U.S. patent application number 10/728086 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for system and method for media-enabled messaging having publish-and-send feature.
Invention is credited to Cody, Brian Robert, Frank, Steven Gary, Joshi, Tanuja, Kirn, Kevin Neil, Nikiel, Mark A., Weber, Kurt Alan.
Application Number | 20050122345 10/728086 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34633625 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050122345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kirn, Kevin Neil ; et
al. |
June 9, 2005 |
System and method for media-enabled messaging having
publish-and-send feature
Abstract
A system and related techniques manage the adding of digital
images or other media to email messages using a comparatively
straightforward insert-and-send scheme. A user may choose to insert
or embed comparatively low-resolution versions of images or other
media automatically published to a media server into an email
message. The recipient of that media-enabled message may receive
and view the email text message along with the low-resolution
images in typical fashion using an email or other client. The
recipient may choose to view one or more of the embedded images in
greater resolution by linking or activating those images, for
instance by moving a cursor and clicking into the selected image or
other object. Activating the image or other media object from
within the email pane may seamlessly transport the user to the
media server's Web page to view a larger-resolution version of that
image, for instance using a media player. Video, audio and other
media may likewise be inserted into messages. The sender may
therefore share a variety of images, audio, video or other media
with selected recipients without loading the recipient's email or
other client with increased download times or storage
requirements.
Inventors: |
Kirn, Kevin Neil; (Seattle,
WA) ; Frank, Steven Gary; (Sammamish, WA) ;
Nikiel, Mark A.; (Redmond, WA) ; Joshi, Tanuja;
(Redmond, WA) ; Cody, Brian Robert; (Seattle,
WA) ; Weber, Kurt Alan; (Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHOOK, HARDY & BACON L.L.P.
2555 GRAND BOULEVARD
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108-2613
US
|
Family ID: |
34633625 |
Appl. No.: |
10/728086 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/629 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/22 20130101;
H04L 51/08 20130101; G06Q 10/107 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/629 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A system for selectively presenting media embedded in a message,
comprising: an input interface to receive a media-enabled message;
a messaging client, communicating with the input interface, the
messaging client presenting the media-enabled message to a user and
permitting the user to select at least one media object in the
media-enabled message; and a media player, communicating with the
messaging client, the media player presenting an enhanced
representation of the at least one media object to the user.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the media-enabled message
comprises email.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the messaging client
comprises an email client.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one media
object comprises at least one of a graphical image, an audio stream
and a video stream.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one media
object comprises a graphical image, and the enhanced representation
of the graphical image comprises an enhanced-resolution version of
the graphical image.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the media player
comprises at least one of a slide show player, an audio player and
a video player.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the selecting of the at
least one media object comprises activating a link via the at least
one media object.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the media player is
integrated with the messaging client.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the media player is
separate from the messaging client.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the media player
communicates with at least one media server to retrieve the
enhanced representation of the at least one media object selected
by the user.
11. A method for selectively presenting media embedded in a
message, comprising: receiving a media-enabled message; presenting
the media-enabled message to a user; receiving an input from the
user to select at least one media object in the media-enabled
message; and presenting an enhanced representation of the at least
one media object to the user.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the media-enabled
message comprises email.
13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one media
object comprises at least one of a graphical image, an audio stream
and a video stream.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one media
object comprises a graphical image, and the enhanced representation
of the graphical image comprises an enhanced-resolution version of
the graphical image.
15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the selecting of the at
least one media object comprises activating a link via the at least
one media object.
16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising
communicating with at least one media server to retrieve the
enhanced representation of the at least one media object selected
by the user.
17. A system for generating a media-enabled message, comprising: a
selector module, the selector module permitting a user to
selectively embed at least one media object in a media-enabled
message; an uploader module, communicating with the selector
module, the uploader module publishing an enhanced representation
of the at least one media object accessible to a recipient of the
media-enabled message.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the media-enabled
message comprises email.
19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the uploader module
communicates the media-enabled message to an email client.
20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the media-enabled
message is separately queued from non-media-enabled messages in the
email client.
21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the uploader module
stores the enhanced representation of the at least one media object
selected by the user to at least one media server.
22. A media-enabled message, the media-enabled message being
readable to selectively present embedded media objects, the
media-enabled message comprising: at least one media object, the at
least one media object being selectable by a user to access an
enhanced representation of the at least one media object; and an
interface to a media player, the media player being activated by
the selection of the at least one media object to present the
enhanced representation of the at least one media object to the
user.
23. The media-enabled message according to claim 22, wherein the
media-enabled message comprises email.
