System for delivering and enabling interactivity with images

• US 20050195157A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Virtual IRIS Studios Incorporated
• Inventors: Kramer, Gary, Rubin, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,542,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/183 On-screen display [OSD] information, e.g. subtitles or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals

Abstract

A system, including apparatuses, software and methods, is disclosed for capturing and delivering images as to which various interactive functions are enabled for a user. The images introduced to the system can come from any one of a variety of sources, including from a digital camera. A graphical user interface permits a user to customize a set of interactive functions to be enabled for a given set of images. The interactively enabled images can be delivered via a webpage to a user, for example, via email, the Internet or downloaded from a disk or from disk drive on a computer on which the webpage is stored. Each image is delivered to a user in its own layer of software, which permits complex sets of images of relatively high resolution to be delivered to users without any appreciable delay associated with the delivery or the need for the user to have additional software, such as a plug-in to receive images and enable interactive functions with respect to the images. Whenever an interactive function is being carried out, a viewer perceives only one image layer at a given time, but the currently viewable image layer can be changed rapidly, so that the user can perceive the illusion of motion, including virtual rotation of an object depicted in a set of images.

Claims

10. A system for rendering a plurality of sets of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a plurality of sets of images wherein each set of images comprises at least one image and wherein one of the plurality of sets of images is a primary set of images and the remainder of the sets of images are secondary sets of images;

a display on which the images in the plurality of sets of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to each of the sets of images in the plurality of sets of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting either the primary set of images or a secondary set of images as the chosen set of images with which to carry out the at least one interactive function;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from the user representing the user'"'"'s choice as to which of the plurality of sets of images the user desires to interact with on the user'"'"'s display;

software executable by the processor for creating an image layer for each of the images in the chosen set of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying one of the image layers as a currently viewable image layer;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from a user representing the user'"'"'s selection of the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images; and

software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function with respect to the chosen set of images.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the software for creating an image layer for each of the images in the chosen set of images initially creates an image layer for each of the images in the primary set of images, the software for displaying one of the image layers as a currently viewable image layer displays one of the image layers for the primary set of images as a currently viewable image layer and if the user chooses a secondary set of images with which to carry out the at least one interactive function, the system further includes software for swapping out the primary set of images in the image layers with the chosen secondary set of images, and software for displaying one of the images in the chosen secondary set of images in a currently viewable image layer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the software for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting either the primary set of images or a secondary set of images as the chosen set of images with which to carry out the at least one interactive function includes software for displaying one of images in each of the sets of images in a currently viewable image layer, so that there are a plurality of currently viewable image layers on the user'"'"'s display.

13. The system of claim 10, further including software for creating a tool bar layer to associated with the image layers for a set of images and the software for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function includes software for displaying the tool bar.

14. The system of claim 10, further including software for creating a first transparent layer to be associated with the image layers for a set of images and the software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function includes software for moving the first transparent layer from a first set of x, y coordinates to a second set of x, y coordinates and software for moving the image layers associated with the first transparent layer to the second set of x, y coordinates.

15. The system of claim 14, further including software for creating a second transparent layer to be associated with the image layers for a set of images and the software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function includes software for keeping the second transparent layer at fixed x, y coordinates whenever the first transparent layer is moved from a first set of x, y coordinates to a second set of x, y coordinates and the image layers associated with the first transparent layer are moved along with the first transparent layer to the second set of x, y coordinates.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises a zoom interactive function.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises a rotate interactive function.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each image in a set of images in the plurality of sets of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each image in a set of images in the plurality of sets of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels and wherein the software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images includes software for displaying a tool bar to the user having buttons or icons corresponding to the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images.

21. The system of claim 20, where the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, and moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

23. A system for rendering a set of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a set of images comprising at least one image;

a display on which the images in the set of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from a user representing the user'"'"'s selection of the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images; and

software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein each image in the set of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein each image in a set of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels and wherein the software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images includes software for displaying a tool bar to the user having buttons or icons corresponding to the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images.

27. The system of claim 26, where the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, and moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

29. A system for gathering information from a user regarding at least one image that can be associated with software that will enable at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the at least one image by a user, the system comprising:

a set of images comprising at least one image;

a processor with a storage capability including a memory;

a display;

a graphical user interface comprising;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to input the set of images to be enabled for interactivity into the memory of the processor;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to select the set of images to be enabled for interactivity;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to enter a set of parameters concerning the set of images, the set of parameters having at least one parameter and the set of parameters being required or necessary for enabling and carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting, processing, and storing in memory the set of parameters entered by the user;

software for associating the set of parameters with the set of images and storing in memory the associated set of parameters and the set of images;

software for outputting the associated set of parameters and the set of images to a file.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory further comprises a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and the memory in which the set of images, the set of parameters and the set of parameters associated with the images is the non-volatile memory.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein each image in a set of images in the plurality of sets of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the parameters in the set of parameters comprising at least one of the following desired by the user:

the default width, the default height, the zoom factor, and the options for changing the appearance of an object depicted in each image in the set of images.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a temporary file.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a file in a database format.

