Abstract:
A method is provided for photo frames with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce. The method comprises: determining, by a geographic location sensing device, a first geographic location of the mobile device; obtaining, by a communication device, information from an external source regarding templates for photo frames associated with second geographic locations of known proximity to the first geographic location; downloading, by the communication device, a template for one of the photo frames for which information was received, the photo frame including a graphic content; combining, by the processor, the graphic content from the photo frame with additional graphic content from one of a digital photo stored previously stored in a memory or a digital photo taken by a digital camera; creating a new digital photo from the combined graphic content; and storing the new digital photo in the memory.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/684,030, filed Aug. 16, 2012, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHOTO FRAME WITH DYNAMIC AUTOMATIC TEMPLATE BUILDING SYSTEM AND LOCATION SENSITIVE PHOTO COMMERCE (Atty. Dkt. No. VMZA-31187), the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a system and method for providing graphic frame content to a mobile device that may be combined with a first digital photo to create a second digital photo that incorporates elements of both the graphic frame and the first digital photo. In particular, the invention relates to a system and method for providing graphic frame content that is automatically customized based on the geographic location of a mobile device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is known to provide digital graphic content called a “photo frame” that can be combined with a first digital photo to create a second digital photo wherein all or part of the content of the first digital photo is “framed”, i.e., surrounded by, the digital graphic content of the photo frame. Such photo frames can be used to embellish or enhance the appearance of the original (i.e., first) digital photo. After creation, the second digital photo incorporating the photo frame may be stored in a memory, displayed on a screen, printed as a hard copy, or transferred to another device. 
         [0004]    It is also known to provide a physical display device called a “digital frame” for displaying digital photos. Such digital frames typically use a LCD display screen or an LED display screen to display the digital photos from a memory. Such digital frames may sometimes be referred to as digital photo frames; however they are quite different from the graphic content photo frames previously described. 
         [0005]    For purposes of this application, unless otherwise expressly stated, the term “photo frame” shall refer to digital graphic content that can be combined with a first digital photo to create a second digital photo, and not to the physical display device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for execution on a mobile device for photo frames with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce on the mobile device. The mobile device has a processor, a touchscreen display operatively coupled to the processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, a communication device operatively coupled to the processor, a geographic location sensing device operatively coupled to the processor and a digital camera operatively coupled to the processor. The method comprises the following steps: determining, by a geographic location sensing device operatively coupled to a processor of a mobile device, a first geographic location of the mobile device; obtaining, by a communication device operatively coupled to the processor, information from an external source regarding templates for photo frames associated with second geographic locations of known proximity to the first geographic location; downloading, by the communication device, a template for one of the photo frames for which information was received from the external source, the photo frame including a graphic content; combining, by the processor, the graphic content from the photo frame with additional graphic content from one of a digital photo stored previously stored in a memory operatively coupled to the processor or a digital photo taken by a digital camera operatively coupled to the processor; creating a new digital photo from the combined graphic content from the photo frame and the additional graphic content; and storing the new digital photo in the memory. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the information regarding templates for photo frames associated with second geographic locations is filtered to display only information regarding photo frames associated with second geographic locations within a specified distance of the first geographic location. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the user of the mobile device can select the specified distance from a range of distances. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the user of the mobile device can select the specified distance from a range of distances using a slider on a touchscreen operatively connected to the processor. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the user of the mobile device can select the specified distance from plurality of predetermined distances. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the photo frame further comprises user-supplied data added to the graphic content. 
