Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-02-20
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 2771)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191783
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for configuring a multimedia message for presentation to a non-local destination, said method comprising the steps of:
presenting a formatted choice menu for various multimedia categories in parallel,
upon one or more user selections in series, offering to each such user selection a monomedium item space for enabling the user to enter an item pertaining to the associated monomedium into said space,
and after termination of all selections formatting the message for transfer.
The technology of composing of multimedia messages has been under discussion for some time. Various monomedia distinguish from each other in that either the transfer channels, or the rendering channels, or both, are distinguished in from each other. The distinction may be audio versus video or mixed. The distinction may reside in widely different bitrates. The embodiment hereinafter considers four such distinct monomedia:
text in the form of characters, that each have an individual character identity, and collectively may be formed according to some letter type or font; here the rendering is visual, and the code is ASCII or the like
human or similar speech, or other sound, that is represented as coded sound; the rendering is audio, and the representation may be various, varying from LPC (linear predictive code) to CD-quality
photographs or other images represented by a coded picture; various compaction standards have been defined
movie represented by a sequence of coded pictures, that may or may not be accompanied by sound; this sound may be coded in another manner than the earlier one.
In principle, the number of the above channels may be chosen greater or smaller, either on the system or on the message level. Smaller, in that one or more of the above may be considered irrelevant or too expensive. Greater, in that additional channels may be considered. A further feasible channel is for example formed by handwriting or by a hand-drawn Figure, that is represented by a string of vectors. In an interactive context, various other categories could be thought of.
Now, the inventors have recognized that the inexperienced user should be guided by a right amount of cues and indications for making the composing of a message a transparent art: the invention is not directed to professional data processing technologists. In particular, such user should readily grasp how far the composing of a particular multimedia message has proceeded without necessitating the replay of the full composition. Note that the latter may offer a problem, when the message contains static, as well as dynamic items: such replay could require several minutes.
SUMMARY TO THE INVENTION
Therefore, amongst other things it is an object of the present invention to visually indicate to a user person which items have been inserted into the message already, and also to some extent, the character or nature of such items. Now according to one of its aspects, the invention is characterized in that by providing in said formatted choice menu various selector spots, each associated to a respective monomedium, and after said entering of a particular user item into the associated space, displaying a symbolizer of that item at a predetermined position next to any remaining selector spot in the menu. Through the visual presentation, the user has a fuller idea of the “to-do” versus “done” character of the various parts of a message to be composed, and moreover, will even during the configuring, be inspired to proceed. For example, the showing of a snapshot photograph at a former selector spot or “hotspot”, may easily bring about new associations for introducing into a textual message. The symbolizers may relate to the content of the associated item in the way of an excerpt, but this is not always feasible or optimum. Their positions may correspond to the position of the hotspot used for entering to the associated monomedium selection, but they may alternatively be, for example, positioned in a row according to seniority.
Advantageously said formatting as being selectably in any of a plurality of predetermined styles that are defined in the form of a respective template. This further supports the non-professional user in easily finding an appropriate message format. Alternatively, the user may be offered a choice for freely composing the succession of the various items in the message and their presentations to the receiver.
The invention also relates to a device for practising the method. Further advantageous aspects of the invention are recited in dependent Claims.
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Robert Cowart, Mastering Windows 3.1, Special Edition, Sybex Inc. 1993, pp. 84, 91, 527.
Seh-Joon Dokko et al, “Development of Multimedia E-Mail System Providing An Integrated Message View”, vol. 1997 IEEE pp. 494-498.
Conference on Telecommunications, vol. 1993, Alan Kuresevic et al., The Multimedia Mail User Agent. pp. 157-164.
Kusano Mieko
Lambourne Robert A.
Lamers Andreas H. E.
Black Thomas G.
Le Uyen
Thorne Gregory L.
U.S. Philips Corp.
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