24. The media-enabled message according to claim 22, wherein the at
least one media object comprises at least one of a graphical image,
an audio stream and a video stream.
25. The media-enabled message according to claim 24, wherein the at
least one media object comprises a graphical image, and the
enhanced representation of the graphical image comprises an
enhanced-resolution version of the graphical image.
26. A media-enabled message according to claim 22, wherein the
media player communicates with at least one media server to
retrieve the enhanced representation of the at least one media
object selected by the user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to the field of communications, and
more particularly to a platform and techniques for generating email
or other messages which seamlessly incorporate linkable
high-resolution images or other media for selective viewing by the
recipient.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The proliferation of digital cameras, cellular phones
equipped with digital cameras, video cameras and other imaging
devices has led to a corresponding interest on the part of
consumers in sharing their photographs and other media. While
dedicated Web services exist to accept and serve consumers'
uploaded camera shots, the necessary steps to prepare, upload and
share that media may be inconvenient to some users.
[0005] Many users on the other hand may prefer or revert to sharing
their digital photographs or other media by way of email, choosing
to embed or attach the JPG or other digital photo files directly
into email messages to friends and others. However, using ordinary
email services as a vehicle to exchange digital photographs, video
clips, audio clips or other media has significant drawbacks. For
one, high-resolution digital photographs can reach several
megabytes in size. Attempting to transmit files of that or greater
size via an email service may bog the sender's email client down,
or clog the recipient's inbox with content which takes a
significant time to open. In cases large email attachments may not
transmit at all.
[0006] Users may instead generate reduced resolution versions of
photographs and other media to help alleviate those transmission
and storage issues. Some email clients may likewise permit a user
to embed or attach reduced resolution versions of images to
outgoing email messages. Those various smaller versions may include
for example thumbnail or Web-ready images, on the order of
100.times.100 pixels or more or less. While this permits the
recipient to view a representation of the original image, that
representation may be too low-resolution to permit printing or
other manipulation of the image. Other problems and disadvantages
exist in current media sharing technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention overcoming these and other problems in the art
relates in one regard to a system and method for media-enabled
messaging having a publish-and-send feature, in which a sender may
insert digital photographs, video clips, audio files or samples or
other media into an email message or other message object. The
images may be automatically embedded or attached as a linkable
media object, for instance in the form of a reduced-size or
resolution version of the images which the user desires to share. A
composition interface may permit the user to lay out those images
and automatically publish full-resolution or otherwise enhanced
representations to a media server or other resource, for instance
located at a Web site. When the email or other recipient receives
the message, they may view the comparatively reduced-resolution
linkable media objects embedded in the message, and select one or
more of those objects to view in more detail. Activating the
linkable media object may seamlessly invoke a media player or other
client application to transport the recipient to the associated Web
site or other delivery resource. The recipient may then view,
listen, download and store or otherwise manipulate the enhanced
representation of the photographs or other media. Both the sender
and the recipient of the media-enabled message may therefore
manipulate the inserted photographs or other media transparently,
without having to carry out other steps beyond typical email
operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a network in which a media-enabled
message platform may operate, according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a media-enabled message, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the presentation of media objects from a
media-enabled message, according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates the composition of a media-enabled
message, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of overall message
processing, according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall network architecture in which
a system and method for media-enabled messaging may operate,
according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in that
figure one or more users in a set of users 102 may use personal
computers, workstations, personal digital assistants,
network-enabled cellular telephones or other clients or devices to
communicate with each other via a network 104. Network 104 may be,
include or interface to, for example, the Internet, an intranet, a
local area network (LAN) or other local or remote network. Those
users may manipulate a user interface 112, such as a graphical user
interface, command line interface, voice-activated or other
interface to perform messaging functions according to the
invention.
[0014] Users may more particularly generate, publish, store and
exchange one or more media-enabled message 110 using the
media-enabled messaging capabilities of embodiments of the
invention. The media-enabled message 110 may in embodiments be or
include an email message transmitted by an email client, but it
will be appreciated that other types and formats of messaging and
messages may be employed. According to the invention in one regard,
a user in the set of users 102 may receive a media-enabled message
110 via a set of email servers 106, which set may include one or
more post office protocol (POP) servers, Internet message access
protocol (IMAP) or others. As illustrated, the recipient of the
media-enabled message 110 may receive and view the message and
access enhanced content associated with that message via a media
server 108 and other resources, as described herein.