35. A system for gathering information from a user regarding at least one image that can be associated with software that will enable at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the at least one image by a user, the system comprising:

a set of images comprising at least one image;

a processor with a storage capability including a memory;

a display;

a graphical user interface comprising;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to input the set of images to be enabled for interactivity into the memory of the processor;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to select the set of images to be enabled for interactivity;

software executable by the processor for analyzing each image in the selected set of images to ascertain a first set of parameters for the set of images, the first set of parameters including at least one parameter, and the first set of parameters being required or useful for enabling and carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for prompting the user to enter a second set of parameters concerning the set of images, the second set of parameters having at least one parameter and the second set of parameters being required or useful for enabling and carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting, processing, and storing in memory the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters;

software for associating the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters with the set of images and storing in memory the associated set of parameters and the set of images;

software for outputting the associated first and second set of parameters and the set of images to a file.

1. A system for rendering a plurality of sets of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a plurality of sets of images wherein each set of images comprises at least one image and wherein one of the plurality of sets of images is a primary set of images and the remainder of the sets of images are secondary sets of images;

a display on which the images in the plurality of sets of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to each of the sets of images in the plurality of sets of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting either the primary set of images or a secondary set of images as the chosen set of images with which to carry out the at least one interactive function;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from the user representing the user'"'"'s choice as to which of the plurality of sets of images the user desires to interact with on the user'"'"'s display;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from a user representing the user'"'"'s selection of the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images; and

software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function with respect to the chosen set of images.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting a secondary set of images as the chosen set of images with which to carry out the at least one interactive function includes software for displaying to the user a symbol representing each secondary set of images.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises a zoom interactive function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises a rotate interactive function.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each image in a set of images in the plurality of sets of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each image in a set of images in the plurality of sets of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels and wherein the software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images includes software for displaying a tool bar to the user having buttons or icons corresponding to the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the chosen set of images.

8. The system of claim 7, where the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, and moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one interactive function comprises at least one of the interactive functions of displaying the tool bar, hiding the tool bar, moving the tool bar from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, zooming in on an image to expose more pixels of the image, zooming out of an image to expose fewer pixels of the image, measuring a dimension in pixels of an image along the x- or y-axis of the image, panning or moving an image from one set of x, y coordinates to another set of x, y coordinates, cycling through a set of images comprising images of an object representing photographs taken of the object at different angles in a certain plane of the object, so as to give the user the illusion that the object is rotating in three dimensions, adjusting the x, y coordinates of an image when zooming out of an image so that the image remains on the user'"'"'s display, zooming in on an image on an area on the image identified by the user as an area on which to focus, displaying supplemental information about an object in a set of images in response to a user'"'"'s request, providing information about an object in a set of images according to selections a user makes on a drop-down menu containing a plurality of options concerning the information, allowing a user to modify the appearance of an object depicted in an image, such as changing the color of an object, allowing a user to be transported to another location to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image, and allowing a user to complete a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image without having to be transported to another location.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein each image in the set of images is a digitized image having an actual width, a default width, a pre-zoom width and a zoomed-in-on width measurable along the x-axis in pixels, and an actual height, a default height, a pre-zoom height and a zoomed-in-on height measurable along the y-axis in pixels.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first set of parameters includes at least one of the parameters comprising the actual height, the actual width, or the actual height and the actual width, of each image in the set of images.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the second set of parameters comprises at least one of the parameters of the default width, the default height, the zoom factor, and the options for changing the appearance of an object depicted in each image in the set of images.

55. The system of claim 35, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a temporary file.

56. The system of claim 35, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a file in a database format.

37-1. The system of claim 35, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a temporary file.

38-2. The system of claim 35, wherein the file to which the associated set of parameters and the set of images is output is a file in a database format.

39. A system for rendering a set of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a set of images comprising at least one image;

a display on which the images in the set of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user a tool bar having buttons indicating the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from a user representing the user'"'"'s selection of the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images; and

software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the software for displaying the tool bar further includes software for highlighting each tool bar button and displaying a set of information describing what interactive function or interactive functions each tool bar button will invoke when a user moves over the tool bar buttons with a mouse.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the software for displaying the tool bar further includes software for maintaining each tool bar button in a first table and the set of information describing what interactive function or interactive functions each tool bar button will invoke in a second table.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the software for displaying the tool bar further includes software for detecting when a user mouses over a tool bar button and software for highlighting the moused-over tool bar button in the first table and highlighting the descriptive information corresponding to the moused-over tool bar in the second table.

43. A system for rendering a set of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a set of images wherein the set of images comprises at least one image;

a display on which the images the set of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for creating an image layer for each of the images in the set of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying one of the image layers as a currently viewable image layer; and

software executable by the processor for delivering the set of images enabled for at least one interactive function to a user via email.

