Patent Application
20110231745
Use of digital cameras is now commonplace. Digital cameras can be purchased as standalone units or integrated into other devices, e.g., mobile telephones, laptop computers, etc. People who travel (“travelers”), e.g., on vacation, often carry digital or film cameras with them to capture their memories in content elements, e.g., photographs, videos, etc. Whether they use digital cameras or film cameras, photographers (e.g., the travelers) sometimes share their images online. When using film cameras, they may scan their photographs (“photos”) into digital images before sharing the digital images.
People sometimes share photos they take in online photo albums (e.g., on Flickr®), blogs (e.g., TravelPod®), social networking (e.g., Facebook®), or other Web sites. However, these photos are generally statically displayed and viewers switch from one photo to the next manually or very simple visual transitions are provided.
The disclosed technology is generally directed to creating improved slideshows that have a superior production quality than static slideshows. These improved slideshows may have various multimedia elements, e.g., video, audio, animation, etc. In some embodiments, a user identifies content (e.g., photos, videos, etc.) and the disclosed technology automatically assembles a slideshow. The slideshow can include an introductory animation, maps (e.g., of travel destinations), flags (e.g., of the countries visited), the user's photos and/or videos, credits, passport stamps, music, etc. In various embodiments, the user (“creator”) can select templates to use when constructing the slideshow, specify the travel destinations where the photos and/or videos were captured, and share the created slideshow with others (“viewers”). In various embodiments, videos can optionally include still images and/or audio content.
In some embodiments, the disclosed technology can operate with content (e.g., photos and/or videos) stored at a client computing device. As an example, after returning from a trip, the creator may store content on the creator's home computer. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology can operate with content stored online (e.g., a social networking Web site).
To create a slideshow, the creator can navigate a Web browser to a server (“Web service”), identify the location of the content, and request a slideshow to be created. The Web service can then copy the selected content to a server, identify attributes (e.g., geographical locations) to associate with the uploaded content, and automatically assemble a slideshow without any further input from the creator. The Web service may add maps and flags associate with the identified geographical locations. In the maps, the Web service may identify (e.g., by placing pushpins or other identifying notations) associated with a sequence of content. Suppose the creator traveled from Ottawa to New York; then from New York to Lima, Peru; and finally returned to Ottawa via the reverse path, and took photos at each geographical location. The Web service may initially identify Ottawa as the geographical location for all of the photos by looking up the user's Internet Protocol (“IP”) address using an IP lookup registry service. Alternatively, the Web service may enable the user to specify which photographs correspond with which geographical locations. Alternatively, the Web service may employ geo-location tags stored in metadata associated with the photographs. The Web service may then assemble the photographs (e.g., using flyover effects or other animation techniques) along with other multimedia content specified by a template into a slideshow. The additional multimedia content can include maps of the visited geographical locations, music (e.g., music from the visited geographical locations or generic music for the entire slideshow), passport stamps from visited countries, etc. The maps may include an animated sequence, e.g., showing pushpins being added to denote an order in which the user visited the geographical locations. The Web service may then give the user the option of downloading the slideshow in a multimedia file format (e.g., Adobe Flash, Windows® Media, etc.), storing it at a server (e.g., YouTube®), and/or sharing it with viewers.
The assembled slideshow can contain an introductory sequence, maps showing the visited geographical locations, flags associated with the geographical locations, the creator's content, credits, and/or other content. The slideshow is assembled as a highly stylized, professional-quality multimedia presentation. As an example, the introductory sequence can give the viewer the perspective of flying through clouds, and the maps can have an ethereal quality. Text for the introduction can include a name for the slideshow (e.g., a name specified by the creator and/or including the creator's name). Text for the credits can include the creator's name, advertiser's names, the Web service's name, etc. The text for the introduction, credits, and content can be provided by the user initially before the slideshow is created or later. As an example, the Web service may initially assign all textual and geographical location information. The creator can thereafter add and/or revise the information the Web service initially assigned.
In some embodiments, the Web service may be able to automatically identify text for content based on metatdata, text associated at the social networking site from which the content was copied, etc. As an example, photographers sometimes add caption information to photographs that is stored in metadata associated with the photographs. Social networking site users sometimes identify or “tag” people who appear in photographs. The Web service may be able to use this information to display caption information when a photograph or video is displayed.
