Method and system for generating comic panels

• US 6,232,966 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kurlander, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/561,350
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 345/330, 345/331, 345/340, 345/348, 345/347, 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/341, 345/342, 345/346, 345/354, 345/356-357
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

A comic generation system controls the generation of comic panels. A comic panel is a graphical representation of an instance in time of a sequential course of events. Each graphical representation typically includes a graphical representation of at least one character. The character has gestures that reflect a body pose and expressions that reflect a facial pose. Moreover, the character may have text associated with it (i.e., the character “speaks”), which is displayed in the comic panel within a bounded area called a “balloon.” The comic generation system receives an interaction event and generates a comic panel. Examples of interaction events include text input by a user and selection of gestures and expressions by a user. When the interaction event provides text, the comic generation system automatically searches the text to identify any words or phrases that give rise to gestures and expressions for the character representing the user who provided the interaction event. Moreover, the comic generation system searches the text for trigger words that indicate alterations to the comic panel. The comic generation system generates the comic panel based on the results of its searches. The comic generation system also determines which characters to place in a comic panel, the positions of the characters, and the orientations of the characters. The comic generation system additionally determines the placement of balloons containing text. Also, the comic generation system determines when to generate a new comic panel and when to modify a comic panel that has already been generated. Furthermore, the comic generation system maintains a graphical history of the comic panels.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

(a) a display device; and

(b) a comic generator coupled to the display device for generating;

(1) a comic panel that includes a graphical representation of at least one character; and

(2) text that corresponds to the input received for the at least one character;

(3) a balloon having a tail for indicating the character that is associated with the input and placing the generated text in the balloon; and

(4) positioning the tail between a position of the balloon and another position for the character in the comic panel, the balloons, tail and character being disposed at positions that are non-overlapping of any other positions for balloons, tails and characters that were previously positioned for display in the comic panel.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of comic panels displayed on the display device and wherein the displayer displays the generated comic panel along with the plurality of comic panels.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scroll bar displayed on the display device for enabling a user to scroll through the plurality of comic panels, the scroll bar including a scroll box, the scroll box having a position in the scroll bar, the position corresponding to one of the plurality of comic panels, and wherein the displayer displays a plurality of comic panels based on the position of the scroll box in the scroll bar.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator for generating a comic panel modifies a last generated comic panel to incorporate an interaction event received by the receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising when non-overlapping positions for displaying the balloon and tail in a currently displayed comic panel are unavailable, automatically generating and graphically displaying a new comic panel that includes the balloon, tail and the character, wherein the balloon, tail and the character are disposed at separate positions that are non-overlapping in the graphical display of the new comic panel.

6. A method for automatically displaying text representing an input associated with a character that is graphically displayed in a comic panel, comprising:

(a) generating at least one comic panel that includes at least one character; and

(b) when an input associated with the character is received, performing actions, including;

(i) automatically generating text that corresponds to the input received for the character;

(ii) automatically generating a balloon having a tail for indicating the character that is associated with the input and automatically placing the generated text in the balloon;

(iii) automatically positioning the tail between a position of the balloon and another position for the character in the comic panel, the balloon, tail and character being automatically disposed at positions that are non-overlapping of any other positions for balloons, tails and characters that were previously positioned for display in the comic panel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising when non-overlapping positions for displaying the balloon and tail in a currently displayed comic panel are unavailable, automatically generating and graphically displaying a new comic panel that includes the balloon, tail and the character, wherein the balloon, tail and the character are disposed at separate positions that are non-overlapping in the graphical display of the new comic panel.