Method for embedding animation in electronic mail and websites

• US 8,035,644 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas G. Richardson
• Original Assignee: EmailFilm Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Richardson, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPINKS, ANTOINETTE T
• Application Number:
  US12/140,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/207.99, 348/239, 348/586, 348/597, 345/629, 345473-475
• US Class Current: 345/474
• 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 animation in an electronic message, comprising:

capturing a first image of a scene from a particular location using a defined set of photographic parameters;

capturing a plurality of images in a sequential order from the particular location using the defined set of photographic parameters;

defining a sensitivity level corresponding to pixel blocks of the plurality of images;

identifying portions of the sequential images that differ from the first image to a degree corresponding to the sensitivity level;

cutting the identified portions of the sequential images to produce cut images;

superimposing, the cut images onto the first image as layers such that each cut image is displayed in the first image in a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image and displayed in a time sequence corresponding to the timing between corresponding sequential images and the first image; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensitivity level corresponds to a degree of movement of the identified portions.

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

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

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic communication is a web page.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the first image;

displaying, in an order corresponding to the sequential order, each layer superimposed on the first image, each layer in a position on the first image corresponding to the position of each image in the corresponding sequential image; and

removing each layer from the first image prior to displaying a next layer in the sequential order.

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

8. An electronic message, comprising:

a single, web-enabled graphic file stored on a memory, the file comprising;

a first image of a scene captured from a particular location using a defined set of photographic parameters;

a plurality of images captured in a sequential order from the particular location using the defined set of photographic parameters;

identified portions of the sequential images that differ from the first image;

a plurality of cut images corresponding to the identified portions of the sequential images;

wherein the cut images are superimposed onto the first image as layers such that each cut image is displayed in the first image in a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image and displayed in a time sequence corresponding to the timing between corresponding sequential images and the first image.

9. The electronic message of claim 8, wherein the web-enabled graphic file corresponds to a file name without a file extension.

10. The electronic message of claim 8, wherein the web-enabled graphic file is embedded in an electronic communication.

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

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

13. The electronic message of claim 8 further comprising:

logic, stored on the memory for execution on a processor, for;

displaying the first image;

displaying, in an order corresponding to the sequential order, each layer superimposed on the first image, each layer in a position on the first image corresponding to the position of each image in the corresponding sequential image; and

removing each layer from the first image prior to displaying a next layer in the sequential order.

14. The electronic message of claim 8, wherein the web-enabled graphic file is embedded in a hypertext markup language (HTML) file transmitted in conjunction with an email.

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

a memory;

logic, stored on the memory for execution on a processor, for;

defining a sensitivity level corresponding to pixel blocks of the plurality of images;

identifying portions of sequential images that differ from a first image to a degree corresponding to the sensitivity level;

wherein

the first image is an image of a scene captured from a particular location using a defined set of photographic parameters; and

the plurality of images in sequential order are captured from the particular location using the defined set of photographic parameters;

cutting the identified portions of the sequential images to produce cut images;

superimposing, the cut images onto the first image as layers such that each cut image is displayed in the first image in a position corresponding to the position of the cut image in the corresponding sequential image and displayed in a time sequence corresponding to the timing between corresponding sequential images and the first image; and

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

16. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the sensitivity level corresponds to a degree of movement of an identified portion.

17. The computer programming product of claim 15, wherein the logic for saving of the first image and the layers as a web-enabled graphic file comprises logic for deleting an extension portion of a file name corresponding to the web-enabled graphic file.

18. 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.

19. The computer programming product of claim 18, wherein the electronic communication is an electronic mail (email) message.

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

21. The computer programming product of claim 15, further comprising, logic, stored on the memory, for embedding the web-enabled graphic file in a hypertext markup language (HTML) file for transmission in conjunction with an email.