         [0012]    In still another embodiment, the photo frame further comprises date information automatically added to the graphic content. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment, the photo frame further comprises location specific photo commerce information added to the graphic content. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a system for executing a method for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with one aspect of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   a  shows a template for a digital photo frame including location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   b  shows a digital photo produced by combining a first digital photo with the photo frame template of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a system and method for dynamic automatic template building and location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate a system for executing a method for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building and location sensitive photo commerce on a mobile device in accordance with another aspect of the invention, wherein  FIG. 4   a  is a first portion of the flowchart and  FIG. 4   b  is a second portion of the flowchart. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of a system and method for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a system for executing a method for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The system is typically executed using a mobile device  100 . The mobile device  100  may be a smart phone such as an iPhone™ brand smart phone running the iOS™ brand operating system, a smart phone running the Android™ brand operating system, a smart phone running the Windows™ brand operating system, another smart phone, a tablet such as the iPad™ brand tablet running the iOS™ brand operating system, a tablet running the Android™ brand operating system, a tablet running the Windows™ brand operating system or another tablet. The mobile device  100  includes a processor  102 , a touchscreen display  104  operatively coupled to the processor (e.g., via display driver  105 ) and having a rectangular screen  106 , a memory  108  operatively coupled to the processor, a communication device  110  operatively coupled to the processor, a geographic location sensing device  112  operatively coupled to the processor and a digital camera  114  operatively coupled to the processor. A plurality of digital photos may be stored in the memory  108  of the mobile device  100 . The digital photos in the memory  108  may be photos taken using the camera  114  or photos received via the communication device  110  from another device. The geographic location sensing device  112  is preferably a GPS (i.e., global positioning system) device; however, any type of location sensing device may be used, including devices using cellular triangulation, Wi-Fi domain identification, etc., which receive signals that can be used to determine the geographic location of the mobile device  100 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2   a , there is illustrated a template for a photo frame including location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with one embodiment. In the illustrated example, the template  200  is shown displayed on the screen  106  of a mobile device  100 . The template  200  includes graphic content  202  that surrounds a reserved space  204  set aside for the user-supplied photo that will be framed by the photo frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the graphic content  202  of the template  200  surrounds the reserved space  204  on all four sides; however, having graphic content on all four sides of the reserved space is not required. In other embodiments, the graphic content  202  of the photo frame template  200  may surround the reserved space  204  on only two or three sides, or even on a single side. 
         [0023]    The graphic content  202  of the photo frame template  200  may include preselected thematic elements  205  including, but not limited to, colors, patterns, icons, images and/or wording that relate to a particular theme of interest. In the illustrated example, the photo frame template  200  corresponds to a “birth announcement” theme, and the thematic elements  205  include a border color, polka dots  205   a , border piping  205   b , and “cloud-shaped” text spaces  205   c  and  205   d . The photo frame template may further include user fields  208  set aside within the graphic content  202  for user customization and/or auto-content fields  210  set aside within the graphic content for content automatically generated by the template building system as further explained below. In the illustrated example, a first user field  208   a  is provided within the thematic element  205   c  to allow the user to specify the baby&#39;s gender and a second user field  208   b  is provided within the thematic element  205   d  to allow the user to specify the baby&#39;s name. Also in the illustrated example, a first auto-content field  210   a  is provided for photo commerce purposes and a second auto-content field  210   b  is provided for providing a date automatically generated by the template building system. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2   b , there is illustrated a digital photo  212  produced by combining a first (i.e., original) digital photo  214  with the graphic content  202  provided by the photo frame template  200 , including user customization fields and auto-content fields generated by the template building system. In the digital photo  212 , the content from the first digital photo  214  (in this example, a photo of a newborn baby) has been inserted (i.e., digitally) by the system into the reserved space  204  of the template  200 , and the graphic content  202  of the photo frame provided by the template now surrounds the original photo. In addition, the system has inserted user-provided content  216  regarding the baby&#39;s gender (i.e., “GIRL”  216   a ) into the user field  208   a  and regarding the baby&#39;s name (i.e., “OLIVIA EMILY”  216   b ) into the user field  208   b . In addition, the system has inserted location specific photo commerce content  218  (i.e., “County Hosp.” and logo) provided by the template building system into the first auto-content field  210   a  and inserted an automatically generated content  220  (i.e., date “11 06 2011”) into the second auto-content field  210 . 
