Patent Application
20190102929
The present disclosure relates generally to animation systems. More specifically, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for interconnecting animation assets, animation processes, animation subjects, and animation viewers.
Animation provides a source of entertainment for countless viewers. Common modes of providing animated content rely on, in many cases, pre-generating the content, by compiling input—which can include sources such as hand-drawings, digitally drawings, 3D models, and on-body motion capture—into a moving image. However, it can be desirable to have animation content that is not pre-generated but responsive to, and reflective of, input from a human subject, in real time. Moreover, it can be desirable to mediate the constituent aspects (or “modules”) of “live” animation, such as animation assets (e.g., sets of 3D models and textures), interfaces for animation subjects and animation viewers, subject capture and translation processes, and governing rulesets.
Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods, and improvements thereof, for mediating multimodule animation events.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarks and copyrights owned by the Applicant. In addition, the drawings may contain other marks owned by third parties and are being used for illustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks and copyrights represented herein, except those belonging to their respective owners, are vested in and the property of the Applicant. The Applicant retains and reserves all rights in their trademarks and copyrights included herein, and grants permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
Furthermore, the drawings and their brief descriptions below may contain text or captions that may explain certain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included for illustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodiments detailed in the present disclosure. In the drawings:
This brief overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This brief overview is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this brief overview intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
One objective of the disclosed platform may be to facilitate the animation of a person (or “animation subject”) in real time (or “live”), by capturing video of that person, and translating that person's motions, mannerisms, and other characteristics into an animated character.
Additionally, another objective of the platform may be to transmit to viewers live animation content featuring an animated character, for example in an in-person, “live streaming” or “live broadcast” context.
Similarly, another objective of the platform may be to transmit to viewers pre-recorded messages comprising live animation content.
Further, another objective of the platform may be to facilitate the live animation of an animated character based on animation assets (such as 3D models and textures) for that character and animation instructions or algorithms.
Another objective of the platform may be to provide for the separation and securing of animation assets from other parts of the platform.
Still another objective of the platform may be to determine whether viewers have paid for, or otherwise made themselves eligible for, the viewing of animation content.
Further, another objective of the platform may be to determine whether viewers have permission to view particular content, based on content rules (e.g. a permission setting forbidding a viewer from viewing streams tagged as containing mature content).
Further still, another objective of the platform may be to determine whether animation content, as it is being generated, is in compliance with content rules (e.g. regarding mature content).
Another objective of the platform may be to allow a partner, licensor, or other interested party to monitor or administer animation assets and animation content that is generated from those assets.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a platform comprising, but not limited to:
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to a mediating module that connects together component modules of a live-animating platform. It should be understood that such mediating module is disclosed as only one example to enable the certain embodiments disclosed herein.
In one example, viewers may indicate in a user interface (such as an app) particular live animation content they wish to view. Broadly understood, “live animation content” may encompass animation content that is generated in real time (or nearly so) from an animation subject, without regard for when that content is viewed. Live animation content may be “live streamed” in an interactivity session between a viewer and an animation subject, so as to be viewable by viewers substantially in temporal accord with the actions of the animation subject being animated. Live animation content may also be generated and stored so as to be viewable at a later time. Although reference with regard to live animation content is made throughout the present disclosure, it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein may be compatible with both live and post-processing implementations.
The provision by this platform of live animation content might, for example, arise in the context of a viewer selecting the live stream or a custom recording of a particular live animation subject (e.g., Tom Celebrity's animated character Tom Panda Bear), or selecting content to which they are subscribed, or entering into a “channel” of live animation content, etc.
The viewer's indication may be transmitted to a server which, in various embodiments, may be configured to function, at least in part, as the aforementioned mediating module, facilitating the provision of live animation content back to the viewer in a multimodule platform. The mediating module may employ the platform modules to determine, based on the request, what content to provide and whether the viewer is entitled to view that content. For example, a viewer might be disallowed from viewing content based on at least one rule specified for the viewer in a rules module such as mature content filtering or geographic restrictions (e.g. due to licensing limitations), or based on payment information from a payment module such as whether the viewer had paid a subscription or one-time fee.
