DE102010060282A1 - Method for computerized communication over internet, involves altering recognizing degree of image and/or video of sender and receiver, and producing image sequences comprising several image versions from acquired images of user - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves displaying an image and/or video of receiver on computer system of sender. The recognizing degree of the image and/or video of the sender and receiver are altered. The image sequences (3.a,3.b) comprising several image versions (4.a.2,4.b.2) are produced from the acquired images of user. An image version with the lowest recognizing degree is extracted from the image sequences at the beginning of communication process, and displayed. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) program for computerized communication over internet; and (2) computer program product for computerized communication over internet.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for computer-aided communication, in particular via the Internet, according to the preamble of claim 1 and computer programs, a computer program product and a device according to the independent claims.

State of the art

In known communication systems, in particular in instant messaging systems (IM systems) or chat systems, spontaneous and immediate message transmission takes place via at least two communication partners. It is thus possible to chat in real time, to send short messages to other communication partners or to exchange files. With some communication systems (eg ICQ or Skype) it is also possible to display to each communication partner an image (eg photo or video image) of the respective other communication partner.

In this case, it is typically possible for the communication partners to either release and display the own picture to the other communication partner or not to display it and not to display it. Such an "all-or-nothing" decision, for example, when getting to know new communication partners via the Internet is not always advantageous because the communication partners is not allowed to gradually build trust in the communication partner and this confidence, for example, by displaying one in the course of the communication process Visualize yourself with a new communication partner always better recognizable image of yourself on the screen of each other's communication partner.

Disclosure of the invention

It is the object of the invention to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art, in particular it is an object of the invention to provide a method for computer-aided communication between communication partners, wherein during a communication process each user an image of each other user with ever better quality or recognizability is displayed.

The object is achieved by a method for computer-assisted communication according to claim 1. Independent objects of the invention are computer programs, a computer program product and a device according to the independent claims.

The invention has the advantage over the prior art that communication partners on the Internet no longer have to make an "all-or-nothing" decision regarding the release of their image for other communication partners. Rather, they are given the opportunity by the method according to the invention to divulge their image to the other communication partner step by step in ever better quality or recognizability only in the course of the communication process.

According to the invention, a method for computer-assisted communication, preferably via the Internet, is provided between a first user and a further user, wherein the first user and the further user exchange messages. In this case, the first user is shown an image of the further user and the other user an image of the first user. Such a method is characterized in that a degree of recognizability of the image of the first user and / or a degree of recognizability of the image of the further user changes successively or over the time or with the progress of the communication process. It is particularly advantageous if the degree of recognizability increases continuously as the time progresses or as the communication process progresses, so that the image of the respective other user is becoming increasingly recognizable.

In a method according to the invention, the first user and the further user preferably upload a photo of themselves to a server or a computer remote from the computer. Subsequently, an image sequence is generated from the photo of the first user and from the photo of the other user, each of these image sequences comprising a plurality of image versions. In typical processes, the image sequences are not generated on a server or remote computer, but are generated directly on the computers of the users and stored there.

It is particularly advantageous if the image versions of the individual image sequences have different degrees of recognizability. In typical methods, an image sequence comprises at least 2, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 4 image versions. The individual image versions with different degrees of recognizability are typically modified with image processing tools by pixeling and / or blurring and / or blurring and / or ratios, and / or creating turbulence and / or contraction and / or inflation and / or turbulence generation. Also, all other common techniques for rendering or changing digital images can be used in creating the image versions with different degrees of visibility. It is particularly advantageous if the degrees of recognizability of the image versions in a sequence of images increase linearly, ie that, for example, For example, in an image sequence with 4 image versions, an image version with 0% detectability level, an image version with 25% level of visibility, an image version with 75% detectability level, and an image version with 100% detectability level is stored. The image version with 100% degree of recognizability preferably corresponds to the photo of the respective user.

In advantageous methods, each image sequence comprises an equal number of image versions. Thus, two image versions respectively correspond to two image sequences respectively one image version each in two different image sequences have the same degree of recognizability or each image version in a sequence of images has its counterpart in a further image sequence with regard to the degree of recognizability. This has the advantage that in a communication process between a first user and another user of each of the users, an image of the other user is displayed with the same degree of recognizability.

In advantageous methods, the images displayed to the user and / or the other user respectively correspond to one of the image versions from the image sequence of the further user or the first user.

In advantageous methods, the first user at the beginning of a communication process, a picture version with the lowest degree of recognizability from the image sequence of the other user is displayed as an image, preferably on a screen. In typical embodiments, the image is not displayed on a screen, but projected onto a wall or screen. Typically, at the beginning of a communication process, the further user is displayed the image version with the lowest recognizability level of the first user as an image, on a screen or as a projection on a wall or screen.

