Embodiments are generally related to the field of decorative lighting for structures such as homes and buildings. Embodiments additionally relate to projectors that project and display images onto structures such as homes or buildings.
Embodiments further relate to a downloadable self-contained software application for use on a mobile device and/or with the web on a desktop application.
Lighting is often used in a decorative manner. For example, many people decorate homes, offices, stores, outdoor spaces, and other structures, etc., with various lighting to achieve certain effects, designs, atmospheres, festive moods, etc. Although decorative lighting may be used at any time of the year, many people utilize decorative lighting during certain holidays.
There are many types of decorative lighting. For example, string lights, character lights, and laser lights are just a few of the various forms of decorative lighting. However, existing laser lights having numerous shortcomings in their design and functionality. For example, many conventional decorative lighting devices project and display lighting in a random and haphazard function and do not allow users to customize or configure a particular arrangement of lighting for projection and display on their homes.
The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
It is, therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for improved methods, systems, and devices for projecting decorative features such as decorative lighting onto structures such as homes and buildings.
It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a decorative lighting apparatus that includes a projector for projecting a modified image of a structure onto the structure.
It is a further aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a decorative lighting apparatus configured with a slot for receiving a slide containing a customized image of a structure, wherein the decorative lighting apparatus includes a projector for projecting a modified image of the structure onto the structure from the slide.
It is an additional aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide for a software application usable on a mobile device for customizing an image of a structure and transmitting the image to a third party vendor or service for manufacturing of a slide containing the customized image of the structure.
The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. Methods and systems for displaying customized decorative lighting onto a structure are described herein. An image of an area of a structure such as a house building can be captured with an image-capturing device. The image of the area of the building is graphically modified to include decorative features added to the building image via image processing. A slide can be generated, which includes the modified image of the building with the added customized decorative features. The slide is receivable by a slot configured in a decorative lighting apparatus, which includes or functions as a projector for projecting the modified image with the decorative images onto the actual building.
The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate one or more embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.
Subject matter will now be described more fully herein after with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific example embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems/devices. Accordingly, embodiments may, for example, take the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof (other than software per se). The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in another example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may or may not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part.
In general, terminology may be understood, at least in part, from usage in context. For example, terms such as “and,” “or,” or “and/or” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend, at least in part, upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as “a,” “an,” or “the,” again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context. Additionally, the term “step” can be utilized interchangeably with “instruction” or “operation.”
Aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process or method; a system or apparatus; a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes/methods (e.g., steps, operations, or instructions) may be altered within the scope of the technology. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term ‘processor’ can refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data, such as computer program instructions. The term processor as utilized herein devices such as, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), microcontroller, and so on.
In any event, the resulting modified image 16 can be displayed in a display screen or display of the client device 100 and can be transferred to a company or vendor via the aforementioned app (an example of a display is the display 112 shown in
The user initially takes a photo of the structure with the aforementioned app running on the client device 100. An image-capturing device such as a camera associated with a mobile device captures the image or photo. The location where the image was captured can be identified and recorded by the app via, for example, geolocation techniques such as GPS (Global Positioning Satellite), triangulation, and so on. The exact location where the photo or image was taken is important because eventually the decorative lighting apparatus with a slide containing a modified/customized image is preferably located back at the original location where the image was captured so that the new image contained on the slide can be projected onto the actual structure or building shown in the modified image. Note that the term geolocation as utilized herein refers to the process or technique of identifying the geographical location of a person or device by means of digital information processed via, for example, the Internet or other processing or communications means. The app can thus be configured with geolocation features.
The app is configured to allow the user to draw in the image of the structure the lights or features that the user desires to be projected onto his or her home, for example, using the decorative lighting apparatus 200. The user transmits his or her design (i.e., the modified image of the structure) to the third party service or company via the app. The company or third party service manufactures and then sends the slide with the modified image by mail back to the user for the user to put into the decorative lighting apparatus 200 (i.e., a projector) for projection of the customized images onto structure 14.
Note that in some example embodiments, the projector 200 may be configured to communicate wirelessly and directly with the client device 100 (e.g., a mobile device). The projector 200 may also be configured to receive data wirelessly from the client device 100, wherein such data is indicative of the image of structure 14 with the light projection display, and this image is then processed by the projector for display on the structure 14 as discussed herein. Such an implementation can avoid the necessity of manufacturing a separate slide for eventual projection.
Thereafter, as shown at step 30, the modified image or design can be transmitted to a third party service or vendor via the mobile phone “app” for manufacturing of a customized slide 32 with the modified/customized image of the house (e.g., with added lights or other decorative features). Next, as shown at step 40, the decorative lighting apparatus 200 or light projector can be located/placed back at the location where the original photo of structure 14 was taken. Then, as indicated at step 50, the user inserts the slide 32 into the decorative lighting apparatus 200 and turns on the apparatus or projector 200. Note that the decorative lighting apparatus 200 can be configured with a zoom feature, which allows the projected image (i.e., from the slide) to be expanded or reduced when projected onto, for example, a wall of the structure 14. Finally, as shown at block 60, the customized light features contained on the slide 32 are projected by the decorative lighting apparatus 200 onto the actual structure 14.
