AU704254B3 - A method of creating an animated composite computer image - Google Patents

Description

A METHOD OF CREATING AN ANIMATED COMPOSITE COMPUTER IMAGE This invention relates to a method of creating an animated composite computer image. It relates particularly but not exclusively to a method of creating a novel form of computer image which is suitable for use as a digital postcard or a method of electronic advertising.

When people are visiting a tourist destination, they often wish to capture the spirit of the moment so that they can share it with their friends and family. A common way to do this is to take photographs or slides which show both the person and the particular tourist attraction. Another common way of doing this is to purchase a postcard featuring a photograph of the tourist attraction, and to write a personal message on the back of the postcard. The postcard option serves as a reminder of the appearance of the tourist attraction, but it omits the :personal element of having the actual person included in the photograph.

15 Ordinary slides or photographs take some time to be developed, so that they do not have the advantage of being immediately available to send to friends and family.

Conventional methods of capturing and sharing significant moments S: from holiday experiences do not take advantage of new features which are 20 available as a result of recent technological development. Accordingly, there is a market for novel techniques of capturing holiday experiences, significant events and corporate promotions. It is desirable that such novel techniques be substantially instantaneous and visually interesting, while taking advantage of recent technological developments.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of instantaneously creating an animated composite computer image including the steps of: capturing a digital image; selecting a pre-defined computer animation; digitally overlaying the animation over the digital image; and thereby creating a digital file which, upon activation, displays the animation superimposed over the digital image.

The step of capturing a digital image may be accomplished in any suitable manner. It may be achieved by means of a conventional photograph such as an instant photograph which is scanned into digital form using a scanner. However, it is preferred that the photograph be taken using a digital camera, thereby avoiding the need for developing a conventional photograph as the first part of the process. The digital image may be a black and white photograph, although it is preferred that a colour photograph be used. The digital photograph may be a portrait of one or more persons taken at or near the scene of a tourist attraction or special event, and it may include a scene of 10 the tourist attraction or special event.

The computer animation may be any suitable type of computer 0*9" animation. It may be an animated bit map or vector image. It may include or consist of cartoon images moving in a particular manner. It may consist of or include "realistic" animation components such as a setting sun. The animation may include an advertisement for a product, and it may be representative of a particular aspect of a tourist attraction, sporting occasion, or other special event. The animation may be stored in any suitable digital animation file format.

It is envisaged that the method of the invention will typically be accomplished by means of computer and image capture apparatus set up at oo• 20 the site at which the composite image is created, such as a tourist destination or a product launch. An operator takes photographs or captures images, typically portraits of visitors to the location, and uses a single pre-defined animation or one animation selected from a list of pre-defined animations. Thus, for example, if the location is a zoo, there may be a number of pre-defined animations representing different animals. The person requesting a composite image can select his or her preferred animation. If the location is a product launch, there may be a single animation which includes the logos and other materials relating to the organisation running the product launch. In most cases, it is envisaged that the person requesting the composite image will pay for it; in other cases, such as at a product launch, the composite image may be provided free of charge, as an advertisement. If relatively simple equipment is used, the equipment may be "self-serve" equipment similar to passport photo C:\My Documents\Cybergiyph1 .doc booths, so that the person requesting the composite image actually takes the digital photograph of himself or herself and selects the desired animation.

The step of digitally overlaying the animation over the photograph may be accomplished in any suitable manner. The animation may be overlaid in such a way that it appears entirely in front of the digital photograph, or it may appear partly behind the digital photograph.

Activation of the digital file created by the method of the invention may be accomplished in any suitable manner. In one suitable arrangement, the .00. interaction means may operate by starting or stopping an animation when a 10 user positions a mouse cursor over a particular part of the composite image and clicks a mouse button. For example, when the composite image is first displayed on a computer screen, the first frame of a computer animation may 10*0 0: be displayed, overlaid over the digital photograph. When a user clicks on a particular part of the animation image, such as a cartoon character appearing in the animation, the animation may begin. The animation may cease Soautomatically after a predefined period of time, or when the user again clicks on an appropriate part of the image. 00 The animated composite computer image may include two or more S digital photographs which are displayed simultaneously or sequentially. Thus, ll 20 for example, the left part of the background of the composite image could 4 comprise an image of a person, with the right half comprising an image of a tourist attraction, sporting event, or other importation occasion. Alternatively, images of a person and a scene or event could alternate throughout the animation or be superimposed on one another in a semitransparent manner. As a further alternative, there may be a series of digital photographs which in themselves form an animation.

