GB2580184A - A method of generating and displaying an avatar - Google Patents

Abstract

Generating and displaying an avatar 27 based on a user’s online activity, such as online banking behaviour. Credits or debits are accumulated in association with the user’s online activity, such as how often they access their account, how long they spend looking at their account, what purchases the user is making or what their average account balance is. A score may be generated based on the credits or debits according to a set of rules. A characteristic of an avatar is updated depending on the score or the accumulated credits and debits, and the updated avatar is displayed. An avatar matrix 15a generated by an artificial intelligence 19 may be used to determine the avatar’s appearance. The invention may take the form of a game in which the avatar has a health bar 40 linked to the user’s score. The user may be offered rewards 26, achievements or certificates 30 associated with the updated avatar. The invention may be used to encourage responsible financial behaviours or habits among people less experienced in managing their personal finances online.

Description

A Method of Generating and Displaying an Avatar

Field

The present invention relates to a method of generating an avatar and displaying the avatar. More particularly the invention relates to a method of generating an avatar and displaying the avatar using data derived from a user's activity, such as a user's on-line activity.

Background

In recent times mobile communication devices have become more pervasive. In addition networks have grown to provide greater coverage, data speeds and reliability. Perhaps as a consequence of these developments, the number of on-line service providers has increased. Additionally there has been growth in the different types of services that are accessible via mobile communication devices, such as so-called smart phones, which operate using application specific software or APPs.

These types of services that are remotely accessible and are increasingly replacing to more and more traditionally locally supplied services, include: booking tickets to events or for travel, purchasing items such as shopping or gifts, as well as on-line banking and on-line gaming.

The development of fourth and now fifth generation networks (so-called 4-G and 5-G networks and systems) and supporting infrastructures for these networks are increasingly faster, more secure and more reliable. Consequently there is an increasing trend to use services such as on-line banking and an ever-increasing demand for reliable, easily accessible and useable services. Such service providers are becoming more pervasive and providing ever more sophisticated products and services to use and access remotely and, consequently there is an increasing tendency to rely on on-line services.

Many people, especially young people when first encountering on-line banking or credit facilities, may be less experienced dealing with their personal finances. These include financial planning and budgeting and so-called housekeeping matters, such as: payments for rental agreements; and ensuring sufficient funds are in an account in order to meet automatic bank payments, often known as standing orders or direct debits.

In cases where inexperienced on-line account users encounter such problems, due to lack of funds, important payments may be refused or missed which can in turn lead to problems with contracts being terminated or a user's credit rating being negatively affected.

Prior Art

One example of an on-line marketing and customer relationship managements (CRM) system is disclosed in United States Patent Application US 2018/0181966 (Rao). The referral and collaboration based rewards system employs a platform which is used by restaurants, establishments, on-line stores and eCommerce retailers. The system utilises a vendor profile, a customer profile and social networks. The system provides incentives, loyalty, discounts, markdowns, barcode coupons and offers from vendors and incentives to encourage customers to engage in specific in-store or on-line activities.

The system recognizes and identifies users from their device identity code, by way of an RFID device or by way of a user's credit card and analyses customer activity and generates and issues rewards and rebates for transactions and milestones, such as a voucher on a user's birthday.

Although useful in providing incentives and indications of support and product interest there is no provision to engage a user on a way-to-one basis with an on-line service provider or to promote or incentivise responsible user activity, in particular responsible on-line banking.

An aim of the invention is to provide a system that encourages users to rely on and develop appropriate on-line skills and responsibilities.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising at least one server which includes a means for receiving an identifier of a device on which an avatar is displayed; a memory for storing a score associated with the identified device; a display on which the avatar is displayed; a means which is operative to generate an avatar using a score obtained from data derived from credits or debits associated with a user's on-line activity and data stored in a memory means in accordance with a prescribed set of rules; updating at least one characteristic of the avatar, in dependence upon the total score and/or accumulated credits or debits; and displaying the updated avatar.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of generating an avatar using an avatar matrix displaying the avatar using data derived from on-line user activity, comprising the steps of: accumulating credits or debits associated with a user's on-line activity; generating a score based upon the credits and debits and a prescribed set of rules; updating at least one characteristic of the avatar in dependence upon the total score and/or accumulated credits or debits; and displaying the updated avatar.

