Object customization and presentation system

• US 7,859,551 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Big Tent Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: PixFusion LLC
• Inventors: Dahl, Brad, Bulman, Richard L., Gravitz, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K
• Application Number:
  US10/083,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,228 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345/630, 345473-475, 345/738, 345/433, 345/428, 345/582, 705/30, 705/35, 382/115, 704/246, 407/00
• US Class Current: 345/630
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A method for generating a personalized presentation, comprising providing an Internet browser user interface for selecting an image and a surrounding context; receiving the selected image and surrounding context by an Internet web server; accounting for the user activity in a financial accounting system; and delivering the selected image and surrounding context to the user. The surrounding context may comprise a physical frame for a picture, with a printed version of the selected image framed therein. The accounting step may provide consideration to a rights holder of the selected image, or provide for receipt of consideration from a commercial advertiser. A plurality of images may be selected, wherein the context defines a sequence of display of the plurality of images.

Claims

1. A system for providing a customized media stream, comprising:

a media stream processor configured to;

access first and second media streams, the first media stream including a first portion of a first body and the second media stream comprising a second portion of a second body, wherein said second body is different from said first body and changes position within the second media stream;

derive reference information from said first portion of said first body on said first media stream and said second portion of said second body on said second media stream based on a selection criteria; and

based on said derived reference information;

resize said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as said second body changes position within the second media stream, and

provide said customized media stream having a composite body defined by combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media stream processor is configured to operate on said first and second media stream portions with said reference information to provide said combination.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said media stream processor is operable to fully provide said reference information prior to providing said combination.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said selection criteria is related to at least one of a reference point, a scaling factor, a rotation axis and a rotation degree.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said selection criteria is related to at least one of a reference time point, a reference time length and a synchronization signal.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein combining comprises overlaying said first media stream portion on said second media stream portion to form said customized media stream.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the media stream processor is further configured to:

access external control information;

wherein at least a portion of said selection criteria is derived from external control information.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein:

said external control information is substantially provided in realtime; and

said reference information is substantially derived in realtime to thereby permit said combination to be produced in substantially realtime.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission medium coupled to said media stream processor for transmitting at least one of said first and second media stream portions, said reference information and said combination.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a user interface coupled to said transmission medium for receiving said at least one of said first and second media stream portions, said reference information and said combination; and

a display coupled to said user interface for displaying said combination.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said selection criteria is receivable from said user interlace.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said user interface can provide instructions to said media stream processor for providing and sending at least one of said first and second media stream portions, said reference information and said combination.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein:

said media stream processor can operate on said first and second media stream portions with said reference information to provide said combination; and

said media stream processor is operable to present said combination to said transmission medium for transmission to said user interface for display.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein:

said user interface further comprises another media stream processor coupled to said transmission medium;

said another media stream processor being operable to receive said first and second media stream portions and said reference information; and

said another media stream processor can operate on said first and second media stream portions with said reference information to provide said combination for presentation to said display.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said user interface further comprises another media storage device coupled to said another media storage processor; and

said another media storage processor operable to store at least one of said first and second media portions, said reference information and said combination on said another media storage device.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media stream processor is further configured to access:

a media combination template for defining said combination of said first and second media stream portions; and

wherein said template includes said reference information.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said template is provided by at least one of a user and an automatic algorithm.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein application of said template to said first and second media stream portions can substantially occur in realtime.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said first and second media stream portions contains distinctive media features; and

said selection criteria can include parameters related to said distinctive media features, whereby said reference information can relate to said distinctive media features for use in said combination.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein:

said media stream processor is operable to generate said parameters according to an algorithm applied to said media stream processor; and

said parameters contribute to identification of said distinctive features.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said selection criteria parameters include a normalization parameter for defining a normalized state of said distinctive media features.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein said selection criteria is provided by a template including script information for animation of said distinctive media features.

23. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

modular portions of at least one of said first and second media stream portions; and

said selection criteria includes levels of customization related to said modular portions for deriving said reference information specific to each of said modular portions.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second media stream portions contains at least one of audio, video, still image, text and graphic presentation information.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media stream processor is configured to derive said reference information at least in part by

analyzing at least one of said first and second media stream portions to identify dimensional information related to said media representations.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said additional dimensional information includes at least one of a rotation axis, a depth dimension, a motion dimension and a motion velocity dimension.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said media streams is provided by a media presentation source comprising a public media production facility.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reference information includes at least one of a morphological combination, an interpolated combination and an extrapolated combination of said first and second media stream portions.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said media stream processor is further configured to execute an algorithm for generating said first media stream port.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein:

said media stream processor is further configured to execute another algorithm for generating said second media stream portion; and

said reference information includes algorithmic information for providing said combination.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said selection criteria includes parameters for said algorithm.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said parameters are modifiable during execution of said algorithm by said media stream processor.

33. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said media presentation sources is a database.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database contains access rights information to selectively permit access to discrete contents of said database.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said database contains access rights information to selectively permit access to discrete contents of said database.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said access rights can be designated public or private.

37. The system according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said first and second media streams is derived from said discrete contents of said database.

38. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database contains rules for at least one of accounting and licensing of selective database content.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein:

said rules are operable to generate records based on database accesses; and

said records are storable at least one of remotely and locally.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein said rules provide a selection for a response based on at least one of lack of access to said discrete contents and a lack of payment for access to said discrete contents.

41. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database further comprises an automated processing tool for automating changes to said database.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein said database changes include at least one of modification of access rights, modification of database contents and access of said database contents to provide at least one of said first and second media streams.

43. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database can store said combination of portions of said first and second media streams.

44. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database is distributed across several physical locations.

45. The system according to claim 33, further comprising a script, whereby discrete portions of said database can form at least one of said first and second media streams automatically according to said script.

46. The system according to claim 45, wherein said script contains a filter, whereby said discrete portions are automatically selected or deselected according to said filter.

47. The system according to claim 45, wherein said script includes synchronization information for forming said customized media stream.

48. The system according to claim 33, wherein said database is structured to permit open dynamic sharing for access to a plurality of custom contents.

49. The system according to claim 1, wherein said customized media stream includes programmed references including at least one of a hyperlink, and advertisement and a commercial presentation.

50. The system according to claim 1, wherein said customized media stream is formed as a slide show.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein said slide show is at least one of non-sequential and interactive.

52. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second media streams contain map information.

53. The system according to claim 52, wherein:

said selection criteria includes variable related to said map information; and

said variables can be set to indicate conditions of modifiable characteristics of said map information.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein said conditions include media presentation information for an individual.

55. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second media streams contains two separate custom media presentations.

56. The system according to claim 55, wherein said two seperate custom media presentations are additive to form a single custom media presentation.

57. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second media streams contains an avatar for use with a custom media presentation from at least another of said first and second media streams.

58. The system according to claim 1, wherein said customized media stream is at least one of analog and digital.

59. A method implemented by a computer for providing a customized media stream, comprising:

accessing a plurality of media presentation sources for providing media presentation streams;

obtaining a first and second media stream from one or more of said media presentation sources for representing media presentations;

said first media stream including a first portion of a first body;

said second media stream including a second portion of a second body, the second body different from the first body;

selecting criteria for combining said first portion of said first body on said first media stream with said second portion of said second body on said second media stream;

deriving reference information from said first and second media streams based on said selected criteria; and

based on said reference information and said selected criteria, using computer device for;

resizing said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as the second body changes position within the second media stream; and

processing said first and second media streams to provide a composite body defined by combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

60. A storage memory for storing a program code executable by a computer to provide a customized media presentation, said program code comprising:

a first code section executable to access a plurality of media presentation sources for providing media presentation streams;

a second code section executable to obtain a first and second media stream from one or more of said media presentation sources for representing media presentations;

said first media stream including a first portion of a first body;

said second media stream including a second portion of a second body, the second body different from the first body;

a third code section executable to permit a selection of criteria for combining said first portion of said first body on said first media stream with said second portion of said second body on said second media stream;

a fourth code section executable to deriving reference information from said first and second media streams based on said selected criteria;

a fifth code section executable to based on said reference information and said selected criteria;

resize said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as the second body changes position within the second media stream; and

process said first and second media streams to provide a composite body defined by combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

61. A system for providing a customized media stream, comprising:

a media stream processor configured to;

access a first media presentation source providing an image of a first portion of a first body;

access a second media presentation source providing a media stream, said media stream including a second portion of a second body, the second body different from the first body;

derive reference information from said first portion of said first body and said second portion of said second body based on a selection criteria; and

based on said derived reference information,

resize said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as said second body changes position within the second media stream, and

provide said customized media stream having a composite body defined by combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

62. A method implemented by a computer for providing customized media stream, comprising:

accessing a first media presentation source, said first presentation source providing an image of a first portion of a first body;

accessing a second media presentation source, said second presentation source providing a media presentation stream, said media stream including a second portion of a second body, the second body different from the first body;

selecting criteria for combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body;

deriving reference information based on said selected criteria;

based on said reference information and said selected criteria, using a computing device for processing said image and said media stream by;

resizing said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as the second body changes position within the second media stream; and

providing a composite body defined by combining said resized first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

63. A storage memory storing program code executable by a computer to provide a customized media presentation, said program code comprising:

a first code section executable to access first and second media presentation sources;

a second code section executable to obtain an image from said first media presentation source, said image including a first portion of a first body;

a third code section executable to obtain obtaining a media stream from said second media presentation source, said media stream including a second portion of a second body, said second body different from said first body;

a third code section executable to permit a selection of criteria for combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body;

a fourth code section executable to derive reference information from said image and said media stream based on said selected criteria;

a fifth code section executable to based on said reference information and said selected criteria;

resize said first portion of said first body to proportionally conform with said second portion of said second body as the second body changes position within the second media stream; and

process said image and media stream to provide a composite body defined by combining said first portion of said first body with said second portion of said second body.

64. A method implemented by a computer for providing customized media stream, comprising:

receiving an image of a first portion of a first body from a first media presentation source;

accessing a second media presentation source different from the first media presentation source, the second presentation source providing a media stream, the media stream including a second body that changes position within the media stream, the second body different from the first body;

after receiving the image from the first media presentation source, deriving reference information based on the image of the first body for use in resizing a portion of the first body; and

generating a composite media stream by using the image of the first body, the media stream, and the reference information to combine the portion of the first body with the second body within the media stream,

wherein generating the composite media stream comprises resizing the portion of the first body to proportionally conform with the second body as the second body changes position within the second media stream, including resizing the portion of the first body to conform with the second body as the second body changes depth within the media stream.

65. The method set forth in claim 64, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of images, each image comprising a first portion of a different first body; and

generating a plurality of composite media streams, each composite media stream generated by using a first portion of a first body in each respective image, reference information derived based on the respective image, and the media stream from the second media presentation source.