.
`United States Patent
`[19]
`[11] Patent Number:
`6,018,774
`
`Mayle et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jan. 25, 2000
`
`USlHlfiU18774A
`
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`
`[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING
`MESSAGES INCLUDING IMAGE
`INFORMATION
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Neil L. Mayle, Cambridge; David L.
`R050 Boston both 01‘ Mass
`’
`’
`'
`'
`
`[73] Assignee: Yolkiby Productions, LLC.
`Cambridge, Mass.
`
`Primary Examiner—Zarni Mating
`Attorney; Agent, or Firm—Choale, ”all & Stewart
`
`IEI] Appl. No; 08,887,616
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Jul. 3' 1997
`
`Filed:
`[22]
`Int. Cl.7
`[51]
`_________________ (30617 13pm
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`____________
`_ 709950. 7U9r'203‘ 709-906
`[‘38]
`Field of genre}!
`3:95;.) [(1 36 7“; 76
`
`L 39570083003200 4.; 700,600 146’
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`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. I’KI‘EN'I' [)OCUMEN'I'S
`fiil‘JDS Wright el al. ..................... 3641514 R
`£425,594
`4,4097 Rivcltc 01 3|.
`R‘JSNSS
`5,ti23,68|
`
`305120063
`5,666.490 miss-7 Gillings el al.
`
`A system for creation of an image display such as an
`electronic postcard. The system interacts with a user to
`create and configure the display. The user provides the
`image data to the system and optionally specifies a message
`and addressee for the image display. The system creates the
`display, comprising a mixture ol'image and textual data, and
`sends a notification including identification ofthe display to
`at specified addressee.
`for instance,
`[he recipient of the
`postcard. The addressee can then request receipt of lhe
`display from the system via the identification inlom'lalion
`5cm by ”“3 Swen"
`
`6 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
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`35|
`3 56
`355
`354
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`compress
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`352
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`8: convert
`render
`generate
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`page
`page
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`descriptdiscript
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`
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`l__ _._
`I CARD—1
`LERONlJ
`
`Apple/Twitter
`Apple/Twitter
`Ex. 1018
`Ex. 1018
`IPR2 of U.S. Pat. No. 8,612,515
`IPR2 of US. Pat. No. 8,612,515
`
`0001
`0001
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 18
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`6,018,774
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`US. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Sheet 2 0f18
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`6,018,774
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`Server Computer
`operating system
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`6|
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`Web Server
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`64
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`US. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2000
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`6,018,774
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING
`MESSAGES INCLUDING IMAGE
`INFORMATION
`
`The present invention relates generally to image process—
`ing and manipulation and more specifically to a system for
`the creation of electronic postcards.
`BACKGROUND 01" THE INVENTION
`
`Photographic images or pictures may be represented and
`stored as a sequence of digital information. For instance, a
`photograph may be placed into a scanner connected to a
`computer system. The scanner is designed to convert images
`into digital information. A typical scanner comprises a row
`of discrete light sensors that are stepped sequentially across
`the photograph. At each discrete step the intensity andr’or
`color of the photograph is measured by each discrete sensor
`in the row. The values are read out of the sensors prior to
`moving the row to the next discrete step. The row of light
`sensors is thus moved step-by-step across the photograph
`until the entire image is scanned. The end result is an array
`of data values representing the photographic image, where
`each value is the measurement taken by the discrete sensor
`element for a particular row. The information collected may
`then be transferred to a computer for further processing. This
`process ofconverting image information into discrete values
`representing individual picture elements or pixels is also
`known as scanning.
`In the past, the typical way to create an electronic image
`was through such a scanner connected to a computer. Thus,
`if an individual desired to have a digital electronic photo-
`graph the individual would typically use a conventional
`photographic camera to create a film image, have it pro-
`cessed onto photographic paper, and then scan the image
`into a computer with a scanner. Recently, this process has
`changed with the advent of digital cameras—cameras that
`directly create a digital photograph that may be transferred
`directly into a computer.
`The creation of digital cameras has created an opportunity
`to utilize the unique aspects of a digital photograph. For
`instance, a digital photograph can be sent across a computer
`network and shared by others electronically. In addition,
`digital photographs allow further image manipulation.
`Recent advances in technology have broadened the utility
`of digital photographs. The first advance is the penetration of
`powerful personal computers in the home environment.
`These new personal computers are capable of running
`complex processing applications. Today, a typical system
`includes a 32 bit processor, large memory array, high capac-
`ity mass storage device. high resolution color monitor and
`fast modem. The price for such a system is now within the
`budget of many households.