In some embodiments, a determination may further be made if the animation assets corresponding to the viewer's request can be used in the procurement of the user's request. Once the necessary checks are performed as to, for example, the procurement of an animation asset with the viewer's request, and a determination that the viewer is entitled to view the animation content, content corresponding to the viewer's request may either be generated and provided to the viewer or, in other instances, previously generated content provided to the user. That is, the platform may undertake different operations depending on, among other factors, whether fulfilling the viewer's request requires the generation of new animation content or whether the fulfilling the viewer's request may employ existing or in-progress animation content generated.
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, an interface module operating software and hardware components may be employed to capture data, such as, for example, but not limited to, audio or video data, related to the animation subject. In an example, the module may be or be operable on a mobile device, such as a smartphone that has camera, microphone, display, and networking components. An animation subject may employ the interface module in the furtherance of fulfilling the viewer's request. For example, the viewer's request may be a request for Tom Panda Bear to sing and dance a Happy Birthday song for the viewer. The animation subject may perform the song and dance, which may, in turn, be captured by the interface module.
Still consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, captured data may be transmitted to the mediating module, which requests animation assets—the various models, graphics, structural data, and anything else used to render an animation character (e.g., assets associated with Tom Panda Bear)—from an asset module. The captured data and animation assets may then transmitted to an animating module which combines them (along with, potentially, audio and other data) into animation content. Animation instructions for animating the content may be based, at least in part, on any or more of the following: the request, the captured data, and the assets, and may be employed in the generation of the animation. The generated animation content may then be transmitted to the viewer, who ultimately sees, in this example, the result of the “actor” subject's movement and voice portrayed as an animated character, on the viewer's display.
Both the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.
As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of stages of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although stages of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the stages of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the stages in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection is to be defined by the issued claim(s) rather than the description set forth herein.
Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.
Regarding applicability of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6, no claim element is intended to be read in accordance with this statutory provision unless the explicit phrase “means for” or “stage for” is actually used in such claim element, whereupon this statutory provision is intended to apply in the interpretation of such claim element.
Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.
I. Platform Overview
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, a platform for mediating multimodule animation events (or simply “platform”) 100 may be provided. This overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below. This overview is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this overview intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
Platform 100 may be used by individuals or companies to, by way of non-limiting example, produce, deliver, and display animation content. Accordingly, platform 100 may be configured to, by way of non-limiting example, capture visual and other data from an animation subject 135, and mediate the combination of such data with animation assets 141 and animating instructions to generate animation content and transmit that content to a viewer. For the purposes of this disclosure, anywhere reference is made to “visual” or “video” data, depictions, capture, etc., other data such as audio and sensor data may be captured, included, transmitted, received, etc.
The following disclosure is made with reference to
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a software and hardware platform comprising a distributed set of modules, including, but not limited to:
Moreover, each stage associated with a module can be considered independently without the context of the other stages disclosed in the same or other modules. Furthermore each stage may contain language defined in other portions of this specifications. Each stage disclosed for one module may be mixed with the operational stages of another module. Accordingly, each stage can be claimed on its own and/or interchangeably with other stages of other modules.
A first embodiment disclosing, for example, a transmission or reception of data from on module to another may be, for example, in a second embodiment, eliminated or combined where a function disclosed to be performed by more than one module is configured, in the second embodiments, to be performed by the same module. The following descriptions will detail non-limiting examples of operation of each module, and inter-operation between modules.
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may facilitate communication between other modules and facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may be enabled to, but not limited to, provide at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with viewer interface module 120 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with interface module 120 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with subject interface module 130 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with subject interface module 130 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with asset module 140 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with asset module 140 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with animation module 150 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with animation module 150 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with rules module 160 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with rules module 160 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, mediation module 110 may interact with payment module 170 to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For example, mediating module 110 may interact with payment module 170 to perform at least one of the following:
In various embodiments disclosed herein, the following functions and operations may be performed to facilitate an end-to-end operation of platform 100. For illustrative purposes, the functions and operations are listed in association with a module that may be configured to perform the corresponding functions and operations.
In some embodiments each animation character may have its own asset module 140 that is accessed only when an animation request is made (by e.g. a viewer 125 or subject 135) to animate that character. In some embodiments, asset module 140 may contain character model/graphic data that is basic, incomplete (in the sense of sufficiency to generate animation content), in a pre-processing state, or otherwise require the functioning of another module (e.g. an animation module 150) in order to generate animation content.
