WO2018203116A1

WO2018203116A1 - Methods and systems for viewing or sharing picture/video in interactive media player

Info

Publication number: WO2018203116A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/055294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Parvati BALAGOPALAN
Original assignee: Balagopalan Parvati
Priority date: 2017-05-02
Filing date: 2017-09-04
Publication date: 2018-11-08

Abstract

A method for viewing or sharing picture or video in an interactive media player is provided in the present embodiment. The method includes capturing an image or an audio or a video in an electronic device, by a first user, storing, said image or audio or video in a storage unit of the electronic device or in a remote server, initializing, an interactive media player which is located within said electronic device, acquiring, said image or audio or video into the interactive media player from the storage unit of said electronic device or the remote server, creating, an interactive session from acquired said image or audio or video by the first user in the interactive media player, sending the interactive session to atleast one other user, by the first user, receiving the interactive session in an interactive media player, by said atleast one other user, attaching, an image or an audio or a video, by the atleast one other user to the received interactive session, and sending the interactive session by said atleast one other user to the first user, to complete said interactive session.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VIEWING OR SHARING PICTURE/VIDEO IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA PLAYER

Technical Field of the invention

The present disclosure generally relates to an interactive media player, and more particularly to a method and system for viewing and/ or sharing, pictures and/ or videos pertaining to a particular event creating an interactive session in a single frame of the interactive media player. Additionally, the interactive session shall be completed only when the video or pictures are added and sent to first party by other party.

BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION

Individuals in modern society often partake in momentous events for special occasion. Often these individuals wish to capture and/or store the events of such occasions on some form of hardware media that may be viewed at later time. Some forms of traditional method of capturing the events are taking pictures, voice recording, videos, etc. Often organizing photos in albums is a customary practice, particularly after weddings and other special events have occurred. A photographic album or photo album is a collection of photographs, generally kept in a book. Some albums have compartments which the photos may be slipped into; other albums have heavy paper with an abrasive surface covered with clear plastic sheets, in which photos can be put.

Older style albums often were simply books of heavy paper which photos could be glued to or attached to with adhesive corners, or pages. Keeping photographs in albums may help to ensure that the pictures are somewhat protected from damage, and may keep all photos related to specific events in one centralized and accessible location. However, there may be no way to store video recordings of these corresponding events in a similar fashion. The consumers may wish to keep all photographs and videos relating to a specific event in one place so that the videos and pictures may be viewed at one time. Viewing pictures and videos simultaneously related to a single event can give good experience to the consumers in recollecting past events.

Generally, consumers would like to have both videos and photo material that refer to the same event in one place. Nowadays, more and more people capture audiovisual memories of their experiences, by means of digital devices having video and photo capturing capabilities. Technologies for audiovisual memories recording are more and more widespread and efficient. It is indeed common, nowadays, to find photo cameras with the ability to record short video sequences, or mobile phones with an embedded high-resolution photo and video cameras. Since availability of these digital devices is so pervasive, as a matter of fact most of the consumers are accustomed to record both photo and video memories of the same events, or to receive them from one or more other persons who were also present at the event. Therefore it is quite common for a user to have video and photo material that refers to the same occasion, place and time.

Further, many consumers send gifts for birthdays, graduations, and other occasions to loved ones. These gifts are often embellished with attractive wrapping and cards displaying thoughtful messages. However, these items may not be personal enough to truly show the sender's affections. Additionally, recipients may wish to see or hear their loved ones expressions, emotions or voice through audio or video recordings, which cannot be accomplished with conventional gifts and cards.

There are many websites that let people to upload and store / share video and pictures separately. Although the internet makes sharing of photo albums more accessible, the human element is restricted to text tagging only. As technology changes, cameras have become digital, even mobile phones are equipped with cameras now, so there is an increased number of photographs and videos that are taken through mobile phones.

There are many websites or applications where people can upload, share and play videos or photographs separately. For e.g. YouTube® player for videos, photo storing or sharing websites like Flickr®, Picasa®, etc. But there is no website or mobile applications/ interface which have a media player that combines both these elements (picture and video) in one screen for simultaneous viewing. So there is a need to make this sharing of photos more personalized and intimate like no text captioning and tagging can do. A need exists for a simplified system whereby still and non-still photographs may be organized and readily viewable by individuals.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and/or method, whereby the pictures or videos may be uploaded by one user of the media player and completed by another user of the same media player, thus completing one media file which may be shared with anyone one within the media player group or outside. Also the image or the video should be played in parallel keeping in mind the aspect ratio of a display unit of an electronic device.