`The second advance is the development and acceptance of
`the world wide web (WWW, web or Internet) as a mode of
`exchanging electronic information. The web is a network of
`computer systems that allow the free interchange of infor-
`mation. Users at a home computer or clients connects via a
`modem to the web via an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
`which provides users local access to the web. Users seeking
`access to the web typically dial up and connect to an [81],
`which acts as an intermediary and passes data between the
`web and the user. Also connected to the web are servers—
`computers capable of supplying information or services to
`users. Each individual computer connected to the web has a
`unique identifier so that information can be directed to the
`proper location. Infon'nation is passed between users on the
`web via pages displayed on a browser.
`
`ll]
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`15
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`
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`ISPs also provide the home user the ability to send and
`receive electronic mail (email). Often an individual access-
`ing the web will have an email address, a unique identifier
`for a particular user that allows that user to receive mail. The
`[SP will receive the email for the user and store it until the
`user dials into the 181’ to actually retrieve the messages.
`These events have created a situation where an individual
`at home can download the images captured by their digital
`camera or scanner into their home computer, connect to the
`web by modern in their computer, and transmit their picture
`onto the web. Thus, the individual can send the image to a
`second person, at a remote location.
`As digital cameras become widely accepted, a greater
`need will arise for flexibility in the electronic distribution of
`images. Current methods for distribution include email
`where the digital photograph is converted to a textual
`representation, sent to the remote user who then converts the
`textual
`representation back into the digital photograph.
`Users may also distribute the digital photograph via prede-
`signed web pages which allows any number of remote users
`to examine the digital photograph. None of the current
`mechanisms allow the user to transfer a digital photograph
`to a server, process the image data into a display and send
`a notilication to one or more specific individuals to view the
`display.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention to
`is a goal of the present
`it
`Accordingly,
`provide a system which can load a picture image onto a
`server and to provide notice to specific individuals.
`It is an alternate goal of the present invention to allow the
`creation of electronic postcard composed of the user’s
`digital photograph.
`It is an alternate goal of the present invention to allow the
`creation of electronic postcard that mimics aspects of a
`conventional postcard.
`It is an alternate goal of the present invention to allow the
`creation of electronic postcard having a p0stmark or logo
`information.
`
`It is an alternate goal of the present invention to allow the
`creation of electronic postcard that
`includes the ability to
`merge text information with the digital photograph.
`Other objects will be obvious and will appear hereinafter.
`The invention comprises an article of manufacture as exemw
`plilied in the following summary and detailed description.
`The present
`invention is a system and method for pro-
`cessing electronic image data. The system comprises at least
`one server computer connected to a network. The server is
`adapted to receive electronic image data from a second
`computer connected to the network. The server processes the
`electronic image data and creates a display containing at
`least a portion of the processed electronic image data. One
`or more displays may be assigned a unique identifier. The
`data representing the display is in a format that allows for
`transmission to and viewing on a client computer. Viewing
`on the client computer is preferably accomplished via a web
`browser. The server is also adapted to send a notification
`containing the unique identifier to at least one person via the
`network. The person receiving the unique identifier can
`retrieve the one or more displays represented by the iden-
`tifier from the server for viewing.
`The processing on the server consists of one or more of
`the following: captioning, formatting, storing, transmitting,
`centering, cropping,
`flipping, anti-aliasing, scaling,
`compressing, filtering. color correcting, adding special bor-
`
`0020
`0020
`
`

`

`6,018,774
`
`3
`ders andt’or corner motifs, blurring, and adding visual
`effects. In addition, the client may be augmented to perform
`a portion of the processing during interactions with the
`server.
`
`The data for the electronic image may also be provided
`via a photo processor where film is developed and then
`converted into an electronic image. The data representing
`the electronic image may then be transferred from the photo
`processor to the client computer or directly to the server
`computer.