[0015] As more particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, the
media-enabled message 110 may contain various constituent parts
including message header 114, which may be or include email
address, date, time, subject and other data, as well as a set of
linkable media objects 116. As illustrated, the set of linkable
media objects 116 may be or include a set of comparatively compact
or modest-resolution graphical images. Those images may be or
include, for example, digital images downloaded by the user from a
digital camera, camera-equipped cellular phone, or other types of
images, stored for example in Joint Photographic Experts Group
(.JPG) or other formats. In embodiments, linkable media objects 116
may likewise be or include other types or mixed types of media,
such as video clips, such as those in Windows.TM. AVI format, or
audio samples or files, such as those in MP3 (MPEG Audio) or other
formats. Other media types, formats, files and sources are
possible.
[0016] As illustrated in FIG. 2, any one or more or all of the
linkable media objects 116 may be selectable or activatable by the
recipient of the media-enabled message 110, such as by operating a
mouse cursor or other element of user interface 112. Clicking or
otherwise linking or activating any one or more of the linkable
media objects 116 may automatically and transparently invoke a
media player 118, such as the player illustrated in FIG. 3. As
illustrated, selecting one (mountain) image among the set of
linkable media objects 116 shown in FIG. 2 may initiate a browser
or other tool as shown in FIG. 3, in which or in conjunction with
which a slideshow-type or other media player 118 may execute or
operate, to present an enhanced representation of the selected
media object. As illustrated, that enhanced representation in the
case of an image may be or include a higher-resolution version of
the image. That enhanced representation may be automatically
downloaded or accessed from media server 108 upon activating the
selected one of the linkable media objects 116. The user browsing
their email and choosing to view selected media objects from their
email inbox or other messaging service may therefore be given an
impression of continuousness within their email activity, insofar
as no separate action by the user to retrieve and view or play the
enhanced content is required. It may be noted that in embodiments,
the media player 118 or other media presentation tool may present
the enhanced representation of the one or more selected linkable
media objects 116 from within the running email client or other
tool itself, rather than opening a new browser or other window.
Other interfaces and types of presentation are possible.
[0017] In terms of the composition of the media-enabled message
110, as illustrated in FIG. 4 the user who is selecting and
arranging media content for the message may be presented with a
composition interface 120, for instance within or in conjunction
with an email client or other messaging tool. As illustrated the
composition interface may include or present a grouping of
drop-down image selection, preview, editing, layout, captioning and
other tools and utilities to permit the sending user to embed
images and other media in media-enabled message 110 according to
their preferences and selected styles.
[0018] When operated in conjunction with an email client such as
the Microsoft Network (MSN) email client, Outlook.TM. or Outlook
Express.TM. for example, the user may click different options on
composition interface 120 to insert a group of digital images, such
as uploaded camera or other files. When the user has inserted
images and clicks the "send" option, the media-enabled message 110
may be transferred to an email Outbox, which transfer may take a
brief amount of time. Upon arriving in the email Outbox, an upload
of the full-resolution or otherwise enhanced images corresponding
to the inserted linkable media objects 116 may be automatically
initiated to the media server 108, or other repository or other
destination. If the upload process, for instance via Internet
connection, fails or stalls unexpectedly, in embodiments such
exceptions may be trapped and uploading may be automatically
resumed without user intervention.
[0019] In embodiments the media-enabled message 110 arriving in the
email Outbox may be placed into a separate queue from other,
non-media email so that transfers may continue in parallel, and not
slow down or affect the transmission of those text-based or other
messages. It may be noted that in embodiments, if a hard crash of
the media server 108, connections to network 104 or other resources
occurs which prevents successful transfer of the high-resolution
images, the user may be alerted with a message, for instance via
pop box or return email, that the upload did not complete. In those
cases the sender of the media-enabled message 110 may for example
be given the option of trying the upload again later, or
transmitting a version of media-enabled message 110 which limits
the recipient to viewing the lower-resolution versions of the
linkable media objects 116 contained in the message itself. In
further embodiments the composition interface 120 may be used to
compose email messages or other types of media-enabled message 110
while the sending user is offline, with the image or other files
stored to go to the email Outbox upon connection to the network 104
or other times. Other types of user notification and traffic
management are possible.
[0020] In embodiments, the linkable media objects 116 contained in
the media-enabled message 110 may contain digital signatures or
fingerprints for various purposes including digital rights
management, storage and distribution control. For example, the
linkable media objects 116 may each contain a fingerprint which may
include a unique identifier for the encoded image, for instance
prevent duplicate storage of the image or other object uploaded to
media server 108. Other data, such as the upload date or other
information, may also be encoded. This may permit the owner or
operator of the media server 108, such as an Internet service
provider or other, to manage the storage of the images and other
content on databases and other resources. In embodiments, each of
the linkable media objects 116 may be given a predetermined life
span, such as 30 days or other periods of time to conserve and
manage storage resources. In other embodiments, the digital
signatures incorporated in the linkable media objects 116 may
control types and manner of distribution, for instance to permit or
not permit editing of images, or permit or not permit reproduction
of encoded music or other media. Other types of security and
control are possible.
