The present invention, and various embodiments thereof, relates to image creation, production, manipulation, editing and sharing, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and methods of selectively adjusting visual content data on a user device. Also provided is a plurality of visual content data editing functions and methods thereof.
Also provided is a visual data sharing platform, which allows a user to share an image or other content data with others amongst and within a network of other users.
The present invention allows sharing, visualizing, and collaborating on visual content. One embodiment of the invention comprises a social network configured for the creation, sharing, and viewing of user-generated visual content data.
In one embodiment, a cover image is selected from a database of images on a user device, and is converted to a mosaic image made up of a plurality of sub-images selected from the database of images, which provide a best-fit match in accordance with predetermined criteria wherein the resulting mosaic image approximates the cover image.
Also provided is a method for generating a mosaic image with an appearance that approximates a cover image by utilizing a plurality of content selected from a database on a user device, comprising the steps of: selecting a cover image from the database of images on the user device; dividing the cover image into a (x, y) grid pattern; comparing the selected content to the regions of the grids comprising the cover image in order to approximate visual similarity based on color matching between the selected content and x,y coordinates of the cover image grid, and thereby selecting the image with the best color match to represent a portion of the grid; positioning the selected images in a targeted location of the grid, thereby creating a mosaic image that approximates the cover image; and sharing the resulting mosaic image amongst a network of users.
Also disclosed is a computer implemented method for generating a mosaic image with an appearance that approximates a cover image by utilizing a plurality of content selected from a database on a user device, comprising the steps of: selecting a cover image from the database of images on the user device; dividing the cover image into a (x, y) grid pattern; comparing the selected content to the regions of the grids comprising the cover image in order to approximate visual similarity based on color matching between the selected content and x,y coordinates of the cover image grid, and thereby selecting the image with the best color match to represent a portion of the grid; positioning the selected images in a targeted location of the grid, thereby creating a mosaic image that approximates the cover image; and sharing the resulting mosaic image amongst a network of users.
Also disclosed is a computer program product having a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for generating a mosaic image with an appearance that approximates a cover image by utilizing a plurality of content selected from a database of content, and sharing the resulting mosaic image amongst a network of users.
Also provided is a computer-readable storage medium storing an executable computer program application for manipulating, creating and editing visual data content.
The system, methods and application disclosed herein are novel for the way the application and social platform visually organizes content on a mobile device as well as the way users of the system are able to link content, and collaborate on content.
The following terms are used in this disclosure to describe different aspects of the invention and the environment in which the invention operates. These terms are used for explanation purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope for any aspect of the invention.
Content as used herein refers to one or more of the following: a digital image, photo, video, video stream, animation, song, music clip, mp3 file, link to other source and/or content, link to social network feed (such as Facebook, Twitter). Sub-content refers to a plurality of content arranged to create a combined content, such as the mosaic image. The term content may at times be used interchangeably with the term fraxel, which describes content selected to be used for producing, thereby becoming part of, the mosaic image.
Cover image refers to a first unaltered image selected as a template for the mosaic image.
Mosaic image refers to an altered image produced by arranging together various content, sub-content in a manner described in more detail herein, wherein in the mosaic image produced resembles an unaltered cover image. The term mosaic image may at times be used interchangeably with the term fractograf, which describes a mosaic image created and displayed via a mobile application on a user device.
SHA refers to one of several cryptographic hash functions, most often used to verify that a file has been unaltered. SHA is short for Secure Hash Algorithm. File verification using SHA is accomplished by comparing the check sums created after running the algorithm on the two files you want to compare.
In one embodiment, various visual content are combined to form a larger image (photo, video, with or without sound, or other content, and including combinations thereof); the result is a mosaic or collage built from user-selected content. This organization has significant advantages over other organization tools because of the ability for a user to see many images at once and easily scan to find items of interest.
In one particular embodiment, individual content used in the present invention is compressed to be 512×512 pixels; however, other dimensions are contemplated.
In one embodiment, to produce a mosaic image from a cover image, a cover image is first selected and then the cover image is sectioned, or partitioned into a grid. In one embodiment, the standard grid is 80×60, however other dimensions are contemplated. (For example: If W≧H, 80×(80*h/w); if W≦H, (80*w/h)×80. In this example, k=80, however, other values are envisioned.) Dimensions and grid values are, in part, dependent the aspect ratio of the cover image.
