This invention relates to photo sharing between digital devices over a network.
To share photos captured on a mobile device, a user can email the photos directly to others. The user can also upload the photos to a photo sharing service provider and invite others to view the photos on the Internet via the photo sharing service provider.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a user runs an album application on a digital device to generate a digital album and share the album with others. The album application creates a message with a first copy of the album and a link to a second copy of the album on a website hosted by a photo sharing provider. The first copy of the album is a small file because it contains low resolution versions of the photos and it uses a compact file format (e.g., Adobe Flash or HTML5). After the message is sent, the album application uploads high resolution versions of the photos to the photo sharing provider. A recipient of the message may view the first copy of the album in the message or click on the link to access the second copy of the album from the website hosted by the photo sharing provider. The recipient may order prints of the album from the photo sharing provider or a print provider working with the photo sharing provider. The recipient may further share the album by forwarding the message or the link to others.
In the drawings:
Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements.
Using album client application 104, first user 101 selects photos and an album template. Album client application 104 automatically creates an interactive digital album from the selected photos and the selected album template.
The album template specifies the backgrounds on the album pages, the photo containers or frames on the album pages, and the transition effects between the album pages. For the photo containers, the album template specifies their layouts, orientations (portrait or landscape), and sizes. The album template may specify the order of the album pages but album client application 104 may rearrange and reuse the album pages depending on the total number and the orientations of the selected photos.
As the photo containers are smaller than the full resolution of the photos, album client application 104 creates low resolution versions of the photos to fill the photo containers. Low resolution may be, for example, 640 by 480 pixels.
Album client application 104 may generally arrange the photos based on time/date taken. Album client application 104 may group together photos that are similar (e.g., sum of absolute differences for any two consecutive photos is less than a threshold) and taken within a short time span of each other (e.g., any two consecutive photos that are within five seconds of each other or photos taken using the burst mode). Instead of displaying these similar photos individually, they may be displayed as a stack of photos in one photo container so they may be flipped through by clicking on the stack (e.g.,
Album client application 104 may optimize the number and the order of the album pages to best match the number and the orientations of the arranged photos. Album client application 104 may detect faces in the photos and locate the photos in the photo containers so the detected faces are within the viewable areas of the photo containers.
Album client application 104 displays the digital album on the screen of digital device 102 for first user 101 to view and edit the digital album (e.g., moving and deleting photos, sizing photos, and inserting captions for photos). The digital album includes next and previous buttons to navigate through the album pages. Based on the first user's edits on an album page, such as moving or deleting photos, album client application 104 may again optimize the number and the order of the album pages to best match the number and the orientations of the arranged photos.
Album client application 104 provides an option for first user 101 to order a physical copy of the digital album, prints from the digital album, or other physical media of the digital album. When first user 101 selects to order, album client application 104 provides additional interfaces for the first user to provide ordering information. For example, the additional interfaces allow first user 101 to select photos, print sizes, and print quantities, and provide payment information and shipping information. Album client application 104 then uploads the order information and high resolution versions of the photos (if not already uploaded for sharing as described later) to a secure server computer 106 of a photo sharing provider (described more later) to fulfill the order. The photos are uploaded at high resolution to ensure high quality prints. High resolution may be 1024 by 768 pixels, 1600 by 1200 pixels, or greater. The uploaded photos also act as backup copies to the photos on the first user's digital device 102. The photo sharing provider may fulfill the order itself or contract it out to a print provider. Alternatively album client application 104 may transmit the order information and the photos to a secure server computer 105 of the print provider to fulfill the order.
Album client application 104 provides an option for first user 101 to share the album. When first user 101 selects to share the digital album, album client application 104 provides options for the first user to allow others to order physical media of the digital album, and to share the digital album through a social media provider or by messaging (e.g., an email or an instant message). Social media providers include blog providers such as Twitter and social networking providers such as Facebook. When first user 101 selects to share the digital album through a social media provider, album client application 104 transmits a hyperlink to the digital album on a web page 111 to a secure server computer 107 of the social media provider, which posts the hyperlink to the first user's account so others can click the link to view a copy of the digital album on the web. Web page 111 is hosted by photo sharing provider server computer 106 (described more later). Alternatively album client application 104 transmits a copy of the digital album or the low resolution photos in the digital album to social media provider server computer 107, which posts the digital album or the low resolution photos to the first user's account for others to view. Album client application 104 has the appropriate application programming interface to communicate with social media provider server computer 107.
