United States Patent [19J
`N arayen et al.
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006035323A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,035,323
`Mar.7,2000
`
`[54] METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR
`DISTRIBUTING A COLLECTION OF
`DIGITAL MEDIA OVER A NETWORK WITH
`AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF
`PRESENTABLE MEDIA
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Shantanu Narayen, Sunnyvale; Wu
`Wang, Los Altos; Steve Morris, Palo
`Alto; Chan Chiu, Sunnyvale; Cecilia
`Zhao, Newark; Aditya Khosla,
`Mountain View; James Lei, Cupertino;
`Prasad Kongara, San Jose, all of Calif.
`
`5,745,360
`5,752,022
`5,778,367
`5,802,299
`5,841,432
`5,845,084
`5,862,346
`5,870,552
`5,890,170
`5,892,909
`
`4/1998 Leone et a!. .
`5/1998 Chiu eta!. .
`7/1998 Wesinger eta!. ......................... 707/10
`9/1998 Logan et a!. ............................ 709/218
`11/1998 Carmel et a!. .......................... 345/302
`12/1998 Cordell et a!. . ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 709/234
`1!1999 Kley et a!. .............................. 709/243
`2/1999 Dozier et a!. ........................... 709/219
`3/1999 Sidana ..................................... 707/501
`4/1999 Grasso et a!. .. ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 709/201
`
`Primary Examiner-Krisna Lim
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor &
`Zafman
`
`[73] Assignee: Pictra, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/957,224
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 24, 1997
`
`Int. Cl? ...................................................... G06F 13/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 709/201; 709/232; 709/246;
`707/501
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 709/200, 201,
`709/231, 232, 246; 707/501
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,608,874
`5,706,502
`5,710,883
`5,715,397
`
`3/1997 Ogawa et a!. .
`1!1998 Foley et a!. .
`1!1998 Honz eta!. .
`2/1998 Ogawa eta!. .
`
`Methods and apparatuses for publishing a collection of
`digital media on a network. In one example of a method, a
`client digital processing system generates a collection of
`digital media and transmits collection information, which
`describes the collection of digital media, to a server digital
`processing system. From the collection information, a plu(cid:173)
`rality of presentable media is automatically generated; each
`of these presentable media is capable of being presented to
`other client digital processing systems which are coupled to
`the network. In this one example, the network is operating
`according to a hypertext transfer protocol. In this one
`example, the client and server systems are programmed to
`interact together such that the presentable media is auto(cid:173)
`matically generated.
`
`38 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`Acquire images and build ("author") an album
`(e.g., multiple pages with multiple pictures) with r--
`layout and style that can be converted into
`internet-viewable format (e.g., HTML format)
`
`225
`
`~
`
`Publish software transmits the album format
`data and signatures (or images) to a server
`computer system
`
`r---- 227
`
`~
`Server computer system saves album format
`data and images in a database (images are ~ 229
`converted into web-viewable format)
`
`~
`
`Web browser request to view an album is
`sent to the server computer system
`
`___.------
`
`231
`
`~
`
`Server computer system generates an
`appropriate page of an album in HTML
`format and sends the page to the web
`browser which requested the album
`
`_....---.-..___
`
`233
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 1 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Digital photography software acquires an
`image from a digital camera
`
`-
`
`10
`
`w
`
`Web authoring software creates HTML files
`
`12
`
`'~
`Web authoring software transfers the files
`(and images) to an ISP
`
`r---.- 14
`
`w
`
`ISP links files and images and maintains
`(persistently} HTML pages from the files
`and images; Web browsers views HTML
`pages from Web server at ISP
`
`r - - 16
`
`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 2 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`121
