WO2008124945A1

WO2008124945A1 - Method and system for user customizable mobile content creation and delivery

Info

Publication number: WO2008124945A1
Application number: PCT/CA2008/000713
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Craig Boothroyd
Original assignee: Aftercad Software Inc.
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2008-04-14
Publication date: 2008-10-23

Abstract

A method is provided for users to create customized content for prepaid delivery to mobile devices. The user accesses a mobile content creation web site via the Internet or other computer network using web browser client software and selects for uploading a content template; ii) the user uses Web/WAP based tools to add content to or alter the content template and thereby creates customized graphics and text content; iii) the user selects a delivery option; and iv) the customized graphics and text content is delivered to a mobile device wherein the delivery is made without charge to the recipient.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USER CUSTOMIZABLE MOBILE CONTENT CREATION AND DELIVERY

Technical Field The invention relates to the creation and delivery of customized graphics and text to mobile devices such as cellphones.

Background

Currently mobile messaging between mobile devices such as cellular telephones includes audio such as live voice and voice mail, text messaging such as Short Message Service (SMS) and email, and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Users can download ringtones and other prepared content. Such mobile content is typically "canned" content as opposed to custom prepared by the user. Similarly users can send SMS and MMS from web sites to mobile devices. Mobile content software is client application based as opposed to web based, for example ringtone mixers. One can send SMS and MMS from web sites to mobile devices but no web based tools to create and customize the MMS are available. There is therefore a need for a method for users to create customized content to deliver to mobile devices.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Summary

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

The present invention provides a method for users to create customized content for prepaid delivery to mobile devices. The present invention permits the same custom graphic which is created to be used on a blog, profiles on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook or other web-based application, and also to be sent to a mobile device. More particularly the invention provides a method of creating and delivering customized graphics and text to mobile devices, in a network wherein a plurality of users having computer terminals provided with web browser client software have access via the Internet or other computer network to a mobile content creation web site maintained by a system server, and wherein a cellular network has access to the Internet or other computer network and communicates with a number of mobile devices, the method comprising: i) the user accessing the mobile content creation web site via the Internet or other computer network using the web browser client software and selecting for uploading a content template; ii) the user using Web/WAP based tools to add content to or alter the content template and thereby creating customized graphics and text content; iii) the user selecting a delivery option; iv) delivering the customized graphics and text content to a mobile device wherein the delivery is made without charge to the recipient.

The present invention applies Web 2.0 tools based on technologies such as AJAX to allow the user to create text and graphics directly on a webpage. The creation of custom content can be delivered for display on blogs, which includes profiles on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, or other web-based applications and for mobile SMS/MMS delivery. The system may be used for example to send a friend or relative a customized electronic greeting card sent to the recipient's mobile device in a prepaid fashion.

As a preferred method of custom creating the image, whether 2D or 3D, the system may use the METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING AND INTERACTIVELY DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICS as disclosed in the present applicant's co-pending International patent application publication no. WO08040123 published April 10, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions. Brief Description of Drawings

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the network or system used to carry out the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of the invention in further detail; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a customized greeting card containing an advertising field.

Description

Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

The term mobile device is used to refer to mobile wireless communication devices which communicate over a communication network, including cellular telephones, mobile phones, wireless laptop computers, Blackberries, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers and the like.

With reference to Figure 1 , the method of the invention is carried out by users via a plurality of computer terminals 10, whether desktop, laptop, mobile device or the like, and provided with web browser client software, accessing a mobile content creation web site maintained by the system server 12 via the Internet 14 or other computer network. A cellular network 16 has access to Internet 14 and communicates with a number of mobile devices 18. The user may, as an example, wish to create custom content, such as a greeting card, for delivery to a mobile device 18 using a deployment server 20 and a WAP hosting server 22. Deployment - A -

server 20 and/or WAP hosting server 22 may be the same server as creation server 12, or different and separate. The user may also post the content on a blog, email or web site via a web hosting server 24 which is accessed over the Internet by a recipient desktop computer 26.

With reference to Figure 2, as a first step, the user 10 may access the system web site via the Internet and server 12 using Internet browser software and select for uploading from the system web site a content template 13. The user for example may click on a menu on the system web site and be presented with a series of graphic templates to choose as the backdrop (2D two-dimensional) or scene (3D three-dimensional). Alternatively the user may upload a 2D image or photo to use as the template instead, or select an image file from a directory on the user's computer or local network, or via the Internet. The user can also upload a 3D model to use as the template. Alternatively, the user can, rather than starting with a graphic template, draw everything using drawing tools provided on the system web site, either AJAX ("Advanced Javascripting and XML" or "Asynchronous JavaScripting and XML") tools or WAP tools, without the need to download third party applications to the user's terminal.

Media file types that could form the template include (but are not limited to), Jpeg, Gif, animated Gif, Flash Vector file (animated, such as an exploding birthday cake, or not), Flash Video, 3GP or other Video format, or a 3D Flash Player.

