Abstract:
An application for sharing a visual media from an electronic device includes a visual media selection function that selects a visual media for sharing. A spotlight selection function highlights a spotlight area of the visual media and stores the visual media as a sharing media including first media wherein only the spotlight area is visible, and a second media wherein the entire visual media is visible and the spotlight area is highlighted. A first message function stores a first inputted message associated with the first media, and a second message function that stores a second inputted message associated with the second media. A share function transmits the sharing media to at least one second electronic device having the application. A view function displays the sharing media on the second electronic device, by first displaying the first media, and then displaying the second media after receiving a user prompt.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/120,283, filed Feb. 24, 2015, which is incorporated herein as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to visual media sharing applications for electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Photograph and video sharing applications are currently popular, examples of which include Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and many others. The common feature among these applications is the ability to share media with other people, often designated as “friends” or “followers” and comment about the media to each other. Each application has additional feature sets that distinguish it from others, and these feature sets often drive traffic to the application. 
         [0004]    For example, Snapchat includes a timer that allows sharing a photograph for only a preset time, after which it is deleted forever. Facebook allows for many levels of sharing with others. Instagram has a more robust photograph interface than the others. A feature can be the prime driver for an application&#39;s use and popularity, so the feature set in any application is important. 
         [0005]    None of the examples described above include features that allow certain details about shared media to be initially hidden, and revealed upon further action. A need exists for media sharing applications that induce or increase user interaction, which may result in increased user enjoyment and drive users to use such applications more often and for more extended periods of time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0006]    The disclosure relates to an application for sharing a visual media from an electronic device. The application includes a visual media selection function that selects a visual media for sharing. A spotlight selection function highlights a spotlight area of the visual media and stores the visual media as a sharing media, including first media in which only the spotlight area is visible, and a second media in which the entire visual media is visible. A first message function stores a first inputted message associated with the first media, and a second message function stores a second inputted message associated with the second media. A share function transmits the sharing media to at least one second electronic device having the application. A view function displays the sharing media on the second electronic device, by first displaying the first media, and then displaying the second media after receiving a user prompt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a home screen of a device including an application as described herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a visual media capture screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an import screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a spotlight selection screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows the spotlight selection screen of  FIG. 4 , with the spotlight moved to a different location. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a first message screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a second message screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a preview screen of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a home screen of a second device, including an application as described herein, displaying a first media from the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows the home screen of  FIG. 9 , displaying a second media from the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing process for sharing an item of visual media using an application described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The media sharing application described herein has some of the standard sharing functions combined with a spotlight and reveal feature. The steps for sharing and revealing item of visual media are outlined in  FIG. 11 , but will be described in detail herein. 
         [0019]    As used herein, “media” or “visual media” may include photographs, digital illustrations, other images, as well as videos and other visually-based computer-readable files. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1-10  show a user device  50  containing the media sharing application described herein, at various stages of a method of sharing. The device  52  may be a known type of wireless electronic computing device that includes a processor, display and storage area, such as a smart phone, tablet or personal computer. The display is a touch screen  52  in the embodiment shown, and the device is connected to other devices containing the application via the internet. A user may have an account containing personal details and a record of media previously shared using the application. The user&#39;s account may be linked to other accounts, for example by following another individual&#39;s account, in which case the user receives notifications of media shared by the account which the user follows. The user&#39;s account may also be followed by other accounts (“followers”), in which case the other accounts receive notifications of media shared by the user. 
         [0021]    A first stage of the method is shown in  FIG. 1 . A user may access the application at this stage by opening it on the device  52  and logging into the user&#39;s account. The stage shown in  FIG. 1  may be referred to as a home screen  30 , used to access a home function of the application, which may allow the user to access various features of the application, including viewing media shared by accounts that the user follows, or sharing media. 
         [0022]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the home screen  30  displays a shared media  60 , which is illustrated as a photograph but could also be a video or other type of media, from an account followed by the user. Data concerning the shared media  60  may be provided on the home screen  30 , such as the username  62  of the individual that shared the media, a timestamp  64  indicating when the media  60  was shared, and a reveal count  66  indicating the number of times the media has been shared and revealed, as described below. The home screen  30  may further include a refresh button  68 , allowing the user to refresh the home screen  30 , which will result in a display of any new media that have been shared since the user logged in to the application. The home screen  30  may further include a scroll button  70  that the user may activate to scroll through all recently shared media from accounts the user follows, which may be shown in the order of being shared. In another embodiment, multiple photographs from accounts the user follows could be shown on the home screen  30 , for example as thumbnails that the user may select to enlarge and view in detail or reveal. 
         [0023]    The home screen  30  further includes a camera button  100 . The user may actuate the camera button  100  by tapping it, shown as step  200  in the flow chart of  FIG. 11 , to actuate a visual media selection function of the application. 
