System and method for assembling and displaying individual images as a continuous image

• US 8,861,890 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas Alan Lefler
• Original Assignee: Douglas Alan Lefler
• Inventors: Lefler, Douglas Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): ENTEZARI, MICHELLE M
• Application Number:
  US12/953,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20120131463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 382/294, 715/730, 345/473
• US Class Current: 382/294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A system for continuously displaying individual images to present a visual narrative is provided. The system includes a storage module that stores multiple digital images. The images include image data that corresponds to a portion of a least one panel of narrative artwork. At least one of the images includes image data that corresponds to a transition that conforms to a visual grammar. An image processor retrieves the images from the storage module and arranges the image data of the images in an ordered configuration according to a predetermined sequence. The predetermined sequence specifies an order for the images. A display module accesses the ordered image data for display as a continuous image.

Claims

1. A system for continuously displaying individual images to present a visual narrative of a story sequence comprising:

a storage module storing a plurality of digital images, the images including first image data corresponding to a portion of at least one panel of narrative artwork and wherein at least one of the plurality of images includes second image data corresponding to a transition, the transition conforming to a visual grammar;

an image processor, the image processor retrieves the plurality of images from the storage module and arranges the image data of the plurality of images in an ordered configuration according to a predetermined sequence, the predetermined sequence specifying an order for the plurality of images; and

a display module, the display module accesses the ordered image data for display as a continuous seamless linear image of the story sequence with only a portion of the story sequence displayed as a user progress through the story sequence.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is positioned between a first panel of narrative artwork and a second panel of narrative artwork.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is incorporated into the image data of the at least one panel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined sequence is a digital list containing the order for the plurality of digital images and further comprising:

a parser, the parser parses the list to extract the order for the plurality of images.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of images are transmitted across a network from a host to a client and wherein the plurality of images are displayed as the continuous seamless linear image on a display device at the client.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of images include image data corresponding to a plurality of panels of narrative artwork and in which the images are displayed to form the continuous seamless linear image such that the continuous seamless linear image is adapted to be horizontally scrolled as the visual narrative of the story sequence is presented.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a supplemental image processor, the supplemental image processor positions supplemental image data on the at least one panel.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a randomizer, wherein the randomizer performs at least one of;

(a) randomly selecting supplemental image data from a group of supplemental image data, the group is associated with an image of the plurality of images; and

(b) generating a randomized position for the supplemental image data positioned on the at least one panel.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein a task is associated with the supplemental image data and further comprising:

a task executor, the task executor executes the task associated with the supplemental image data in response to user input.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the task is navigating to a web page.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein only a portion of the continuous seamless linear image is displayed and further comprising:

an interface control for controlling the portion of the continuous seamless linear image displayed.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface control comprises at least one of:

(a) a button translating the continuous seamless linear image towards a portion of a subsequent panel of the continuous seamless linear image in response to user input;

(b) a button translating the continuous seamless linear image towards a portion of a previous panel of the continuous seamless linear image in response to user input;

(c) a button for initiating automatic continuous translation of the continuous seamless linear image in response to a user input;

(d) a control element for selecting a translation speed such that the continuous seamless linear image is translated at the selected speed when automatic continuous translation is initiated;

(e) a control element for selecting a translation direction such that the continuous seamless linear image is translated in the selected direction when automatic continuous translation is initiated;

(f) a scrollbar for advancing the continuous seamless linear image in at least one of a forward or backward direction such that the portion of the continuous seamless linear image displayed corresponds to a position of the scrollbar; and

(g) a pointer adapted to grab the continuous seamless linear image wherein the continuous seamless linear image is translated in a direction and at a speed corresponding to movement of the pointer in response to user input.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual grammar comprises at least one set of image data selected from at least one of:

(a) first image data corresponding to a first element of a first panel, the first element at a first proximity to a plane of the first panel, and second image data corresponding to a second element of a second panel, the second element at a second proximity to a plane of the second panel, where the first proximity differs from the second proximity;