[0021] Overall message processing according to an embodiment of the
invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In step 502, a user may select
a "Photos" or other media option on composition interface 120 or
other interface, and click on a "Send in Email" option. Processing
may then proceed to step 510. In step 510, an email client
application programming interface (API) may be called to generate
an email as the media-enabled message 110. That message may contain
selected digital images or photographs as the one or more linkable
media objects 116. Processing may then proceed to step 514.
[0022] Alternatively in step 504 a user may initiate the
composition of a new email message or other message format, for
instance using an email client or other application. Processing may
then proceed to step 514.
[0023] Alternatively in step 506 a user may share rolls of
developed images or other media from an analog film-development
page or other Web or other source. Processing may then proceed to
step 512. In step 512, an email client API or other application
programming or other interface may be invoked to generate a new
email or other media-enabled message 110, which in the case of
content generated from an analog film-development Web page or other
source may contain HTML code including a link to shared photos or
other media as linkable media objects 116. Processing may then
proceed to step 514.
[0024] Alternatively in step 508 a user may forward, reply to or
otherwise respond to an existing media-enabled message 110
containing one or more linkable media objects 116, for instance to
add additional media objects to the media-enabled message 110.
Processing may then proceed to step 514.
[0025] In step 514, processing may proceed to execute an email
client or other messaging application or tool, for instance to
compose, edit, add captions or otherwise arrange the layout and
content of one or more linkable media objects 116 in media-enabled
message 110.
[0026] In step 516, a user may click or activate an option to
"Insert Photos" in composition interface 120 or other interface. In
step 518, an email client or other application may call an
associated API to initiate a photo picker or other tool. In step
520, the photo picker or other tool may return the user's selection
of photos, video clips, audio samples or other media. In step 522,
the new photos or other linkable media objects 116 may be added to
the email or other media-enabled message 110. Processing may then
return to the editor processing of step 514.
[0027] In step 524, a user may click or activate a "preview online
slideshow" in the composition interface 120. In step 526, a
slideshow viewer or other media player 118 or other tool may be
activated. In step 528, a user may close the slideshow viewer or
other media player 118 or other tool.
[0028] In step 530, after editing activity in step 514 or other
steps a user may click or activate a "send" option. Activating the
"send" option may according to the invention in one regard appear
no different to the sender than operating or sending a non-media
enabled email message, since publishing activity is automatically
invoked. In step 532, the email or other media-enabled message 110
may be transmitted to an outbox, during which time the user may in
embodiments be presented with the status of the publishing of the
media-enabled message 110 to media server 108 or other resource. In
step 534, the email or other client may call an associated API to
publish the digital images or photographs or other media, during
which time the media-enabled message 110 may remain in an outbox.
In step 536, a digital photo or other tool may publish the
photographs or other media as the linkable media objects 116 to
media server 108, and may return a final URL specifying a location
of the linkable media objects 116 accessible via media-enabled
message 110. The digital photo or other tool may also update any
expiration dates contained in or associated with linkable media
objects 116, including for any forwarded or shared content. During
this time, the media-enabled message 110 may remain in an email
outbox or other queue or holding place.
[0029] In step 538, the email client or other messaging client or
tool may update the media-enabled message 110 with the final URL or
URLs for the linkable media objects 116, and transmit the
media-enabled message 110 to the recipient. In the case of an email
client, the media-enabled message 110 or a representation of that
message may then be placed in a "sent" box or other messaging box
or folder.
[0030] The foregoing description of the invention is illustrative,
and modifications in configuration and implementation will occur to
persons skilled in the art. For instance, while the invention has
generally been described in terms of one or more email messages
which embed low-resolution or thumbnail representations of stored
images, in embodiments other media, such as audio clips, streamed
video or other types or combinations of types of media may be
incorporated.
[0031] Similarly, while the invention has in embodiments been
described as generating email messages which embed those media
objects, in embodiments other types or formats of messages or
messaging such as online chat forums, Web logs or others, may embed
or transmit media according to the invention. Further, while the
invention has been described as accessing a single media server, in
implementations multiple servers may be accessed and each serve one
or more types of files or media. In embodiments distributed media
servers if used may operate on a peer-to-peer rather than
client/server basis. Other hardware, software or other resources
described as singular may in embodiments be distributed, and
similarly in embodiments resources described as distributed may be
combined. The scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *