GB2420039A

GB2420039A - Electronic messaging system combining text message with image

Info

Publication number: GB2420039A
Application number: GB0424646A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-08
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Also published as: GB0424646D0; WO2006048681A1

Abstract

A system and method for providing a visual representation of a text-based message to be delivered by electronic means. A user of the system specifies the message text, the visual representation of the text to be used, and the recipient of the message (the recipient may be the same as the sender). The system incorporates the user text into the selected visual representation or template and sends the message to the recipient. In one embodiment, a visual representation comprises a video sequence of a captured, real-world scene with the message text integrated into the scene using computer graphics, providing the recipient with the illusion of the text appearing in a real-world setting (Figure 2). Example electronic delivery methods include cellular mobile telephones, email, MMS and WAP Push. Figure 3 shows a flow chart for generating a text message combined with a captured image.

Description

I

Visual Messaging System This invention relates to electronic messaging systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing a visual representation of text-based messages.

The explosive growth of email and the cellular (mobile) phone industry over the past several years has provided users with many affordable options for exchanging text-based messages with other users, notably the Short Message Service (SMS) for cellular phone users. Whilst this messaging traffic has increased sharply and the technical capability of cellular networks has been extended to allow for the exchange of colour pictures and video clips, the presentation of the majority of messages has remained largely unchanged. A message is typically composed as plain text characters and viewed by the recipient in the same form.

This invention adds a new dimension to today's already popular text-based messaging systems by providing a more appealing visual representation of the message text, increasing the emotional impact of the message and heightening the recipient's experience.

A user may interact with the system in a number of ways to send a message, including HTTP (website), SMS, Multimedia Message Service (MMS) and email.

To send a message, a user must provide the text of the message, the recipient(s), and select a template for the visual representation to be used. The length of the message text may be restricted by the template selected. Once selected, the system will automatically use the template to generate a visual representation of the message incorporating the message text. A template may include computer code for message generation and may define a number of parameters that can be modified (e.g. colours, time durations) by the user. Depending on the method used for interacting with the system, the user may be presented with a visual preview of the message and allowed to modify template-defined parameters. When completed, the message is sent to the recipient using a mechanism indicated by the sender or automatically by the recipient address (e.g. email, cellular number).

Certain delivery mechanisms (e.g. WAP Push, MMS) allow for the content of the message to be adapted further to best suit the capabilities of the recipient's terminal.

The creation of templates is a manual process, requiring the system operator's input as a one-time process for each template. A template is constructed to automatically incorporate message text into either a single still image or multiple images that may be encoded as a video sequence or similar. For video sequences, the message text may be synchronised to each frame of the video such that it appears to be part of the original scene. Each template is generally associated with computer code to implement the appropriate image generation functionality. A template's image generation functionality may be based on entirely computer-generated graphics or a mixture of real-world still/video imagery and computer-generated graphics.

Whilst this invention could be used to provide services for free, it is envisaged that a payment will be required from the sender. The mechanism for obtaining payment is likely to depend on the mechanism used by the sender to interact with the system. For interactions via SMS, premiumrate or reverse billing are the most suitable mechanisms, allowing the user to pay via their cellular network provider.

For interactions via HTTP (website), credit card or similar electronic money transfer mechanisms are better suited.

Depending on the capabilities of the receiving terminal, the received message may be viewed and discarded, or saved and used by the terminal as a background image or for any other purpose supported by the terminal. To this end, a user may choose to send a message to their own terminal to use the content for terminal customisation purposes.

The number of visual representations that the system can provide is limited only by the imagination of the system operator and the computer graphics capability of the computer code written for a template.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 shows the output of the main functional steps in creating a template for an example visual representation; FIGURE 2 shows the key frames of a video sequence generated by an example visual representation; FIGURE 3 shows a typical flow of events through the system.

Figure 1 shows the main functional steps in creating a template for a visual representation of a message in which the message text is incorporated into a video sequence as the sign on the side of a doubledecker bus. The source for this template is a video sequence of a bus passing the camera. The area designed to contain the message text is created as a two-dimensional image I and then rotated and translated in three-dimensional space as a planar object to create a two-dimensional projection 2. This projection is superimposed on a frame 3 from the video sequence to create a composite image 4, using a graphical technique known as anti-aliasing' to ensure a smooth boundary between the two images, thus producing a more convincing result. This process is repeated for each frame of the video sequence, with a record of the rotation and translation values kept for each frame. The resulting values ensure that the position of the message text is synchronised with the position of the bus such that it appears to be written on the sign of the bus for each frame. Once completed, a template is created as computer code that automates the above process for each frame of the video sequence for a given message text. The output of the template is a video sequence of the composite images.

Figure 2 shows the key frames of the output of the above template for the message text "Happy Birthday Simon!" Figure 3 shows the flow of events for a user to send an MMS message by interacting with the system via SMS. To interact with the system, the user sends an SMS message 5 to a destination number associated with the system by cellular network operators. The text contained in this message must adhere to the format required by the system. For example, this may be a keyword for the visual representation required followed by a space character followed by the cellular number of the recipient followed by a space character followed by the text of the message. The network operator receives the message from the user's terminal and ensures that the user is able to pay the tariff associated with the destination number 6. The message is then forwarded via an external connection to the content provider running the system 7.

The system selects the correct template for the visual representation of the message based on the keyword in the message text 8. The system validates parameters associated with the template 9 including the length of the message text. The template processes the message to generate the visual representation 10. Once completed, the system sends a notification of a new MMS message to the recipient 11. The recipient must then trigger their terminal to request the actual MMS message content from the system. When this request is received by the system 12, the system will be able to determine the technical capabilities of the recipient's terminal and transform the content to suit I 3. The transformed MMS message content is then sent to the recipient 14.

Claims

Claims 1. A system that generates a visual representation of a text-based

message to be delivered electronically.
2. A system as claimed in Claim I which delivers the visual representation of the message via a cellular telephone network.
3. A system as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 which incorporates the message text into a representation of a real-world scene.
4. A messaging system substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.