`
`Client
`Computer
`System
`
`125
`
`Client
`Computer 14--_.,
`System
`""""----
`
`131
`
`Gateway
`System
`
`133
`
`Network
`Interface
`
`Network
`Interface
`
`Client
`Computer
`System
`
`Client
`Computer
`System
`
`135
`
`137
`
`~105
`'------+----...~
`
`Internet
`
`Web
`Server
`System
`
`111
`
`Server
`Computer
`System
`
`110
`
`101 _;J(
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 3 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`~-----------------------
`
`L 501
`------
`
`Processor ~ 505
`
`Memory
`
`1--- 509
`
`< ,
`
`~
`
`'It
`
`j
`
`'
`
`Bus
`
`( 515
`
`( 511
`
`Display
`Controller
`
`Mass
`Memory
`
`'It
`
`Display
`
`\_ 513
`
`,
`
`( 517
`
`1/0
`Controller
`
`( 519
`
`'
`110
`Devices
`
`'
`Digital Image 1-- 521
`Input Device
`
`L----------------~-------------
`,if
`
`Modem
`or ~ 503
`Network
`Interface
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 4 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Input digital images from a digital acquisition
`device (e.g., a digital camera) into a digital
`processing system
`
`,,
`
`Make selections for file saving dialog box
`to store original images to a file storage
`device (e.g., hard disk) under control of a
`file management system (e.g., a disk
`operating system)
`
`201
`
`203
`
`'f'
`
`Image is stored on file storage device (usually,
`image has a unique name on the file storage
`device for this type of image file)
`
`-
`
`205
`
`w
`
`Create data object for each digital image
`(e.g., a thumbnail version with a link to
`the original image is created for each
`digital image) and store/serialize the
`object to a database
`
`...____-- 207
`
`v
`
`Create picture album having multiple
`pages with multiple pictures in the
`picture album
`
`r---- 209
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 5 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`) an album
`Acquire images and build (11author11
`(e.g., multiple pages with multiple pictures) with
`layout and style that can be converted into
`internet-viewable format (e.g., HTML format)
`
`..-........____
`
`225
`
`w
`
`Publish software transmits the album format
`data and signatures (or images) to a server -- 227
`computer system
`
`H
`
`Server computer system saves album format
`data and images in a database (images are --- 229
`converted into web-viewable format)
`, ..
`
`Web browser request to view an album is
`sent to the server computer system
`
`f.---
`
`231
`
`'~
`Server computer system generates an
`appropriate page of an album in HTML
`format and sends the page to the web
`browser which requested the album
`
`...----......__
`
`233
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 6 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Choose an album layout and style (e.g., pick
`layout and style from a set of predefined layouts -----
`..... and styles or allow user to provide user-definable
`layouts and styles)
`
`~
`
`241
`
`v
`Select images for image slots in album's page(s) t----- 243
`
`,,
`Consider changing layout or ~245
`style of album?
`
`Yes
`(Change)
`
`No change
`
`'~
`
`Enter caption (or title) if any for each image
`
`..........._ 247
`
`, ..
`Change view of an image (or images) by
`zooming, rotating, and/or panning
`
`--
`
`249
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 7 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Determine ordered list of pictures for a
`desired album
`
`r -
`
`261
`
`'~
`
`Determine selected layout and style for
`desired album
`
`f.-------
`
`263
`
`"
`Determine set of album pages based upon
`selected layout; assign a unique number to ~ 265
`each slot on the ordered set of album pages
`, ..
`Assign ordered list of pictures to the numbered
`slots (e.g., picture 1 is placed into slot 1,
`picture 2 is placed into slot 2, etc.)
`
`--- 267
`
`H
`
`Each picture is scaled (if necessary) to fit
`into corresponding slot; aspect ratio is
`maintained for picture after scaling
`,,
`Allow user to edit album (e.g., add or delete
`pictures, change layout, etc.)
`
`269
`
`271
`
`FIG. 68
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 8 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Same name
`already used
`
`No
`
`( 289
`
`Does client want
`to overwrite the
`selected album?