As with other modules, all or part of the functionality of asset module 140 and animation module 150 may be combined, commingled, swapped, or subjected to enable the platform within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, and still consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, platform 100 may comprise multiple animation modules 150 and multiple asset modules 140. Where multiple asset 140 and animation 150 modules exist, each might be a “pair” or combined into one module for the animation of a particular asset 141.
In various embodiments, multiple rules modules 160 may be configured, and various rules modules may interface directly with other modules. By way of non-limiting example:
In other embodiments, such rules may be stored in a central rules module mediated by module 110 rather than in an individual rules module 160 connected to that module.
As with rules module 160, multiple payment modules 170 may be configured. By way of non-limiting example, in some embodiments, each viewer interface module 120 or subject interface module 130 may be associated with a payment module 170.
The aforementioned modules and functions and operations associated therewith may be operated by a computing device. In some embodiments, each module may be performed by separate, networked computing devices; while in other embodiments, certain modules may be performed by the same computing device. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a software and hardware platform comprising a distributed set of computing elements, including, but not limited to:
Various hardware components may be used at the various stages of operations follow the method and computer-readable medium. For example, although the methods have been described to be performed by a computing device 400, it should be understood that, in some embodiments, different operations may be performed by different networked elements in operative communication with the computing device. For example, computing device 400 may be employed in the performance of some or all of the stages disclosed with regard to the methods below.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a hardware and software platform operative by a set of methods and computer-readable media comprising instructions configured to operate the aforementioned modules and computing elements in accordance with the methods.
The methods and computer-readable media may comprise a set of instructions which when executed are configured to enable a method for inter-operating at least one of the following modules:
The aforementioned modules may be inter-operated to perform a method comprising, for example, but not limited to, the following stages:
Platform 100 may be configured to facilitate a content stream comprising animation content viewable by a viewer 125, wherein the animated content is generated in real time by capturing, at the subject module interface 130, visual depictions (e.g. video, possibly including data such as audio or sensor data) of an animation subject 135. For example, animation subject 135 might be in front of a webcam. Video capture data can be transmitted to mediating module 110, which can receive animation assets from an asset module 140 and combine the video capture data with animating instructions received from an animation module 150. Platform 100 may then transmit the animation content from mediating module 110 to viewer interface module 120.
In some embodiments, animation subject 135 may not be required, or be embodied as a software simulation. As such, animation instructions based on the context of a message to be delivered. For example, a simulator may use natural language processing techniques to read the context of a desired message to be communicated, and generate corresponding animations (e.g., body and facial expressions) associated with the message. Furthermore, in some embodiments, platform 100 may be configured such that an audio generation module may comprise tones associated with certain animation assets, such that the voice of an animation asset may be reconstructed to provide the audio message.
Platform 100 may be configured to facilitate the live broadcast of an animation subject 135, as animated, in the visual form of an animation character. For example, a company can have an animation character identified with its brand, and hold live, bi-directional video chat sessions or public broadcasts, in real time, featuring the animation character as animated by an animation subject 135. The brand-identifying character's animation assets (e.g. wireframes and textures) can be stored in an asset module 140, while rules regarding allowable content (e.g. forbidding certain verbal and gestural content from being animated) can be stored in a rules module 160. Mediating module 110 can apply the animation assets from the asset module 140 to the animation subject 135 via the animation module 150, subject to filters or restrictions in the rules module 160.
Platform 100 can facilitate the animation of an animation subject 135 who is a celebrity, public figure, or expert (or other person) who wishes to monetize their time via live or recorded animated video sessions provided by, for example, a commissioned subject 135. A viewer 125 may desire to watch such animation content (e.g. as a stream), or to participate in an interactive animated session (e.g. in a live, scheduled, public, or private interactive chat), and mediating module 110 may poll a payment module to see if the viewer 125 has paid a requisite subscription fee or one-time charge. Mediating module 110 may grant or deny access to the stream based on payment module 170 data, or non-payment may direct/allow viewer 125 to pay (via, e.g., a credit card entry form, an in in-app purchase button, a secure authentication method that enables access to stored payment information, etc.).
Platform 100 may allow or restrict a viewer's 125 access to certain types of content, e.g. content intended for a mature audience, based on information stored in a rules module 160. For example, a child viewer 125 may have parental controls set by a parent that prevent viewer 125 from viewing animation content with static identifiers—an animation subject 135 might set a flag on their account notifying potential viewers that their “channel” features explicit language—or based identification of objectionable content by mediating module 110.
