Abstract:
A system for creating a scrapbook by a plurality of users includes a computer storage device configured to store book-design information for a scrapbook comprising a plurality of pages and an image on at least one of the plurality of pages, one or more first computer servers configured to retrieve the book-design information from the computer storage device and to transmit at least a portion of the book-design information to a plurality of computer devices through a computer network to enable the display of one or more pages of the scrapbook, and one or more second computer servers configured to receive input to the scrapbook through the computer network from the plurality of computer devices and to store the input to the scrapbook in association with the book-design information on the computer storage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED INVENTIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention is related to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/106,902 [Attorney Docket no. SF046001], filed on Mar. 25, 2002, titled “Producing and sharing personalized photo calendars”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/086,579 [Attorney Docket no. SF012C003], filed on Mar. 22, 2005, titled “Utilization of digital images”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/176,049 [Attorney Docket no. SF055001], filed on Jul. 7, 2005, titled “Automatic generation of a photo album”. The disclosure of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This application relates to the utilization of digital images, specifically the design of image-based products.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Scrapbooking is a creative activity for preserving people&#39;s memories. A scrapbook can include multiple pages. Each page can include text, illustrations, background designs, decorations by the scrapbook creator. and photographic pictures.  
         [0004]     Scrapbooking can also be a social event. A group of scrapbook enthusiasts can get together to share ideas on content, designs, layout, book-making techniques, or picture preservation tips in a workshop and at a home class. Several people can jointly create a scrapbook at such a social event. Scrapbooking is an increasingly popular phenomenon that appeals to people&#39;s longing for preserving memories, strengthening relationship, and enriching communities. A large number of scrapbooking groups exist in the United States.  
         [0005]     The spreading of scrapbooking activities, however, has been inhibited by several limitations. Although common memories shared by family members perhaps hold the largest source materials for scrapbooking, scrapbooking gatherings are often impractical for family members residing at distant locations. Furthermore, a group of people living in the same community can also have difficulties to find common time for a workshop because of obligations to other daily activities.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the present application relates to a system for creating a scrapbook by a plurality of users, comprising:  
         [0007]     a computer storage device configured to store book-design information for a scrapbook comprising a plurality of pages and an image on at least one of the plurality of pages;  
         [0008]     one or more first computer servers configured to retrieve the book-design information from the computer storage device and to transmit at least a portion of the book-design information to a plurality of computer devices through a computer network to enable the display of one or more pages of the scrapbook; and  
         [0009]     one or more second computer servers configured to receive input to the scrapbook through the computer network from the plurality of computer devices and to store the input to the scrapbook in association with the book-design information on the computer storage.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, the present application relates to a system for creating a scrapbook by a plurality of users, comprising:  
         [0011]     a computer storage device configured to store book-design information for a scrapbook, wherein the book-design information includes page layout information including one or more of image objects and/or text objects for at least one page of the scrapbook;  
         [0012]     one or more first computer servers configured to retrieve the book-design information from the computer storage device and to transmit at least a portion of the book-design information to a plurality of computer devices through a computer network to enable the display of one or more pages of the scrapbook; and  
         [0013]     one or more second computer servers configured to receive input to the scrapbook through the computer network from the plurality of computer devices,  
         [0014]     wherein the storage device is configured to incorporate the input to the scrapbook from the plurality of computer devices into the book-design information in association with the scrapbook.  
         [0015]     In yet another aspect, the present application relates to a method for creating a scrapbook by a plurality of users, comprising:  
         [0016]     producing page layout information including one or more of image objects and/or text objects for at least one page of the scrapbook;  
         [0017]     storing the page layout information for the scrapbook on a computer storage device;  
         [0018]     transmitting the page layout information to a plurality of computer devices through a computer network;  
         [0019]     displaying one or more pages of the scrapbook in accordance with the page layout information;  
         [0020]     receiving input to the scrapbook through the computer network from the plurality of computer devices; and  
         [0021]     incorporating the input to the scrapbook from the plurality of computer devices into the page-layout information stored on the storage device.  
         [0022]     Embodiments may include one or more of the following advantages. The disclosed system and methods enable scrapbook enthusiasts to collaboratively contribute to the same scrapbook from remote locations. Multiple scrapbook enthusiasts can contribute content and design to the same scrapbook without meeting in person. The input from the multiple of scrapbook enthusiasts can be collected and incorporated in the same scrapbook template. The scrapbook can be displayed and viewed at the remote locations. An editor can edit the scrapbook to its final form. Different versions of the scrapbook information can be saved and stored on a network storage device and made available for display to the scrapbook enthusiasts.  
         [0023]     Another advantage of the disclosed system and methods is that they provide flexibility in creating the scrapbooks. A number of scrapbook enthusiasts can contribute to a scrapbook at the same times, at partially overlapping times, or at different times. The input to the scrapbook can be simultaneously collected and stored at the network storage device. Alternatively, the input to the scrapbook can be collected and stored at different times.  
         [0024]     Yet another advantage of the disclosed system and methods is the flexible page layout that allows different scrapbook enthusiasts to contribute to the same page or even the same object within a page of a scrapbook. The input from the different users will not create conflicts. One of the scrapbook enthusiasts can act as an editor to incorporate the input from all scrapbook enthusiasts to finalize the book design.  
     
    
     DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS  
       [0025]     In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated, in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0026]     The accompanying drawing, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a network-based system.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart for creating a scrapbook by a plurality of collaborative users.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of creating a scrapbook by a plurality of collaborative users.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates another example of creating a scrapbook by a plurality of collaborative users. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the system  10  for collaboratively creating a scrapbook by multiple contributors. A network-based system  20  is in communication with a plurality of computer devices  60  and  61  through a computer network such as the Internet  50  and wireless network based on various communication protocols such as WI-FL, W-Max, and 802.11. The computer devices  60  and  61  can include desktop or laptop personal computers, portable computer devices such as personal digital assistance (PDA), cellular phones, etc. The network-based system  20  includes a data center  30  and one or more printing and finishing facilities  40  and  41  that are connected by a network  80   
         [0033]     The data center  30  can include one or more servers  32  and data storage devices  34  for storing book-design information for the scrapbooks. The data center  30  can also include one or more computer processors  36  for processing orders and rendering the scrapbook pages and covers in accordance to the scrapbook-design information. In the present invention, the term “scrapbook” refers to a book that includes one or two cover pages and one or more pages. The pages can be sequenced by page numbers. The scrapbook can include one or more images, text, image caption, and graphic one or more of the pages. The book-design information can include page-layout information for the pages in the scrapbook, image data, image positions on a page, text information, text location on a page, the sequence of the pages, page numbers, graphic designs, decorations, properties of the book cover, and binding information. The scrapbook can be bound, glued, or include refillable pages to a binder. The scrapbook cover can also include different types of materials, textures and colors. Scrapbook can also be referred as photo albums, photo books, snap books, and any books form including bound image pages and information contributed by the users.  
         [0034]     The book-design information can be contributed by a plurality of users. A single page or a single object on a page of the scrapbook can include input from different users. The storage devices  34  can also include user account information such as user names of the scrapbook enthusiasts contributing to the same scrapbook and password for the users. The storage devices  34  can also include information for the scrapbook orders.  
         [0035]     An Internet website can be powered by the servers  32  to serve as a web interface between the users  70  and  71  and the network-based system  20 . The users  70  and  71  can view the scrapbook designs, provide input to the scrapbook, and order scrapbooks through the web interface. The printing and finishing facilities  40  and  41  can print and finish the scrapbooks. Finishing can include operations such as cutting, folding, gluing and binding the scrapbooks.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart for collaboratively creating a scrapbook by a plurality of users. A scrapbook project can be started by the user  70  in step  210  using the web interface such as an Internet Browser to the website. The scrapbook can include a plurality of pages and covers. Each page or cover can include one or more image objects and text objects. The scrapbook-design information can be saved by the user  70  as a scrapbook project on the storage devices  34  to allow users  70  and  71  to access the scrapbook project and make contributions to the scrapbooks.  
         [0037]     In steps  221 - 223 , different users  70  and  71  or “User 1”, “User 2”, “User N” can access the saved scrapbook project using computer devices  60  and  61  from different locations. The computer devices  60  and  61  can receive from the servers  32  update-to-date book-design information saved on the storage device  34 . The users  70  and  71  can each view the page layouts of the scrapbook on a display device in communication with the computer devices  60  and  61 . Update-to-date book-design information saved on the storage device  34  can be synchronously displayed and viewable by the users  70  and  71 . The users  70  and  71  can enter their inputs to the scrapbook using computer devices  60  and  61  via the web interface. For example, the page layout of the scrapbook can include text boxes for receiving text information or image area for receiving images from the users operating variously computer devices  60  and  61 . The users  70  and  71  may be able to drag an image file from the computer device  70  and  71  and dropped the image file in the image are. The inputs are instantly transmitted to the servers  32  over the Internet  50  and collected in step  230  and incorporated and saved in the scrapbook project on the storage device  34  in step  240 . The steps  221 - 223  to step  240  can be repeated multiple times before all the input are collected from the users  70  and  71 .  