The animated composite computer image may include two or more different computer animations which can be activated separately by a user using the interaction means. Such different computer animations can be activated by a user positioning a mouse cursor and clicking a mouse button over different regions of the composite image. Thus, for example, the animated regions of a composite image may include a representation of a rock and a representation of a seagull. When a mouse cursor is positioned on the rock, C:\My Documents\CyberglyphI .doc this may activate an animation sequence in which a crab scuttles out from under the rock. When the mouse cursor is positioned on the seagull and the mouse button is clicked, this may activate an animation in which the seagull flies across the image. It will be appreciated that several different animation sequences can be incorporated into a single composite computer image.

The digital file created by the method of the present invention may be stored and distributed in any suitable manner and on any suitable digital storage and/or transmission media. It may be stored on a floppy disk, tape, CD- ROM or other form of computer storage media, and the storage media may be •o 10 given directly to the person commissioning the composite image. Alternatively, the composite image may be transmitted to a site specified by the person commissioning the composite image by means of electronic mail or other digital o• transmission means. Thus, for example, tourists at a tourist destination could line up to have their photographs taken using a digital camera. Digital photographs of tourists are imported into image editing software, and the predesigned animation is overlaid. The final product is stored in a suitable format, such as a quick time movie format, an MPEG format or an AVI format. The file is then forwarded using e-mail software to an e-mail address specified by the tourist such as the e-mail address of a friend of the tourist. A text greeting may 20 be added prior to sending the e-mail transmission, and the animation may include a greeting.

o• 0 Instead of giving the composite image on disk to the person who commissioned it, or forwarding the animated composite computer image to an e-mail address, the composite image may be posted to an Internet web site or a bulletin board. The person whose image appears in the composite computer image, or any other interested person, may notify their friends and family of the Internet site address or other digital location, so that the image may be accessed.

The invention may be used for advertising purposes. Advertising material and trade marks may be built in to the animation and/or the digital photograph may consist of or include advertising material.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings which show an example form of the invention. It is to be C:\My Documents\CyberglyphI .doc 6 understood that the particularity of those drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a representation of a digital photograph for use in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a representation of a computer animation for use in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates the animation in the process of being overlaid over the digital photograph.

Figure 4 shows the animation overlaid on the digital photograph, with the 10 first frame of the animation showing, prior to activation.

Figure 5 is a flow chart setting out the process for creating and delivering an animated composite computer image according to an aspect of the oo••invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown in Figure 4 an animated composite computer image including a digital photograph 1 (illustrated by itself in Figure a computer animation 2 (illustrated by itself in Figure 2) overlaid or *9 interacting with photograph 1 (the overlaying process being illustrated in Figure and interaction means 3, enabling a person to start the computer animation S or otherwise interact with the animated composite image. The trademark 9•@o*S "Cyberglyph" has been devised to apply to animated composite computer images made according to the invention.

The "Cyberglyph" animation illustrated has been designed for creating digital postcards relating to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Animation 2, which forms a "Cyberglyph" shell, shows a penguin 3 swimming in the sea (on the right of the image), climbing up out of the water onto the beach 4, going over a sand dune 5, and diving into a burrow 6. Photograph 1 is an image of two girls who could represent tourists visiting the penguins, wanting to have a souvenir by which to remember the visit. The positioning of the people in the photograph can be designed, as in the present case, such that the eyes of one or more of the people in the photograph appear to be observing the antics of the animation.

In the example illustrated, the animation may be activated by positioning a mouse cursor on the penguin 3 in the water at the right of the image, or an a C:\My Dcuments\Cyberglyphl.doc "start" button at the bottom of the image (not shown), and clicking the left mouse button. Alternatively, the animation may be started by striking an appropriate "hot-key" on a computer keyboard, or by any other suitable means.

The animation may continue for a predefined period before stopping automatically, or it may be stopped interactively by any suitable means, such as by clicking a mouse button when a mouse cursor is positioned on the penguin image or on a "stop" button at the bottom of the image (not shown).

The animation may be created using purpose-designed software, or alternatively using pre-existing suitable software such as Macromedia Director 10 or Flash. Once created, the animation forms a "Cyberglyph" shell, which is a: suitable for use with many different digital photographs. The photograph may be edited using purpose-designed software, or alternatively using pre-existing suitable software such as Adobe Photoshop, where it is resized to fit the "Cyberglyph" shell.