Next, as shown at block 303, a step or operation can be implemented in which the user graphically draws onto the image/photo of the structure, decorative features (e.g., light strings). In this particular operation, the app can offer the user different types of designs and colors of decorative features, and the user can select a particular type of design and/or colors for his or her design. The process of drawing on the image or modifying the image can occur through the use of image processing techniques. Note that the term “image processing” as utilized herein refers generally to digital image processing, which involves the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images.
In addition, the app in some embodiments may utilize a filter or filter module that allows a user to select particular features and finter or modify the image using such filters. One non-limiting example of a filtering technique that can be adapted for use in accordance with an example embodiment is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0006927, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Supplying Content Aware Photo Filters,” which published on Jan. 7, 2016 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In this example, a server can be configured with a photo filter module with instructions executed by a processor to identify when a client device captures a photograph. Photograph filters are selected based upon attributes of the client device and attributes of the photograph. The photograph filters are then supplied to the client device. Another non-limiting example of a filtering technique that can be adapted in accordance with an example embodiment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,459,778, entitled “Methods and Systems of Providing Visual Content Editing Functions,” which issued on Oct. 4, 2016 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Next, as shown at block 304, the modified or customized image of the structure can be sent to a vendor or third party service that generates a slide with the customized image and ships slide to the user. Once the slide is received by the user, as shown at block 305, the user can place the slide into the decorative lighting apparatus and locate the decorative lighting apparatus at the location where the mobile device originally captured the image of the structure. Thereafter, as shown at block 306, the modified image contained on the slide can be projected by the decorative lighting apparatus onto the actual structure (e.g., home or other building).
According to one example embodiment, in operation, decorative lighting apparatus 200 can be positioned via the mounting element 204 and coupled to a power source. A user can then actuate switch 208 to control the operation of the decorative lighting apparatus 200. When the decorative lighting apparatus 200 is tumed on via the switch 208, the light sources 206 are activated to produce light, and the decorative lighting apparatus 200 thereby emits and projects the light generated by light sources 206 onto a target, such as the wall of the structure 14. According to certain example embodiments, the light generated by the light sources 206 passes through a light attenuator to attenuate the light being emitted and projected by decorative lighting apparatus 200 and project the image contained on the slide 32 situated in the slot 203.
In some example embodiments, the decorative lighting apparatus 200 can generate any combination of colored light depending on the light source(s) 206 employed by decorative lighting apparatus 200. For example, light source(s) 206 may include one or more light sources all producing the same color light (e.g., green) so that decorative lighting apparatus 200 only emits and projects one color light. Alternatively, light source(s) 206 may include multiple light sources capable of producing lights of various colors so that decorative lighting apparatus 200 can generate multiple different colored lights (e.g., red light and green light). Although the example embodiments are primarily described with respect to a decorative laser lighting apparatus generating two or more different colored lights (i.e., red light and green light), it is not limited thereto, and it should be noted that the exemplary apparatus and systems described herein may generate any combination of any number of different colored lights.
As shown in
It should be appreciated that the decorative lighting apparatus 200 shown in
It can be further appreciated that the decorative lighting apparatus 200 (e.g., a projector) can be configured as a device that does not use an actual physical slide such as slide 32, but which communicates wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth communications, etc.) with the client device 100. In this scenario, the client device 100 can be used with an “app” as discussed herein to take a photo of a structure, and create the disclosed customized slide display and the resulting modified image of the structure, which is then transmitted as a digital slide directly to the decorative lighting apparatus 200, which then projects the resulting image as discussed herein.
A set of mobile applications (sometimes “mobile app” or “app”), represented in
Mobile operating system 102 and mobile apps represented by apps 106 and 108 have access to and use a memory 110 to store and retrieve data. For example, mobile operating system 102 may allocate to each app a region of memory to be used by that app to store app-related data. Similarly, each app may be allocated a set of logical locations in a persistent storage managed by mobile operating system 102, e.g., an app-specific directory in a file system used by mobile operating system 102 to manage persistently stored objects. Mobile operating system 102 is connected to and manages app interactions with a display subsystem 112. Display subsystem 112 (sometimes “display”) includes a touch-sensitive display device, for example, a capacitive or other display able to generate and provide to mobile operation system 102 signals representative of single and/or multi-touch gestures, such as swiping (and the direction thereof), pinching in or out, dragging, and dropping. A mobile app such as app 106 or app 108 may be configured to display app display pages, e.g., app user interface pages, content display pages, etc., via display 112. A mobile app also may be configured to receive user input provided via display 112, e.g., selection, dragging, dropping, and/or other user input associated with physical interactions with the touch-sensitive surface of display 112.