It is particularly advantageous if, as the communication process progresses, the first user and the further user are successively displayed with increasingly recognizable image versions with higher degrees of recognizability of the further user or the first user as images. This has the advantage that the recognizability of the users on the display of the other user with the progress of the communication process is always improved. This way, users become more and more recognizable to each other. Typically, the progress of the communication process is measured by the communication duration, the number of messages exchanged, or the size of the volumes of data exchanged. At regular intervals, so z. B. always after a certain number of exchanged messages or for certain volumes of data, the users new image versions of each other's users are displayed with a greater degree of recognizability. It is possible, for example, to always display a new image version with a better degree of recognizability after three message exchanges between the users. It is particularly advantageous if the number of message exchange processes according to which a picture version with a better degree of recognizability is to be displayed can be set freely by the users or by the operator of the server. The same applies to cases in which the progress of the communication process is measured by the time or the size of the volumes of data exchanged.

In advantageous methods, an image version with a higher degree of recognizability is displayed on each screen during a communication process, in each case after at least 2, preferably at least 3, particularly preferably at least 4 message exchange processes. "Message exchange process" here means that a message was sent by one user and answered by the other user.

In typical processes, an image version with a higher degree of detectability is displayed on each screen during a communication process, in each case after at least 30 seconds, preferably at least 60 seconds, particularly preferably at least 90 seconds.

In typical methods, an image version with a higher degree of recognizability is displayed on each screen during a communication process, in each case after the transmission of at least 50 bytes, preferably at least 100 bytes, particularly preferably at least 200 bytes.

In particularly advantageous embodiments, the image version with the highest degrees of detectability or the photos of the respective other user are displayed as images to the first user and the further user starting from a minimum message exchange number. This has the advantage that after a phase of getting to know each other or building trust between the users, the users each receive the actual photos of their respective communication partner in unmodified form.

In typical methods, the first user is shown a video image of the other user, which is recorded, for example, with a webcam of the other user. Here, the transmitted video image is rendered unrecognizable by an algorithm. As the communication progresses, with the progress of the communication as measured, for example, in the duration of the communication, in the number of messages exchanged, or in the size of the volumes of data exchanged between the users, the video image being displayed becomes less and less obscured; H. the other user becomes more and more recognizable to the first user. Here, the cancellation of the defacing or the improvement of the recognizability can be either steadily or in leaps. Similarly, the further user a video image of the first user is displayed, which is constantly improving as the communication progresses or which is becoming increasingly recognizable.

In typical methods, a voice of the first user and / or a voice of the second user are rendered less and less noticeable as the communication process progresses, for example, as the communication progresses, it becomes less and less distorted by a distortion algorithm.

The degree of recognition of the image versions is typically between 0% and 100%, whereby a photo version with 0% degree of recognition corresponds to a completely unrecognizable photo and an image version with 100% degree of recognition to the original photo.

A computer program according to the invention is characterized in that, depending on a data volume exchanged in the context of a communication process, it successively selects image versions with an ever higher degree of recognizability from a sequence of images or step by step. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if, as the communication progresses, image versions with ever higher degrees of recognizability are selected from a sequence of images depending on the amount of data exchanged, depending on the amount of data exchanged per unit of time or as a function of the elapsed time. In typical computer programs, the respectively selected image version is also sent to the first user or further user and displayed there as an image.

A computer program according to the invention for rendering unrecognizable an image and / or video image transmitted from a webcam of a first user to a screen of another user is characterized in that it depends on a data volume exchanged in the context of a communication process or depending on a data volume exchanged in the course of a communication process Time or depending on a time exchanged in the context of a communication process makes the image and / or video image with the progress of the communication process always better recognizable or less and less unrecognizable.

A computer program product according to the invention typically implements the method described above or at least parts of this method and uses one of the computer programs or several of the computer programs. A computer program product according to the invention typically includes components that run on users' computers and components that are installed on the server or remote computer. Furthermore, such a computer program product is typically characterized by a graphical user interface and / or the possibility of incorporating further program parts.

On a device according to the invention, in particular a computer system, a computer program product according to the invention is installed.

Description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings, in which show

1 : Start of a communication process between a first user and another user, whereby image versions with degree of recognition 0% are displayed,

2 : Middle stage of a communication process between a first user and another user, whereby image versions with a degree of recognizability of 50% are displayed,

3 Communication process between a first user and another user, with image versions with a degree of recognition of 100% being displayed since a minimum message exchange number has been reached.

Description of a preferred embodiment

1 to 3 each give an overview of a communication method according to the invention, in which the degrees of recognizability of images 4.a and 4.b change from not shown in detail communication partners or users in the course of a communication process.