`
`Yes
`
`( 281
`Client system logs into server system via a
`connection (e.g., via the internet); client system
`sends log in information (e.g., user ID and user
`password)
`
`(2 83
`Server system responds to log in request and
`confirms acceptance
`
`(2 85
`User at client system selects (e.g., types in or
`selects from a list) an album name, and client
`system transmits album name to server system
`
`87
`(2
`
`Server determines whether selected
`album name is already used on the
`server for this user
`
`'
`Transmit album format data from client system
`to server and transmit signature of each picture
`in the album to server
`
`(2 91
`
`(2 93
`Server compares signatures transmitted to
`signatures for images of this user stored on
`the server; server determines from this
`comparison which images are new and
`specifies to the client these new images
`
`(2 95
`
`Client transmits new images to the server
`and server stores the new images and
`corresponding signatures
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 9 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`From album format data, determine number
`of images, layout and style and signatures
`for each of the images
`
`-----.... 301
`
`Save album format data for this album
`of this user
`
`303
`
`Generate image(s) for HTML viewing
`(e.g., generate 2 JPEG images for HTML
`viewing) from original master image stored
`at server; save these image(s) for HTML
`viewing; server also saves a reference
`between these image(s) for HTML viewing
`and the original master image
`
`---- 305
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 10 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 10 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`Server receives URL request, from a web browser, r---
`for viewing of an album
`,,
`
`321
`
`Server obtains album format data and decomposes
`data (determining number of pages, number of
`images, layout info., etc.)
`
`------
`
`323
`
`H
`
`Server generates formatted HTML page for requested
`page (first page as default) of album; HTML page
`is partially completed
`
`r--
`
`325
`
`v·
`Server determines image URL (Universal Resource
`Locator) from images in partially completed HTML
`page of the album
`
`- 327
`
`'
`Server obtains a copy of the pre-generated HTML
`viewable image from the image URL and places
`into appropriate slot on the HTML album page
`
`,,
`
`Server displays completed HTML album page to
`web browser
`
`,,
`Server transmits alternative view of an image which r---
`was selected by a user of the web browser
`
`..-...___.., 329
`
`r--
`
`331
`
`333
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 11 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`j{' 601
`
`Client Computer System Memory
`
`File System I OS
`I Media Object 1 (-321
`I Media Object 2 p
`
`. 623
`
`.
`
`622
`~
`
`File Systemls Properties
`for Media Object 1
`624
`File Systemls Properties ~
`for Media Object 2
`
`V603
`
`Album Authoring and Publishing Software (SW)
`I
`I
`
`Signature generator and comparator
`
`Album authoring tools
`
`Interface to server system
`(including internet I web services)
`
`v6os
`
`J-- 641
`~642
`
`~643
`
`Interface to Dedicated Database (DB)
`(including DB searching and editing tools)
`
`1-644
`
`(607
`
`673
`
`Dedicated Database for Album Authoring I Publishing SW
`Lower resolution version
`Lower resolution version
`671
`661
`and signature of ~
`and signature of ~
`Media Object 2
`Media Object 1
`I Link to Media Object 2 ~
`675
`_;
`Properties of
`Media Object 2
`
`I Link to Media Object 1
`Properties of
`Media Object 1
`
`~62
`
`~63
`
`I Album 1 Information ~81 I Album 2 Information ~83
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 12 of 32
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 21
`
`6,035,323
`
`~701
`
`Server Computer System Memory
`
`Storage System I OS
`Media Object 1 711
`v
`(original)
`
`Media Object 2 J13
`(original)
`
`r - - - - - - - - - - - "1 712 v 703
`File System's Properties l.-1
`for Media Object 1
`File System's Properties ~14
`for Media Object 2
`
`Album Publishing I Sharing Software (SW)
`
`,__S_ig_n_at_ur_e_ge_n_e_ra_to_r a_n_d_co_m_p_a_ra_to_r _ ..... f-- 717
`~--W_e_b_a_lb_um-p_ub_li_sh_in_g_in_te_rt_a_ce--~~719
`,_ __ l_nt_ert_a_c_e_to_w_e_b_s_erv_e_r_sy_s_te_m __ ..... l- 721
`
`lntertace to Dedicated Database (DB)
`(including DB searching and editing tools)
`
`r--- 723
`
`v7o5
`
`(707
`
`Dedicated Database for Album Publishing SW
`I Album 11nfo. I User 1 ~ I Album 11nfo. I User 2 p
`735
`731
`I Album 2 Info. I User 2 1-!37
`I Album 21nfo. I User 1 ~33
`7 41
`Signatures for and
`Signatures for and
`739
`links to original media f---..-"
`links to original media j--/
`objects for User 2
`objects for User 1
`
`HTML viewing images 1 7~3
`for all albums of User 1 ~'------"'
`
`HTML viewing images ~5
`for all albums of User 2
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 13 of 32
`
`

`
`1201 ~
`
`lJ Pictra Album
`Eile
`~dit
`
`~[g)~
`
`Sample Album
`
`1207
`
`Iitle ~~
`
`~
`
`Whe!! picture taken: I 01/01/80 I
`
`\!:Yhere picture taken:
`
`W!J.O is in picture:
`
`Eicture taken by:
`
`gomment' I
`
`- -c
`
`For Help, press F1
`
`~
`
`FIG. 12A
`
`1211
`
`d •
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`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
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`N c c c
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' ~
`0 ......,
`N
`'"""'
`
`0\
`....
