System for creating media presentations of computer software application programs

• US 6,404,441 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VLDL LLC
• Original Assignee: Jet Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Chailleux, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/357,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/704, 345/705, 345/709, 345/711, 345/730-732, 345/754, 345/764, 345/780, 345/856, 345/861, 700/500.1
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

A system for producing presentations of computer application programs. The system also allows the inclusion of advertising, or other information, into a presentation. When the presentation is viewed online, the ads can be updated by a central ad server. This allows different ads to be inserted into the presentation, tailoring ads to the viewer, etc. When the presentation is viewed offline, default ads are kept in the presentation. Authoring software is used to create a sequence of screenshot images of an application program to be presented. Each screenshot is a slide in the presentation and is displayed for an interval of time during playback of the presentation. The authoring software also allows control of cursor movement animation to be played back during the presentation. Text description in the form of “bubble text,” “memo text,” “questions,” etc. can be specified along with the position, size and other properties of the text. Various controls are provided for selection, editing, arrangement of the slides. Characteristics such as cursor shape, speed of movement, starting and ending positions, alignment, etc. can be set by the author. The author can specify a “click area” in association with a question, or prompt, to the viewer of the presentation. This allows the presentation to ask the viewer to click on a button or control on a slide and to detect whether the viewer has complied. In response, additional feedback can be provided to the viewer as to whether the proper action was performed or not. After an author completes a sequence, the sequence is compressed into a small self-contained package. In a preferred embodiment, the package includes two files that can be played back without any dedicated engine or specialized application that could require a separate download. A typical user with a web browser can quickly obtain a presentation from the Internet and play back the presentation instantly.

Claims

1. A method for using a computer system to create a presentation of subject matter, the computer including a display screen, processor and user input device, wherein the user input device controls a cursor on the display screen, the method comprising

generating a first screen display of the subject matter;

storing at least a portion of the first screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

generating a second screen display of the subject matter;

storing at least a portion of the second screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

displaying the stored portion of the first screen display along with a display of both cursor positions; and

accepting signals from the user input device to allow manipulation of a cursor position to specify cursor animation during playback of the presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

accepting signals from the user input device to specify a cursor transition during playback.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

accepting signals from the user input device to display text in association with a screen display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing the presentation prior to playback.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the step of generating a first screen display of the subject matter includes a substep of executing an application program to generate the first screen display.

6. An apparatus for creating a presentation of subject matter, the apparatus comprising

a computer including a display screen, processor and user input device, wherein the user input device controls a cursor on the display screen;

instructions for generating a first screen display of the subject matter;

instructions for storing at least a portion of the first screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

instructions for generating a second screen display of the subject matter;

instructions for storing at least a portion of the second screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

instructions for displaying the stored portion of the first screen display along with a display of both cursor positions; and

instructions for accepting signals from the user input device to allow manipulation of a cursor position to specify cursor animation during playback of the presentation.

7. A computer-readable media for directing a computer system to create a presentation of subject matter, the computer including a display screen, processor and user input device, wherein the user input device controls a cursor on the display screen, the computer-readable media comprising

instructions for generating a first screen display of the subject matter;

instructions for storing at least a portion of the first screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

instructions for generating a second screen display of the subject matter;

instructions for storing at least a portion of the second screen display along with the cursor position at the time of storing;

instructions for displaying the stored portion of the first screen display along with a display of both cursor positions; and

instructions for accepting signals from the user input device to allow manipulation of a cursor position to specify cursor animation during playback of the presentation.