Again with reference to Figure 2, as step 2, the user uses Web/WAP based tools to create content. The user is presented with an array of tools on the system Web site that would allow them to make and alter text and graphical art. These may be text or drawing tools provided on the system Web site, such as AJAX ("Advanced Javascripting and XML" or "Asynchronous JavaScripting and XML") tools or WAP tools, without the need to download third party applications to the user's terminal. The user may also be presented tools on WAP site that is accessible from a mobile device. The user may type in the text 15 or choose some clip-art. The user may add a drop shadow, for example, or might add an animated effect. The created content might be proofed or displayed in a Flash window to view. The user may then commit or move the newly created graphic into the template. All the changes and edits are stored at server 12. The user may then move, scale and rotate content to a final position or version and save the file at server 12. Further with reference to Figure 2, as step 3, the user selects from multiple delivery options from a menu 17 at the system Web site. Once the custom content has been added to the template, the user may then publish the content to (but not limited to); Email, Web site, Blog (which includes profiles on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook), or a Mobile Device. The User is then presented with multiple delivery options to prepare and send the custom content to (but not limited to);a Single Image file (such as a JPEG), a Video file such as 3GP or AVI, a Flash File, or a 3D Scene.

As step 4, where the user selects delivery to a mobile device, the user is presented with a menu 19, and enters the telephone number of the recipient. The user can prepay for mobile delivery as SMS/MMS. Delivery of custom content to email, web sites and blogs prepared by this method may be free, pay or advertisement- supported. Delivery to mobile devices however will generally be a pay service. One aspect of this invention permits a user to create a custom message much like a gift card whereby the user pre-pays for the delivery up front so that the recipient is not charged, or is charged very little. The user may choose to pay for the delivery of the custom content by (but not limited to) charging it to their own telephone bill (as shown in Fig. 2), PayPal, VISA, charge to an account, or pay by subscription. The user may then use an SMS service to deliver a "pickup link" to the recipient's phone whereby the recipient can use the link on the phone to download the custom graphic. The user can send the content through a professional content aggregation service like Bango that would deliver the custom graphic to a telecom carrier who would then allow it to be downloaded to the recipient's phone in the same way that the recipient receives purchased wallpaper or a screen saver from the provider.

The method of the invention is described in further detail with reference to Figure 3. The user 10 may select for uploading a content template, in this case the graphic image of a cruise ship 13, by interacting with creation server 12 using AJAX tools. The user may click on a menu and is presented with a series of graphic templates to choose as the backdrop (2D) or scene (3D). In this case the server 12 pulls the template 13 from template database 32. Alternatively the user may upload a 2D image or photo to use as the template instead, or select an image file from a directory on the user's computer or local network, or via the Internet. The user can also upload a 3D model to use as the template. Alternatively, the User can, rather than starting with a graphic template, draw everything using drawing tools provided on the system web site, either AJAX ("Advanced Javascripting and XML" or "Asynchronous JavaScripting and XML") tools or WAP tools, without the need to download third party applications to the user's terminal

As a preferred method of editing, adding to and manipulating the image, whether 2D or 3D, the system may use the METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING AND INTERACTIVELY DISPLAYING THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICS as disclosed in the present applicant's co-pending International patent application publication no. WO08040123 published April 10, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. That method provides a method whereby the user can view and interact with live, realtime 3D content using just a web browser, requiring no extra downloads or 3rd party 3D plugins. The method uses W3C standard bitmap formats, typically JPEG, as the delivery vehicle for server side rendered 3D content. The method provides a 3D rendering application that runs on a web server and responds to commands from the user's web browser to manipulate, re-render and deliver new 3D rendered scenes back to the users' browser. It preferably uses AJAX - Asynchronous Javascript and XML to create the client side Web 3D scene manipulation tool set. This process offloads the tasks of positioning and rendering a scene to the server while allowing the client to interface with the server given a unique set of AJAX controls. These AJAX controls allow the user to interact with the scene, while only sending the data necessary for the server to re-render the scene. The AJAX controls then take this newly rendered raster image and display it to the user.

The server is a rendering and interprocess communication server. On startup the process initializes the rendering device and network device. It then listens for requests from client processes (AJAX enabled browsers). When it receives a client request, the server grabs the AJAX request variables and initializes a viewport and transforms the geometry into the scene. It next performs any lighting and shading requests on the scene before it does a final render to the rendering device. The rendering buffer is then dumped to a JPG image and an AJAX response is generated back to the client. This response will include the new image to load as well as any other information that the client has requested.

According to the foregoing method, whether the image prepared by the user is 2D or 3D, the system server treats it as a 3D image, deconstructs the image, brings it into the 3D scene creation agent, converts files to the display format in the 3D environment and then serves the file out to the user as a 3D image to a 3D server such as Myspace.com, a mobile device, or as a 2D image such as a .jpeg to a cellphone or other mobile device.

Again media file types that could form the template include (but are not limited to), JPEG, Gif, animated Gif, Flash Vector file (animated or not), Flash Video, 3GP or other Video format, or a 3D Flash Player.

