Patent Application
20060075033
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic mail (email) system and method for sending multi-media files with email messages.
2. Background Art
An electronic messaging system is a system for sending electronic mail (email). An email message is essentially an electronic form of the common paper message that is created on a computer and delivered through a network using a messaging system as opposed to a paper message that is created on paper and sent through the mail.
One problem with known email systems relates to the inability of such systems to provide a user-friendly means for including video, audio, pictures, or similar multi-media files with the email message. One known means for sending a multi-media file with an email includes attaching a multi-media file to the message such that the attached file is delivered as part of the email to the recipient's computer. In order to read the email, the recipient must download the email, including the attached multi-media file, which can be rather large in data size, from a server or other device(s) used to route the email from the sender's computer to the recipient's computer. The delivery of the attached video file to the recipient's computer in this manner can be problematic.
Another problem with known email systems relates to the process of attaching the multi-media file to the email message. In particular, some email programs may be incompatible with the multi-media recording program used to record the multi-media file, such that the sender may be unable to attach a multi-media file to their email. Another problem is that the multi-media file may require recording with a multi-media program that runs separately from an email program such that the recorded file must be merged with the email program. Another problem is that the recipient may be unaware of the size or content of the attached multi-media file until after the download process begins, which can cause the recipient to download a large file that they would not otherwise download if the size or content of the file was known. Another problem is that the recipient must have a computer program that is compatible with a format of the multi-media file, which can be inconvenient as the recipient may be forced to wait through a long download process only to determine that they lack an appropriate program for playing the file.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for sending multi-media files with email messages that overcomes the above-identified problems of the prior art.
The present invention contemplates a number of features for sending multi-media files with email messages, including a system having a computer and a server. The computer is configured with an email application of the present invention that integrates a multi-media feature with the email application such that a user can compose an email message in the email application and create and/or add a multi-media file to the email message from the email application, such as without exiting the email application or in the same window as in which the email message is composed. The system further includes a server configured in accordance with the present invention for relaying the email message having the multi-media file. The server is configured to remove the multi-media file from the email message and replace it with a link. The removed multi-media file is stored on the server and accessible through the link. The email with the multi-media file replaced by the link is sent to the recipient, whereby the recipient can view the multi-media file by clicking on the link.
In one aspect of the present invention, the multi-media feature is configured to create and/or automatically add a video file to the email message. In another aspect of the present invention, the multi-media feature is configured to create and/or automatically add an audio file to the email message. In another aspect of the present invention, the multi-media feature is configured to create and/or automatically add a greeting card file to the email message. In another aspect of the present invention, the multi-media feature is configured to create and/or automatically add a slide show file to the email message.
The system includes a sender computer 14, a network 18, a server 22, and a recipient computer 26. A sender creates the multi-media message on the sender computer 14 with the assistance of an email application of the present invention that allows the user to create a multi-media message. The multi-media message is delivered from the computer 14 over the network 18 to the server 22. The server 22 hosts a webpage or other network accessible interface that a recipient of the multi-media message can access via the recipient computer 26 to view the message.
The network 18 can include any electronic means for communicating signals between the computers 14 and 26 and the server 22, including a public telephone switching network (PTSN), a wireless network, a cable network, a satellite network, and the like. The server 22 can include any type of messaging or hosting server that includes a memory, processor, means for communicating with the network 18, and the like.
The sender computer 14 and the recipient computer 26 can include any computing device that includes a memory, processor, means for communicating with the network 18, and the like. The present invention contemplates other features and devices for the system, including the computers 14 and 26 being a hand-held device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like. The system 10 shown in
The email interface is intended to encompass any email system, whether the email system operates solely on a computer or on an internet applet that communicates with the server 22. The illustrated interface is shown to include a number of buttons and input fields for generating email messages. Unless otherwise specified, the operation of these various buttons and fields for sending email messages is understood by one having ordinary skill in the art and a description of the operation and usage of these features is not provided.
The GUI 30 provides a user interface on the screen of the computers 14 and 26 that allows users to navigate and control the GUI 30 by using a mouse or other pointer device to point, click, and drag icons, buttons, dialogue boxes, and other data on the screen. Input fields and the like are included for inputting text and other instructions to the GUI 30. The GUI 30 primarily relies on this use of pictures, images, and other icons to represent the input and output functions required for creating the multi-media message in accordance with the present invention. This allows the GUI 30 to be more user-friendly and to present content for selectable control in an appealing format. The GUI 30 can operate on any operating system, including Windows, MacOS, Acorn, RISC, OS, NEXTSTEP, Linux, and the like.
