Communication using avatar

Abstract

Generally this disclosure describes a video communication system that replaces actual live images of the participating users with animated avatars. A method may include selecting an avatar, initiating communication, capturing an image, detecting a face in the image, extracting features from the face, converting the facial features to avatar parameters, and transmitting at least one of the avatar selection or avatar parameters.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor of a first computing device, result in operations comprising:
 enable selection of a first avatar for a video call between the first computing device and a second computing device;   identify one or more facial features of a user of the first computing device for the video call;   generate information for the video call, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the first selected avatar to appear animated on a display of the second computing device; wherein the information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device;   cause display of the first selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the first selected avatar on the second computing device;   enable selection of a second avatar for the video call;   generate second information for the video call, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the second selected avatar to appear animated on the display of the second computing device; wherein the second information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device; and   cause display of the second selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the second selected avatar on the second computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more facial features are to be identified from one or more video images of the user of the first computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The one or more storage devices of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor of the first computing device, result in additional operations comprising:
 process audio information of the user of the first computing device to be transmitted to the second computing device.   
     
     
         4 . A first computing device to conduct a video call with a second computing device using avatars, the first computing device comprising:
 memory circuitry to store instructions and data;   a display device to display an avatar; and   processor circuitry to process one or more instructions to perform operations comprising:
 enable selection of a first avatar for the video call; 
 identify one or more facial features of a user of the first computing device for the video call; 
 generate information for the video call, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the first selected avatar to appear animated on a display of the second computing device; wherein the information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device; 
 cause display of the first selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the first selected avatar on the second computing device; 
 enable selection of a second avatar for the video call; 
 generate second information for the video call, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the second selected avatar to appear animated on the display of the second computing device; wherein the second information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device; and 
 cause display of the second selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the second selected avatar on the second computing device. 
   
     
     
         5 . The first computing device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a video camera device to capture one or more video images of the user of the first computing device; wherein the one or more facial features are to be identified from the one or more captured video images of the user of the first computing device.   
     
     
         6 . The first computing device of  claim 4 , further comprising an audio capture device to capture audio information of the user of the first computing device to be transmitted to the second computing device. 
     
     
         7 . A method of communicating using avatars, comprising:
 enabling, by a first computing device, selection of a first avatar for a video call between the first computing device and a second computing device;   identifying, by the first computing device, one or more facial features of a user of the first computing device for the video call;   generating, by the first computing device for the video call, information to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the first selected avatar to appear animated on a display of the second computing device; wherein the information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device;   displaying, by the first computing device, the first selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the first selected avatar on the second computing device;   enabling, by the first computing device, selection of a second avatar for the video call;   generating, by the first computing device for the video call, second information, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the second selected avatar to appear animated on the display of the second computing device; wherein the information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device; and   displaying, by the first computing device for the video call, the second selected avatar on the first computing device to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the second selected avatar on the second computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more facial features are to be identified from one or more video images of the user of the first computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 processing, by the first computing device, audio information of the user of the first computing device to be transmitted to the second computing device.   
     
     
         10 . A first computing device to conduct a video call with a second computing device using avatars, the first computing device comprising:
 an avatar selection module to enable selection of at least a first and a second avatar for the video call;   a feature extraction module to identify one or more facial features of a user of the first computing device for the video call;   an avatar control module to generate information for the video call, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the first selected avatar to appear animated on a display of the second computing device; wherein the information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device; and   a display module to display the first selected avatar on the first computing device for the video call to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the first selected avatar on the second computing device.   
     
     
         11 . The first computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the avatar control module is further to generate second information, to be transmitted to the second computing device, to cause the second selected avatar to appear animated on the display of the second computing device; wherein the second information is based on the identified one or more facial features of the user of the first computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The first computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the display module is further to display the second selected avatar on the first computing device to enable the user of the first computing device to observe an appearance of the second selected avatar on the second computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The first computing device of  claim 10 , further comprising a facial detection and tracking module to detect and track a face of the user of the first computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The first computing device of  claim 10 , further comprising an audio capture device to capture audio information of the user of the first computing device to be transmitted to the second computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The first computing device of  claim 10 , further comprising a video capture device to capture one or more video images of the user of the first computing device; wherein the one or more facial features are to be identified from the one or more captured video images of the user of the computing device.