`The above mentioned objectives of the present invention
`will become more apparent and the invention itself better
`understood with reference to the following description of the
`embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`it]
`
`15
`
`The foregoing discussion will be understood more readily
`from the following detailed description of the invention,
`when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
`in which:
`
`invention
`
`so
`
`35
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`FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of connections to the
`web;
`FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a server and -
`personal computer as found in FIG. 1, illustrating a portion
`of the functions utilized by the present invention;
`FIGS. 30 and 3b are llowcharts of the steps executed by
`a personal computer of the present invention in creating the
`front and back of an electronic postcard;
`FIG. 4 is an example screen of the present
`indication the static and generated image areas;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process of creating a
`generated image area and particularly the compositing of
`text on an image;
`FIG. 6 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard creation page, as displayed within a browser
`window, where the electronic postcard is empty of user
`information;
`FIG. 7 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the prompt for a message;
`FIG. 8 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the input of a message;
`FIG. 9 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the prompt for input of an input image;
`FIG. 10 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the selection of an input image;
`FIG. 11 is an image of the present
`invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the input image placed on a side of the
`postcard;
`FIG. 12 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the prompt for an image caption;
`FIG. 13 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the composite created from the input
`image and image caption;
`FIG. 14 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the prompt for the sender‘s name and
`address;
`FIG. 15 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the prompt for the recipient’s name and
`address;
`FIG. 16 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the completed postcard prior to sending
`to the recipient; and
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`FIG. 17 is an image of the present invention electronic
`postcard illustrating the display of a sent postcard.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`System Architecture
`The present invention relates to a system for the genera—
`tion of electronic postcards for distribution via an electronic
`network. FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified view of a network of
`computers. Two basic machines are connected to the
`network, user (or client) computers ll] and 20, and server
`systems 31 through 35. User computers. for example com-
`puter 10, are conceptually separate from server systems, as
`they provide the functions necessary for a typical user to
`connect to the network and exchange information with other
`user computers and server systems. In the present invention,
`the user computer 10 may interface to a variety ofperiphcral
`devices, including a scanner 12, printer 13, video camera 14
`and digital camera 15. In addition, the user computer 10
`communicates via a communications device 11, here illus-
`trated as a modem, for communicating over the network.
`The user computer 10 of the present invention is con-
`nected to a broader system of networked computers as
`illustrated in FIG. I. In this environment. user computer 10
`connects via the modem 11 to an [SP 31. The [SP provides
`the interface between the user computer and the web 30. The
`151’ 31 may also provide other services, such a receipt and
`storage of user email, storage of user files and various other
`Services. As the interface to the web 30, the ISP 31 receives
`packets of data from the user computer 10 and stores the
`received information or forwards the information on the web
`30 to the addressed destination. The addressed destination
`may be one of the servers 31—35 or may be a separate user
`computer 20. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
`the variety of configurations possible on such a network.
`While the web is illustrated as a single network,
`it
`is
`understood that
`it may comprise one of a number of local
`area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).
`In the preferred embodiment,
`the electronic postcard
`functionality is implemented as a component of a web site.
`A web site is essentially a server computer providing public
`access to one or more liles containing hypertext documents.
`A user utilizing a web browser running on a client computer
`10 to access the hypertext documents stored on one or more
`server computer 31-35 located on the network 30. The
`server, running hyper text
`transfer protocol [I-I'l’l'l’) web
`server software, transfers the hypertext document to the user
`computer for display on the browser. The present invention
`is directed to software that adapts the server to perform the
`functions necessary to create and transmit an electronic
`postcard.
`Server
`With reference to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment a
`server 31 is a Pentium Pro (Intel Corporation, San Jose,
`Calif.) based computer connected to the Internet running the
`Linux operating system {Red Hat Software, Inc, Research
`Triangle Park, NC.) and the Metal-ITML web server soft-
`ware 61 (Universal Access Inc, Santa Barbara, Calif.). The
`web server software supports the HTTP protocol—the stan-
`dard used in World Wide Web interaction. When a request is
`made over the lntemet
`to view a web page,
`the server
`responds to this request returning a reply in the form of text
`describing the page in the hyper text markup language
`(HTML) format. A user specifies the page he would like to
`view with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or web
`address.
`Database on Server
`The server 31 is adapted to store and process data that is
`transmitted over the Internet. The present invention utilizes
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`temporary storage and permanent
`two type of storage:
`storage. The temporary storage keeps the data that is entered
`by the user during a "session" of interaction with the site.
`The temporary storage is called the Session Database 62. As
`the user makes changes to the postcard the data in the
`Session Database 62 is updated.
`In order to manage the data for a particuiar user, each user
`is assigned a unique identification number that distinguishes
`that user’s session from all others. This unique identification
`number is stored by the client via the web browser using a
`standard mechanism known as the "cookie mechanism."
`The identification number is used by the client as the key to
`the Session Database 62. While the cookie is stored on the
`client, writing of the cookie and recording and retrieving
`data from the Session Database 62 is handled by the server
`via the MetaHTML software.