(b) image data corresponding to a break positioned between a first border of a first panel and a second border of a second panel;

(c) image data corresponding to a separating element positioned between a first panel and a second panel;

(d) image data corresponding to a patterned element of a panel;

(e) first image data corresponding to a first plane of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second plane of a second panel where the second plane overlaps the first plane;

(f) image data of a panel corresponding to a gradual change in a perspective along an axis of a panel;

(g) first image data of a first panel corresponding to a first perspective along a first axis of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second perspective along a second axis of a second panel where the first perspective differs from the second perspective;

(h) first image data corresponding to a first color scheme of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second color scheme of a second panel where the first color scheme differs from the second color scheme; and

(i) first image data corresponding to a first level of darkness of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second level of darkness of a second panel where the first level of darkness differs from the second level of darkness.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for continuously presenting individual images to present a visual narrative of a story sequency, wherein the program instructs a processing device to perform steps comprising:

requesting a plurality of digital images from a storage module, the images including first image data corresponding to a portion of at least one panel of narrative artwork and wherein at least one of the plurality of images includes second image data corresponding to a transition, the transition conforming to a visual grammar;

arranging the image data of the plurality of images in an ordered configuration according to a predetermined sequence, the predetermined sequence specifying an order for the plurality of images; and

accessing the ordered image data for display as a continuous seamless linear image of the story sequence with only a portion of the story sequence visible to the user as the user seamlessly progresses through the story sequence.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is positioned between a first panel of narrative artwork and a second panel of narrative artwork.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is incorporated into the image data of the at least one panel.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the predetermined sequence is a digital list containing the order for the plurality of digital images and the program further instructs the processing device to parse the list to extract the order for the plurality of images.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the program instructs the processing device to further perform steps comprising:

submitting a request for the plurality of images to a host remote from the processing device;

arranging the image data of the plurality of images in the ordered configuration in response to receipt of the plurality of images; and

displaying a portion of the continuous seamless linear image on a display device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of images include image data corresponding to a plurality of panels of narrative artwork and in which the images are displayed to form the continuous seamless linear image such that the continuous seamless linear image is adapted to be horizontally scrolled as the visual narrative is presented.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the program instructs the processing device to further perform a step comprising positioning on the at least one panel supplemental image data associated with an image of the plurality of images.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the program instructs the processing device to further perform a step comprising randomly selecting supplemental image data from a group of supplemental image data, the group is associated with an image of the plurality of images.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the program instructs the processing device to further perform steps comprising:

generating a randomized position for the supplemental image data; and

positioning the supplemental image data on the at least one panel associated with the supplemental image data at the randomized position.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein a task is associated with the supplemental image data and the program instructs the processing device to execute the task associated with the supplemental image data in response to user input.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 wherein the task is navigating to a web page.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the program instructs the processing device to further perform steps comprising:

displaying a portion of the continuous seamless linear image on a display device; and

adjusting the portion of the continuous seamless linear image displayed in response to user input from an interface control.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein the interface control comprises at least one of:

(a) a button translating the continuous seamless linear image towards a portion of a subsequent panel of the continuous seamless linear image in response to user input;

(b) a button translating the continuous seamless linear image towards a portion of a previous panel of the continuous seamless linear image in response to user input;

(c) a button for initiating automatic continuous translation of the continuous seamless linear image in response to a user input;

(d) a control element for selecting a translation speed such that the continuous seamless linear image is translated at the selected speed when automatic continuous translation is initiated;

(e) a control element for selecting a translation direction such that the continuous seamless linear image is translated in the selected direction when automatic continuous translation is initiated;

(f) a scrollbar for advancing the continuous seamless linear image in at least one of a forward or backward direction such that the portion of the continuous seamless linear image displayed corresponds to a position of the scrollbar; and