SUMMARY

A method for viewing or sharing picture or video in an interactive media player is provided in the present embodiment. The method includes capturing, an image or an audio or a video in an electronic device, by a first user, said electronic device is capable and configured to capture said image or audio or video; storing, said image or audio or video in a storage unit of the electronic device or in a remote server; initializing, an interactive media player which is located within said electronic device by the first user; acquiring, said image or audio or video into the interactive media player from the storage unit of said electronic device or the remote server; creating, an interactive session from acquired said image or audio or video by the first user in the interactive media player; sending the interactive session to atleast one other user, by the first user, wherein said atleast one other user has an interactive media player located within an electronic device; receiving the interactive session in an interactive media player, by said atleast one other user; attaching, an image or an audio or a video, by the atleast one other user, to the received interactive session; and sending the interactive session by the atleast one other user to the first user, to complete said interactive session.

In an embodiment, the completed interactive session comprises said images or audios or videos from the first user and the atleast one other user respectively, which is displayed simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session.

In another embodiment, the completed interactive session comprising said images or audios or videos is displayed simultaneously in the single frame in any combination of audio- video, audio-image, and image- video or like.

In an embodiment, the interactive session and the completed interactive session may be sent over a network by the first user and the atleast one other user respectively. In one embodiment, the electronic device is connected to the remote server through the network.

In an embodiment, a system for viewing or sharing picture or video in an interactive media player is provided, said system comprising an electronic device capable and configured to capture an image or an audio or a video by a first user; a storage unit located inside the electronic device or in a remote server to store said image or audio or video of the first user; an interactive media player is initialized, wherein the interactive media player which is located within said electronic device by the first user, wherein said image or audio or video is acquired into the interactive media player from the storage unit of said electronic device or the remote server; an interactive session is created from the acquired said image or audio or video by the first user in the interactive media player, wherein the interactive session is sent to atleast one other user, by the first user, wherein said atleast one other user has an interactive media player located within an electronic device; an interactive media player of said atleast one other user, receives the interactive session, wherein said atleast one other user attaches an image or an audio or a video to the received interactive session; and a completed interactive session is achieved when said atleast one other user sends the interactive session to the first user.

In one embodiment, the completed interactive session comprises said images or audios or videos from the first user and the atleast one other user respectively, which is displayed simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session.

Before undertaking the detailed description of the invention below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for viewing/sharing a picture or an audio or a video in an interactive media player by a first user and atleast one other user in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates adaptability in aspect ratio of an audio or a picture and/or a video while playing or sharing as per orientation of a display unit of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of capturing and/or viewing/playing an audio and/or a picture and/or a video in an interactive media player of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

References in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

The functions of the various elements including functional blocks labeled or described as "computer", "processor" or "controller" may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded instructions stored on computer readable medium. A computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors, and the terms computer and processor may be employed interchangeably herein. When provided by a computer or processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer or processor, by a single shared computer or processor, or by a plurality of individual computers or processors, some of which may be shared or distributed. Such functions are to be understood as being computer-implemented and thus machine-implemented. Moreover, use of the term "processor" or "controller" shall also be construed to refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executing software, and may include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analog) circuitry, and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for viewing/sharing a picture or an audio or a video in an interactive media player by a first user and atleast one other user in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein. In the present embodiment, to complete an interactive session the user or the first user 102 has to first capture the image A and send a still image to any user 102A-N who is using an interactive media player.

Once the user 102A-N on the other side accepts your image or video, then he has to attach video or image from his side and send back to the user 102 who has sent him in the first place. Then the request is complete.

In an embodiment, once the second user 102A records the video B the interactive session may be completed, when both the still image A and the video B which may be viewed together simultaneously. This may be sent back to the user 102 who sent the request to complete the interactive session.

The system 100 includes an electronic device 104 which may be capable and configured to capture an image or an audio or a video A by a first user 102, a storage unit located inside the electronic device 104 or in a remote server 110 to store said image or audio or video A of the first user 102, and an interactive media player 106 which may be initialized to capture an image or an audio or a video A by a first user 102.

