GB2407670A

GB2407670A - Communicating with an individual by selecting him/her from a group image in a web gallery.

Info

Publication number: GB2407670A
Application number: GB0423692A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glenn Burgess
Original assignee: UTOPIA CREATIVE IND Ltd
Current assignee: UTOPIA CREATIVE IND Ltd
Priority date: 2003-10-24
Filing date: 2004-10-25
Publication date: 2005-05-04
Also published as: GB0423692D0

Abstract

A computer network based system to facilitate the communication between users of the system and individuals appearing in one or more images contained in a plurality of images such as a web gallery, which images comprise two or more individuals. Individuals may produce an individual image and profile and generate a link between this image and profile and images in the plurality of images in which the individual is present. Users can communicate (via email, VoIP, or video over IP) with an individual depicted in the image by selecting the image. The present invention seeks to provide a method that provides a means to identify individuals in group photographs. Another advantage is that it allows those who are in group photos to identify themselves in the group photo. It may be used to create a social and Business network for like-minded people to play, date and do business together.

Description

Method of Communicating The present invention relates to websites and the

ability to automatically link to individuals appearing in group photographs.

In the prior art there are web sites that provide for online dating and that provide such facilities as online chatting and the facility for users to create user profiles. One of the difficulties of such sites is identifying people who you have either met or would be interested in meeting. While it is possible to search user/member profiles, doing so is time consuming. Some sites have group photographs and it is particularly time consuming searching through profiles to identify users who might be in those photographs.

The present invention seeks to provide a method and system that provides a means to identify individuals in group photographs that goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages in the prior art or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of communicating on a computer network based system, which system is adapted to store, retrieve and display a plurality of images stored on said system, which images comprise two or more individuals, the system further comprises profiles for at least some of the individuals, the profiles being linked to the images comprising two or more individuals in which the individual appears, such that a user can communicate with an individual depicted in the image by selecting said image.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for linking individuals appearing in group photographs with profiles of said individuals, said system including: data storage means; means to generate a data request interface, said interface requesting data to enable the creation of a user profile, said data including a photograph of said user creating said user profile; means to receive said data and store said data in said data storage means; means to generate a data display interface for displaying said user profile; means to receive and store group photographs in said data storage means; - 2 means to generate a data display interface for displaying at least one of said group photographs, said interface including a link or a button associated with each of said group photographs to allow a user to identify that they are in said associated photograph; and means to receive information from said link or button, said information including information on the user who has selected said link or button, said means for receiving said information including means to store in said data store a link between said user and said associated photograph.

Preferably said interface generated by said means to generate a data display interface for displaying at least one of said group photographs includes a link or a button associated with each of said group photographs to allow a user to identify who is in said photograph.

Preferably said system further includes means to generate an interface in response to receiving a request via said link or a button to allow a user to identify who is in said photograph, said interface displaying the photograph of users who have identified that they are in said photograph.

Preferably said interface displaying users who have identified that they are in said group photograph includes a link or button associated with each said identified user allowing a user to request the display of the profile associated with said user.

Preferably said means to generate interfaces generates html page for display by a browser.

In another preferred embodiment the present invention comprises a method for linking individuals appearing in group photographs with profiles of said individuals, said method including the steps of: generating a data request interface, said interface requesting data to enable the creation of a user profile, said data including a photograph of said user creating said user profile; receiving and storing said data; generating a data display interface for displaying said user profile; receiving and storing group photographs generating a data display interface for displaying at least one of said group photographs, said interface including a link or a button associated with each of said group photographs to allow a user to identify that they are in said associated photograph; - 3 receiving information from said link or button, said information including information on the user who has selected said link or button; and storing an association between said user and said photograph.

Preferably said interface generated for displaying at least one of said group photographs includes a link or a button associated with each of said group photographs to allow a user to identify who is in said photograph.

Preferably said method further includes the step of generating an interface in response to receiving a request via said link or a button to allow a user to identify who is in said photograph, said interface displaying the photograph of users who have identified that they are in said photograph.

Preferably said interface displays users who have identified that they are in said group photograph and said interface includes a link or button associated with each said identified user allowing a user to request the display of the profile associated with each said user.

Preferably said interfaces are html pages for display by a browser.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the hardware of the present invention, Figure 2 is a screen shot showing part of a web form allowing a user to create a profile of the present invention, Figure 3 is a screen shot of the user profile created by the user, Figure 4 is a screen shot of a the photograph gallery of a user, Figure 5 is a screen shot on an event gallery of the present invention, Figure 6 is a screen shot of a single group photograph showing the options a user has, Figure 7 is a screen shot of the photograph gallery of Figure 3 after the user has identified that they are in a photograph, Figure 8 is a screen shot of the users who have identified that they are in a particular group photograph, Figure 9 is a block diagram of the steps of linking a user to a group photograph, Figure 10 is a diagram showing screen shots of the user going through the process of identifying themselves in a group photograph, and Figure 11 is a diagram showing screen shots of a user identifying who is in a group photograph.

Referring to Figure 1 the hardware requirements of the present invention will now be described. A server 101 running web software is attached to a database 102, client computers 104 comprising a display device 105 and input devices comprising a keyboard 106 and a mouse 107. Other input devices may also be used. The client computers run operating system software and provide web access software such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla.

In the preferred embodiment the present invention is implemented as part of a community website. As part of the community website the system provides the ability as is known in the industry to allow individuals to create user profiles. Using the interface 201 shown in Figure 2 an individual creates a profile including such information as their name, age, sex, nationality, height, general physical description etc. Additionally a user creating a profile may be asked to complete a question and answer style form telling of their favourite films, music, books, websites etc. Further in one embodiment the user creating the profile may be asked who invited them to join. The profile questions are asked so that the user gives some insight into who they are, what they want out of life, what they are about and who their associates are.

In the preferred embodiment a photograph to go with the users profile will be required. A completed profile 301 is shown in Figure 3.

It is anticipated that individuals who create profiles would also attend functions run by the provider of the website. At the functions the provider of the website would take photographs The photographs would then be stored electronically in the database of the present invention and links created on the website by the system administrator to allow the photographs to be displayed on the website as is well known in the art. The group photos could in an alternative embodiment be taken by other than the system provider and made available for the system provider to display on the website. A photograph gallery 501 is shown in Figure 5. A single photograph 502 in the gallery may be selected by a user. When a single photograph is selected it is shown in the user's web browser. Figure 6 shows a single photograph selected 601.

The primary advantage of the present invention is that it allows members to find out about and then contact through the system of the present invention people in a group - 5 photograph. A secondary advantage is that allows those who are in group photos to identify themselves in the group photo.

Referring to Figure 6 when a member of the website community views a group photograph on the website that they are in they click on a button or other link 602 and by doing so identify that they are in the photo. The link will identify to the system 101 that the individual who is currently logged into the system 101 has identified that they are in the photo. When a user clicks on the link 602 the system 101 receives notification that the individual has clicked on the link and creates an entry in the database 102 between the individual and the group photo. When a group photograph is viewed by members of the community the system 101 includes a button or link 603 that when clicked on displays photographs of and a link to individuals who have previously identified themselves as in the group photo. The result of clicking on the link 603 can be seen in Figure 8.

As part of a users profile the system also creates a user photograph gallery.

Referring to Figure 4 the photograph gallery contains all the photos that a user has identified that they are in. When a user identifies that they are in another photograph using the facilities discussed above the new photograph is added to the gallery. In Figure 7 the photograph 701 that the user has identified that they are in has been added.

Referring to Figure 10 the process a user goes through to identify that they are in a group photograph is further illustrated. A user having found that they are in a group photograph clicks on link 1001 which takes them to their own profile 1002. The user then selects which gallery to add the photograph to by clicking on the link to the gallery 1003.

The photograph is then added to that gallery 1004 by the system 101. In the background the system adds the users to the list of users in the database who have identified themselves as in the photograph.

Referring to Figure 11 the process a user goes through when they wish to identify who is in a group photograph 1101 is further illustrated. The user clicks on a link 1102 which takes them to a page 1103 displaying the users who have previously identified that they are in the photograph. In the background the system looks up in the database the users who have previously identified that they are in the photograph and displays there photographs. The users then clicks on the photograph 1104 or other link to the person they are interested in finding more out and are taken to the users profile page l 105.

Referring to Figure 9 the system 101 receives the requested URL. The URL 6 contains information that a user wishes to identify that they are in a group photograph.

The system first obtains information from the URL 901 such as the photograph that the user has identified that they are in and the user identifier. The user identifier may have been stored in a cookie or included in the URL submitted by the user. The system then checks 902 that the user has not previously identified that they are in the photograph and if they have not creates 903 a database record identifying that the user is in the photograph. - 7

Claims

Claims 1. A method of communicating on a computer network based system,

which system is adapted to store, retrieve and display a plurality of images stored on said system, which images comprise two or more individuals, the system further comprises profiles for at least some of the individuals, the profiles being linked to the images comprising two or more individuals in which the individual appears, such that a user can communicate with an individual depicted in the image by selecting said image.
2. A method of communicating according to claim I, whereby an image comprising one or more individuals comprises a link to allow a user of the system to identify individuals present in the image.
3. A method of communicating according to claim 2, whereby a user of the system may select a link associated with an image comprising one or more individuals and thereby request images of those individuals.
4. A method of communication according to claims 2 or 3, whereby a user of the system may select a link associated with an image and thereby request the user profile of the individuals present.
5. A method of communicating according to claim I, whereby the computer network is the world wide web.
6. A method of communicating according to claim 1, whereby the plurality of images are photographs in a web gallery.
7. A method of communicating according to claim 1, whereby communication is via email. - 8
8. A method of communication according to claim I, whereby communication is via voice over IP telephony.
9. A method of communication according to claim 1, whereby communication is via video over IP.