Again with reference to Figure 3 as steps 2 and 3, the user uses Web/WAP based tools to create content by interacting with creation server 12 using AJAX tools. The user is presented with an array of tools on the Web site that would allow them to make and alter text and graphical art. The user may also be presented tools on WAP site that is accessible from a mobile device. In this case the user types the text "Happy Birthday Frank" and "Enjoy Your Cruise" into the template.

Alternatively the user can choose some clip-art The user might add a drop shadow and proof it in a small flash window. The user might also add an animated effect and proof in a small flash window. All the changes and edits are stored at server 12. The user may then move, scale and rotate content to a final position or version and save the file at server 12. Once the final file 34 is completed the user stores it on server 12.

Further with reference to Figure 3, as described above the user selects from multiple delivery options menu 13. Once the custom content has been added to the template, the user may then publish the content 34 to (but not limited to); Email, Web site, Blog (such as My Space), or mobile device. The user is then presented with multiple delivery options to prepare/send the custom content to (but not limited to); a Single Image file (like a JPG), a Video file like 3GP or AVI, a Flash File, or a 3D Scene. The creation server 12 then sends the file 34 to the deployment server 20.

For delivery to a mobile device, the deployment server 20 arranges the prepayment and converts the format for delivery to a mobile device such as SMS, Push WAP or MMS. The file is then sent to the WAP Hosting Server 22 for transmission over the cellular network to the recipient mobile device 18. As noted above, the user will preferably pre-pay for mobile delivery as SMS/MMS. Thus where the user selects delivery to a mobile device, the user is presented with a menu 19, and enters the telephone number of the recipient. The user can then pre-pay for mobile delivery as SMS/MMS. Delivery of custom content to email, web sites and blogs prepared by this method may be free, pay or advertisement-supported. Delivery to mobile devices however will generally be a pay service. One aspect of this invention permits a user to create a custom message much like a gift card whereby the user pre-pay s for the delivery up front so that the recipient is not charged, or is charged very little. The user may choose to pay for the delivery of the custom content by (but not limited to) charging it to their own Phone bill (as shown in Fig. 2), PayPal, VISA, charge to an account, or pay by subscription. The user may then use an SMS service to deliver a "pickup link" to the users phone whereby the recipient could use the link on the phone to download the custom graphic. The user can send through a professional content aggregation service like Bango that would deliver the custom graphic to a telecom carrier who would then allow it to be downloaded to the recipient's phone like wallpaper or a screen saver.

For delivery to a web site, blog or email, the deployment server 20 arranges the prepayment, if applicable, and converts the format for delivery to a web site, blog or email. The file is then sent to the Web Hosting Server 24 for transmission over the Internet to the recipient desktop computer 26.

The present invention may be used to generate advertising revenue for the system operator as follows. The templates 13 may be provided by advertisers to include the advertiser's product or service. For example an automobile manufacturer may provide the system operator with some 2D and 3D templates of the manufacturer's cars which are offered to users to annotate or customize. Each time such template is selected by a user to annotate or customize the advertiser may pay the system operator a fee, similar to a product placement fee. Or the MMS fee can be charged to the advertiser when the customized graphic is delivered. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, a dedicated advertising space 40 containing an advertising message can be automatically attached to the customized template 34 whenever one is sent. In addition, or instead of an advertising message space 40 can contain a hyperlink to an advertiser's web site. When the customized graphic gets sent to the recipient's cell phone, the advertiser may pay the SMS/MMS sending fee. When the graphic gets posted on the recipient's Facebook profile, for every view (CPM or cost per thousand views) or click (CPC or cost per click), the advertiser pays a fee to the system operator.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of creating and delivering customized graphics and text to mobile devices, in a network wherein a plurality of users having computer terminals provided with web browser client software have access via the Internet or other computer network to a mobile content creation web site maintained by a system server, and wherein a cellular network has access to said Internet or other computer network and communicates with a number of mobile devices, said method comprising: i) said user accessing the mobile content creation web site via the

Internet or other computer network using said web browser client software and selecting for uploading a content template; ii) said user using Web/WAP based tools to add content to or alter said content template and thereby creating customized graphics and text content; iii) said user selecting a delivery option; iv) delivering said customized graphics and text content to a mobile device wherein said delivery is made without charge to the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said customized graphics and text content is also delivered to email, web sites or blogs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said delivery of said customized graphics and text content is pre-paid by said user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said delivery of said customized graphics and text content is paid by an advertiser.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selects delivery to a mobile device by entering the telephone number of the recipient.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein mobile delivery is pre-paid SMS/MMS.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said template is provided by an advertiser.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein advertising content is added to said customized graphics and text content prior to delivery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said advertising content comprises a hyperlink.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said hyperlink is used to calculate payments by said advertiser.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said template is two-dimensional.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said template is three dimensional.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said content template is selected from the content creation web site.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said content template is selected from a directory on the user's computer or local network, or via the Internet.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said content template is drawn by the user using drawing tools provided on the content creation web site.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said content template has a file type selected from the group consisting of JPEG, GIF, animated GIF, Flash Vector, Flash Video, 3GP and 3D Flash Player.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web/WAP based tools comprise AJAX tools.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said Web/ WAP based tools comprise WAP tools.