1 gives a schematic overview of a communication method according to the invention at the beginning of a communication process. The 1 shows a server S, a screen 1.a. a first user not shown in detail and a screen 1.b a further user not shown in detail. The screen 1.a. the first user has an in 1 Computer not shown in detail via the Internet connection 2.a connected to the server S. The screen 1.b the further user is over an in 1 Computer not shown in detail via the Internet connection 2 B connected to the server S. On the server S are at least one image sequence 3.a and a picture sequence 3.b , The picture sequence 3.a is with the help of an in 1 not shown computer program on the server S has been generated on the basis of a photo of the first user not shown in detail. This photo has been uploaded to server S by the first user. The picture sequence 3.b has been created on the basis of a photo of the other user not shown in detail. This picture was previously uploaded to the server S by the other user. The picture sequences 3a and 3b contain an equal number of not shown in detail image versions, which have been generated using the computer program not shown in detail from the photos of the two users. (These image versions were typically saved in different variants after being uploaded to the server S. The variants or image versions are pixelated or diminished in succession in a decreasing manner 3.a or 3.b does not show anything, the last image version shows the original photo distortion-free. The pixelation is z. B. by intensive scaling (shrinking and / or increasing the resolution) of the image achieved. On the screen 1.a. the first user gets the picture 4.b.1 displayed. This picture 4.b.1 corresponds to the image version from the image sequence 3.b the other user who has the lowest degree of recognizability. Similarly, on the screen 1.b the further user a picture 4.a.1 displayed. This picture 4.a.1 corresponds to the image version from the image sequence 3.a of the first user who has the lowest degree of recognizability. In the in 1 stage of the communication process shown so the two users are displayed so maximum unrecognizable image versions of the photos of their communication partners.

The schematic view in 2 corresponds essentially to the schematic view in FIG 1 However, the communication process is in 2 already advanced. Thus, for example, several message exchange processes have already been carried out by the two communication partners or users, so that now on the screens 1.a. and 1.b the pictures 4.b.2 and 4.a.2 are displayed. The pictures 4.a.2 and 4.b.2 correspond image versions from the image sequences 3.a and 3.b which have a degree of recognizability which is greater than 0% but at the same time less than 100%. It will be image versions as pictures 4.a.2 and 4.b.2 displayed, which of a selection program, not shown from the centers of the image sequences 3.a and 3.b were selected. A minimum message exchange number is in the 2 not yet reached stage of the communication process, so that the visibility of the displayed images 4.a.2 and 4.b.2 Although better than the pictures 4.a.1 and 4.b.1 but not as good as the pictures 4.a.3 and 4.b.3 in 3 ,

3 again shows substantially the same schematic view as the 1 and 2 However, a minimum message exchange number has now been reached or exceeded. It will be the pictures now 4.a.3 and 4.b.3 from the picture sequences 3.a. and 3.b the first user or the other user on the screens 1.b and 1.a. of the other user. These pictures 4.a.3 and 4.b.3 correspond to the image versions from the image sequences 3.a and 3.b having the highest degrees of detectability, typically 100% detectability. These image versions here correspond to the photos uploaded by the two users. Im in 3 Thus, the communication process has progressed so far that a relationship of trust has arisen between the first user and the other user. Therefore, be on the screens 1.a. and 1.b now the most recognizable image versions of the communication partners on the screens 1.a. and 1.b as pictures 4.a.3 and 4.b.3 displayed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown here, but the scope of protection is determined by the claims. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 screen 2 Internet connection 3 of images 4 image S server

Claims (12)

Method for computer-aided communication, in particular via the Internet, between a first user and a further user, wherein the first user and the further user exchange messages, the first user having an image ( 4.b ) and / or video image of the further user and the further user a picture ( 4.a ) and / or video image of the first user is characterized in that a degree of recognizability of the image ( 4.a ) and / or video image of the first user and / or a degree of recognizability of the image ( 4.b ) and / or video image of the other user changes. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first user and the further user upload a photograph of themselves to a server (S), according to which from the photo of the first user and the photo of the further user a sequence of pictures ( 3.a . 3.b ) comprising a plurality of image versions. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the image versions of the individual image sequences ( 3.a . 3.b ) have different degrees of recognizability. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that each image sequence ( 3.a . 3.b ) includes an equal number of image versions. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the images displayed to the first user and / or the other user ( 4.a . 4.b ) one of the image versions from the image sequence ( 3.a . 3.b ) of the further user or the first user. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the first user and the other user at the beginning of a communication process, an image version with the lowest degree of recognizability from the image sequence ( 3.a . 3.b ) of the further user or the first user as a picture ( 4.a . 4.b ) is shown. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that with the progress of the communication process the first user and / or the other user successively better recognizable image versions with higher degrees of detectability of the other user or the first user as images ( 4.a . 4.b ) are displayed. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that from a minimum message exchange number the first user and the other user, the image versions with the highest degrees of visibility or the photos as images ( 4.a . 4.b ) are displayed. Computer program, characterized in that it depends on an exchanged in the context of a communication process amount of data from an image sequence ( 3.a . 3.b ) successively selects image versions with ever-higher degrees of recognition. Computer program for making one of a webcam of a first user unrecognizable on a screen ( 1.a. . 1.b ) of another user transmitted image ( 4.a . 4.b ) and / or video image, characterized in that it is exchanged as a function of a communication process Dataset the image ( 4.a . 4.b ) and / or video image with progressing communication process always makes it more visible. Computer program product, characterized in that it implements the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 with at least one of the computer programs 9 or 10. Device, in particular computer system, characterized in that the computer program product according to claim 11 is installed.

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