`8
`Ul
`....
`~
`N
`~
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 14 of 32
`
`

`
`lJ Pictra Album
`
`1201 ~
`
`Q[g]!ZJ
`
`1205
`
`Shoebox
`
`IB=t
`t=QJ
`
`• Sample Album
`
`, .
`
`I
`
`~~~~i!~ .~~~~~-~i~_s_:
`L-------L-----------------~
`
`Type:
`
`JPEG File Interchange Format (.jpg)
`
`Dimensions:
`
`768 X 512 pixels
`
`Color palette:
`
`16777216 colors
`
`Size:
`
`48 K (48599 bytes)
`
`Location:
`
`E:\PICTRA ALBUM\Data\Pictures\Roses.jpg
`
`Last modified:
`
`Friday, July 11, 1997 12:03:56
`
`Source:
`
`File system: E:\PICTRA ALBUM\Data\Pictures
`
`Status:
`
`Link to image file is valid
`
`For Help, press F1
`
`II
`
`OK
`
`1111 Cancel
`
`1111
`
`II
`
`Help
`1 Page 1 of 2 La
`
`FIG. 128
`
`1211a
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ .......
`
`~ = .......
`
`~
`~ :-:
`~-..J
`N c c c
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' ~
`0 ......,
`N
`'"""'
`
`0\
`....
`8
`Ul
`....
`~
`N
`~
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 15 of 32
`
`

`
`1201 ~
`
`lJ Pictra Album
`sdit Y.iew
`Eile
`
`~[g)~
`
`~
`
`Shoebox
`
`~~~~m
`~HIIIII
`• Sample Album
`
`fEj"ii']
`t=QJ
`
`1205
`
`The picture is included in the albums listed below.
`
`Album
`Sample Album
`
`Page
`Page 1
`
`II Go to Picture
`
`II
`
`Yellowrose
`
`For Help, press F1
`
`FIG. 12C
`
`[ Help
`
`II
`
`1 Page 1 of 2
`
`Ia
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
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`N c c c
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`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`"""' Ul
`0 ......,
`N
`"""'
`
`0\
`....
`8
`Ul
`....
`~
`N
`~
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 16 of 32
`
`

`
`1201 ~
`
`lJ Pictra Album
`,Edit
`Eile
`
`Shoebox
`
`['Ej';'1
`L.::.Q.I
`
`1205
`
`Sample Album
`
`1207
`
`I Apply Layout and Style
`/ 1303
`Lavouts:
`
`One Picture
`Two Picture
`Two Picture
`Three Picture
`Three Picture
`Four Picture
`
`Stvl
`Photo Pro
`Balloons
`Paper Bag
`Linen
`Swirl
`Marble
`
`~
`
`'==
`
`B
`1308
`
`~
`
`"""
`l!d
`rv1
`
`Apply to - - - - - - ,
`
`@ Current Eage
`0 All pages in ~lbum
`
`~[Q]!8JII
`
`~~II
`~] ~
`~
`[31
`~
`[Z]
`
`.,.- 1305
`
`r-- 1306
`
`/
`
`1307- ___./
`
`For Help, press F1
`
`1 Page 1 of 2 L~
`
`FIG. 13
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
`~ :-:
`~-..J
`N c c c
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' 0'1
`0 ......,
`N
`'"""'
`
`0\
`....
`8
`Ul
`....