44. A system for rendering a set of images interactive from the point of view of a user, the system comprising:

a processor having a storage capability;

a set of images wherein the set of images comprises at least one image;

a display on which the images the set of images rendered interactive can be viewed and interacted with by a user;

software executable by the processor for enabling at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for creating an image layer for each of the images in the set of images;

software executable by the processor for displaying one of the image layers as a currently viewable image layer;

software executable by the processor for displaying to the user the choices the user has for selecting the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for accepting and processing input from a user representing the user'"'"'s selection of the at least one interactive function to be carried out with respect to the set of images;

software executable by the processor for carrying out the selected at least one interactive function with respect to the set of images; and

software executable by the processor for delivering the set of images enabled for at least one interactive function to a user via email.

45. A method for transporting a user from a webpage on which the user has the capability of carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to an image, the method comprising:

displaying a symbol corresponding to a transport option;

accepting input from the user to invoke the transport option;

transporting the user to a location other than the webpage on which the user has the capability of carrying out the at least one interactive function with respect to the image.

46. A method for facilitating a transaction with respect to an object depicted in an image on a webpage on which a user has the capability of carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to an image, the method comprising:

displaying a symbol corresponding to a transact option;

accepting input from the user to invoke the transact option;

displaying information concerning a transaction.

47. A method for manipulating digitized images provided on a webpage on which a user has the capability of carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the digitized images to give a person perceiving the digitized images the perception that the appearance of an object depicted in the digitized images is changing, the method comprising:

displaying a first digitized image;

accepting input from a user corresponding to a request to modify the appearance of the first digitized image;

displaying a second digitized image corresponding to the request to modify the appearance of the first digitized image.

48. A method for providing supplemental information that is associated with digitized images provided on a webpage on which a user has the capability of carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the digitized images, the method comprising:

displaying a digitized image to a user;

displaying at least one highlighted area to a user, the at least one highlighted area associated with information that is supplemental to the digitized image;

accepting input from the user to select the at least one highlighted area;

displaying the supplemental information.

49. The method of claim 48, where the supplemental information comprises at least one of text, digitized images, graphics, links to other locations, or software for performing functions.

50. A method for providing at least one option on a menu associated with menu information on a webpage on which a user has the capability of carrying out at least one interactive function with respect to the digitized images, the method comprising:

displaying a digitized image to user;

displaying a menu to the user;

accepting input from the user to display the at least one option associated with the menu;

displaying the at least one option associated with the menu;

accepting input from the user to invoke the at least one option associated with the menu to display the menu information;

displaying the menu information.

51. The method of claim 50, where the menu information comprises at least one of text, digitized images, graphics, links to other locations, or software for performing functions.

52. A method for positioning a digitized image on a user'"'"'s display before during or after a zoom interactive function is carried out with respect to the digitized image, the digitized image corresponding to a default image, a pre-zoom image, and a zoomed-in-on image, the method comprising:

positioning the center of the pre-zoom image to line up with the center of the default image layer;

enlarging the pre-zoom image by a zoom factor;

positioning the zoomed-in-on image so that the center of the zoomed-in-on image is aligned with the center of the pre-zoom image;

repositioning the zoomed-in-on image by a factor derived from either the ratio of the height of the pre-zoom image and the height of the zoomed-in-on image and or the ratio of the width of the pre-zoom image and the width of the zoomed-in-on image multiplied by the distance the pre-zoom image is moved when the center of the pre-zoom image is positioned to line up with the center of the default image.

53. A method for zooming in on and positioning a digitized image on a user'"'"'s display before, during or after the zooming in on operation is carried out with respect to the digitized image, the digitized image corresponding to an actual image having an actual width and an actual height, a default image having a default width and a default height, a pre-zoom image having an pre-zoom width and a pre-zoom height, and a zoomed-in-on image having a zoomed-in-on width and a zoomed-in-on height, x- and y-coordinates for the upper left-hand corner of each of the actual image, the default image, the pre-zoom image and the zoomed-in-on image, x-coordinates for the midpoint of the width of the actual image, the default image, the pre-zoom image and the zoomed-in-on image, and y-coordinates for the midpoint of the height of the actual image, the default image, the pre-zoom image and the zoomed-in-on image, the method comprising:

accepting input from the user corresponding to the x- and y-coordinates of a first point on the pre-zoom image;

accepting input from the user corresponding to the x- and y-coordinates of a second point on the pre-zoom image;

displaying a line between the first point and the second point;

displaying a first polygon having a center about the midpoint of the line and having a first polygon width and a first polygon height;

positioning the upper left-hand corner of the pre-zoom image so that the upper left-hand corner of the pre-zoom image lines up with the upper left-hand corner of the default image;

enlarging the pre-zoom image by a zoom factor derived from the ratio of the first polygon width to the first polygon height and at least one of the height of the pre-zoom image or the width of the pre-zoom image;

positioning a point on the zoomed-in-on image that corresponds to the center of the first polygon to a point that corresponds to any desired point on the user'"'"'s display.

54. The method of claim 53, further including displaying a second polygon centered about the desired point and having a second polygon width and a second polygon height, the second polygon width being a factor of the first polygon width and the zoom and the zoom factor.