Multiple avatar personalities

Abstract

Perception of multiple online personas is enabled in an instant messaging communications session. At least two identities within a communications environment to whom messages may be directed are identified. A first persona of a user is enabled to be projected to a first of the identities while a second persona of the same user is enabled to be concurrently projected to a second of the identities. The first and second personas each include an avatar capable of being animated, and the first persona and the second persona differ.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for enabling perception of multiple online personas in an instant messaging communications session, the method comprising:
 identifying at least two identities within a communications environment to whom messages may be directed; and   enabling a first persona of a user to be projected to a first of the identities while enabling a second persona of the same user to be concurrently projected to a second of the identities,   wherein:   the first and second personas each comprise an avatar capable of being animated, and   the first persona and the second persona differ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first persona differs from the second persona such that first persona invokes a different avatar than an avatar invoked by the second persona. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first persona invokes a first avatar, 
 the second persona invokes a second avatar, 
 the first avatar and the second avatar are the same avatar, and 
 an animation associated with the first avatar is different from animations associated with the second avatar. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first persona invokes a first avatar, 
 the second persona invokes a second avatar, 
 the first avatar and the second avatar are the same avatar, and 
 an appearance associated with the first avatar is different from appearances associated with the second avatar. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the avatars comprises an avatar that is associated with multiple sounds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the avatars comprises an avatar capable of being animated persona based on text of a message sent in the instant message communications session. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the avatars comprises an avatar capable of being animated to send an out-of-band communication. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising associating the first persona with a first group of identities so that the first persona is projected in communications sessions with members of the first group of identities. 
     
     
         9 . The method of claim S further comprising associating the second persona with a second group of identities so that the second persona is projected in communications sessions with members of the second group of identities. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising associating a persona with the first of the identities and associating a different persona with a group of the identities with which the first of the identities is associated, wherein the first persona projected to the first of the identities comprises an amalgamation of the persona associated with the first of the identities and the different persona associated with the group of the identities. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the persona associated with the first of the identities overrides the different persona associated with the group of the identities to the extent a conflict exists. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program configured to enable perception of multiple online personas in an instant messaging communications session, the medium or signal comprising one or more code segments configured to
 identify at least two identities within a communications environment to whom messages may be directed; and   enable a first persona of a user to be projected to a first of the identities while enabling a second persona of the same user to be concurrently projected to a second of the identities,   wherein:   the first and second personas each comprise an avatar capable of being animated, and   the first persona and the second persona differ.   
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12  wherein the first persona differs from the second persona such that first persona invokes a different avatar than an avatar invoked by the second persona. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first persona invokes a first avatar, 
 the second persona invokes a second avatar, 
 the first avatar and the second avatar are the same avatar, and 
 an animation associated with the first avatar is different from animations associated with the second avatar. 
 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first persona invokes a first avatar, 
 the second persona invokes a second avatar, 
 the first avatar and the second avatar are the same avatar, and 
 an appearance associated with the first avatar is different from appearances associated with the second avatar. 
 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the avatars comprises an avatar capable of being animated based on text of a message sent in the instant message communications session. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the avatars comprises an avatar capable of being animated to send an out-of-band communication. 
     
     
         18 . A system for enabling perception of multiple online personas in an instant messaging communications session, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:
 identify at least two identities within a communications environment to whom messages may be directed; and   enable a first persona of a user to be projected to a first of the identities while enabling a second persona of the same user to be concurrently projected to a second of the identities,   wherein:   the first and second personas each comprise an avatar capable of being animated, and   the first persona and the second persona differ.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the first persona differs from the second persona such that first persona invokes a different avatar than an avatar invoked by the second persona. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein:
 the first persona invokes a first avatar, 
 the second persona invokes a second avatar, 
 the first avatar and the second avatar are the same avatar, and 
 an animation associated with the first avatar is different from animations associated with the second avatar.