Rules about the functionality or allowable modalities of an animation character may be stored in a rules module 160 connected to or related with an asset module 140 or animation module 150 (or constituent records or data therein). A viewer 125 may be prevented by a rules module 160 (or similar mechanism) from requesting content generation based on particular inputs. For example, if a buyer wished to purchase a customized birthday greeting for a viewer 125 from an animation character, a rules module 160 (or another module, based on rules module 160 input) might prevent the process from proceeding if the submitted “script” contained words that triggered one or more rules in a rules module 160. In a similar vein, a subject 135 may move, gesture, or vocalize in a way that a rules module 160 disallows from being animated (preventing that animated character from being animated acting or speaking thusly).
Rules about an animation subject's preferences and capabilities may be stored in a rules module 160 connected to or related with a subject interface module 130. A viewer 125 may be prevented by a rules module 160 (or similar mechanism) from requesting content generation based on particular inputs. For example, if a viewer 125 wished to purchase a customized “shoutout” from an animation character, a rules module 160 might prevent the process from proceeding if the submitted “script” was in a language not flagged as spoken by the animation subject 135—or, in a case where there are multiple animatable “actors” for a character, any of the animation subjects 135—upon whom the character's animation would be based. Whereas, a language rule may allow platform 100 to select an appropriate subject 135 where at least one such “actor” spoke that language.
Platform 100 may provide a mechanism by which viewers 125 can rate, review, increment a “like” counter, or otherwise indicate their preferences and satisfaction with animation content. This mechanism may be applied per animated character, per animation subject 135, per channel, etc. In an example, data regarding user preferences can be utilized by platform 100 to steer more animation requests to particularly well-performing subjects 135 out of a pool of subjects who all serve as “actors” for a single character (e.g. a pool of ten subjects 135 who can each to serve as the visual and voice basis of popular animated character Frank Actionhero). This may further include user interaction data gathered by platform 100 (i.e. not expressed directly by viewers 125, but gleaned by analytics), as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning processes.
Platform 100 can transmit animated video back to an animation subject 135. For example, a subject 135 may be interacting with a subject interface module 130, provide a command to imitate a capturing session, and see in real time, on the mobile device screen, the animation content being generated from visual data (captured by the mobile device camera) depicting the subject 135. Similarly, a subject 135 who is captured to animate an animated character (e.g. a superhero or a company's brand character) may be “backstage” at an event, generating voice and visual data and viewing the animated character as feedback, while the animation content is displayed to the event audience.
Platform 100 may be configurable to display a custom or themed user interface—for example to viewers 125 at viewer interface module 120 or subjects 135 at subject interface module 130—based on various factors. In an example, the user interface in which a particular animation stream or channel for a cartoon character is presented might reflect graphical style and branding related to that character. In another example, a partner or licensee might utilize platform 100 (or an instance of such) as a vehicle dedicated solely to the presentation of live animation content for their character(s), universe(s) of characters, or multiple IP's. In some examples, platform 100 could be utilized in multiple, company- or brand-specific apps that are respectively dedicated to specific licensees' characters. These examples might involve various aspects dedicated to the licensee and their app, such as a “re-skin” of the interface modules 120, 130, dedicated asset 140, rules 160, payment 170, and other modules, dedicated asset administrator 145 capabilities, a managed pool of subjects 135, subject management capabilities, etc.
II. Platform Configuration
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, the aforementioned modules may be interconnected in various ways and communication between the modules may occur in various media. By way of non-limiting example, connections between modules can be over a network 180 such as the internet or an intranet, a cloud service or platform, within or involving a singular or distributed computing system (e.g. a server, a personal computer, a mobile device, etc.), and other means generally known in the art for connecting computing modules. For example, in a cloud computing environment, mediation module 110 may be embodied as, at least in part, a centralized server in operative communication and control of various modules, in operative communication with other computing devices (e.g., computing devices associated with, for example, viewer interface module 120 and subject interface module 130). In yet further embodiments, each animation asset and rules module may reside with a networked environment in operative control of an owner of those assets. In such embodiments, platform 100 may be configured to employ mediation module 110 to communicate with external modules in accordance to established communication protocols for enabling platform 100's end to end operation.