The avatar matrix may be generated locally (on the device on which the avatar is displayed) or the avatar matrix may be generated remote from the device and transmitted to the device so that when received at the device it is translated in order to display the avatar and in the desired format. For example the avatar matrix may be generated by a remote server and then transmitted to the device via a wireless signal.

The method of generating and updating the avatar takes into account certain types of activity and applies a qualitative assessment of the activity and determines what effect the activity will have on the appearance of an avatar. In a preferred embodiment the invention therefore enables a user, or an authorised secondary party, (such as a parent or carer or teacher) to observe and monitor a metric, in a virtual environment, of a user's specific activity in the real-world, in a manner similar to a weekly school report.

This may be important for purposes of teaching a user a specific skill or set of habits, as well as a way of providing rewards to the user in order to reinforce or encourage certain types of activity. It is appreciated however that the system is not solely intended for use by children or young people but may equally be used as part of a platform provided by organisations to encourage responsible or respectful behaviour when interacting with systems or with other users.

Ideally the method includes the step of: associating an attribute of the avatar with a total score reached during a specified time interval. This enables a variable time period to be set during which monitoring is performed. Monitoring may be performed over a few minutes, a few hours, or days or months or quarterly.

In some embodiments the method includes the step of: deriving data relating to a pattern of on-line user activity and using the data as described below, for example in order to reward a particular activity and thereby encourage certain types of behaviour.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the method includes the step of: deriving data from a user's on-line user activity which may be based upon, for example, at least one of the following variables: frequency of user interactions with a remote host; time of user accessing the host; duration spent on-line during a typical user session; location of user at the time of on-line activity, types or nature of items or services purchased by a user; a time-weighted account average balance and historical spending patterns.

Codes, known as commodity codes, are standard classification codes for products and services used to identify how a user is spending their funds. The system is configured with rules to use these codes in order to help define a user's spending pattern. This data is used with other data, as described below, to determine a user profile, for example by way of an algorithm which derives a weighted activity value which combines other data derived from other sources with the score in order to update the avatar.

The method therefore includes the step of deriving data from the on-line user activity based upon frequency of user interactions with a remote website and updates an avatar as a reward for sensible and responsible spending in accordance with a specified set of rules. Associated with the updated avatar may be an offer or promotion or a ticket which may be redeemable against a particular type of goods or service. For example a reduction in the price of a subsequent purchase or a similar incentive or reward which recognises positive user activity as defined by the system rules.

In some embodiments the method includes the step of: deriving data from the on-line user activity based upon user interactions with an on-line account, such as a current bank account or savings bank account. credit card account, credit account or electronic purse/wallet. An electronic purse/wallet may be, for example, the type used by shops and supermarkets in conjunction with a customer loyalty scheme in order to encourage customer loyalty.

In the aforementioned embodiments where the method is used in combination with an account associated with a monetary value, it is appreciated that in addition to the avatar being updated, the user may receive form a third-party provider a token or voucher which may be redeemed against services or good or in a particular participating store or a service provider that is a member of an association, group or cooperative.

The aforementioned user activity is incorporated into an activity score which is based upon, and is representative of, for example, a user's spending on-line banking activities as prescribed by a set of rules.

In some methods, in addition to on-line spending habits, data may be derived from a user's geo location. Such geo specific data may be combined with other aforementioned data types as well as from data derived from the user's activity history as well as from data supplied by one or more other databases, in order to provide enhanced user profile and in order to update the score for a specific user or group of users. Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing, a score may be based upon a user internet protocol (IF) address.

Data derived from the aforementioned sources and inputs are combined according to the steps of the method and used to update at least one data set, used by display driver software under supervision of an artificial intelligent network to output data for generating and updating the appearance of the avatar. The updated avatar is then displayed on a screen or display of a mobile communication device.

The process of regularly updating the avatar provides a visual reinforcement to the user (or to an authorised second user such as parent) an immediate indication of actual and recent on-line activity of an individual in respect of a specific activity or account.

Optionally the avatar may be provided with range of accessories which may be selected at random or in accordance with a set of rules which, for example, may initially display a monochrome avatar, subsequently may colour in the avatar with a particular colour theme and then finally add a hat or similar accessory added to the avatar to show an overall improvement in its appearance.