`~
`N
`~
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 17 of 32
`
`

`
`1401 ~
`
`/1202
`
`Iools
`
`.EictraNet Help
`
`~[[Mj)][i~[[g][IJ] rrn108
`~ ~
`
`~ :...;..--
`
`l] Pictra Album
`Eile E;dit Y.iew
`
`Sample Album
`
`Album URL: <Not Published>
`
`FIG. 14A
`
`1409
`1411
`1405
`1407
`
`~(g)~
`
`II
`
`II
`
`41
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
`~ :-:
`-..J
`N c c c
`
`~
`
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`~ .....
`'"""'
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`0 ......,
`N
`'"""'
`
`0\
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`8
`Ul
`....
`~
`N
`~
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 18 of 32
`
`

`
`~ ~
`
`Sample Album
`
`Shoebox
`
`l1203
`
`( 1425
`
`•~
`
`? 111"'·"~-c::...,,..-1
`
`_JV--1433
`
`Drag a picture
`and drop it here
`
`Album URL: <Not Published>
`
`FIG. 148
`
`~ •--
`
`- ~~
`. ~~) ~,
`
`~- ~
`
`:::;::?-::::_.._.-:;/--
`
`~1427
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.7,2000
`
`Sheet 19 of 21
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`Page 20 of 32
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`Page 21 of 32
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`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 22 of 32
`
`

`
`6,035,323
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR
`DISTRIBUTING A COLLECTION OF
`DIGITAL MEDIA OVER A NETWORK WITH
`AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF
`PRESENTABLE MEDIA
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses
`for distributing digital media over a network. Particularly,
`the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for
`publishing digital images over a network operating accord(cid:173)
`ing to Internet or intranet protocols.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`2
`also separately transfers the digital images stored in step 10
`to an Internet service provider. Typically the files are trans(cid:173)
`ferred according to the FTP protocol. In step 16, the Internet
`service provider links the HTML files and the appropriate
`images and maintains persistently the HTML pages from the
`files and images on a web server, and this allows web
`browsers to view the HTML pages from the web server
`provided by the Internet service provider (ISP)
`The foregoing procedure is relatively complicated,
`10 requires the user of the digital camera to have some famil(cid:173)
`iarity with HTML document creation, and also requires the
`use of at least two separate programs on of the computer
`system which receives the input from the digital camera.
`Furthermore, the Internet service provider must perform the
`15 linking operation in order to maintain HTML pages which
`present the images to web browsers over the Internet.
`While it is possible to use e-mail computer programs or
`public bulletin board services to attempt to distribute digital
`media over a network, such programs or systems are not
`20 designed to provide for the generation of a collection of
`digital media and then the transmission of the collection and
`then the automatic generation from the collection of view(cid:173)
`able media. Also, certain organizations, such as real estate
`realtors have attempted to distribute digital media over the
`25 Internet. However, this distribution is believed to be as
`complicated as the method shown in FIG. 1.
`Given the complexity of the foregoing tasks, it is desirable
`to allow a user of a digital camera to easily distribute or
`publish images from the digital camera or other digital
`30 acquisition devices over a network, such as the Internet.
`
`35
`
`Digital processing systems, such as conventional com(cid:173)
`puter systems, often can accept input from a digital acqui(cid:173)
`sition device, such as a digital camera or a scanner.
`Examples of digital cameras and scanners are well known in
`the art. These devices may be used to capture an image, such
`as a picture of a person, and then the image may be input into
`a computer system. For example, the output of a digital
`camera may be input to a computer system which is execut(cid:173)
`ing a digital photography software program, such as Pho(cid:173)
`toshop from Adobe Systems, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. Once
`the digital image is inputted into the computer system, it is
`stored on a computer readable storage medium, such as a
`hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, or other well known
`computer readable storage media. The storage of the media
`on the computer readable storage media is controlled by a
`file management system which is usually considered to be a
`disk operating system software which is also running on the
`computer system. Thus, the result of the conventional digital
`photography software is the storage of a file which contains
`the content of the digital picture on a computer readable
`medium which is controlled by the file management system
`of the computer system.
`The user can then modify the image, print the image, and
`perform other operations with the image. One such opera(cid:173)
`tion is the distribution or publication of the image over a 40
`network, such as the World Wide Web or the Internet.