A mobile app, such as the app 106 or app 108 of
It should be appreciated that the client device 100 shown in
The client device 100 is configured to communicate wirelessly via bidirectional packet based wireless communications with a variety of different types of wireless networks. For example, the client device 100 can communicate wirelessly with a wireless network (or networks) that employs stand-alone ad-hoc networks, mesh networks, wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, cellular networks, or the like. Such a wireless network can include a system of terminals, gateways, routers, or the like coupled by wireless radio links, or the like, which may move freely, randomly, or organize themselves arbitrarily, such that network topology may change, at times even rapidly. Such a wireless network may also employ a plurality of network access technologies including Long Term Evolution (LTE), WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, or 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th generation (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.) cellular technology, or the like. Network access technologies may enable wide area coverage for devices, such as client devices with varying degrees of mobility, for example.
Such a wireless network may also enable RF or wireless type communication via one or more network access technologies, such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n, or the like. Such a wireless network may include virtually any type of wireless communication mechanism by which signals may be communicated between devices, such as a client device or a computing device, between or within a network, or the like.
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments or aspects of such embodiments can be implemented in the context of a method, data processing system, or computer program product. Accordingly, some example embodiments may take the form of an entire hardware embodiment, an entire software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Furthermore, embodiments may in some cases take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, USB Flash Drives, DVDs, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, server storage, databases, etc.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in an object-oriented programming language (e.g., Java, C++, etc.). The computer program code, however, for carrying out operations of particular embodiments may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or in a visually oriented programming environment, such as, for example, Visual Basic.
The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to a user's computer through a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), wireless data network e.g., Wi-Fi, Wimax, 802.xx, a wireless local area network (WLAN), and cellular networks, or the connection may be made to an external computer via most third party supported networks (for example, through the Internet utilizing an Intenet Service Provider).
The embodiments are described at least in part herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products and data structures according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the illustrations, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of, for example, a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block or blocks. To be clear, however, the disclosed embodiments can be implemented in the context of, for example, a special-purpose computer or a general-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus or system. For example, in some embodiments, a data processing apparatus or system can be implemented as a combination of a special-purpose computer and a general-purpose computer. In some example embodiments, the data processing system apparatus discussed herein can be implemented as a special-purpose computer. A printing system thus may be a special-purpose computer in some cases.
The computer program instructions discussed herein may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the various block or blocks, flowcharts, and other architecture illustrated and described herein. Such instructions can, for example, include instructions (i.e., steps or operations) such as described herein with respect to
Note that a processor (also referred to as a “processing device”) may perform or otherwise carry out any of the operational steps, processing steps, computational steps, method steps, or other functionality disclosed herein, including analysis, manipulation, conversion or creation of data, or other operations on data. A processor may include a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an integrated circuit, a server, other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof. A processor may be a conventional processor, microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also refer to a chip or part of a chip (e.g., semiconductor chip). The term “processor” may refer to one, two, or more processors of the same or different types. It is noted that a computer, computing device and user device, and the like, may refer to devices that include a processor, or may be equivalent to the processor itself.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/facts specified in the block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
As illustrated in
As illustrated, the various components of data-processing system/apparatus 400 can communicate electronically through a system bus 351 or similar architecture. The system bus 351 may be, for example, a subsystem that transfers data between, for example, computer components within data-processing system/apparatus 400 or to and from other data-processing devices, components, computers, etc. The data-processing system/apparatus 400 may be implemented in some embodiments as, for example, a server in a client-server based network (e.g., the Internet) or in the context of a client and a server (i.e., where aspects are practiced on the client and the server).
In some example embodiments, data-processing system/apparatus 400 may be, for example, a standalone desktop computer, a laptop computer, a Smartphone, a pad computing device and so on, wherein each such device is operably connected to and/or in communication with a client-server based network or other types of networks (e.g., cellular networks, Wi-Fi, etc.). In still other example embodiments, the data-processing system/apparatus 400 may communicate wirelessly with other devices or systems through a bidirectional packet-based wireless communications network (e.g., cellular networks, Wi-Fi, etc.).
One or more application programs, such as software application 454, may be “loaded” (i.e., transferred from, for example, mass storage or another memory location into the memory 342) for execution by the data-processing system/apparatus 400. The data-processing system/apparatus 400 can receive user commands and data through the interface 453; these inputs may then be acted upon by the data-processing system/apparatus 400 in accordance with instructions from operating system 451 and/or software application 454. The interface 453 in some embodiments can serve to display results, whereupon a user may supply additional inputs or terminate a session. The software application 454 can include module(s) 452, which can, for example, implement the various Instructions or operations such as those discussed herein. Module 452 may also be composed of a group of modules or sub-modules that implement particular modules, such as, for example, the various modules (and components/features, etc.) or components and operations discussed and illustrated herein.
