Image analysis – Image transformation or preprocessing – Selecting a portion of an image
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2003-07-01
Tran, Phuoc (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Image transformation or preprocessing
Selecting a portion of an image
C345S626000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06587596
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates to a method and system of cropping an image.
BACKGROUND
Images can be generated in several ways. For example, an image can be captured using a film-based or digital camera and/or created and edited using image processing software such as ADOBE PHOTOSHOP® or the GNU IMAGE MANIPULATION PROGRAM (“GIMP”). Images captured using a film-based camera typically are stored as film negatives. Images captured using a digital camera typically are stored as digital files residing in the memory of the digital camera and/or a storage medium to which the file has been transferred (for example, a hard drive or CDROM). Images created using image processing software are typically stored as a digital file residing on a computer readable medium such as a hard drive.
An image-based product can be generated from such stored images. As used here, the term “image-based product” refers to an item, regardless of medium, that includes a visual representation of at least a portion of one or more images. One example of an image-based product is an image print (also commonly referred to as a “photograph”). For example, a user can take a picture using a conventional film-based camera and then bring the exposed film to a photo-finishing laboratory to have the laboratory develop the exposed film and generate an image print.
In addition to a visual representation of at least a portion of one or more images, an image-based product can include other components. One conventional type of image-based product is created by mounting an image print in a frame. For example a user can physically take an image print to a frame shop (i.e., to a “brick-and-mortar” frame shop) in order to select a frame (and other components such as a mat) in which to mount the image print. Such a user typically can seek assistance in selecting such components from an employee of the frame shop (referred to here as a “frame shop assistant”). The frame shop assistant can inspect the user's image print and select a mat and frame the assistant believes will look good with the image print. The user can then physically place the image print in or near the selected mat and frame in order to get an idea of how the image print would look mounted with the selected mat and frame. In this way, a user who has little training and experience in selecting an appropriate mat and frame can have a trained and experienced frame shop assistant select a mat and frame for the image print.
When a customer wishes to have a high-quality image print generated from a digital image, the customer need not physically take the digital image to a photo-finishing laboratory and instead can electronically transmit the digital image to an “online” photo-finishing laboratory using a computer network such as the Internet. For example, the customer can use an Internet browser program (referred to herein as a “browser”) such as NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR®, which is commercially available from Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif., USA. The customer can direct the browser to a web site associated with the online photo-finishing laboratory and upload the digital image to a server hosting the web site. The online photo-finishing laboratory can then take the digital image from the web server and produce a high-quality image print from the digital image in a conventional manner. The online photo-finishing laboratory then typically sends the high-quality image print to the customer using a delivery service such as the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE or FEDERAL EXPRESS®.
SUMMARY
Various implementations may include one or more of the following features.
In general, in one aspect, a method of cropping an image to be included in an image-based product can include displaying the image. The method also can include generating a crop mask based on cropping product attributes. The crop mask can have a selected portion corresponding to a selected portion of the image and a cropped portion corresponding to a cropped portion of the image. The method also can include displaying the crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image.
Advantageous implementations of the method include one or more of the following features. The method can further include receiving a crop command and changing the cropping product attributes based on the crop command. In such an implementation, the method can further include generating a new crop mask based on the changed cropping product attributes, and displaying the new crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image.
Optionally, the image can be displayed as the background in an hypertext markup language table cell (e.g., as an image formatted according to the JPEG standard), and the crop mask can be displayed as the foreground of the table cell. For example, the crop mask can be a GIF image. In such an implementation, the selected portion of the crop mask can be transparent so that the selected portion of the image is visible through the crop mask. For example, the crop mask can include a plurality of pixels where the pixels corresponding to the selected portion of the crop mask are transparent and the pixels corresponding to the cropped portion of the crop mask create a checkerboard pattern of transparent pixels and opaque pixels.
Displaying the image can include downloading the image to a client computer and displaying the image on the client computer. In such an implementation, displaying the crop mask over the image can include downloading the crop mask to the client computer and displaying the crop mask on the client computer.
Optionally, receiving the crop command can include receiving the crop command from the client computer. The client computer can transmit the crop command when a user actuates a control displayed on the client computer. The control can be, for example, a button that allows the user to change the shape of the selected portion of the image, a button that allows the user to zoom the selected portion of the image, or a button that allows the user to move the selected portion of the image.
In another aspect, a method can provide a user on a client computer an interface for cropping an image incorporated in an image-based product. The user can crop the image in order to identify selected and cropped portions of the image. The client computer can be in communication with a server and have a display and a pointing device operatively coupled to a cursor displayed on the display. Such a method can include receiving the image from the server, displaying the image, and receiving a crop mask generated by the sever based on a cropping product attribute of the image-based product. The crop mask can have a selected portion corresponding to the selected portion of the image and a cropped portion corresponding to the cropped portion of the image. The method can also include displaying the crop mask over the image to visually indicate the selected portion of the image and displaying a control that, when actuated, causes a crop command to be sent to the server.
Advantageous implementations of the method include one or more of the following features. The image can be displayed as the background in an hypertext markup language table cell (e.g., as an image formatted according to the JPEG standard), and the crop mask can be displayed as the foreground of the table cell (e.g., as a GIF image). The selected portion of the crop mask can be transparent so that the selected portion of the image is visible through the crop mask. For example, the crop mask can include a plurality of pixels where the pixels corresponding to the selected portion of the crop mask are transparent and the pixels corresponding to the cropped portion of the crop mask create a checkerboard pattern of transparent pixels and opaque pixels.
Optionally, the control can be a button that allows the user to change the shape of the selected portion of the image, a button that allows the user to zoom the selected portion of the image, or a button that allows the user to move the select
Shutterfly Inc.
Tran Phuoc
Tran & Associates
LandOfFree
System and method of cropping an image does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method of cropping an image, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method of cropping an image will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3064686