In a preferred method credits or debits on a user's account are ideally accumulated according to criteria specified by at least one preselected service provider. The service provider may offer or transmit tokens or vouchers for use with a nominated party in accordance with the specified criteria.

In some embodiments of the method, credits or debits may be derived from at least one of: a pre-defined set of user activity parameters and/or a pre-defined set of host parameters and/or a pre-defined set of legislated regulations.

The accumulated credits or debits are ideally labelled so that different credits or debits may be associated with the at least one preselected service provider. In this sense the different credits or debits may be used in different formats or displays in order to indicate on-line user activity associated with more than one particular host, provider, company or activity.

Credits or debits may be defined according to a defined set of service provider parameters and/or, a set of pre-defined service provider rules.

Optionally a user may be invited to become an enhanced user and this change of user status may be triggered by attaining a particular score.

An additional option is to animate the avatar and/or provide a soundtrack using video or audio driver software in the mobile communication device or to download suitable software to enable this to be run locally on a screen/display or via a suitable loudspeaker.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer implemented method for generating an updated avatar using data derived from online user activity, the method including the steps of: retrieving data indicative of online user activity from at least one database; storing in a memory means credits and debits associated with the data; generating a score using a processing means, the score being derived from the credits and debits in accordance with a prescribed set of rules; and updating at least one characteristic of an avatar matrix, which in turn is used to update an appearance of the avatar; and outputting appearance data representative of the updated avatar which is to be displayed on a screen of a device.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with refer to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows an overall diagrammatic view of an input to a system; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator, processes all inputs given to it at a single point in time to generate an avatar matrix; Figure 3 shows an example of another embodiment in which a centralised database is included as a hub of a system that receives inputs from a third-party weather service that supplies data indicative of local weather conditions to the geolocation of a mobile communication device; Figure 4 shows diagrammatical representation of inputs from a system capable of receiving payments from a mobile payment facility, for example by way of a barcode or 0-code image displayed on the screen of mobile telephone; Figure 5 shows a diagrammatical representation of inputs from a system capable of receiving payment card transactions; and a system that includes a payment terminal also known as a point of sale terminal, credit card terminal or EFTPOS device; and Figure 6 shows system that includes bank to bank transactions from typical bank account to external accounts or to internal saving accounts.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring to the Figures generally and specifically to Figure 1, there is shown an overall diagrammatic view of a system 10 which includes a database server 11. The database server 11 operates a database application that provides database services to other peripherals or other computers, as described below. The database server 11 and an application programming interface (API) 12 are operative to receive an identifier from a mobile communication device 14, on whose screen 15 an avatar 16 is displayed defined by the avatar matrix, generated in accordance with instructions received from an artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19.

Memory is provided either locally, at the mobile communication device 14, or remotely, for example in a database 17 server or business logic layer 18 or at both locations. The business logic layer 18 includes a set of codes designed to perform and oversee functions and features in the correct order and as required for the specific inputs and outputs of the system 10. Amongst other data, the memory 17 stores the avatar matrix which is indicative of a user's on-line activity, optionally the score is achieved by using the device 14, but ideally the score also takes into account a user's activity with different peripheral devices (not shown) and the particular on-line account with which the user has communicated.

The API 12 is the main common interface to receive external inputs to and from the system.

The business logic layer 18 and artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19, runs application specific software that generates data representative of the avatar 16, in an avatar matrix 15a. The avatar 16 is displayed on screen 15, representative of the generated avatar matrix 15a and is updated after defined intervals using data derived from on-line user activity in accordance with the rules specified in the business logic layer 18 delivered via the API and in response to various recorded user activities.

Additionally the steps of: accumulating credits or debits associated with a user's online activity and stores these credits or debits in the database 17. The credits or debits are used with data from external sources and third-party providers (not shown) to influence the avatar matrix 15a based upon the credits and debits and a prescribed set of rules that are stored in the business logic layer 18.

Referring to Figure 2 illustrates how an avatar matrix 15a is generated by the avatar matrix generator 19 and shows how an image of the avatar 16, that describes the avatar's appearance, its associated peripherals and parameters, persists until a subsequent image for a specific user account is generated or that avatar 16 is updated by a new set of avatar matrix of data.

