to hold the entire set of digitally encoded software files constituting the applications of client 12 and the files downloaded from server 22, following the requests of user operating client system 12. In different embodiments of the present invention, other suitable storage devices could be used.

Storage device 48 comprises network browser 60 and network browser cache 50. Network browser 60 is the standard interface of client 12 to the Web. Browser 60 accepts requests submitted by the user of client 12 and links to server 22, utilizing communication device 42. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, browser 60 could be Netscape Explorer developed and distributed by Netscape Corporation, or Microsoft Internet Explorer developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation. In different embodiments of the present invention, other network browsers could be used, provided that the additional browsers support animation and Dynamic HTML fiies. Network cache 50 is a data storage space for holding files downloaded by browser 60 from server 22. Cache 50 contains the entire set of the downloaded files: HTML files 52, program files 54, animation files 56, sound files 58, and animation engine 68. Animation engine 68 contains multimedia player 62, multimedia loader 64, included multimedia files 70, action script 74, and logical action list 72. Animation engine 68 is linked to downloaded files 52, 54,56, and 58. Within the animation engine, multimedia loader 64 is linked to included multimedia files 70, and to action script 74. Additionally, action script 74 is linked to logical action list 72. The structure, functions, and operation of the

- 13 - animation engine will be described hereunder, in association with the following drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrating the animation engine responsible for the display of 3D animated characters on a client system. The animation engine comprises included multimedia files 70, multimedia loader 64, action script 74, logical action list 72, and multimedia player 62. Included multimedia files 70 could include WAV files 82, GIF files 84, or any other operative multimedia files 88 supported by the network browser. Included multimedia files 70 are implemented as a chronological list of all the contained multimedia files. The files could be in diverse formats such as WAV files 82 or GIF files 84, and the like. The multimedia files 82,84, 88 are needed in order to enable the multimedia player 62 to perform the full action scripts 74 of the 3D animated character. The required files are loaded, by the multimedia loader 64, in network browser cache 60 of Fig. 2, before multimedia player 62 requires them. Multimedia loader 64 is responsible for the continuous loading of all the required multimedia files for action script 74 in the order indicated by the chronological list within the included multimedia files 70. During the downloading process, multimedia loader 64 builds and maintains an index of the files downloaded. The index is a number having a value, which indicates at any point in time the number of files downloaded, sequentially from the beginning of logical action list 72. Logical action list 72 is a data structure holding a combination of several multimedia files, which are also referred to as Physical files. For example the logical action "MoveLeft" will contain five physical files: a) Left.gif b) Turn.wav c) Walk.wav d) LeftTurn.gif e) Turn.wav

- 14 - Therefore, in order to perform the logical action "MoveLeft" the aforementioned five physical files have to be loaded in their entirety. Subsequently, the logical action list 72 will contain a list of logical actions and the physical files needed for the execution of each logical action. Action script 74 is the script engine that manages the logical actions.

Action script 74 will perform the following functions: a) Obtaining an index, created by multimedia loader 64, represented by a certain number of loaded files b) Obtaining the list of available logical actions as a result of the current index c) Randomly or sequentially obtaining the next action from logical actions list 72 d) Sending the logical action to multimedia player 62 e) Idling while waiting for multimedia player 62 to perform the logical action.

Multimedia player 62 performs the actual moving/playing of the animated characters. Multimedia player 62 substantially consists of DHTML manipulation routines. Multimedia player 62 performs the next logical action as ordered by action script 74. When a logical action is completed, multimedia player 62 will then notify action script 74 in order for action script 74 to commence looking for another logical action.

The operation of the animation engine will be described next. Multimedia loader 64 begins the loading of multimedia files 82,84,88 from included multimedia files 70 as soon as the HTML page has been loaded in its entirety. Subsequently, the multimedia files 82,84,88 are stored and managed by the network browser cache. Action script 74 continues monitoring the downloading of the available multimedia files. As soon as a logical operation from logical action list 72 is available for the multimedia files, action script 74 sends the operation to the multimedia player 62. Action script 74 then idles until

- 15 - notification is received from multimedia player 62 concerning the termination of the previous operation. Subsequently, action script 74 executes the next available operation.

The operations, actions, and frames in action script 74 will be described next in detail. It is important to understand the difference between the three elements in action script 74, referred to as Operations, Actions, and Frames.

Each frame contains several actions and each action contains several operations.

An operation is the basic act in the script. It can be one of the following: a) Moving the animation from the current position to a new position on the page b) Playing a WAV sound file c) Changing the current animation's GIF file with a different GIF file.