         [0038]     An advantage of the disclosed system  10  is that it allows users  70  and  71  to provide their input to the scrapbook at different locations, thus collaboratively creating a scrapbook without the need for a face-to-face meeting. They can also enter their input at times convenient to them, which can be at a same period of time or at different times. The input information from the users  70  and  71  can be collected by the servers  32  and storage devices  34  simultaneously, at different times, or with a time delay. For example, as an alternative to a web browser interface to the system  10 , the user  70  and  71  can also download a software application on to the computer device  60 . The application software can receive parameters for defining page layouts of a scrapbook and functions for receiving scrapbook-design information. The software application can display the page layout of the scrapbook pages on a display device in accordance to the scrapbook-design information. Input by a user to the software application can be locally stored on the computer devices  60  and  61  and can be transmitted to the servers  32  in a synchronous or asynchronous manner.  
         [0039]     The scrapbook project includes several features to enable collaborative contributions by a plurality of users  70  and  71 . The scrapbook template include page layout for each page that include one or more fields for receiving the image or text objects. The fields for the objects can be fixed in the page layout or can be moved by a user  70  or  71 . For example, pages 10 and 11 (pages 341 and 345) are displayed in a web interface  340  of a display device  330  that can be part of the computer device  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Page 441 includes image object  342  and a text object  343 . Similarly, pages 10 and 11 (pages 371 and 375) can also be displayed in a web interface  370  of a display device  360  that can be part of the computer device  61 . The image objects  342  and  376  and text objects  343  and  377  can be previously input by other users  70  and  71 . Users  70  and  71  can also make input to the scrapbook simultaneously. The input can be transmitted to the network system  310  through the Internet  320  and collected by the servers  32  and storage devices  34 .  
         [0040]     The scrapbook template allows multiple inputs to the same page or the same object on a page from different users.  FIG. 4  illustrates how different users  70  and  71  can contribute to the same objects on a page of a scrapbook. Pages 10 and 11 (pages 441 and 445) are displayed in a web interface  440  of a display device  430  that can be part of the computer device  60 . Page 441 includes image object  442  and a text object  443  entered by the user  70 . Page 445 includes image object  446  and text object  447  input by the user  70 . Pages 10 and 11 (pages 471 and 475) are also displayed in a web interface  470  of a display device  460  that can be part of the computer device  61 . Page 471 (illustrating page 10 of the scrapbook) includes an image object  472  that is the same as image object  442 . Page 471 can also include a text object  473  input by the user  71  at the same page location as the text object  443  on page 441 displayed on the display device  430 . Similarly, Page 11 can be displayed as page 445 on the web interface  440  or as page 475 on the web interface  470 . The image object  446  can be the same as image object  476 , while different input by users  70  and  71  can be made in text object  447  and text object  477  by different users  70  and  71 . The input by the users  70  and  71  are transmitted to the network system  410  through the Internet  420  and collected by the servers  32  and storage devices  34 .  
         [0041]     The template in the scrapbook can allow multiple layers for each page of the scrapbook to capture the input on the same page or the same object of a page by the different users  70  and  71 . Different layers can capture different inputs for the same page or the same object(s) on the same page of the scrapbook. The different layers can be saved as redundant pages such as “Page 10”, “Page 10A”, “Page 10B”, etc., wherein “Page 10A” and “Page 10B” are redundant pages to “Page 10”. Alternatively, the layers can be implemented as HTML layers that can superimpose on the same page. The redundant input to the same page or objects can be compiled or edited after all the inputs are collected. In contrast, prior art systems only allow a single user to contribute to the design of an image-based product at each time. Multiple inputs to the same object are not allowed.  
         [0042]     A user  70 ,  71  can compile and edit the scrapbook in step  250 . The user  70  can edit the scrapbook while other users are still making inputs to the scrapbook, or wait till all the inputs are collected and saved on the storage device  34 . The scrapbook can be published on the web and/or printed through an order to the system  10  by users  70  and  71  in step  260 .