`FIG. 1 shows a process in the prior art which typically
`requires at least two software programs at the computer sy
`tern which first acquires the digital image. In particular, a
`digital photography computer program is typically required 45
`to capture the image from a digital camera or from a scanner,
`and a separate web authoring computer program, such as
`Front Page '97 from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,
`Wash. is also required. In addition, the web authoring
`software (or some other software) must transfer the files and 50
`images to an Internet service provider which then must link
`the files and images and maintain the HTML (hypertext
`markup language) formatted documents at a web server.
`FIG. 1 shows the various steps required in this compli(cid:173)
`cated procedure in order to make digital images available for 55
`viewing over the Internet to web browsers. The method
`starts by acquiring in step 10 an image from a digital camera.
`This acquisition typically occurs by a digital photography
`program, such as Adobe's Photoshop, which receives the
`input from the digital camera and causes the inputted image 60
`to be saved in the file management system of the computer
`system. Then in step 12, a separate computer program, such
`as a web authoring software program creates HTML files.
`These files may have insertion points for various digital
`images, such as those acquired from a digital camera in step 65
`10. Then in step 14, the web authoring software, such as
`Microsoft's Front Page '97, transfers the HTML files and
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses
`for distributing a collection of digital media on a network. A
`method in one example of the invention generates a collec(cid:173)
`tion of digital media at a client digital processing system.
`Then collection information is transmitted from the client
`digital processing system to a server digital processing
`system. The collection information describes the collection
`of digital media. A plurality of presentable media is then
`automatically generated from the collection information.
`Each of the plurality of presentable media is capable of
`being presented to other client digital processing systems
`which are coupled to a network. Typically this network is
`operating according to the hypertext transfer protocol
`(HTTP) and both the client and the server system are
`coupled to this network. In one particular example of the
`present invention, the digital media includes digital images
`and the presentable media includes viewable images.
`Further, the client digital processing system and the server
`digital processing system are each programmed to interact
`together such that the server digital processing system
`generates automatically, from the collection information, the
`plurality of viewable images.
`Computer systems which practice the methods of the
`invention are also described. Further, computer readable
`media having software which allows the computer systems
`to perform the methods of the present invention are
`described.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 shows a method according to the prior art of
`distributing a digital image from a digital camera such that
`users of web browsers may view the image.
`FIG. 2 shows an example of several client computer
`systems coupled to the Internet and a server computer
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 23 of 32
`
`

`
`6,035,323
`
`4
`FIG. 14E illustrates one example of graphical user inter(cid:173)
`face of the present invention which allows the user to view
`and control various aspects of one or more albums and the
`pictures in the albums.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`5
`
`3
`system with a picture database or a database of other digital
`media according to one embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion.
`FIG. 3 shows an example of a computer system which
`may be used with the present invention.
`FIG. 4 shows a method for using a digital acquisition
`device to load pictures into a computer system according to
`one aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 shows an overall method for automatically gen-
`erating viewable images over a network according to one
`aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 6Ais a flowchart illustrating one method for creating
`a picture album according to one aspect of the present
`invention; the method shown in FIG. 6A is in one embodi- 15
`ment a more detailed representation of the steps performed
`in step 225 of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 6B is a flowchart illustrating one example of a
`method of creating a picture album according to one aspect
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 shows a flowchart which illustrates various steps
`which may be performed as part of the step 227 shown in
`FIG. 5.
`FIG. 8 shows a flowchart which illustrates several steps in
`one embodiment which may be performed as part of the step 25
`229 of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 9 shows one method according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion for performing the steps of step 233 shown in FIG. 5.
`FIG. 10 shows an example of a computer readable storage
`medium for a client computer system which may be used
`with one aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 illustrates a computer readable storage medium
`for a server computer system which may be used with one
`aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 12A, illustrate a particular graphical user interface
`which depicts an example of the various information which
`may be maintained in a picture database according to one
`aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 12B illustrates a particular graphical user interface
`which depicts an example of the various information which
`may be maintained in a picture database according to one
`aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 12C illustrates a particular graphical user interface
`which depicts an example of the various information which 45
`may be maintained in a picture database according to one
`aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 13 shows a graphical user interface for allowing a
`user to select a layout and a style for a picture album
`according to one aspect of the present invention.