Still consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein, platform 100 may operate by coordinating, through the mediating module 110, the creation of animation content that may be based on visual data depicting an animation subject 135, audio data captured from a subject's 135 environment, as well as other sensor data. This data can, for example, be captured by a mobile device camera, a webcam attached to a personal computer, a discrete video camera device, etc.
The visual (including, in keeping with usage throughout this disclosure, audio and other) data may be transmitted to the mediating module 110, which interfaces with modules in the animation process such as the asset 140, animation 150, rules 160, payment 170, and other modules (e.g. an AI module, an audio processing/FX module). In this way, the multimodule system comprising by the platform 100 may generate animation content.
Referring still to
III. Platform Operation
Although the stages illustrated by the flow charts are disclosed in a particular order, it should be understood that the order is disclosed for illustrative purposes only. Stages may be combined, separated, reordered, and various intermediary stages may exist. Accordingly, it should be understood that the various stages illustrated within the flow chart may be, in various embodiments, performed in arrangements that differ from the ones illustrated. Moreover, various stages may be added or removed from the flow charts without altering or deterring from the fundamental scope of the depicted methods and systems disclosed herein. Ways to implement the stages of method 300 will be described in greater detail below.
Method 300 may begin at stage 310 where platform 100 may receive an indication to display animation content. In some embodiments, the indication may be received from a viewer 125 at mediating module 110. This indication can be transmitted to the mediating module 110 via the viewer interface module 120. This stage may be the genesis of an animation content generation event, or simply a request to view content that is pre-existing or is already being generated irrespective of an individual user's indication (e.g. a live stream to a subscriber audience of arbitrary size).
At stage 320, platform 100 can receive visual (and possibly other) data depicting subject 135. In some embodiments, the data may be captured at and transmitted by subject interface module 130 and received by mediating module 110. The device(s) comprising subject interface module 130 can include various computing, sensing, and input devices such as mobile devices, personal computers, smart TVs, professional video capture devices, sensors (thermal, gyroscopic, IR, temperature, humidity, depth, and a wide variety of others), microphones, holographic lenses, keyboards, VR devices, etc.
At stage 330, platform 100 can receive animation assets 141. In some embodiments, animation assets 141 may be transmitted by asset module 140 and received at mediating module 110. These assets 141 can comprise many types of graphical and spatial information, such as wireframes, textures, vector assets, raster assets, 3D-models, point clouds, layers, shapes, perspectives, transition and movement information, animation sequences, collections, groupings, and sequences of various assets, etc. Collectively, the animation assets 141 may form the universe of possible depictions of an animation character, to correspond with the visual data depicting an animation subject 135.
At stage 340, platform 100 can generate animation content based on visual data, animation assets 141, and animation instructions. In some embodiments, generating animation content may be performed by animating module 150.
At stage 350, platform 100 can display the animation content to user 125. In some embodiments, mediating module 110 may transmit the animation content to viewer interface module 120 (e.g. a mobile device, television, or amphitheater display).
IV. Computing Device
The platform 100 may be embodied as, for example, but not be limited to, a website, a web application, a desktop application, and a mobile application compatible with a computing device. Moreover, platform 100 may be hosted on a centralized server, such as, for example, a cloud computing service. Alternatively, platform 100 may be implemented in one or more of the plurality of mobile devices. Although methods disclosed herein have been described to be performed by a computing device 400, it should be understood that, in some embodiments, different operations may be performed by different networked elements in operative communication with computing device 400. The computing device 400 may comprise, but not be limited to, a desktop computer, laptop, a tablet, or mobile telecommunications device.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise a system having a memory storage and a processing unit. The processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform the stages of methods disclosed herein.
With reference to
Computing device 400 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 400 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 400 may also contain a communication connection 416 that may allow device 400 to communicate with other computing devices 418, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection 416 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network, direct-wired connection, or hardware bus, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules 406 and data files may be stored in system memory 404, including operating system 405. While executing on processing unit 402, programming modules 406 (e.g., scrolling enablement application 420) may perform processes including, for example, one or more of method stages as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit 402 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced within a general-purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the disclosure, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. 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/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, solid state storage (e.g., USB drive or SD card), or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the disclosure.
V. Claims
While the specification includes examples, the disclosure's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the disclosure.
Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the disclosures are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claims such additional disclosures is reserved.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62567688 | Oct 2017 | US |