The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of suitable computing environments in which the system and method may be implemented. Although not required, the disclosed embodiments will be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a single computer. In most instances, a “module” can constitute a software application, but can also be implemented as both software and hardware (i.e., a combination of software and hardware).
Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, subroutines, software applications, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular data types and instructions. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed method and system may be practiced with other computer system configurations, such as, for example, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, data networks, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, networked PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, servers, and the like.
Note that the term module as utilized herein may refer to a collection of routines and data structures that perform a particular task or implements a particular data type. Modules may be composed of two parts: an interface, which lists the constants, data types, variable, and routines that can be accessed by other modules or routines; and an implementation, which is typically private (accessible only to that module) and which includes source code that actually implements the routines in the module. The term module may also simply refer to an application, such as a computer program designed to assist in the performance of a specific task, such as word processing, accounting, inventory management, etc. In other embodiments, a module may refer to a hardware component or a combination of hardware and software.
The step 2 process flow shown in
After arrow 91, a block 121 labeled Step 3 is shown, which represents various options. The generic “Step 3” shown in
In addition, the projector mount (see projector 200 in
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a number of example embodiments are disclosed herein. For example, in a preferred example embodiment, a method can be implemented for displaying customized decorative lighting. Such a method can include steps or operation such as, for example, capturing an image of an area of a building with an image-capturing device; graphically modifying the image of the area of the building with customized decorative features, wherein the customized decorative features are added to the image of the area of the building via image processing; and generating a slide with the image of the area of the building including the customized decorative features added to the image as a result of the graphically modifying the image via the image processing, the slide receivable by a decorative lighting apparatus that includes a projector for projecting the modified image with the decorative images on the area of the building.
In some example embodiments, the aforementioned step of generating a slide with the image of the area of the building including the customized decorative features added to the image as a result of the graphically modifying the image via the image processing can involve the creation of a digital slide (with the image of the building and the light pattern) rather than a physical slide. This digital slide can be transmitted from a client device (e.g., such as client device 100) directly to a modified projector (e.g., projector 200), which is capable of communicating wirelessly with the client device (e.g., through, for example, Bluetooth wireless communications). In this particular example, the digital slide is transmitted to the modified projector directly and the projector then projects the image contained on the digital slide.
In any event, in some example embodiments, the image-capturing device can be a camera associated with a mobile device such as the client device 100. In some example embodiments, the aforementioned decorative lighting apparatus can be configured with a gap for receiving the slide for projection by the projector. In other example embodiments, the aforementioned step or operation of graphically modifying the image of the area of the building with customized decorative features, wherein the customized decorative features are added to the image of the area of the building via image processing, can further comprise a step or operation of graphically drawing the decorative features onto the image of the area of the building utilizing an app running on the mobile device, the app comprising a downloadable self-contained software application.
In yet another example embodiment, steps or operations can be provided for placing the decorative lighting apparatus (e.g., a projector such as projector 200) in the same location wherein the image of the area of the building was originally captured by the image-capturing device; and projecting with the projector of the decorative lighting apparatus, the modified image with the decorative features onto the area of the building at the same location.
In still another example embodiment, the customized decorative features can include at least one image of a customized light wherein the customized decorative features are projected by the projector of the decorative lighting apparatus onto the building from the slide.
In yet another example embodiment, a system for displaying customized decorative lighting can be implemented. Such a system can include, for example, a decorative lighting apparatus that includes a projector for projecting a modified image with customized decorative images onto an area of a building, wherein the image of the area of the building is captured by an the image-capturing device, and wherein the customized decorative features are added to the image of the area of the building via image processing; and a slide with the image of the area of the building configured with the customized decorative features added to the image as a result of the graphically modifying the image via the image processing, the slide receivable by the decorative lighting apparatus including the projector for projecting the modified image with the decorative images onto the area of the building. Note that the slide may be a digital slide as discussed previously, rather than a physical slide.
In still another example embodiment, a system for displaying customized decorative lighting can be implemented. Such a system can include, for example, at least one processor, and a non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer-usable medium capable of communicating with the at least one processor. The computer program code can include instructions executable by the at least one processor and configured for: capturing an image of an area of a building with an image-capturing device; graphically modifying the image of the area of the building with customized decorative features, wherein the customized decorative features are added to the image of the area of the building via image processing; and generating a slide with the image of the area of the building including the customized decorative features added to the image as a result of the graphically modifying the image via the image processing, the slide receivable by a decorative lighting apparatus that includes a projector for projecting the modified image with the decorative images on the area of the building.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.