`The electronic postcard is composed of two data forms:
`textual and graphical. The textual data is stored in the
`Session Database while the card is being created. The
`graphical data {generated images and photographs} are
`stored in the file system of the server in a directory specifi-
`cally created to store the temporary image files. herein
`designated as the Temp Image Database 65. In the preferred
`embodiment, the directory name utilizes the same cookie
`identification number although various other naming _
`schemes are possible. By using the cookie in the directory
`name,
`the system ensures that each user has his own
`temporary directory. This directory can be thought of as an
`extension of the Session Database 62. The graphical data
`files are assigned names that are also stored in the Session
`Database.
`After the electronic postcard is sent, the postcard data is
`stored “pennant-.ntly“ in two other databases. One database,
`called the Card Database 63, stores the sender’s and recipi-
`ent’s name and email address. The other database, called the
`Image Database 66, stores the images that have been con~
`structed for the front and back of the card. In the preferred
`embodiment, after the electronic postcard is sent and the
`data is stored in the Image Database 66,
`the temporary
`graphical data files and session data can be deleted. As an
`alternate embodiment,
`the temporary graphical data files
`may be retained for additional uses. such as creation of an
`album of images.
`The data in both the Card Database 63 and the Image
`Database 66 is keyed by a unique identifier called the Card
`Key that is created at the time the card is sent. This key—the
`information required for retrieving the electronic postcard
`data from the Card Database 63 and Image Database 64—45
`sent to the recipient ofthe card in a message. As a result, the
`recipient has sufficient information for interacting with the
`server so as to view the specific electronic postcard identi—
`fied by the Card Key.
`The Card Database 63 also stores the date that the card
`was sent and the number of times that
`the card has been
`viewed. The data for a card is typically stored [or 14 days
`(the number of days is a number set when the system is
`configured. and is not a limitation of the server storage time).
`After that point the permanent card and image data may be
`automatically deleted. The data is also deleted after the card
`has been viewed 15 times (this number is also set when the
`system is configured). One of ordinary skill in the art can
`appreciate the possible variations for determining when to
`delete the data. As an alternate embodiment, the permanent
`card and image data may be retained [or additional uses,
`Such as creation of an album of images.
`Like the Temp Image Database 65, the Image Database 66
`uses the file system to store the image files. The files are
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`stored in a directory whose name is derived from the Card
`Key. In this case, there is a separate directory created for
`each card that is sent.
`Dynamically generated web pages
`The present
`invention is adapted to process text and
`graphic data to create an electronic postcard that is com-
`posed of custom generated HTML pages including gener—
`ated images within the HTML pages. The system looks at
`the data it has stored from previous user inputs and creates
`the IITMI. page to achieve the custom look desired by the
`user. The user specifies the look by supplying the graphical
`data to upload, the style parameters for the look of the card
`and text for the textual content and address. Certain style
`characteristics may be automatically determined from the
`user data. For example, different HTML text is generated
`when the photo is horizontally oriented than when it
`is
`vertically oriented. Orientation is, in turn, determined by the
`aspect ratio of the graphical data uploaded by the user.
`The electronic postcard 400, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is
`composed of HTML pages consisting of tables, with some
`cells of the table containing static images and some cells
`containing generated images. Static images 401 to 406 are
`created once and do not change during further modifications
`to the postcard. Generated images 40'}r through 409 change
`during the customization of the postcard and are thus
`regenerated as required. The use of static and generated
`images improves the efficiency of the system by preventing
`the recreation and retransmission of images that are essen-
`tially "fixed" during operation of the system.
`When a user enters text or makes a style selection, this
`input is sent to the server and is stored and processed using
`code residing on the server. This process uses a scriptng
`language such as Metal-I’I'ML or Dynamo (Art Technology
`Group. Boston. Mass.) [detailed algorithms of this process
`are outlined below in the "Use” section}. The server then
`sends to the client a new HTML page containing the updated
`information and regenerated images. In order to improve
`operation of the system, only those sections of a displayed
`page are updated during an update of the information. Thus,
`only the images of the portion of the display that depend on
`the changed data will be regenerated and retransmitted. For
`exampIe, referring to FIG. 4, generated portion 408 includes
`a caption and therefore portion 408 will be regenerated and
`retransmitted if the caption text data is modified.