         [0025]    In another aspect of the invention, a dynamic automatic template building system for photo frames and location specific photo commerce may operate as follows. A web form may be used to collects event/location data. Event/location data may include, but is not limited to, name, start date, start time, end date, end time, geographic location, and radius of location coverage. The web form may also be used to specify graphic content for use in the template for the event/location. The graphic content may be provided by the user (e.g., uploaded) via the web form and/or the user may select some or all of the graphic content from a plurality of preselected themes via the web form. After the event/location data and graphic content are specified via the web form, an asset builder system generates one or more photo frame templates using the specified graphic content and parameters (i.e., event/location data). The asset builder system then publishes the photo frame templates to one or more websites, e-commerce sites and/or social media outlets specified by the user and/or the system. 
         [0026]    The photo frame templates may be accessed (i.e., from the relevant websites, e-commerce site and/or social media outlet) via software executable on a mobile device  100  as further described herein. Typically, a particular photo frame template may only be accessed and/or used on the mobile device when the mobile device  100  is within the time/date/geographic location/radius parameters specified by the event/location data for that particular template. Once accessed via the software on the mobile device  100 , each photo frame template can yield one or more digital photo frames that may be used to produce customized digital photos on a mobile device. 
         [0027]    Digital photos produced using the photo frames created by the dynamic automatic template building system may be uploaded by the system to specified websites, e-commerce sites and/or social media outlets. In some embodiments, digital photos produce by the system may be automatically uploaded by the system to one or more websites specified in the event/location data and/or by the system, e.g., a photo gallery site or photo sharing site. In other embodiments, the digital photos produced by the system may be automatically uploaded by the system to one or more e-commerce sites specified by the event/location data and/or by the system where physical prints of the digital photos can be purchased. In still other embodiments, the digital photos produced by the system may be automatically uploaded by the system to one or more social media outlets specified by the event/location data and/or by the system. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a system and method for dynamic automatic template building and location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with another aspect. Specifically,  FIG. 3  shows a map  300  of a geographic area featuring streets  302  and locations  304 . The location of a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device  100 ) as determined by the geographic location sensing device  112  ( FIG. 1 ) is indicated by cross  306 . The system software executed on the mobile device  100  may allow a particular photo template to be made available only to mobile devices within a preselected geographic area, for example an area specified in the event/location data. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the template can be specified to be available: a) within only a set radius; b) within a region; or c) globally. If the “only within a set radius” setting is selected, the template will only be available to a mobile device  100  when the device location  306  is within a pre-specified small radius (denoted by circle  308 ) of the specified location. In the illustrated case, only photo templates associated with nearby location  304   a  would be available to the mobile device  100  at location  306  for this setting. 
         [0029]    Referring still to  FIG. 3 , if, however, the “regional” setting is selected, the photo template will be available within a larger radius (denoted by circle  310 ) of the specified location. In the illustrated case, photo templates associated with locations  304   a ,  304   b  and  304   c  would be available to the mobile device  100  at location  306  for this setting. Finally, if the “global” setting is selected, the photo template will be available to mobile devices at all locations. In the illustrated case, photo templates associated with locations  304   a ,  304   b ,  304   c ,  304   d  and  304   e  would be available to the mobile device  100  at location  306  for this setting. It will be appreciated that the exact values for the radii used in various settings may be preselected by the system or selected by the user in various embodiments. Also, as previously described, photo template availability may be restricted by other event/location data settings, e.g., time or date, in addition to geographic location. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , there is shown a system and method  400  for execution on a mobile device (e.g., mobile device  100 ) for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention. It will be appreciated that  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  represent two portions of a single flowchart, with the connectors denote “A”, “B” and “C” connecting the flow paths between the two portions. The system  400  illustrated in the flowchart represents the functions performed on the mobile device  100  to access a photo template (e.g., template  200 ) produced by the system from a website or other remote location, generate a photo frame using the template, and produce a new photo (e.g., photo  212 ) incorporating the photo frame and original user content. 