When first user 101 selects to share the digital album by messaging, album client application 104 creates the hyperlink to web page 111 hosted by photo sharing provider server computer 106. Album client application 104 creates a copy of the digital album, causes a messaging application 108 on digital device 102 (or another device for web-based email or instant messaging) to create a message 113, inserts the hyperlink into the body of the message, and attaches the copy of the digital album to the message.
The copy of the digital album may be a rich media file that can be viewed on a browser with the appropriate plug-in or a standalone viewer. For example, the rich media file may be an Adobe Flash file that can be viewed on a browser with the Adobe Flash Player plug-in or standalone player, or an HTML5 file that can be viewed on a browser. Alternatively the rich media file is self-extracting or self-executing so it can be independently viewed without a browser or a standalone viewer. For example, the rich media file may be a Flash projector file. The rich media file is small in size due to its format and also because the photos in the digital album are low resolution.
Assume first user 101 wishes to share the album with a second user 115 of a digital device 110, which may be on a different platform than digital device 102 of the first user. The first user fills in the second user's messaging address on message 113 and causes messaging application 108 to send the message from digital device 102 to digital device 110 over a computer network 112. Computer network 112 may represent one or more coupled networks, such as the Internet and mobile networks.
In the background about the same time or immediately after the sharing (whether by message or through a social media provider), album client application 104 uploads the photos, an identification of the album template, the layout information of the digital album (e.g., photo arrangements, photo sizes, and photo captions), and the hyperlink to photo sharing provider server computer 106 over computer network 112. The photos are typically transmitted in their full resolution to preserve their details for printing and backup purposes. If first user 101 does not allow others to order physical media of the digital album, album client application 104 may upload the photos in low resolution. An album server application 114 on photo sharing provider server computer 106 recreates the digital album from the photos, the album template, and the layout information of the digital album.
Second user 115 receives message 113 with a messaging application 116 on digital device 110 (or another device for web-based email or instant messaging). From message 113, second user 115 may select to view the copy of the digital album attached to the message or select the hyperlink in the message body to view the copy of the digital album on web page 111 through a web browser 118 on digital device 110. When second user 115 selects the hyperlink, web browser 118 requests web page 111 from photo sharing provider server computer 106. In response, a web server 109 creates and serves web page 111 including the copy of the digital album. Web server 109 may be located on photo sharing provider server computer 106 or another server computer. Web page 111 is small in size due to its format and also because the photos in the digital album are low resolution. Web server 109 may detect the type of web browser 118 and the platform it is running on, and create web page 111 that is most compatible for viewing on the web browser.
Web page 111 provides an option for second user 115 to order a physical copy of the digital album, prints from the digital album, or other physical media of the digital album. When second user 115 selects to order, web server 109 provides additional web pages for the second user to provide ordering information. As discussed before, the photo sharing provider may fulfill the order itself or contract it out to a print provider. Photo sharing provider server computer 106 may account and distribute payments received for physical media of the digital album among the photo sharing provider, the print provider if any, and the owner of the digital album (first user 101).
Web page 111 provides an option for second user 115 to share the digital album. When second user 115 selects to share the digital album, web page 111 further provides options for the second user to share through social media providers or by messaging. When second user 115 selects to share the digital album through a social media provider, web browser 118 sends the request to photo sharing provider server computer 106. In response, album server application 114 transmits a copy of the digital album, the low resolution photos in the digital album, or the hyperlink to web page 111 to social media provider server computer 105, which posts the copy of the digital album, the low resolution photos in the digital album, or the link to the second user's account.
When second user 115 wishes to share the album by messaging, web browser 118 sends the request to photo sharing provider server computer 106. Assume second user 115 wishes to share with a third user 119 of a digital device 120, which may be on a different platform than digital device 110 of the second user. In response, album server application 114 creates a copy of the digital album, causes a messaging application 122 to create a message 123, includes the hyperlink in the body of the message, attaches the copy of the digital album to the message, and sends the message to third user 119. The sharing experience for third user 119 is similar to that of second user 115 described above where the third user is able to view the copy of the digital album in the message, view the copy of the digital album in web page 111, order physical media, and further share the digital album. Messaging application 122 may be located on photo sharing provider server computer 106 or another server computer.
In some embodiments, second user 115 has access to the shared photos from first user 101 via photo sharing provider server computer 106 and can create her digital album using any of the share photos. In some embodiments, second user 115 can add her photos to the digital album via photo sharing provider server computer 106.