`Client
`With reference to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment the
`user or client computer 10 is a personal computer that is
`connected to the Internet. The computer can be a Apple
`Macintosh (Apple Computer, lnc., Cupertino, Calif.), an
`IBM-compatible machine (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY.) or
`any other computer capable of running a standard web
`browser. The client connects to and communicates on the
`web using the ’11??th protocol. The actual physical connec-
`tion is not critical for the present invention, and may be
`accomplished via a dedicated line or a modem via a dialup
`connection. Turning to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment,
`the user computer 10 runs the Microsoft Windows 95
`operating system (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.)
`and a browser 51 such as Netscape Navigator {Netscape
`Communications Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.) or
`Microsoft
`Internet Explorer {Microsoft Corporation,
`Redmond, Wash). The browser may be further augmented
`for supporting the Java language (Sun Microsystems, lnc.,
`Mountain View, Calif.) to enable the broWser to support
`processing local to the client.
`The bmWser 51 is the application running under the
`operating system on the client computer that allows the user
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`to make style selections, enters text and uploads photos. The
`browser 51 displays the pages received from the server 31
`and collects user input for transmission to the server 31. The
`pages in the preferred embodiment are written in standard
`HTML capable of being displayed on the web browser with
`no additional plug-ins or other applications.
`Graphic data uploaded by the user at the user computer 10
`may be supplied from a variety of sources. For instance
`graphical data representing drawings created by programs
`such as Corel Draw [Corel Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario,
`Canada), Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop (both of
`Adobe Systems Incorporated, Seattle, Wash.) can be used as
`image data for uploading. For graphical data representing
`digital photos, various sources of data are possible. As
`illustrated in F [G 1, the user computer can receive data from
`a digital camera 15, video camera 14, scanner 12, or from a
`film processor who provides electronic image data. In addi-
`tion to the dill’erent sources, a variety of graphical data
`formats can be used to encode the image information. In the
`preferred embodiment, graphical data is provided in the
`JPEG or GIF format.
`In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
`separate client computer, such as user computer 21 of FIG.
`1, may be the receiver of the electronic postcard. For
`reception of the electronic postcard, the receiving computer
`should have access to an email account and be able to send _
`and read email using a standard email reader such as Eudora
`(QUAI..COMM, lnc., San Diego, Calif.) or Netscape Navi-
`gator.
`Operation of the System
`AS illustrated in FIG. 17, the electronic postcard has the
`familiar "look and feel" of a standard postcard, with a photo
`on one side and a personalized message and recipient’s
`name on the other. The user fills in the electronic postcard
`with personalized information: recipient's name, message,
`signature; and uploads a photo selected by the user that will
`appear on the card. After the user has specified the inforv
`mation to appear on the electronic postcard, an email mes-
`sage is automatically sent to the recipient notifying them of
`the card.
`Connect the computer to the Internet
`their
`first connect
`The electronic postcard user must
`personal computer to the Internet using a modem and a
`telephone line. Using standard SLIP or PPP software the
`user instructs the modem to dial an Internet Service Pro-
`vider. When the connection is made and all of the protocol
`hand shaking has completed, the user then connects to the
`server where they can create their electronic postcard.
`Go to a site that oll'ers Electronic Postcard
`With an Internet connection the user can now use standard
`web browser software {such as Netscape Navigator or
`Microsoft Internet Explorer) to access a site that offers the
`electronic postcard service using the URL specific to this
`site.
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`The initial web page shows both sides of a blank postcard
`When the user first comes to the site the initial web page,
`as illustrated in F 1G. 6, is a blank electronic postcard 600.
`The layout shows both the front 601 and the back 602 of the
`postcard 600 on one screen. The front 601 will hold the
`photo and a briefcaption describing the photo. The back 602
`will have the recipient’s name, the message text and the
`sender’s signature and optionally a postmark indicating the
`time and date of sending. Both sides initially do not contain
`personal content, but have background graphics that
`resemble a classic blank postcard.
`Choose a tab to fill in part of the Electronic Postcard
`The user adds their personal information to the electronic
`postcard by clicking the tabs 603 through 607 that surround
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`the front 601 and back 602 of the card 600. The tabs 603
`through 607 correspond to the ditl‘erent parts of the postcard
`that the user can fill in: sender’s name and email address
`606, recipient's name and email address 607, message to the
`recipient 605, a user—selected photo 603, and a photo caption
`604. When the user clicks a tab a new web page appears that
`contains a form with input fields for the selected part of the
`card. There is a ditferent page for each tab. As an alternative
`embodiment other indicators could be used, for instance a
`sequen