In an embodiment, the interactive media player 106 may be located within the electronic device 104 of the first user 102. In another embodiment, the image or audio or video A may be acquired into the interactive media player 106 from the storage unit of the electronic device 104 or the remote server 110. In an embodiment, an interactive session may be created from the acquired image or audio or video A by the first user 102 in the interactive media player 106.

In an embodiment, the interactive session may be sent to atleast one other user 102A-N, by the first user 102. In another embodiment, the atleast one other user 102A-N has an interactive media player 106 located within an electronic device 104A-N. In an embodiment, an interactive media player 106A-N of the atleast one other user 102A-N, receives the interactive session. The atleast one other user 102A-N attaches an image or an audio or a video B to the received interactive session. In an embodiment, a completed interactive session may be achieved when the atleast one other user 102A-N sends the interactive session to the first user 102.

In an embodiment, the interactive session and the completed interactive session may be sent over a network 108 by the first user 102 and the atleast one other user 102A-N respectively. In one embodiment, the electronic devices 104,104A-N may be connected to the remote server 110 through the network 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates adaptability in aspect ratio of an audio or a picture and/or a video while playing or sharing as per orientation of a display unit of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein.

The interactive media player may combine a photo (still image) and a Video and displays them both simultaneously on a single screen. Both the photo and the recorded video may be displayed in a 1 :1 ratio. In an embodiment, by combining two square boxes of 1 : 1 ratio, the combined boxes of both photo and video together create a 2:1 aspect ratio. This enables the images or videos to be self adjustable in whichever way the electronic device is held. If the electronic device is held vertically in portrait mode, then the both the photo and the video may be viewed in a portrait mode. If the phone is held horizontally in landscape mode then both the photo and the video may be viewed in a landscape mode.

In one embodiment, the completed interactive session includes the images or audios or videos A, B from the first user 102 and the atleast one other user 102A- N respectively. These images or audios or videos A, B may be displayed simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session. In another embodiment, the images or audios or videos A, B is displayed simultaneously in the single frame in any combination of audio-video, audio-image, and image- video or like.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of capturing and/or viewing/playing an audio and/or a picture and/or a video in an interactive media player 106 of an electronic device 104 in accordance with an embodiment mentioned herein. In step 302, an image or an audio or a video A may be captured in an electronic device 104 by a first user 102. In an embodiment, the electronic device 104 may be capable and configured to capture said image or audio or video.

In step 304, the image or audio or video A may be stored in a storage unit of the electronic device 104. In one embodiment, the image or audio or video A may be stored in a remote server 110. In step 306, an interactive media player 106 which may be located within the electronic device 104 is initialized by the first user 102. In step 308, the image or audio or video A may be acquired into the interactive media player 106 from the storage unit of said electronic device 104 or the remote server 104. In step 310, an interactive session may be created from acquired image or audio or video A by the first user in the interactive media player 106.

In step 312, the interactive session may be sent to atleast one other user 104A-N, by the first user 102. In an embodiment, the atleast one other user 104A-N may have an interactive media player 106 A located within an electronic device 104. In step 314, the interactive session may be received in an interactive media player 106A by the atleast one other user 104A-N.

In step 316, an image or an audio or a video B may be attached by the atleast one other user 104A-N to the received interactive session. In step 318, the interactive session may be sent by the atleast one other user 104A-N to the first user 102 to complete the interactive session.

In an embodiment, the completed interactive session may include the images or audios or videos A from the first user 102 and the atleast one other user 104A-N. The completed interactive session may display the images or audios or videos A, B simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session.

In an embodiment, the completed interactive session may include the images or audios or videos A, B which may be displayed simultaneously in the single frame in any combination of audio-video, audio-image, and image-video or like. In an embodiment, the interactive session and the completed interactive session may be sent over a network 108 by the first user 102 and the atleast one other user 104A- N. In another embodiment, the electronic devices 104,104A-N may be connected to the remote server through the network 108.

In yet another embodiment, when the interactive media player 106,106A-N may be initialized and then the image or audio or video may be captured by the electronic devices 104,104A-N. In an embodiment, the single frame is defined as a frame at a particular instant in time appearing in the interactive media player (106).

In an example embodiment, a person creates an album of his son's birthday party who is turning one and then he uploads it online on the site to preserve memories related to that function. The uploaded album can be viewed by his son even when he is sixty with video comments with his late great grandmother wish for him.

In this fast faced world the method creates a channel of communication between generations and intra-generation which dissolves distances and retains the human touch in our sharing of pictures which are just objects without the memory that is has captured.