The GUI 30 initially sends signals from the sender computer 14 to the server 22 with initialization of the email application. The server 22 interprets the signals for logging in and authenticating the user. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the authentication of the user by the server 22 is used to control access and features of the GUI 30, such as to automatically deliver the user's email to the computer 14 for display in the GUI 30. This allows the server 22 to specify content and the like based on the user, and in particular, based on a services contract for the user. The server can then limit access and track billing charges based on the authenticated user.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the email application allows the sender to create a multi-media message without requiring the sender to operate a separate multi-media program that runs as an application independent of the email application. The present invention is able to provide this feature by integrating multi-media functionality with the email interface so that the user can easily add multi-media elements to the email while operating inside the email application. This integrated approach for multi-media messaging is provided when the user clicks on a “multi-media mail” button 40 included on the GUI.
The GUI 46 includes an applet that is presented in a window 80 for customizing the message to include a multi-media file. The multi-media file can be included with the email message in a variety of formats, which are selectable by actuation one of a “Video” button 84, a “Greeting Card” button 86, a “Story Teller” button 90, and an “Audio” button 92. Each button 84-92 provides a feature for adding the multi-media file with the message in accordance with the present invention.
Selection of the record button 100 initiates a video recording process a whereby the GUI 46 executes instructions to the computer to locate a peripheral recording device (not shown) associated with the computer 14, such as a video camera and microphone, and to begin recording the video. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the video is recorded in a format compatible with the server 22 so that the video can be easily sent to the server 22 without requiring the sender to operate secondary recording applications. An “Options” button 128 is selectable for displaying an interface for assistance with locating the peripheral device and/or for setting the recording options of the peripheral device, such as the video format.
The recorded video images recorded by the peripheral recording device are shown in a display window 130 so that the sender can instantaneously view the images during recording and play-back, which can be helpful for positioning the device, adjusting the recording options, and monitoring the recording video. A “Length” indicator 134 displays a running time of the recording in hours and minutes. The stop button 102 is selected to stop the video recording. The recorded video is stored on the computer 14 and attached to the message.
The play button 104 is selected to play the recorded video in the window 130 and the pause button 106 is selected to pause the playing video. The recorded video can be edited by stopping the video at a desired position and re-recording from there by again selecting the record button 100. A “Position” indicator 136 displays a time position in hours and minutes of the position of the image shown in the window 130 relative to the running time indicated in the “Length” indicator 134 to facilitate locating portions of the video, which can be helpful when editing the video. The forward button 110, fast forward button 110, rewind button 112, and fast rewind button 114 are each separately selectable for scanning through the recorded video.
The “Search” button 118 is selected to located video previously stored on the computer 14. A separate file folder window (not shown) can appear with selection of the “Search” button 118 and/or enhanced functionality can be provided by automatically locating and displaying video found on the computer 14 in the file folder window. The stored video can be selected from the file folder window for playing in the display window 130. The functions described above, such as the editing, recording, and other operations can be similarly performed on the stored video once it is loaded for display in the window 130. Of course, the present invention does not require recording of video, but rather video clips to be included with the e-mail message may be selected from any pre-recorded video stored on or imported to the computer 14.
The “Done” button 116 is selected to attach the recorded video file to the message. The sender can add a text message to the email my selecting the “Message” button 120, which causes a window (not shown) having an input field to appear for inputting the text message. Optionally, the window for entering the text message could be shown within the GUI 46 to eliminate the extra step of selecting the “Message” button.
In addition to, or instead of the video file, the sender can include other multi-media files with the message by selecting the “Greeting Card” button 86, the “Story Teller” button 90, and/or the “Audio” button 92.
The thumbnails 152-162 are downloaded to the computer 14 with selection of the “Greeting Card” button 86 and/or the greeting card thumbnails 152-162 can be stored on the memory of the computer 14 and periodically updated by downloading and storing new thumbnails during the authentication process. The available greeting card categories can be based on the service contract of the sender such that the displayed greeting cards are determined based on a user profile, and in particular, based on whether the user has signed up for a premium or non-premium package. The premium package typically costs more than the non-premium package but preferably provides a wider array of greeting cards.
