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`
`US(](l6{)18774A
`
`United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,018,774
`
`Mayle et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jan. 25, 2000
`
`[54] METHOD ANI) SYSTEM FOR CR|£AT[N(}
`M1.;§§A(;[.;S [N(_‘14U])1N(} [MA(;]g
`INFORNIATION
`
`[75]
`
`[T3]
`
`Inventors: Neil L. Mayle, Cambr1'dg::;David L.
`Rose, Boston, both 01 Mass.
`
`/wsigncc: Yollaby Pmductions, l.l.C.
`(Tamb.-idgc, M35,-,1
`
`............................. .. 380.-"25
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`Prm:rIr_v E.mmmer—ZarnI Maung
`Arrorrrgyg Agent, or F1'rm—C‘hoalc, Hall & Slcwarl
`
`I2|] Appl. N-IL: 03,"887,6l6
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system for creation of an imagc display such as an
`clcclronic p(lSlL‘I:ifLl.
`'l'l‘1t: Sy:.-i1IJl'I1
`inleracls with a‘u5cr lo
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`apd addrcsscc ‘fovr lhc Irrlagc cllsplay. The system creates the
`display, 150111-prls-lng la rmxI1.1re -:11 1m-age a11d lcxlual c-lata, and
`sends a n0l1hcat10n 1ncluc|1ng1dcnt1fical10n ofthc display to
`0 s})ccifi1:(5l. addrcsacc.
`for instance,
`the rccEpic_nt of the
`postcard.
`Ihc aclzlrcsscc can lhcn rcqucsl rc::c1pt of the
`display from {he system via [he idcmificalion inl0n11ali0n
`Sen‘ by ‘he 593mm‘
`
`6 Claims, 18 Drawing.-, Sheets
`
`lliledt
`[22]
`__________________ G051? 13mg
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`[51]
`. 7119,1250;709;203;709.-1200
`............
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`[58]
`Field 0! Search ......................... 395121030, 20075,
`395x200-8‘ 200- 3’ 20{)_4.’,; 709E206! 246‘
`250 203 217
`’
`’
`
`
`
`Jul‘ 3' 1997
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. 1’/\l‘l£N'I' [)O(.‘UMEN'l'S
`(M005 wrigm «:1 al.
`....................... 3041514 R
`4H0‘)? Rivcltc or al.
`3‘J5.u"788
`
`30.-$5200.63
`911997 Gillings cl al.
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`5.420,5<;4
`5,623,68I
`5,060.-1<J{I
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`0001
`0001
`
`Apple/Twitter
`Apple/Twitter
`Ex. 1018
`EX. 1018
`IPR1 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,482
`IPR1 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,482
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25,2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 18
`
`6,018,774
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f 18
`
`6,018,774
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`Personal Computer
`operating system
`
`Browser
`
`52
`File System
`53
`Photo
`File
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`54
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`Mail Reader
`
`Server Computer
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`64
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`65
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`66
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`Image
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`Jan. 25,2000
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`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING
`MESSAGES INCLUDING IMAGE
`INFORMATION
`
`The present invention relates generally to image process
`ing and manipulation and more speci?cally to a system for
`the creation of electronic postcards.
`
`BACKGROUND OF 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 and/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 of converting 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 ?lm 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 ?rst 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 ISP,
`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 identi?er so that information can be directed to the
`proper location. Information is passed betWeen users on the
`Web via pages displayed on a browser.
`
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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 identi?er
`for a particular user that alloWs that user to receive mail. The
`ISP Will receive the email for the user and store it until the
`user dials into the ISP 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 modem 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 ?exibility 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 noti?cation to one or more speci?c individuals to vieW the
`display.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is a goal of the present invention to
`provide a system Which can load a picture image onto a
`server and to provide notice to speci?c 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 postmark 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 exem
`pli?ed 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 identi?er. 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 noti?cation
`containing the unique identi?er to at least one person via the
`netWork. The person receiving the unique identi?er can
`retrieve the one or more displays represented by the iden
`ti?er from the server for vieWing.
`The processing on the server consists of one or more of
`the folloWing: captioning, formatting, storing, transmitting,
`centering, cropping, ?ipping, anti-aliasing, scaling,
`compressing, ?ltering, color correcting, adding special bor
`
`0020
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`6,018,774
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`3
`ders and/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
`
`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:
`
`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. 3a and 3b are flowcharts 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 invention
`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 10 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 of peripheral
`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. 1. In this environment, user computer 10
`connects via the modem 11 to an ISP 31. The ISP provides
`the interface between the user computer and the web 30. The
`ISP 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
`In the preferred embodiment,
`the electronic postcard
`functionality is implemented as a component of a web site.
`Aweb site is essentially a server computer providing public
`access to one or more files containing hypertext documents.
`Auser 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 (HTTP) 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, N.C.) and the MetaHTML 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 Internet
`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. Auser 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 particular 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
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`client, writing of the cookie and recording and retrieving
`data from the Session Database 62 is handled by the server
`via the MetaHTML software.
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`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 “permanently” 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—is
`sent to the recipient of the 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 for 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 for 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 HTML 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 407 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 scripting
`language such as MetaHTML 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
`example, 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, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.), an
`IBM-compatible machine (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.) or
`any other computer capable of running a standard web
`browser. The client connects to and communicates on the
`
`web using the TCP/IP 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, Inc.,
`Mountain View, Calif.) to enable the browser to support
`processing local to the client.
`The browser 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 FIG. 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 different 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
`(QUALCOMM, Inc., 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 infor-
`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
`The electronic postcard user must first connect
`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 offers 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.
`
`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 FIG. 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 brief caption 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 different 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 different page for each tab. As an alternative
`embodiment other indicators could be used, for instance a
`sequential list of steps or a fixed sequence of steps could be
`implemented to complete the electronic postcard.
`Specifying the parts of the Electronic postcard
`The user clicks one of the tabs 603 through 607 to bring
`up the page that corresponds to that part of the electronic
`postcard. The page will contain a form that prompts the user
`to enter the information that will appear on the card. The
`user fills in the fields in the HTML form and clicks the OK
`button to transmit the data to the server computer. The
`transmission is handled through a standard HTTP Form
`POST request. The server processes the fields from the
`POSTed data and validates the information. If the informa-
`tion is valid it is stored in a field in the session database. If
`the information is not valid the user is redirected to an error
`
`page which describes the problem.
`When the information in the session database changes, the
`server regenerates the postcard and the new information
`appears on the postcard. This process can also be used to
`change a field that has already been entered. The card is
`always displayed with all of the latest information in the
`correct locations.
`
`FIG. 7 illustrates the display after selecting the message
`tab 605. The electronic postcard generates a prompt 701 for
`the user to input a message for display on the back of the
`postcard 600. FIG. 8 illustrates the input of an example
`message in the prompt 701.
`FIG. 9 illustrates the back of the card with the message
`rendered onto the postcard back image. The specific steps
`for creation of the rendered postcard back image is discussed
`below. FI