Embedding animation in electronic mail and websites

• US 7,629,977 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas G. Richardson
• Original Assignee: Douglas G. Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T
• Application Number:
  US11/403,374
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/619, 345/629, 345/475, 348/42, 348/239, 348/586, 348/597
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/20 using video object coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/27 involving both synthetic and natural picture components, e.g. synthetic natural hybrid coding [SNHC]

Abstract

Provided is a method for providing animation in electronic communications. An image is generated by capturing multiple photographs from a camera or video camera typically fixed in one position. The first photograph is called the “naked photo.” Using a graphics program, photos subsequent to the naked photo are edited to cut an element common to the subsequent photos. The cut images are pasted into the naked photo as layers. The modified naked photo, including the layers, is stored as a web-enabled graphics file, which is then transmitted in conjunction with electronic communication. When the electronic communication is received, the naked photo is displayed and each of the layers is displayed and removed in the order that each was taken with a short delay between photos. In this manner, a movie is generated with much smaller files than is currently possible.

Claims

1. A method for providing an animation in an electronic message, comprising:

capturing from a fixed location a plurality of sequential images;

designating a first image of the plurality of sequential images;

identifying a particular feature shared by the plurality of sequential images other than the first image;

cutting the particular feature from each of the sequential images other than the first image to produce cut images corresponding to each sequential image other than the first image;

superimposing, at a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image, the cut images onto the first image as layers; and

saving, to a memory, the first image and the layers as a web-enabled graphic file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding the web-enabled graphic file in an electronic communication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic communication is an electronic mail (email) message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic communication is a web page.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first image;

displaying, in chronological order, each layer superimposed on the first image in a position corresponding to the corresponding position of the cut image in the corresponding subsequent image; and

removing each layer from the display prior to displaying the next layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-enable graphic file is a graphics interchange format (gif) file.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-enabled graphic file is embedded in a hypertext markup language (HTML) file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequential images other than the first image comprise a text message.

9. A system for providing an animation in an electronic message, comprising:

a plurality of sequential images capturing from a fixed location;

a first image of the plurality of sequential images;

a particular feature shared by the plurality of sequential images other than the first image;

logic for cutting the particular feature from each of the sequential images other than the first image to produce cut images corresponding to each sequential image other than the first image;

logic for superimposing, at a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image, the cut images onto the first image as layers; and

logic for saving, in a memory, the first image and the layers as a web-enabled graphic file.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising logic for embedding the web-enabled graphic file in an electronic communication.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic communication is an electronic mail (email) message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic communication is a web page.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

logic for displaying the first image;

logic for displaying, in chronological order, each layer superimposed on the first image in a position corresponding to the corresponding position of the cut image in the corresponding subsequent image; and

logic for removing each layer from the display prior to displaying the next layer.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the sequential images other than the first image comprise a text message.

15. A computer programming product for providing an animation in an electronic message, comprising:

a memory;

logic, stored on the memory, for designating a first image of a plurality of sequential capturing from a fixed location;

logic, stored on the memory, for identifying a particular feature shared by the plurality of sequential images other than the first image;

logic, stored on the memory, for cutting the particular feature from each of the sequential images other than the first image to produce cut images corresponding to each sequential image other than the first image;

logic, stored on the memory, for superimposing, at a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image, the cut images onto the first image as layers; and

logic, stored on the memory, for saving the first image and the layers as a web-enabled graphic file.

16. The computer programming product of claim 15, further comprising logic, stored on the memory, for embedding the web-enabled graphic file in an electronic communication.

17. The computer programming product of claim 16, wherein the electronic communication is an electronic mail (email) message.

18. The computer programming product of claim 16, wherein the electronic communication is a web page.

19. The computer programming product of claim 15, further comprising:

logic, stored on the memory, for displaying the first image;

logic, stored on the memory, for displaying, in chronological order, each layer superimposed on the first image in a position corresponding to the corresponding position of the cut image in the corresponding subsequent image; and

logic, stored on the memory, for removing each layer from the display prior to displaying the next layer.

20. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the sequential images other than the first image comprise a text message.