"Cyberglyph" animations can be posted on websites, stored on floppy S disks, or e-mailed direct to friends, family members or clients in a digital movie format such as Quicktime, AVI, or MPEG.

Although the example shows only one animation in the "Cyberglyph" shell, more than one animation may be provided. For example, in addition to 20 the penguin animation, another animation relating to a Phillip Island tourism experience could be provided, such as a seagull or surfing animation. Where multiple animations are provided, they can be triggered independently in any order, preferably by positioning a mouse cursor on different parts of the "Cyberglyph" image and clicking a mouse button.

Although the example shows only one photograph, more than one photograph can be used. For example, a photograph of a seal could be displayed to the right of the photograph of the girls, adding a different component to the "Cyberglyph" image. Alternatively, the "Cyberglyph" image could be designed such that the photograph of the girls alternates with a photograph of a seal as the penguin animation progresses. As a further possibility, the "Cyberglyph" image could incorporate several sequential images of the girls, so that both the penguin foreground and the background photograph are animated.

C \My Documents\Cyberglyphl doc Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a flow chart of a process for constructing a "Cyberglyph" animation. The process begins when a potential customer approaches a digital camera operator who also has a computer loaded with the appropriate software. A brief demonstration (lasting about seconds) follows, and the customer confirms that he or she wishes to purchase a "Cyberglyph" animation and (optionally) gives an e-mail address for forwarding the finished result.

A digital photograph of the customer is then taken and imported into the C S computer. This process takes about 30 seconds, and the image is processed .9 10 and placed into a pre-assembled interactive animation in a process lasting about 40 seconds. While this is occurring, the customer may be making a payment if a charge is applicable to the transaction.

.o.t Sot The customer then has an opportunity to view the "Cyberglyph" animation and approve the finished product. A copy of the finished product can be provided to the customer on a floppy disk (the copy process taking about 12 d sOseconds), and/or the finished product can be forwarded to an e-mail address supplied by the customer, or posted on a web site, the address of which is given to the customer. An e-mail transmission of a "Cyberglyph" animation ,i typically takes around 3 minutes.

9 20 There are several advantages to the inventive "Cyberglyph" images.

These include: Flexibility: A "Cyberglyph" image can change easily and quickly simply by changing the interactive animation and/or the digital photograph housed within it. This degree of flexibility within the one product is unusual and makes it possible to have a range of applications for one product.

a Speed: The whole process of taking digital photographs and dropping them into pre-designed animated shells takes a matter of minutes. Distribution by e-mail or otherwise can take around 3 minutes.

S Novelty: A new media product, the "Cyberglyph" image uses the latest technology and the latest thinking to create a new standard in the communication of an experience and/or product. Although still C\My Documents\Cyberglyphl .doc 44* .4 46 0 94 4 image digital photography can be transferred in the same way, to date no-one has combined interactive animation with customised digital photographs to create a stand-alone product.

Portability: "Cyberglyph" animations can be constructed anywhere that power sources (including batteries) are available. This means that experiences can be captured and incorporated into a "Cyberglyph" animation literally as they happen at a concert or a tourist destination) and be sent instantly to another part of the world via the internet.

Immediacy: As soon as the photograph is taken, it is transformed into a "Cyberglyph" animation before the purchaser's eyes. This means that there is no waiting time. The results are very fast and people get instant value for money.

New Marketing Paradigm: The "Cyberglyph" animation speaks to a new generation of relationship between seller and consumer. To date, advertising has been a one way street advertisements have been delivered through television, radio and the printed page. In the era of new media where attention is a new form of currency, the seller can now offer the "Cyberglyph" animation as a novelty item and/or reward to customers.

It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention.

C:\My Documents\Cyberglyph1.doc THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A method of instantaneously creating an animated composite computer image including the steps of: capturing a digital image; selecting a pre-defined computer animation; digitally overlaying the animation over the digital image; and thereby creating a digital file which, upon activation, displays the animation superimposed over the digital image.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the composite image includes two or more digital photographs which are displayed simultaneously or sequentially.

15 3. A method according to claim 1 including the further step of delivering the composite image to a recipient by physically providing the composite image on digital storage media, or transmitting the composite image over a digital information transmission network such as the Internet.

°o Dated: 1 February, 1999 Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Patent Attorneys for Ross Hipwell.

C:\My Documents\Cyberglyphl .doc