An action is the performance of several operations concurrently. For example, an animated character can say a sentence, which will require the animated character to move its lips accordingly. The speaking requires the playing of a sound file, and the movement requires the display of two different GIF files. In the above given example, three simultaneous operations are performed to create an action referred to as "speaking".

A frame is a set of actions in a sequence. For example, for an animated character to "move left" it will perform several actions, such as "turn left", "walk left", and "turn right" to face the viewer.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the action script commands will be described next. The description will include an explanation concerning the way the commands are performed and the different aspects thereof. It is important to note that for the clarity of the description only exemplary commands, operations and actions will be described.

The following exemplary commands are used to initialize the actions of the animated character:

- 16 - a)IncludeFiles(list) b)AddActions(list) c)FrameList d)GetSelectionMode()

IncludeFiles (list) is called at the beginning of the script. Providing the list of files separated by commas, the given list of files is stored in array 90. For example, the list "Left.gif, Turn, Walk.gif,,, Hide.gif, Hide" will be stored in array 90 having a set of entries 104,106,108,110,112,114 corresponding to the respective entries in the list and indexed by increasing values 92,94,96,98,100,102.

AddActions (list) is a method, which stores all the allowed logical actions. The list is loaded once during the initialization of the HTML. For example the following list "2,5,2,,, 5,7" will be stored in array 120 having a set of entries 134,136,138,140,142,144 corresponding to respective entries in the list and indexed by increasing values 122,124,126,128,130,132. The numbers contained in the list correspond to an action. The numbers 134,136,138,140,142,144 represent a minimum file index to allow the logical action.

FrameList holds the list of the frames. The list contains the logical actions. For example, the actions 0,1,2 are within the 1^st frame, and the actions

3,4 are within the 2^nd frame. In the given example the FramesList will contain the numbers 0,3, as the 1^st frame starts with action number 0, and the 2^nd frame starts with action number 3.

GetSelectionModeO sets the parameters controlling the manner through which the logical actions are selected:

- 17 - 1) isSequential is a Boolean value that sets the manner the next frame is selected. If the value of isSequential is TRUE then the next frame will be sequential to the previous frame and the frames will be selected consecutively. If the value is set to FALSE then the frames are selected randomly.

2) Repeated is a parameter that determines the course of action taken after all the sequential frames have been completed. If Repeated is FALSE, then the actions stop. If Repeated is TRUE, then the frames continue performing the loop. 3) ActionDelay is a parameter that will set the time delay between the actions. The value is given in units of milliseconds.

It is important to note that the action script associated with the method of the present invention contains additional commands. The whole set of commands is not described in order not to obscure unnecessarily the salient features of the present invention. It is also important to note that in different embodiments of the present invention, additional commands could be utilized to support additional features and functionalities of the method and system proposed by the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 5 that shows a display of an exemplary

Web-based application, enriched and augmented with a virtual animated character, synchronized with the displayed HTML pages. Personal computer 200 includes a display device 202. Device 202 includes a video display screen 208. On the surface of video display screen device 208 Web page 216 is shown, representing the main page of an exemplary application. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, page 216 is the representation of a typical HTML file. Page 216 comprises a header area 214, a text area 215, and animated character 206.The text area 215 include lines of text designed as hypertext links, providing access to other HTML pages containing information,

- 18 - services, or digital goods for the benefit of the user. In order to receive detailed information regarding the various options displayed, the user is provided with the services of a virtual assistant or a virtual guide represented by animated character 206. Character 206 could be substantiated concurrently with the initial display of page 216 or could appear on the page by user request. Character 206 is designed to provide assistance to the user in the navigation of the site, by delivering a verbal or a written explanation to the user, regarding the function and destination of the various hypertext links shown. Character 206 could be manipulated by the user in a diverse manner, such as using a suitable pointing-and-clicking device (mouse), utilizing a keyboard by selecting appropriate key combinations, or using any other input devices, such as game console controllers, remote control devices, and the like. Character 206 could also be manipulated by the user via the activation of a pop-up menu (214) and the selection of a suitable entry from a list of entries included therein. It is important to note that character 206 could be persistent across the whole set of linked HTML pages constituting the application. In each respective page, animated character 206 could deliver page-specific information either verbally or in any other suitable manner. Characters could also be made page-specific, i.e., in addition to character 206 other characters could be displayed. It would be clear to one skilled in the art that numerous other features and functions could be implemented into the method and system proposed by the present invention.