Each computer device in
As described above, system 100 maintains high and low-resolution versions of the digital album based on the intended use. A digital album with low resolution photos is used for viewing and sharing. High-resolution photos are maintained for printing and backup purposes. System 100 reduces unnecessary file transfers of high resolution photos by optimizing the use of the network resources depending on needs.
The digital album with low resolution photos may be used to achieve rapid, viral-like sharing. The digital album allows anyone that likes the digital album to share with others and order printed albums or photos if permitted by the owner of the digital album. Upon receiving an order, system 100 uses the high resolution photos for printing.
System 100 provides an internet-based publishing and printing hub for personal photo albums, professional photo books, and other photo-intensive printing materials. For example, a professional photographer may publish and sell her works through digital albums using system 100 instead of going through a traditional publisher with the upfront cost of conventional publishing.
Photo sharing provider server computer 106 may be configured to provide a marketplace 130 where third parties submit album templates for others to purchase. Photo sharing provider server computer 106 may provide tools to the third parties to build album templates for a variety of topics and themes, such as travel, baby, fashion, wedding, and calendar. The third parties then upload the album templates to photo sharing provider server computer 106, which makes them available for purchase and download to other users.
Album client application 104 and album server application 114 may also provide targeted advertisements to users based on the use of the software, such as the topics/themes and the authors/publishers of the selected album templates. For example, a user using a baby themed album template may be provided with baby product advertisements. Such advertisements may appear as banner ads within the interface of album client application 104 and web pages 111.
Blocks 202 to 214 are performed by the processor of digital device 102 running album client application 104 (
In block 204, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
In block 206, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
When digital album 400 is paused, additional buttons appear at the bottom of the digital album. These buttons include a photo button 408, a layout button 410, a page manage button 412, an add blank page button 414, an add sound button 416, and an add video button 418.
When first user 101 selects photo button 408, a pane with thumbnails of the selected photos appears. Using this pane, first user 101 is able to select additional photos. First user 101 is also able to drag and drop a photo from the pane into an empty container on a displayed album page or replace an existing photo in a photo container on the displayed album page.
When first user 101 selects layout button 410, a pane with thumbnails of album page templates with different layouts of photo containers appears. Using this pane, first user 101 is also able to drag and drop a new album page template from the pane into a displayed album page to replace an existing album page on the displayed album page.
When first user 101 selects a page manage button 412, a window with thumbnails of the album pages appear. Using this pane, first user 101 is able to reorder the album pages.
When first user 101 selects add blank page button 414, a blank album page is inserted and a pane with the thumbnails of the album page templates appears so the user can select the layout of the blank album page.
When first user 101 selects add sound button 416, a new window 420 appears for the first user to add one or more sounds to digital album 400 as shown in
First user 101 clicks an add soundtrack button 432 to select a soundtrack for digital album 400. The soundtrack may begin after any voice message to be played with the front cover (and any video to be played on the front inside cover as described later), and ends before any voice message to be played with the back cover (and any video to be played on the back inside cover as described later). Once a soundtrack is selected, its file name 434 is displayed. Album client application 104 may recommend suitable soundtracks from local sound files on digital device 102 (
When first user 101 selects add video button 418 (
For the purposes of explaining method 200, assume first user 101 (
In block 208, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
In block 210, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
In block 212, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
In block 214, album client application 104 on digital device 102 (
Blocks 216 to 224 are performed by the processor of photo sharing provider server computer 106 (
In block 218, web server 109 (
Referring back to
In block 222, assuming second user 115 on digital device 110 (
In block 224, assuming second user 115 on digital device 110 (
Blocks 226 to 234 are performed by the processor of digital device 110 (
In block 228, assuming second user 115 on digital device 110 (
In block 230, web browser 118 (
In block 232, assuming second user 115 on digital device 110 (
In block 234, assuming second user 115 on digital device 110 (
Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, instead of digital device 102 sending message 113 with the copy of the digital album and the hyperlink, the first user may cause photo sharing provider server computer 106 to send the message. Album client application 104 transmits the photos, the identification of the album template, and the layout information of the album (e.g., photo arrangements, photo placements, photo sizes, and photo captions) to photo sharing provider server computer 106 over computer network 112. Album server application 114 recreates the copy of the digital album, causes messaging application 122 on the photo sharing provider server computer (or another server computer) to create message 113, inserts the hyperlink into the body of the message, attaches a copy of the digital album to the message, and sends the message to another user designated by the first user. Numerous embodiments are encompassed by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/545,573, attorney docket no. ARC-P184-PV, filed on Oct. 10, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61545573 | Oct 2011 | US |