(g) a pointer adapted to grab the continuous seamless linear image wherein the continuous seamless linear image is translated in a direction and at a speed corresponding to movement of the pointer in response to user input.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the visual grammar comprises at least one set of image data selected from at least one of:

(a) first image data corresponding to a first element of a first panel, the first element at a first proximity to a plane of the first panel, and second image data corresponding to a second element of a second panel, the second element at a second proximity to a plane of the second panel, where the first proximity differs from the second proximity;

(b) image data corresponding to a break positioned between a first border of a first panel and a second border of a second panel;

(c) image data corresponding to a separating element positioned between a first panel and a second panel;

(d) image data corresponding to a patterned element of a panel;

(e) first image data corresponding to a first plane of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second plane of a second panel where the second plane overlaps the first plane;

(f) image data of a panel corresponding to a gradual change in a perspective along an axis of a panel;

(g) first image data of a first panel corresponding to a first perspective along a first axis of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second perspective along a second axis of a second panel where the first perspective differs from the second perspective;

(h) first image data corresponding to a first color scheme of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second color scheme of a second panel where the first color scheme differs from the second color scheme; and

(i) first image data corresponding to a first level of darkness of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second level of darkness of a second panel where the first level of darkness differs from the second level of darkness.

28. A method for modifying individual images to present a visual narrative comprising:

digitizing a plurality of images, the images include a portion of at least one panel of narrative artwork, to obtain a plurality of digital images, the digital images having image data corresponding to the portion of the at least one panel of narrative artwork;

modifying at least one of the plurality of images or the plurality of digital images to include a transition, the transition conforming to a visual grammar; and

generating a sequence, the sequence specifying an order for the plurality of digital images such that the plurality of digital images are displayed according to the order as a continuous seamless linear image of the story sequence with only a portion of the story sequence displayed as a user progress through the story sequence.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is positioned between a first panel of narrative artwork and a second panel of narrative artwork.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the second image data corresponding to a transition is incorporated into the image data of at least one panel.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the predetermined sequence is a digital list containing the order for the plurality of digital images.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

storing the plurality of digital images in a storage module of a host device; and

transmitting at least one of the plurality of images across a network from the host device to a client device in response to a request received at the host device.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the plurality of digital images include image data corresponding to a plurality of panels of narrative artwork in which, when the images are displayed, the images form the continuous seamless linear image such that the continuous seamless linear image is adapted to be horizontally scrolled as the visual narrative is presented.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprising associating supplemental image data with at least one panel wherein the supplemental image data is positioned on the at least one panel when the plurality of digital images is displayed.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising associating an offset range with the supplemental image data wherein the supplemental image data is positioned on the at least one panel at a randomized position within the offset range when the plurality of images is displayed.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein a task is associated with the supplemental image data, and further comprising executing the task associated with the supplemental image data in response to user input.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the task is navigating to a web page.

38. The method of claim 28 wherein the visual grammar comprises at least one set of image data selected from at least one of:

(a) first image data corresponding to a first element of a first panel, the first element at a first proximity to a plane of the first panel, and second image data corresponding to a second element of a second panel, the second element at a second proximity to a plane of the second panel, where the first proximity differs from the second proximity;

(b) image data corresponding to a break positioned between a first border of a first panel and a second border of a second panel;

(c) image data corresponding to a separating element positioned between a first panel and a second panel;

(d) image data corresponding to a patterned element of a panel;

(e) first image data corresponding to a first plane of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second plane of a second panel where the second plane overlaps the first plane;

(f) image data of a panel corresponding to a gradual change in a perspective along an axis of a panel;

(g) first image data of a first panel corresponding to a first perspective along a first axis of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second perspective along a second axis of a second panel where the first perspective differs from the second perspective;

(h) first image data corresponding to a first color scheme of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second color scheme of a second panel where the first color scheme differs from the second color scheme; and

(i) first image data corresponding to a first level of darkness of a first panel and second image data corresponding to a second level of darkness of a second panel where the first level of darkness differs from the second level of darkness.