Each greeting card thumbnail 152-162 provides a preview of the greeting card category, such as “wish you well” cards, birthday cards, and holiday cards, such as “Happy Mother's Day,” etc. The menu 150 can include navigation buttons 160 and the like to facilitate browsing of the available greeting card categories. The desired category of greeting card is selected by selecting one of the thumbnails 152-162 and then selecting a “Next” button 164. Selecting of the “Next” button displays the greeting cards available for the selected category, which can also be tailored based on the user profile. A “Back” button 166 is selected to return to the menus shown in
Like paper greeting cards, the electronic greeting cards of the present invention include a cover page and an inside page, of course more or less pages can be included without deviating from the scope and contemplation of the present invention. The thumbnail 180 of the desired greeting card is selected to display the cover page and the inside page in windows 206 and 208, respectively. The cover page generally conveys the content of the card with a graphical and textual expression. The inside page of the card includes similar expressions, and generally, includes a longer textual description in a message portion 210 that details a message to be conveyed by the card. The greeting cards can include any number of multi-media features and graphics, such as animations and the like.
A “Back” button 214 is selected to return to the greeting card category menu 150 shown in
The customized font and message are previewed in a window 240 with selection of a “Place Text” button 242, which places the inputted text in the window as it would appear on the inside page of the greeting card. Additional features can be included for adding other items to the greeting cards, such as animation, video, sound, and the like. Such items may be downloaded from the server with the available greeting cards or stored on the computer 14. The present invention contemplates electronic greeting cards having more or less pages than the described cover and inside pages. Additional features can be included for editing these pages, such as a page selection button (not shown) that configures the customization menu 224 for editing a selected page in the greeting card.
A “Back” button 244 is selected to return to the menu shown in
An “Import Pictures” button 264 is selected for compiling the pictures that are to comprise the presentation. The pictures are typically digital pictures, such as those take by a digital camera and the like, but they can be other pictures, such as drawings and/or scanned images. Because the desired pictures are most likely to have been taken remotely from the computer, the “Import Pictures” button 264 initiates a file browsing program (not shown) to locate pictures previously stored on the computer 14 or on a server. The present invention, however, contemplates that the “Import Pictures” button 264 can be used to initiate a picture program for taking a picture with a peripheral device without requiring the user to exit the email application, much like the recording of the video and the audio described above.
The file names of the desired pictures are selected from the browsing program for display in a picture window 268 that includes thumbnails 270-288 for each of the selected pictures. One or more pictures can be selected for the presentation. The presentation, when viewed by the recipient, automatically displays each picture for a predefined period of time before switching to the next picture. The order of display begins with the picture of thumbnail 270 and continues sequentially through thumbnail 288. Of course, more or less thumbnails can be included without deviating from the scope and contemplation of the present invention.
Each of the thumbnails 270-288 can be dragged and dropped, such as with a left-click on a mouse, around the window 268 with the pointer to change the position of the corresponding picture within the presentation. If the pointer is a mouse, for example, a right-click on the mouse can be used to change the properties of the picture, such as its resolution, to delete it from the presentation, and to perform other editing functions, such as cropping and the like. An “Audio” button 290 and a “Video” button 292 are selected to add audio and/or video to the slide show. The previously described menus 144 and 96 for recording audio and video, respectively, appear with selection of the “Audio” button 290 and the “Video” button 292. The audio can be recorded, for example, as a narration feature so that it can be played during the slide show to narrate the changing pictures. The video can be recorded, for example, to provide an introductory message and/or a concluding message that plays before or after the slide show. An “Options” button 296 is selected to display an options menu (not shown) that can be used to control the slide show, such as the time between switching pictures and the association of the audio/video with the slide show.
A “Back” button 298 is selected to return to the menu shown in
Once one or more of the desired multi-media files are attached to the message, the message is sent with the attached multi-media files with selection of the “Send” button 78. The message is sent from the computer 14 over the network 18 to the server 22. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the server 22 is configured to save the multi-media file in a memory of the server and then separately send an email to each recipient that includes the text message and other inputted data, but which replaces the attached multi-media file(s) with a link to a portion of the server 22 in which the multi-media file is stored.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, any one of the multi-media files can be viewed from the webpage of the server without requiring the recipient to download large multi-media files to their computer. Moreover, each multi-media file is recorded and/or compiled under standard webpage protocols, such as “html,” and the webpage includes capabilities for executing programs, such as Java applets and ActiveX controls, so that the recipient can easily view the multi-media files from their web browser without having to run a proprietary program.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
