Interactive character system

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a synthetic character using a control system displays the character engaged in an activity, receiving a first input from a user, determines whether the input is relevant to the activity, if the input is relevant to the activity, and shows the character react to the input, the character being highly expressive and highly reactive. A system and method for displaying a synthetic character provides speech data, creates modified speech data by modifying at least one of the pitch or duration of at least a portion of the speech data and generates modified speech sounds associated with the character using the modified speech data.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method of advertising a product comprising:
 designing a fully autonomous synthetic character that represents an animated version of the product or product packaging, the product or product packaging not otherwise having the appearance of a character;   displaying the synthetic character to a user; and   permitting the user to interact with the character.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein displaying the synthetic character comprises displaying an animated character on a display screen. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein displaying the synthetic character comprises providing a robotic embodiment of the character. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character inhabits an environment and wherein the user interacts with the character in the environment. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character has eyes, and wherein the eyes appear to track objects in the on-screen world or the real world. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the eyes appear to track objects only at selected moments. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the selected moments are determined by the fully autonomous character. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising generating motions for the character in real-time. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character is highly expressive. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character is highly reactive. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character has a specified personality. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character is highly expressive, highly reactive and has a specified personality. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the character is highly reactive and has at least one of the following group of characteristics: highly expressive, appearing to be intelligent, exhibiting common sense, exhibiting social knowledge, exhibiting knowledge of social norms, having a specified personality. 
     
     
         72 - 157 . (canceled)