It is important to note that, while the present invention is described in the context of a fully functional computing and communication environment, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the present invention is capable of being applied within a variety of computer systems and other similar devices, and that the present invention applies equally, regardless of the particular type of hardware platform being utilized. While the invention has been particularly shown as described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail

- 19 - may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of communication networks besides the Internet, such as a cellular communication network, an interactive cable television system, or a satellite communication network. It is therefore contemplated that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

- 20

Claims

CLAIMS I/WE CLAIM:

1. In a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems a system for implementing at least one virtual animated character within a computer application, the system comprising the elements of: an animation engine for visually displaying and aurally playing a set of multimedia files in temporal synchronization with said computer application.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the animation engine comprises the elements of: an included multimedia files table to store a list of said set of multimedia files required to represent a virtual animated character; an action script to control the visual display and aural play of the set of multimedia files representing said virtual animated character; a logical action list to store a list of actions and a list of action-related multimedia files; a multimedia loader to continuously load the set of multimedia files representing the virtual animated character; a multimedia player to perform the visual display and aural play of the set of multimedia files representing the virtual animated character.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprises the elements of: a linked set of application driver files storing commands designed to execute the computer application; a set of program files storing the elements of the animation engine; a set of multimedia files storing multimedia objects encoded to represent visual and aural aspects of the virtual animated character.

- 21

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the linked set of application driver files comprise the elements of: a set of commands to affect the timely transfer of the program files from a first computer system to a second computer system; a set of commands to affect the timely transfer of the set of multimedia files from said first computer system to said second computer system.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the distinct files within the set of application driver files are hypertext files.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the distinct files within the set of application driver files are DHTML files.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the distinct files within the set of multimedia files are animation and sound files.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the distinct animation files within the set of multimedia files are Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) files.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the distinct sound files within the set of multimedia files are Wave sound (WAV) files.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the distinct program files within the set of program files are storing JavaScript programs.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the distinct program files within the set of program files are ActiveX objects.

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12. In a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems a method for implementing at least one virtual animated character within a computer application, the method comprises the steps of: establishing a set of program files including routines constituting the animation engine in the first computer system; running the animation engine in order to accomplish the visual display and the aural play of the virtual animated character in temporal synchronization with the computer application in the second computer system.

13. The method of claim 12 of running the animation engine comprises the steps of: obtaining the list of the included multimedia files from the included multimedia files by the multimedia loader in the second computer system; loading the included multimedia files from the first computer system into the temporary file storage area by the multimedia loader in the second computer system; maintaining an index of the loaded files in the temporary file storage area in the second computer system by the multimedia loader; obtaining the index of the loaded files in the temporary storage area of the second computer system by the action script; using the index obtaining the list of available logical actions from the logical actions list by the action script in the second computer system; sending the logical action to the multimedia player by the action script in the second computer; performing the logical action by the multimedia player in the second computer.

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14. The method of claim 12 further comprises the steps of: introducing a set of commands into the set of application driver files in the first computer system designed to accomplish the timely transfer of the set of program files from the first computer to the second computer system; identifying within the set of application driver files the set of commands regarding execution of the animation engine in the second computer system.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprises the step of storing a set of multimedia files holding multimedia objects representing at least one virtual animated characters in the first computer system.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprises the step of transferring the set of program files from the first computer system to the second computer system.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprises the step of transferring the set of multimedia files from the first computer to the second computer.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprises the step of running the application on the second computer by the execution of the set of application driver files.

19. In a computing environment accommodating at least one client system connectable to one or more server systems a method for integrating at least one virtual animated character with a computer application, the method comprises the steps of: establishing a set of program files including routines of the animation engine in the first computer system;

- 24 - establishing a set of multimedia files including multimedia objects representing at least one virtual animated character in the first computer system; inserting a set of commands to a linked set of application driver files in the first computer system designed to activate the program files in order to substantiate at least one virtual character in temporal synchronization within the computer application; executing the animation engine in the second computer according to the set of commands within the linked set of application driver files in the second computer system.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises the step of: transferring the linked set of application driver files from the first computer system to the temporary storage area in the second computer system; transferring the set of program files from the first computer system to the temporary storage area in the second computer system; transferring the set of multimedia files from the first computer system to the temporary storage area in the second computer system.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprises the step of executing the linked set of application driver files in the second computer system.

22. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of reading the list of the included multimedia files from the included multimedia files table in the second computer system.

23. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of loading the included multimedia files from the first computer system into the

25 - temporary file storage area by the multimedia loader in the second computer system.

24. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of maintaining an index of the loaded files in the temporary file storage area in the second computer system by the multimedia loader.

25. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of obtaining the index of the loaded files in the temporary storage area of the second computer system.

26. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of obtaining the list of available logical actions by utilizing the index from the logical actions list in the second computer system.

27. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of sending the obtained logical action to the multimedia player in the second computer.

28. The method of claim 19 of executing comprises the step of performing the logical action in the second computer.

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