A final avatar matrix 15a for any defined event or period is calculated, as described above, and is used to update at least one characteristic of the avatar 16. Data representing an updated avatar matrix 15a, depicted in Figure 2, is then encrypted by way of private key encryption algorithm 20 running in the business logic layer. The encrypted avatar data, which is represented in the avatar matrix 15a, is then transmitted from remote server 11 to device memory 21 which is available at the mobile communication device 21.

Figure 2 also illustrates an example of process involved in generating an avatar matrix 15a and how the Al matrix generator 19 creates and encrypts the avatar matrix 15a so that it is ready to be transmitted. As can be seen from Figure 2 an account holder or user (not shown) logs into an application (APP) on the mobile communication device 14. User authentication steps then commence, and Figure 2 shows simplified graphical representations of examples of the avatar 16 being displayed in different poses or appearances by way of a diagrammatical menu 27. Examples of visual representations of status include a 'health bar' 40 which is associated with the avatar 16 and data for the health bar 40 is ideally based on the rules applied by the Al matrix generator 19.

Referring again to Figure 2 it is apparent that the encrypted avatar data represented in the avatar matrix 15a is now held in device memory 21 of the mobile communication device 14. The system 10, by way of software makes a request via the Internet to download a latest available avatar matrix 15a which requires the user account authentication and public key in order to decrypt the avatar matrix 15a at the device 14 by the decrypting device running on decryption software. The avatar matrix 15a this is a set of data specifically designed to in a way that it in its entirety will describe at a computational level the exact look and characteristics of the avatar, including its health and appearance.

Figure 2 therefore illustrates the steps that an account holder's device takes in order to log into an application (APP), as well as the subsequent user authentication and verification steps, that are employed in order to ensure system security in order to generate an updated characteristic or appearance of the avatar 1, so that its update is dependent upon rules and/or under supervision of the artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19, so that a particular prescribed pattern or order is followed.

The artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19 ensures that a particular prescribed pattern or order is followed in order to update the avatar and that all relevant data is used in the compilation of the avatar matrix 15a. Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing, the matrix generator 19 that oversees the updating of characteristics of the avatar 16 may be operated under control of a random number generator and so the total score and/or accumulated credits or debits randomly updates characteristics so as to display the updated avatar 16 in a random and unexpected manner. Thus two users behaving in the same way may each obtain an updated avatar 16 but having different positive attributes or appearances or features.

The software that runs in accordance with the rules that are stored in the API 12 is designed to educate responsible banking by promoting responsible behaviour. Poor banking decisions and continued poor bank account health result in the avatar character losing its healthy status and being represented digitally in such a less fit manner. For example the avatar character of choice may takes on a weary, weak or lethargic appearance when the user manages their bank account in a less than competent manner. Whereas, in comparison to a healthy account which will show the character growing healthy.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic representations of an artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19 which processes one or more inputs it at a single instant in time. The application programming interface 12 (API) defines a common interface and the business logic layer 18 defines a set of subroutines and rules whose purpose is described below. In addition the API defines communication protocols and software. The API 12 is therefore considered as a main interface for the overall operation of the system 10 which may be distributed over several locations. The avatar matrix 15a is generated and persists in a state until a subsequent matrix is generated and presented on the display 15.

Also shown in Figure 2 are simplified graphical representations of examples of the avatar matrix 15a components comprising of the attributes to display the different characteristics of any avatar, its health, achievements and rewards.

Figure 3 shows an example of another embodiment in which a centralised database 11 is included as a hub of a system 10 that records all system interactions and persistent states and relays the data to the business logic layer 18 and artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19. Figure 3 shows how the system 10 is designed with artificial intelligence, for the sole purpose of examining inputs from a plurality of external interactions of the system, and how these external inputs are employed in order to generate, influence and change the state of the avatar matrix 15a. As mentioned above the appearance of the avatar 16 is defined by the avatar matrix 15a and so is updated in dependence upon the external inputs.