         [0031]    Referring first to  FIG. 4   a , the system  400  includes a “Home” screen  402  that represents a starting point for the system. From the Home screen  402 , the system offers the choice of “History” function  404 , “Explore” function  406  or “Get Geographical Position” function  408 . The “Get Geographical Position” function  408  utilizes the geographical location sensing device  112  to determine the current location of the mobile device  100 , and then offers a choice of available locations (i.e., locations connected to one or more photo templates) categorized into the following groups: “Nearby”  410 , “Worldwide”  412 , “Featured”  414  and “Popular”  416 . Alternatively, from the “Get Geographical Position” function  408 , the user may also input a search through a “Search” function  418 . Next, a list of locations matching the criteria of functions  410 - 416  or the search criteria of “Search”  418  is presented as indicated by “List Locations” function  420 . Additional information regarding each location in the list  420  may be viewed using the “Location Details” function  422 . Information regarding special promotions available at the listed locations can be viewed using the “Specials” function  424 , and further details of such promotions and/or coupons and/or discounts may be viewed using the “Promotion Details” function  426 . 
         [0032]    The “Explore” function  406  provides an alternative method to search for locations associated with photo templates. The “Explore” function  406  allows the user to manually select a distance radius (i.e., from the current geographic location) within which to search for available locations. Locations found using the “Explore” function  406  are listed in the “List Locations” function  420  as previously described. 
         [0033]    From the “List Locations” function  420 , a “Location Gallery” function  428  may be selected, which provides a visual “thumbnail view” (i.e., a small, reduced resolution view) of the available templates at the selected location. From the “Location Gallery” function  428 , the user may select a template (e.g., template  200 ) from those available in the gallery and move to the “Card Design—Add Photo” function  430 , where the user&#39;s original digital photo is selected to be combined with the photo frame from the template. Next, if the “Take Photo” function  432  is selected, the user may fill the reserved space  204  ( FIG. 2   a ) of the selected template  200  using a new photo  214  from the camera  114 . Alternatively, if the “Select from Album” function  434  is selected, the user may fill the reserved space  204  using an existing photo  214  stored in the memory  108  of the mobile device. Once a photo  214  is chosen using function  432  or  434 , the system advances to the “Card Design Manipulate Photo” function  436 . This function allows the user to manipulate the user photo  214 , e.g., to zoom in or out, to rotate and/or to drag (i.e., translate) so that the user photo is positioned as desired within the photo frame provided by the template  200 . This completes the creation of a new digital photo (e.g., photo  212 ) including content from the original user photo  214  surrounded by the graphic content  202  from the photo frame supplied by the template system. 
         [0034]    Continuing to  FIG. 4   b , after the new digital photo  212  is created, the system automatically saves the photo using the “Auto Save” function  438  to the “History” function  404 . All of the user&#39;s photos made using the photo frame system are stored in the “History” function  404 . These stored photos may be viewed, or sent for additional manipulation (function  436 ) or deleted using the “Delete Card Design” function  405 . At the same time as “Auto Save” function  438 , the system may present an “Upload to Server” function  440 , which allows the user to automatically “Share” (i.e., upload) the new digital photo  212  to social media sites such as Facebook™ (denoted by  442 ) and/or Twitter™ (denoted by  446 ) and/or to Email (denoted by  448 ). 
         [0035]    A further aspect of the invention is a web application  450  that may provide a “Card Page (Unique URL)” function  452  when the new digital photo  212  is shared as described above. The “Card Page” function  452 , creates a web page having a unique URL for all photos produced using a particular template. The “Card Page” function  452  may be linked to a “Buy Prints’ function  454  and related E-commerce functions  456  allowing users to view and purchase prints of the photos created using the template system  400 . The web application  450  may further provide an “Album” function  458  so that other users of the system (i.e., on other mobile devices) can see photos created by the system, share them (function  460 ) and buy prints using the “Buy Prints” and Ecommerce functions  454 ,  456 . 
         [0036]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this system and method for photo frame with dynamic automatic template building system and location sensitive photo commerce provides a system and method for providing graphic frame content to a mobile device that may be combined with a first digital photo to create a second digital photo that incorporates elements of both the graphic frame and the first digital photo. In particular, it provides a system and method for providing graphic frame content that is automatically customized based on the geographic location of a mobile device. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.