For each grid section, the average color is calculated. Each of the 4800 grid sections is then matched amongst a plurality of content that a user has identified to make up the mosaic image. For example, an algorithm compares two images/content and determines good matches; if more than one image/content can both serve as a best match, the image/content used with the less frequency will be placed into the mosaic image to ensure more variety of content in the resulting image. The resulting mosaic image is comprised of all the images selected by the user, however the mosaic image can also include content selected independently or randomly by way of the matching algorithm or by selection based on other criteria such as user targeting, product placement, etc. The user may add captions, links, and other details to each mosaic image created. The user also adds a title, description, and other details to the mosaic image and then posts the mosaic image via a server to a social network platform so that other users may view it. In the case where the image is moving, the mosaic image is generated when the user stops the video (and the image becomes still). As the image becomes still, this case is reduced to the still image case described previously.
In another embodiment, the system is configured with collaborative editing capabilities.
A user can be granted permission to edit a mosaic image created by another user. To edit, the mosaic image is retrieved from the server. The editing approach resembles the mosaic image generation approach with a pre-existing mosaic image (cover image, sub-content, and details about the image and/or content) to which new content is added by the user.
The system is configured with additional features such as visual recognition of a mosaic image, including within another mosaic image, by means of a beacon. For example, the beacon appears as a faint image emanating from the sub-content to which an additional mosaic image is linked. Additionally, other effects, such as a twinkle or flash can indicate a particular user's edited content in collaboration mode.
While mosaic images are viewed and created on a user device such as a tablet or smartphone, alternative viewing methods are anticipated, such as we browser viewing for those who can't view images through the app. The web viewer will have the standard mosaic viewing. An interactive in-app tour mode is anticipated in which mosaic images will be shown in a sequence, with the zoom moving in and out on each sub-content in the mosaic image. Alternatively, an in-app flip mode view is also anticipated, in which mosaic images will be shown in a sequence one-by-one, thereby allowing a user to flip through images via a touch screen.
The system is configured for linking content in mosaic images to other content, including other mosaic images. It is envisioned that content can be one or more of an image, an audio file, a video clip or stream, or a combination thereof. Additionally, users can add content into other mosaic images. For example, suppose a user creates Mosaic Image A and adds Mosaic Image B into it by selecting Mosaic Image B as the sub-content. Subsequently, a viewer of Mosaic Image A can visually navigate around the mosaic image to find the cover image of Mosaic Image B. Through this cover image, the viewer may enter Mosaic Image B so long as they have permission. Additionally, Mosaic Image B may contain a Mosaic Image C, which the viewer may also enter if granted permission. This linking method is novel and has the benefit that the user may navigate to other content without having to leave their current content or look for a menu. Existing content viewing and sharing platforms deliver content in a manner than can lead to the user needing to ‘go back’ or go to a menu as they reach the end of a collection of content and want to continue viewing. Additionally, because of the visual nature of the linking, the links are more interesting than traditional menus or content albums/collections.
The system is configured for collaborating on content. Mosaic images are collections of content (up to 1024 individual sub-content). The system makes it possible for users to place content in Mosaic Images they do not own so long as they are given permission by the owner. This collaboration is novel because of the opportunity users are given to co-create Mosaic Images and shape their content. A user's image becomes not just part of a collection of photos, but a part of a Mosaic; the images are interspersed and grouped to create a visually appealing arrangement mosaic. Current content sharing platforms offer the opportunity for users to create ‘shared albums’ or ‘folders.’ These platforms take users photos and place them together a list and show the photos one-by-one. This results in the content being together, but not together in a way that is unique or novel. The existing content sharing platforms methods for sharing photos is very similar to a folder on a computer showing thumbnails of images.
The present invention requires servers, mobile phones and their operating systems, a website for sharing Mosaic Images with people on mobile devices, a software program of instructions for carrying out the method described herein, and access to the Internet to connect the components.
In one embodiment, the invention is carried out by a mobile application configured to carry out the following steps:
Also included as part of the disclosure of the present invention are drawings, photos and flowcharts that illustrate additional embodiments of the present invention, including but not limited to, aspects of mosaic image creation, editing, sharing and collaboration of content on a social networking platform, as well as embodiments related to targeted content placement for advertisement within a mosaic image. Screen shots are also included which show functionality of the system on a user device, such as a mobile phone. The drawings, photos and flowcharts are illustrative of particular examples and embodiments of particular examples for enabling methods of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the written disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61949540 | Mar 2014 | US |