System and Method for A Digital Representation of Personal Events Enhanced With Related Global Content

• US 20080275869A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAGIX Software GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bellevue Investments GmbH & Co. KGaA
• Inventors: Herberger, Tilman, Tost, Titus
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for creating a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content. Personal event frameworks are selectable by the user and are provided with insertion points to receive media items therein and are structured to complement type of personal event. Media items are automatically reformatted as necessary. The instant invention allows the user to enhance the event framework by inserting related global content, wherein global content stands for media items matching either the date, location or event type. The additional content is provided from local sources or over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of generating a multimedia work, wherein is provided a plurality of multi-event frameworks, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a multi-event framework from among said plurality of multi-event frameworks, said selected multi-event framework comprising at least two single event frameworks;

(b) selecting one of said at least two single event frameworks;

(c) personalizing said selected single event framework, thereby entering at least one parameter value associated with said selected single event framework;

(d) selecting at least one personal media item;

(e) incorporating said selected at least one personal media item into said selected single event framework;

(f) creating a search query using at least one of said at least one parameter values;

(g) searching a global content database using said search query, thereby obtaining at least one global media item;

(h) presenting said at least one global media item to the user;

(i) selecting at least one of said at least one global media items;

(j) incorporating said selected at least one global media items into said selected single event framework;

(j) performing steps (b) through (j) until all of said at least two single event frameworks have been processed;

(k) using at least said selected multi-event framework, said at least two single event frameworks, said at least one parameter values, said selected at least one personal media item, and said selected at least one global media item to create said multimedia work; and

,

(l) storing said multimedia work on computer readable media for subsequent viewing by at least one viewer.

2. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two single event frameworks is associated with a life event selected from a group consisting of a chronological event, a private event, a job-related event.

3. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 2,

wherein said chronological event is selected from a group consisting of a birthday, and, a Christmas celebration,

wherein said private event is selected from a group consisting of a vacation, a confirmation, a wedding, a wedding anniversary, and, a graduation, and,

wherein said job-related event is selected from a group consisting of a hiring, a raise, an offer of partner, and, a 5 year job anniversary.

4. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein each of said single event frameworks comprises at least one placeholder for receipt of a personal media item therein, and wherein step (e) comprises the step of:

(e1) incorporating said selected at least one personal media item into said selected single event framework by placing each of said selected at least one personal media item into one of said at least one placeholder.

5. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the step of:

(c) personalizing said selected single event framework by entering at least one of a date and a location, thereby entering at least one parameter value associated with said selected single event framework.

6. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein said at least one personal media item of step (d) is selected from a group consisting of a digital photo, a digital video clip, and a digital audio clip, and wherein step (e) comprises the steps of:

(e1) automatically adapting each of said personal media items to a format compatible with said selected single-event framework, and;

(e2) incorporating said adapted at least one personal media item into said selected single event framework.

7. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein said selected single event framework has an event type associated therewith, and wherein step (f) comprises the step of:

(f1) creating a search query using at least one of said at least one parameter value and using said event type associated with said selected single event framework;

8. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g1) searching a global content database using said search query, thereby obtaining at least one global media item,

(g2) determining a number of global media items returned by said search,

(g3) comparing said number of global media items against a predetermined threshold value,

(g4) if said number of global media items are greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value, doing no further searching,

(g5) if said number of global media items are less than said predetermined threshold value, using at least at least one of said at least one parameter values to create a broader search query,

(g6) performing steps (g1) through (g5) with successively broader search queries until said number of global media items are greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value.

9. A method of generating a multimedia work according to claim 1, wherein said selected single event framework has an event type, and wherein each of said at least one global media items has a theme related to said event type.

18. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 1, wherein said selected single event framework has an event type, and wherein each of said at least one global media items has a theme related to said event type

10. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a plurality of individual event frameworks from a plurality of individual event frameworks;

(b) combining said plurality of individual event frameworks to produce a multi-event framework;

(c) selecting one of said plurality of individual event frameworks;

(d) personalizing said selected individual event framework, thereby providing at least one parameter value relevant to at least one of said plurality of personal events;

(e) inserting at least one personal media item into said selected at least one individual event framework;

(f) creating a search query based on said at least one parameter value;

(g) searching a global content database according to said created search query, thereby obtaining at least one global media item;

(h) presenting said at least one global media item to a user;

(i) selecting at least one global media item from among said at least one global media item;

(j) inserting said at least one selected global item into said selected individual event framework;

(k) performing steps (b) through (j) until all of said individual event frameworks of said multi-event framework have been processed;

(l) creating said multimedia work using at least said multi-event framework;

(m) storing said multimedia work on a computer medium; and

,

(n) performing said multimedia work for at least one viewer.

11. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10, wherein each of said at least two single event frameworks is associated with a life event selected from a group consisting of a chronological event, a private event, job-related event.

12. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 11,

wherein said chronological event is selected from a group consisting of a birthday, and, a Christmas celebration,

wherein said private event is selected from a group consisting of a vacation, a confirmation, a wedding, a wedding anniversary, and, a graduation, and,

wherein said job-related event is selected from a group consisting of a hiring, a raise, an offer of partner, and, a 5 year job anniversary.

13. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10, wherein each of said individual event frameworks comprises at least one placeholder for receipt of a personal media item therein, and wherein step (j) comprises the step of:

(j1) incorporating said selected at least global media item into said selected individual event framework by placing each of said selected at least one global media item into one of said at least one individual event placeholders.

14. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

(d) personalizing said selected individual event framework by entering at least one of a date and a location, thereby entering at least one parameter value associated with said selected individual event framework;

15. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10,

wherein said at least one personal media item of step (e) is selected from a group consisting of a digital photo, a digital video clip, and a digital audio clip, and

wherein each of said at least one personal media item is automatically adapted to a format compatible with said selected individual event before said at least one personal media item is inserted into said selected individual event framework.

16. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10, wherein at least a date and a location are provided for one of said plurality of personal events, and wherein said created search query is based at least one said date and said location

17. A method of creating a digital multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events according to claim 10, wherein step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g1) searching a global content database using said search query, thereby obtaining at least one global media item,

(g2) determining a number of global media items returned by said search,

(g3) comparing said number of global media items against a predetermined threshold value,

(g4) if said number of global media items are greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value, doing no further searching,

(g5) if said number of global media items are less than said predetermined threshold value, using at least at least one of said at least one parameter values to create a broader search query,

(g6) performing steps (g1) through (g5) with successively broader search queries until said number of global media items are greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value.

19. A method of generating a multimedia work representative of a plurality of personal events, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting at least two individual event frameworks from a plurality of selectable individual event frameworks, thereby creating a multi-event framework;

(b) selecting one of said selected individual event frameworks;

(c) personalizing said selected individual event framework, thereby entering at least one parameter value associated with said selected individual event framework;

(d) inserting at least one personal media item into said selected individual event framework;

(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) until all of said individual event frameworks of said multi-event framework have been selected;

(f) creating said multimedia work using at least said multi-event framework;

(g) storing said multimedia work on a computer readable medium; and

,

(h) performing said multimedia work for at least one viewer.

20. A method of generating a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content according to claim 19, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d1) inserting at least one personal media item into said selected individual event framework

(d2) creating a search query based on said at least one parameter value,

(d3) searching a global media database according to said created search query, thereby obtaining at least one found global media item,

(d4) presenting said at least one found global media item results to a user, and,

(d5) selecting at least one global media item from among said at least one found global media item.