The process of regularly updating the avatar matrix 15a provides a visual reinforcement to the user of their recent on-line activity. Optionally the avatar 16 is provided with range of accessories which are selected according to the rules in the API 12. By way of example there is envisaged a scheme in which the user selects a favourite team or club. Provision is made by the user's bank to support such as scheme and suitable agreements are made by the club with the bank to permit use of trade marks and team colours.

By way of responsible banking the user's avatar 16 may gradually be decorated in the user's preferred team colours as a consequence of responsible on-line user activity when accessing their bank account. This in turn leads to a promotional gift from the team or club when the avatar is completely decked in team colours and/or equipped with relevant team accessories.

Figure 3 shows one example of an input to the system from a third-party weather service that supplies data indicative of local weather conditions to the geolocation of a mobile communication device 14. A 'GPS' location of the device 14 is determined from its Internet connectivity and/or use of base station signals, as is known in the art. Such GPS location hardware is now a standard feature of almost all mobile communication devices 14, also referred to as 'smart phones'. Use of such data existing third-party data providers, in combination with GPS coordinates and device location data, accurate environmental temperature and weather readings can be gained, and used to update the system data an in order to train the artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator to take account of such external impendent data inputs.

Achievements may or may not represent a real-world award and may affect the awards log 26. Rewards, achievements or tokens 30 associated with the updated avatar 16 are shown in Figure 2 and may appear on the display 15 of the device 14 or on a user website or be sent via post services as a certificate, token or voucher.

As mentioned above the avatar matrix 15a can only be decrypted by the user's mobile device 14 by retrieving a unique one-time authentication key associated with the users log in transaction, which is manged through the business logic layer 18 and API 12. This embodiment is intended to encourage younger users and so-called 'millennials' to interact with their bank account in a responsible manner.

It is appreciated that a user is able to use the system when accessing their bank account and makes it into a character that in essence has a life of its own. By using the physical banking application and card in the real-world, the avatar 16 effectively scores a health level which then reflects the status of the user's bank account.

The system 10 uses a unique rules engine, underpinned by the business logic layer 18 and artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19 that interrogates the banking behaviour of the account holder. Rules are applied to score a health points based game that actively promotes and educates responsible banking. Characters and character accessories and features are earned through achievements, again promoting responsible banking behaviour.

Other data which may be taken into account by the artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator 19 include: time, date, device location and time zone, accelerometer. Where available the system 10 utilises an accelerometer in the mobile communications device 14 to report on unusual behaviour in time over distance, for example a sudden change in speed which may be used to trigger an alarm or flag an alert.

Figure 4 illustrates and records another aspect of a user's behaviour that will affect the avatar matrix 15a. This data may be provided to the individual user or to associated users, such as friends or parents.

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatical representation of inputs from a system capable of receiving payment card transactions. Details of the user's spending history is therefore automatically captured by the system 10. The type of transaction will determine the details able to be captured. For example historical data derived from card payments, which a known as a global standard for cards equipped with computer chips and the technology used to authenticate chip-card transaction an [MV transaction present a standard set of data where a closed loop transaction may offer significantly more or less data.

Figure 6 shows a payment terminal 50 also known as a point of sale terminal, credit card terminal or EFTPOS device which enables a merchant to insert, swipe, or manually key in required information from a user's credit card or smart phone payment option. Figure 6 shows a diagrammatical representation of typical inputs made during a routine interaction with an on-line bank account which is shown in Figure 6. It is appreciated that credits and debits are managed of the account. The system 10 captures details such as amount transacted, source account details and destination account details This data is then used # with the Is money auto saved or simply saved.

Optionally the method may also take into account other factors or influencers such as user attributes, sex and age of a user, the nature of a bank account (savings or current), the extent and the number of and total value of automatic payments that an account is scheduled during a predefined interval. Other factors include: the climate, the season, the elevation of a geo location, date and time of a transaction.

Optional sensors may be included in the mobile device 14 which provide further independent data inputs which may include: time and date and acceleration (speed), temperature as well as elevation which is determined from a barometer sensor (not shown) in the smart phone.

Other user definable variables include: faith or religious belief; or membership of a club or association may be used to determine the initial appearance of an avatar.

Software takes account of age of a user, whether a user is a single child or has siblings, as well as optionally social background and sexual orientation. Optionally ages may be grouped into bands, for example youth (18 to 30), adult (31 to 40), middle adult (41 to 50), late adult (51 to 60) and senior 61+.