For example, suppose a person having a picture (in black and white) of his parents wedding. When they got married their marriage mandap (canopy) caught on fire and there is a picture of them standing together and looking up scared- father's arms around his mother. When his mother showed that picture to him she told it was the first time that they touched, since it was an arranged marriage they hardly had even met. For him that story made the picture special and without having the video related to that picture is interesting but not special. Anthropologically, sociologically pictures helps to understand and with the present invention helps to understand it better and preserve it forever.

Examples of the electronic device 104, 104A-N may include smart-phones, laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and personal computers. The electronic device stores a set of instructions that when executed by the processor may cause the processor to establish a communication session with the remote or standalone server.

FIGS. 1-3 are merely representational and are not drawn to scale. Certain portions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate various embodiments of the invention that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art.

While various embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, changes can be made without departing from the disclosure. The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, various embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived there from.

This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the various embodiments shown. Furthermore, although the various embodiments have described redundant signal transmission systems, it is understood that the various embodiments may be employed in a variety of known electronic systems and devices without modification. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description.

Claims

1. A method for viewing or sharing a picture or an audio or a video in an interactive media player, said method comprising:

capturing, an image or an audio or a video (A) in an electronic device (104), by a first user (102), wherein said electronic device (104) is capable and configured to capture said image or audio or video;

storing, said image or audio or video (A) in a storage unit of the electronic device (104) or in a remote server (110);

initializing, an interactive media player (106) which is located within said electronic device (104) by the first user (102);

acquiring, said image or audio or video (A) into the interactive media player (106) from the storage unit of said electronic device (104) or the remote server (104);

creating, an interactive session from acquired said image or audio or video (A) by the first user in the interactive media player (106);

sending the interactive session to atleast one other user (104A-N), by the first user (102), wherein said atleast one other user has an interactive media player (106 A) located within an electronic device (104);

receiving the interactive session in an interactive media player (106A), by said atleast one other user (104A-N);

attaching, an image or an audio or a video (B), by the atleast one other user (104A-N), to the received interactive session; and

sending, the interactive session by the atleast one other user (104A-N) to the first user (102), to complete said interactive session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the completed interactive session comprises said images or audios or videos (A) from the first user (102) and the atleast one other user (104A-N) respectively, which is displayed simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the completed interactive session comprising said images or audios or videos (A,B) is displayed simultaneously in the single frame in any combination of audio-video, audio-image, and image-video or like.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive session and the completed interactive session is sent over a network (108) by the first user (102) and the atleast one other user (104A-N) respectively.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic devices (104,104A-N) is connected to the remote server through the network (108).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive media player (106,106A-N) is initialized and then the image or audio or video is captured by the electronic devices (104,104A-N).

7. A system for viewing or sharing an audio or a picture or a video in an interactive media player, said system comprising:

an electronic device (104) capable and configured to capture an image or an audio or a video (A) by a first user (102); a storage unit located inside the electronic device (104) or in a remote server (110) to store said image or audio or video (A) of the first user (102); an interactive media player (106) is initialized, wherein the interactive media player (106) is located within said electronic device (104) of the first user (102), wherein said image or audio or video (A) is acquired into the interactive media player (106) from the storage unit of said electronic device (104) or the remote server (110);

an interactive session is created from the acquired said image or audio or video (A) by the first user (102) in the interactive media player (106), wherein the interactive session is sent to atleast one other user (102A-N), by the first user (102), wherein said atleast one other user (102A-N) has an interactive media player (106) located within an electronic device (104A-N);

an interactive media player (106A-N) of said atleast one other user (102A- N), receives the interactive session, wherein said atleast one other user attaches an image or an audio or a video (B) to the received interactive session; and

a completed interactive session is achieved when said atleast one other user (102A-N) sends the interactive session to the first user (102).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the completed interactive session comprises said images or audios or videos (A,B) from the first user (102) and the atleast one other user (102A-N) respectively, which is displayed simultaneously in a single frame of the completed interactive session.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the completed interactive session comprising said images or audios or videos (A,B) is displayed simultaneously in the single frame in any combination of audio-video, audio-image, image-video or like.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the interactive session and the completed interactive session is sent over a network (108) by the first user (102) and the atleast one other user (102A-N) respectively.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic devices (104,104A-N) is connected to the remote server (110) through the network (108).