In some embodiments, the Web service may function with other Web sites or services to provide additional information. As an example, the Web service may function with the Expedia® travel site to identify geographical locations based on the user's travel schedule. Digital cameras and videocameras commonly place date and time stamps in the metadata of photographs and videos. The Web service may determine geographical location based on the creator's confirmed travel itinerary stored in Expedia®. As another example, the Web service may function with image or face detection Web sites so that once a person or item is identified in one photograph or video, the same person or item is automatically identified in other photographs or videos for displaying of captions. As another example, when an album is imported from Facebook®, the Web service may import the album name, tags associated with photos, etc., to automatically populate the introductory sequence, content captions, etc.
In some embodiments, the creator is able to select from an additional set of templates after the creator has shared a slideshow with a threshold number of viewers. As an example, the Web service may initially provide a limited number of templates the creator can select from. After the creator has created one or more slideshows and then shares the created slideshow with ten viewers, the Web service may enable the creator to select from one or more additional templates.
The templates can define content and a sequence of events for slideshows. Each template can include different introductory sequences, colors, animations, transitions for the creator's content, music, credits, map styles, etc. As an example, a template may initially display a passport and then display a page from the passport that in turn displays passport stamps from every country the creator has visited (and possibly where the creator has captured content). A “camera angle” for the slideshow animation then follows a line emanating from the passport page that progresses over an ocean, mountain, and clouds, and then approaches a three-dimensional pin on a map. After the pin is seemingly struck by the camera, a number of photos are displayed in an explosive effect around the pin. As an example, one photo may be displayed for each country that was visited. Alternatively, the slideshow may progress from country to country, wherein each line emanating from the passport page and striking a map pin is for each visited country. The slideshow could then display photos taken in each country, accompanied with background music. The background music can continue for the entire slideshow or change for each country (e.g., the music can be associated with the country whose photos are presently being viewed by the viewer).
Thus, the slideshow the Web service creates is a high-production-value animation akin to an online movie and not a sequence of static images, and unlike online photo albums that are commonly available today.
The creator can share the created slideshow by sending via electronic mail (“email”) a link to the slideshow, embedding the slideshow in a blog or other Web site, etc. In some embodiments, the slideshow may be accompanied by code in a markup language (e.g., HTML) that allows the creator to embed the slideshow in another Web site. In various embodiments, the code may provide a link to another Web site (e.g., a travel-related blog site such as TravelPod.com.) An example of such a link is provided below:
When the creator adds this code to a Web site, the created slideshow is embedded. Moreover, a viewer sees text describing the trip the slideshow relates to. If the viewer clicks on a link associated with the slideshow and/or text, the viewer is taken to a travel-related blog (e.g., TravelPod®).
In some embodiments, the Web service does not require creators to register with the Web site. Requiring users to register before they take advantage of functionality a Web site offers is sometimes seen as discouraging use. Indeed, some studies have shown that some users simply navigate their Web browser to another Web site when a Web site they are visiting requires registration. To avoid requiring creators to register to create a slideshow, the Web service enables creators to create slideshows anonymously. After the slideshow is created, the Web service asks creators if they would like to ever edit the slideshow again. If they respond positively, the Web service requests the creators to provide their email address. The Web service then transmits a link in an email message which the creators can subsequently select to edit the slideshow in the future. By functioning in this manner, the Web service removes friction associated with registration. Moreover, the Web service can later be co-branded with another Web service or Web site without requiring common user sign-in credentials. In various embodiments, users may need to register by providing an email address, login credentials, social networking name/credentials, etc. before being able to save their slideshow for future editing. As an example, the technology may employ a FACEBOOK application program interface (API) to enable the user to log in via FACEBOOK (or other social networking website) before saving the slideshow for future editing or even for sharing, e.g., via the social networking website.
In various embodiments, the Web service transmits a client-side multimedia file (e.g., Adobe Flash file). By transmitting a client-side multimedia file instead of a streamed multimedia file, a viewer is given additional control capabilities. When viewing a streamed multimedia file, a viewer is generally only able to pause, rewind, and fast-forward the content. In contrast, a client-side multimedia file can enable a user to a larger version of an interesting photograph, navigate the photographs in a manner of the viewer's choosing (e.g., by clicking on points along a timeline or map), etc.
Some online slideshows render the video on the server then played as a video via flash. We generate the slideshow as an interactive, client side, flash movie. This means that the client PC does all of the processing instead of the server BUT it also means that the slideshow can be more interactive. For instance, in our slideshows you can click a photo to see a larger version of it. If the slideshow was generated server side as a movie, this would not be possible.