Influencers or social media platforms may be designated as ambassadors and be sponsored to tag or promote specific services. Likewise provisions may be made for voluntary donations of points to charitable causes or foundations.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Variation may be made to the aforementioned systems for example by including remote storage retrieval and back up is also provided by way of cloud-based auto-save facilities and automatic back-up systems so that data can be retrieved in the event of loss or theft of a mobile communication device.

Pads List system 11 database server 12 application programming interface (API) 14 mobile communication device display 15a avatar matrix data 16 avatar 17 database memory 18 business logic 19 artificial intelligence (Al) matrix generator encrypting device running on encryption software 21 on board device memory 22 decrypting device running on decryption software 24 avatar menu or look up table 26 awards log 27 menu of diagrammatical representations of avatars, poses and appearances reward or token health bar payment term inal

Claims (21)

1. Claims 1. A method of generating an avatar and displaying the avatar using data derived from on-line user activity, comprising the steps of: accumulating credits or debits associated with a user's on-line activity; generating a score based upon the credits and debits and a prescribed set of rules; updating at least one characteristic of the avatar in dependence upon the total score and/or accumulated credits or debits; and displaying the updated avatar.
2. 2. A method according to claim 1 includes the step of: associating an attribute of the avatar with a total score reached during a specified time interval.
3. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 includes the step of: deriving data relating to a pattern of on-line user activity.
4. 4. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: deriving data from the on-line user activity based upon frequency of user interactions with a remote host.
5. 5. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: deriving data from the on-line user activity based upon frequency of user interactions with a remote website.
6. 6. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: deriving data from the on-line user activity based upon user interactions with an on-line account, such as a current bank account or savings bank account.
7. 7. A method according to claim 6 includes the step of: generating an activity score which is based on a user's spending habits.
8. 8. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: deriving data from a GPS location of a mobile communications device.
9. 9. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: displaying the avatar on a screen or display of a mobile communications device.
10. A method according to any claim 9 includes the step of: animating the avatar on a screen or display.
11. 11. A method according to any preceding claim includes the step of: accumulating credits or debits according to criteria specified by at least one preselected service provider.
12. 12. A method according to claim 11 includes the step of: providing a token or voucher to nominated party in accordance with the specified criteria.
13. 13. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the credits or debits are derived from at least one of: a pre-defined set of user activity parameters and/or a pre-defined set of host parameters and/or a pre-defined set of legislated regulations.
14. 14. A method according to any of claims 11 to 13 includes the step of: accumulating credits or debits associated with the at least one preselected service provider, the credits or debits are derived from: a pre-defined set of service provider parameters and/or, a pre-defined set of pre-defined service provider of rules.
15. 15. A method according to any preceding claim includes the steps of: revising a score based upon a user internet protocol (IP) address.
16. 16. A method according to any preceding claim includes the steps of: identifying a user status.
17. 17. A method according to any claim 16 includes the steps of: verifying a user status prior to commencing access to a remote location.
18. 18. A method according to any preceding claim includes the steps of: inviting a subscriber of an existing group to become an enhanced user.
19. 19. A method according to any preceding claim includes the steps of: encrypting a data signal representative of an avatar or an update to an avatar.
20. A system comprising at least one server which includes a means for receiving an identifier of a device on which an avatar is displayed (local remote generation); a memory for storing a score associated with the identified device method of generating an avatar and displaying the avatar using data derived from on-line user activity, comprising the steps of: accumulating credits or debits associated with a user's on-line activity; generating a score based upon the credits and debits and a prescribed set of rules; updating at least one characteristic of the avatar in dependence upon the total score and/or accumulated credits or debits; and displaying the updated avatar.
21. 21. A computer implemented method for generating an updated avatar using data derived from on-line user activity, the method including the steps of: retrieving data indicative of on-line user activity from at least one database; storing in a memory means credits and debits associated with the data; generating a score using a processing means, the score being derived from the credits and debits in accordance with a prescribed set of rules; and updating at least one characteristic of an avatar matrix, which in turn is used to update an appearance of the avatar; and outputting appearance data representative of the updated avatar which is to be displayed on a screen of a device.