Electronic communications dialog using sequenced digital images stored in an image dictionary

• US 8,074,176 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beyondvia Technologies
• Original Assignee: Beyondvia Technologies
• Inventors: Grace, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/112,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20100083141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/758
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system and method for an electronic communications dialog between a plurality of users using digital images via a web portal. The user selects a template for entering a plurality of words and associated images that constitute an initial electronic message. The user then enters a plurality of words into the template corresponding to the initial electronic message. A plurality of images are selected having a direct correspondence with the plurality of words entered into the template. Each image is inserted into the template in a sequence corresponding to the initial electronic message. When the initial template is complete, the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images is sent to at least one other user via the web portal. A visual dictionary can be created for each user using a facility which takes images from any electronic source and allows users to apply naming tags to store the images for subsequent retrieval. A visual library can be created for each user to save completed and partially completed templates that can be retrieved for further editing or use.

Claims

1. A method for an electronic communications dialog between a plurality of users using digital images via a web portal, comprising the steps of:

selecting a template for entering a plurality of words and associated images that constitute an initial electronic message;

entering a plurality of words into the template corresponding to the initial electronic message;

selecting a plurality of images from a visual dictionary associated with a user of the plurality of users, each of the plurality of images having a direct correspondence with the plurality of words entered into the template such that the plurality of images are configured to convey a message represented by the plurality of words to one or more of the plurality of users, and each of the plurality of images is associated with a definition provided by the user such that each of the plurality of images conveys one or more words based on the definition;

inserting each image into the template in a sequence corresponding to the initial electronic message; and

sending the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images to at least one other user via the web portal.

2. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising receiving the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images in lieu of the plurality of words by the at least one user via the web portal.

3. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 2 further comprising responding to the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images by the at least one user via the web portal by generating and sending an electronic response message to a sender of the initial electronic message, wherein the response message includes a plurality of sequenced images from a visual dictionary associated with the at least one user, public images of the sender, or a completed template.

4. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising the user saving the one or more images into the visual dictionary, wherein each of the one or more images are associated with a search term comprising the definition provided by the user, wherein the one or more images are marked as private or public with the private images only accessible by the user and the public images accessible by any user.

5. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 4 wherein each image saved in the visual dictionary is also associated with at least one user defined naming tag for image retrieval.

6. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising saving a completed template into a record in a visual library wherein each saved template can be submitted by a sender for either a public or a private use in a plurality of additional electronic communications dialogs, wherein the completed template comprises a plurality of images, each of which is configured to convey a message associated with the completed template.

7. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 6 further comprising manipulating a plurality of saved templates to generate a paragraph represented by the plurality of images corresponding to the manipulated templates, wherein the paragraph is constructed from the plurality of images.

8. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising sending an alert message to at least one user that is not logged on to the web portal.

9. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising displaying an indication of an electronic message waiting for response to the at least one other user via the web portal, wherein the electronic message contains a plurality of sequenced images.

10. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 wherein the selected template comprises at least one of a sentence template, a social template, and a business template, the selected template configured to convey messages via pictures in lieu of words.

11. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 10 wherein the social template comprises at least one of a paragraph, a story, a scrap book, and a book.

12. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 10 wherein the business template comprises at least one of a presentation, a brochure, a workflow, and a manual.

13. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 further comprising accessing the web portal via at least one of a mainframe computer, a portable computer, a workstation, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, and a mobile computing device.

14. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 1 wherein selecting the plurality of images comprises linking to a website external to the web portal and selecting a plurality of digital images for insertion into the template, wherein each of the plurality of images are associated with a search term comprising the definition provided by the user, and the plurality of images are marked as private or public with the private images only accessible by the user and the public images accessible by any user.

15. The method for an electronic communications dialog of claim 4 wherein selecting the plurality of images comprises searching the visual dictionary using at least one search word and selecting a plurality of digital images for insertion into the template.

16. A system for an electronic communications dialog between a plurality of users using digital images via a web portal, comprising:

a data storage for storing a plurality of words and corresponding images in a visual dictionary of a user, the data storage configured to save the corresponding images and associate the plurality of words with the corresponding images, wherein the corresponding images are marked as private or public with private images only accessible by the user and public images accessible by any user;

a processor for executing a plurality of components, including;

a component that provides a template for the user to enter a plurality of words and associated images that constitute an initial electronic message;

a component that provides a plurality of images for user selection wherein the plurality of images have a direct correspondence with the plurality of words entered into the template such that the plurality of images are configured to convey a message represented by the plurality of words;

a component that provides for insertion of each image into the template in a sequence corresponding to the initial electronic message; and

a component that sends the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images to at least one other user via the web portal.

17. The system for an electronic communications dialog of claim 16 further comprising a component that receives the initial electronic message containing the sequenced images by the at least one user via the web portal.

18. The system for an electronic communications dialog of claim 17 further comprising a component that enables the at least one user to generate and send an electronic response message via the web portal to a sender of the initial electronic message, wherein the response message includes a plurality of sequenced images from a visual dictionary associated with the at least one user and public images of the sender.

19. The system for an electronic communications dialog of claim 16 wherein the visual dictionary comprises a plurality of images and associated naming tags for retrieval of the images.

20. The system for an electronic communications dialog of claim 16 further comprising another data storage for storing a plurality of completed templates submitted by at least one user in a visual library.