In some embodiments, the disclosed technology may automatically add music to a slideshow. As an example, the technology may add music that is based on the geographical locations at which the photographs and/or videos were captured. As an example, if a user visited two different countries during a trip, the disclosed technology may display a slideshow with photographs and/or videos from the first country, a transition, and then photographs and/or videos from the second country; and may select and play music from each of the countries while a viewer is viewing the slideshow from those countries. The disclosed technology may select music from countries, regions, cities, etc. based on identified geographical locations, geo-tags, etc. In some embodiments, the technology may create the music automatically; and in other embodiments, the technology may retrieve music, e.g., from a server. In various embodiments, the technology may add the music during creation of the slideshow or during playback of the slideshow. As an example, when a traveler includes photographs from Canada, Ireland, and India in a slideshow, the technology may add as background music Canadian music for the photographs taken in Canada, Irish music for the photographs taken in Ireland, and Indian music for the photographs taken in India. The technology may also automatically add transitions, which can be musical interludes, fading one music into the other, etc.
In various embodiments, the technology can retrieve data for use in the slideshow from various sources including, e.g., data associated with photographs, social networking websites, hometowns identified by social networking website users, IP locations from which photographs are uploaded, etc.
In various embodiments, the technology may include an annotated “location” indicator on a navigational slider that enables viewers to jump to a specific spot in an animation sequence or slideshow based on the location that the creator of the slideshow indicated as the origin (or other locations) of the photos. As an example, the navigational slider may include a sequence of cities the creator of the slideshow visited, and the viewer may slide the slider to a particular city to view photographs from that city.
Several embodiments of the facility are described in more detail in reference to the Figures. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments.
The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.
The computing devices on which the described technology may be implemented may include one or more central processing units, memory, input devices (e.g., keyboard and pointing devices), output devices (e.g., display devices), storage devices (e.g., disk drives), and network devices (e.g., network interfaces). The memory and storage devices are computer-readable media that may store instructions that implement the importance system. In addition, the data structures and message structures may be stored or transmitted via a data transmission medium, such as a signal on a communications link. Various communications links may be used, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a point-to-point dial-up connection. The network links may be wired or wireless (e.g., radio-frequency based or optical).
Although not required, aspects and embodiments of the disclosed technology will be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as routines executed by a general-purpose computer, e.g., a server or personal computer. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced with other computer system configurations, including Internet appliances, hand-held devices, wearable computers, cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, set-top boxes, network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers and the like. The invention can be embodied in a special purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions explained in detail below. Indeed, the term “computer”, as used generally herein, refers to any of the above devices, as well as any data processor or any device capable of communicating with a network, including consumer electronic goods such as game devices, cameras, or other electronic devices having a processor and other components, e.g., network communication circuitry.
The disclosed technology can also be practiced in distributed computing environments, where tasks or modules are performed by remote processing devices, which are linked through a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (“LAN”), Wide Area Network (“WAN”) or the Internet. In a distributed computing environment, program modules or sub-routines may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Aspects of the disclosed technology described below may be stored or distributed on computer-readable media, including magnetic and optically readable and removable computer discs, stored as firmware in chips (e.g., EEPROM chips), as well as distributed electronically over the Internet or over other networks (including wireless networks). Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that portions of the disclosed technology may reside on a server computer, while corresponding portions reside on a client computer. Data structures and transmission of data particular to aspects of the disclosed technology are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the logic illustrated in
In various embodiments, segments of a slideshow can include photo sequence styles (e.g., flip photos, rotating photos, etc); music; background effects (e.g., animations, blurred photos going by, etc.), video clips, etc. By combining these segments, the Web service can create unique sequences.
In some embodiments, the technology enables a user to assemble the slideshows as a movie. As an example, the movie may include “stars” and “costars” comprising the people who may be identifiable in the photographs included with the slideshow.
In some embodiments, the technology enables the user to select templates or themes. As an example,
In some embodiments, the technology may create a “costar poster.” A costar poster is a movie-poster-like slide that the technology may create. As an example, when the user who is creating a slideshow imports photographs from a social networking website, the photographs may be “tagged” with identifications of people and/or objects. The technology can create the costar poster by importing information associated with these tags when the corresponding photograph is added to a slideshow. As an example, after the user has saved their slideshow, the technology may import user's friends' FACEBOOK profile photograph, their name, etc., and put them together with a map that includes all the cities specified in slideshow and the slideshow title. The user who created the slideshow is then offered an option to share the poster on FACEBOOK.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited except as by the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,077 entitled “SLIDESHOW CREATOR,” filed Mar. 15, 2010.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61314077 | Mar 2010 | US |