`FIG. 14A illustrates one example of a graphical user
`interface of the present invention which allows the user to
`view and control various aspects of one or more albums and
`the pictures in the albums.
`FIG. 14B illustrates one example of a graphical user
`interface of the present invention which allows the user to
`view and control various aspects of one or more albums and
`the pictures in the albums.
`FIG. 14C illustrates one example of graphical user inter- 60
`face of the present invention which allows the user to view
`and control various aspects of one or more albums and the
`pictures in the albums.
`FIG. 14D illustrates one example of graphical user inter(cid:173)
`face of the present invention which allows the user to view 65
`and control various aspects of one or more albums and the
`pictures in the albums.
`
`10
`
`The subject invention will be described with reference to
`numerous details set forth below, and the accompanying
`drawings will illustrate the invention. The following
`description and the drawings are illustrative of the invention
`and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
`Numerous specific details are described to provide a thor(cid:173)
`ough understanding of the present invention. However, in
`certain instances, well known or conventional details are not
`described in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present
`invention in detail. In the drawings, the same element is
`labeled with the same reference numeral.
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`20 contains material which is subject to copyright protection.
`The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
`disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
`patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
`rights whatsoever. Copyright © Pictra, Inc. 1997.
`FIG. 2 shows several computer systems which are
`coupled together through the Internet 103. It will be appre(cid:173)
`ciated herein that the term "Internet" refers to a network of
`networks which uses certain protocols (e.g. the TCP/IP
`30 protocol, and possibly other protocols such as the HTTP
`(hypertext transfer protocol) for HTML (hypertext markup
`language) documents). The physical connections of the
`Internet and the protocols and communication procedures of
`the Internet are well known to those in the art. Access to the
`35 Internet 103 is typically provided by Internet service pro(cid:173)
`viders (ISP), such as the ISPs 105 and 107. Users on client
`systems, such as client computer systems 121, 125, 135, and
`137 obtain access to the Internet through the Internet service
`providers, such as ISPs 105 and 107. Access to the Internet
`40 allows users of the client computer systems to exchange
`information, receive and send e-mails, and view documents,
`such as documents which have been prepared in the HTML
`format. These documents are often provided by web servers,
`such as web server 109 which is considered to be "on" the
`Internet. Often these web servers are provided by the ISPs,
`such as ISP 105, although a computer system may be set up
`and connected to the Internet without that system being also
`an ISP as is well known in the art.
`The web server 109 is typically at least one computer
`system which operates as a server computer system and is
`configured to operate with the protocols of the World Wide
`Web (WWW) and is coupled to the Internet. Optionally, the
`web server 109 may be part of an ISP which provides access
`to the Internet for client systems. The web server 109 is
`55 shown coupled to the server computer system 111 which
`itself is coupled to a picture database 110, which may be
`considered a form of a media database. It will be appreciated
`that while two computer systems 109 and 111 are shown in
`FIG. 2, the web server system 109 and the server computer
`system 111 may be one computer system having different
`software components providing the web server functionality
`and the server functionality provided by the server computer
`system 111 which will be described further below. Client
`computer systems 121, 125, 135, and 137 may each, with the
`appropriate web browsing software, view HTML pages
`provided by the web server 109. The ISP 105 provides
`Internet connectivity to the client computer system 121
`
`50
`
`Petitioner - Exhibit 1007
`Page 24 of 32
`
`

`
`6,035,323
`
`5
`
`5
`through the modem interface 123 which may be considered
`part of the client computer system 121. The client computer
`system may be a "WINTEL" computer system, a network
`computer, a Web TV system, or other computer systems.
`Similarly, the ISP 107 provides Internet connectivity for
`client systems 125, 135, and 137, although as shown in FIG.
`1, the connections are not the same for these three computer
`systems. Client computer system 125 is coupled through a
`modem interface 127 while client computer systems 135 and
`137 are part of a local area network (LAN). While FIG. 2
`shows the interfaces 123 and 127 as a "modem," it will be
`appreciated that each of these interfaces may be an analog
`modem, ISDN modem, cable modem, satellite transmission
`interface (e.g. "Direct PC"), or other interfaces for coupling
`a computer system to o