Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-10-09
Amsbury, Wayne (Department: 2672)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C705S027200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for managing multimedia objects such as text, images, sound, and video clips. More particularly, the present invention relates to management of a database which includes such multimedia objects, together with software tools that facilitate input, manipulation and output of multimedia objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multimedia objects are computerized objects that contain components from different media. A typical multimedia object will include a text component, a picture component (such as a computerized image file in .JPEG or .GIF format), a sound clip (such as a computerized file in a .WAV format), and an executable component (such as ActiveX controls). Multimedia objects are interesting because they provide the means to convey large quantities of information quickly.
One problem commonly encountered when using multimedia objects is the difficulty in managing them. Stated another way, when the tremendous amount of information in a single multimedia object is multiplied by the number of multimedia objects, the resulting amount of information is staggering.
To deal with this staggering amount of information, the traditional concept of a database has been expanded so as to allow storage of, and access to, each individual component of a multimedia object. Thus, conventionally available databases such as Access from Microsoft Corporation allow not only text data to be included, but also allow image data, sound data, and executable data also to be included in a database record. Thus, conventional database technology, extended to include the concepts of images, sound files, executables and other multimedia components, has considerably improved the ability to manage multimedia objects.
At the same time, improvement is needed, particularly in the areas of input, manipulation and output of multimedia objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide improved management of multimedia objects by means of enhanced input, manipulation, and output thereof.
Thus, in one aspect, the invention organizes multimedia objects into plural collections, with each collection having one or more multimedia albums. Each album can contain plural multimedia objects, with each object including multimedia components such as text components, image components, sound components, and video components. Information at each multimedia component is stored in a separate record, and each and every multimedia object within a collection has exactly the same fields. Improved management of multimedia objects is afforded by providing the ability for a user to define new albums within a pre-existing collection, or by defining new collections. When a new album is added to an existing collection, the field for records in the album is the same as the pre-existing field format for other albums in the collection. On the other hand, when a new collection is added, new fields can be defined and stored as a new table entry in the overall multimedia database.
By virtue of the foregoing, it is possible to tailor the format of each collection so that the format is most suitable to the types of multimedia objects stored in the collection's albums. For example, if one collection were defined for storing albums for storing a store's inventory of jewelry, suitable fields in a database record might include a picture of jewelry, weight and clarity of gemstones, price, and a sound clip describing salient features of each item. Such fields, while appropriate to a jewelry inventory, are entirely inappropriate for another album which might be defined for storing inventory of computers. For such an album, suitable fields might include processor power, memory, add-in devices, and the like. With the invention, it is possible to define albums having database record fields that are tailored specifically to the multimedia objects contained therein.
According to another aspect, printout of multimedia objects is enhanced by allowing user-selection of some of the plural fields in the database to be printed in accompaniment with image data in the database. According to this aspect, a user interface is defined which allows a user to select fields from the database to be printed with an image component of the multimedia object, together with user selection of a template with which data is to be printed. A destination for printout can also be selected so as to afford a choice between printout as a manuscript, or exporting printed data to an HTML file for publication on the World Wide Web.
In another aspect, the invention provides for automatic pop up of thumbnail view of image files, in situations where database records for an album are displayed in a flat tabular form a user has positioned his mouse cursor over an entry corresponding to an image. Specifically, when using databases, it is common for a user to display all entries in the database in a flat tabular format, with each subsequent record in the database extending in the downward direction, and with each individual field within a database record extending in the horizontal direction. Such a format is well-suited to display an understanding of text components of a multimedia object. However, for image components, such a view provides very little information to the user. According to the invention, when a user positions his mouse cursor over a database record field corresponding to an image, the invention automatically pops up a thumbnail view of the image.
A still further aspect of the invention involves the overall architecture of the system for managing multimedia objects. This architecture includes several different components, each of which contributes to the overall ability to input, manipulate and output multimedia objects. Thus, the architecture includes a database access object (DAO) which understands a structured query language (SQL) so as to create database tables and fields, add and otherwise manipulate tables into the database, and add and otherwise manipulate fields within each table. Connected to the database access object is an image manager, an album manager and a view manager. The image manager allows for adding, deleting, inserting, moving, cropping, re-sizing and otherwise manipulating images. The image manager includes hooks to TWAIN scanning protocol, image format translation, and image processing and manipulation routines.
The album manager allows for creating, opening, closing, saving and otherwise manipulating albums within the context of album collections. The album manager contains hooks to functional modules that allow for special effects such as a slide show effect, HTML generation for publishing pages on the World Wide Web, album printing, album sharing with third parties such as over the internet, and internet phone for real time audio discussion.
The view manager is responsible for view selection, database selection, table selection and field selection.
By virtue of the foregoing structure, in which a centralized database access object has connected to it an image manager, an album manager and a view manager, a system for managing multimedia objects can be implemented more readily, more efficiently, and with greater capabilities.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
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patent: 5752244 (1998-05-01), Rose et al.
patent: 5794216 (1998-08-01), Brown
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“Microsoft Office White Paper Microsoft Access for Windows 95”, Microsoft Corporation 1995, pp. 1-13.
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“Microsoft Internet Information Server”, Microsoft Corporation, 1995, pp. 1-12.
“Tutorial Overview”, <http://www.mi
Kohler Timothy L.
Lavendel Laurence
Tomat Andrew H.
Yang Xinping
Amsbury Wayne
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Havan Thu-Thao
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