         [0024]    Tapping the camera button  100  takes the user from the home screen  30  to a visual media capture screen  32 , shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown, the media capture screen  32  includes a shutter button  120  as well as an import button  130 . The user may actuate the shutter button  120  by tapping it, to capture a photograph or video for sharing, shown as step  210  of  FIG. 11 . Alternatively, the user may actuate the import button  130  to import an existing photograph or video previously saved to the device  50 , shown as step  220  of  FIG. 11 . The device  50  of the embodiment shown includes a built in camera function, which is automatically activated once the media capture screen  32  is accessed. As shown, the media capture screen  32  includes a visual media display  80  which shows the current view within range of the device&#39;s camera. Tapping the shutter button  120  will capture the image as a photograph or video, which will then be available for sharing. In some embodiments, the media capture screen may include multiple shutter buttons  120  designated for capturing photographs, videos or other types of media. In other embodiments, a single shutter button  120  could be employed and actuated differently for capturing different types of media, for example by being pressed quickly to capture a photograph, or held down for an extended time to capture a video. 
         [0025]    The media capture screen  32  further includes an import button  130  that may be used so select an item of visual media using an import function of the application. Tapping the import button takes the user away from the media capture screen  32 , to an import screen  34  shown in  FIG. 3 . The import screen  34  includes a menu  82  displaying various images or videos stored on the device  50 . The menu  82  may include navigation features that allow the user to navigate to various storage areas of the device  50  at which media may be stored. The menu  82  may display stored media, for example as thumbnails  84 . In the embodiment shown, the stored media are shown as scrollable thumbnails at the bottom of the media capture screen  32 , with a selected item of media  86  being displayed more prominently, for example in larger size above the menu  82  in the embodiment shown. The user may crop the selected media  86 , for example by dragging a finger over the selected media to reposition the portion of the selected media within view, as well as by touching the screen with two or more fingers and pinching inward on a selected portion to zoom in, or touching the screen and drawing the fingers apart to enlarge. In some embodiments, the media capture screen  32  may offer further options, such as photo editing features such as filters, light enhancements and color enhancements. 
         [0026]    The application further includes a navigation function, which may be accessed via a navigation bar  86 , which includes a back button  88  allowing the user to return to the previous screen, and a forward button  90  that allows the user to move on to the next screen. The navigation bar  86  may initially appear at the media capture screen  32 , but may be present at all subsequent screens as well, as shown in  FIGS. 4-10 , allowing the user to easily move forward through the sharing process, or move back to correct errors and make changes. Once the user has finished and cropping a photograph from the media capture screen  32  the forward button  90  may be tapped to proceed to the spotlight selection screen  36 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , used to access a spotlight selection function of the application. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the spotlight selection screen  36  includes a visual media display  92  showing the media taken via the media capture screen  32 , or selected at the import screen  34 . The display  92  includes area of a spotlight area  150  that is highlighted on the display. In the embodiment shown, the spotlight area  150  is circular, but it may also take on other shapes as well. The user may pinch two or more fingers on the touch screen to zoom in on the media, for sizing the spotlight area  150 , shown in  FIG. 11  as step  230 . The user may further position the spotlight area  150  about the media by dragging with a finger, shown in  FIG. 11  as step  240 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the spotlight area  150  has been moved with respect to that where it was originally positioned in  FIG. 4 . The media is stored with the spotlight area  150  in the selected position as a first media, and without the spotlight area  150  as a second media, such that upon sharing the first media is initially revealed, followed by the second media, as described in detail below. In some embodiments, the spotlight selection screen may further include a button that allows the user to switch directly between the first media and the second media in order to quickly compare the two. 
         [0028]    The application further includes a first message function. Once the user is satisfied with the position of the spotlight area  150 , the forward button  90  may be tapped to proceed to the first message screen  38 , shown in  FIG. 6 . The application includes both first and second message functions, accessed by first  38  and second  40  message screens, the first message screen shown in  FIG. 6  and being associated with a first or before message  160 , and the second message screen  40  shown in  FIG. 7  and being associated with a second or after message  170 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first message screen  38  includes “before”  90  and “after” designations  98  on the screen, at the bottom of the screen  52  in the embodiment shown, with the before designation  96  highlighted to inform the user that the application is at the first message screen  38 . Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the second message screen  40  includes the before and after designations, with the after designation  98  highlighted to inform the user that the application is at the second message screen  40 . 
         [0030]    The first message screen  38  shows the media with only the spotlight area  150  visible and allows the user to input a first or “before” message  160 , associated with first the media, shown as step  250  in  FIG. 11 . The before message  160  may be inputted using a keypad associated with the device, or the application may include a keypad function, for example causing a touch keypad to appear on the screen  52  by actuating a button. The before message  160  may be moved about the screen  52  to a location selected by the user, for example by dragging the before message about the screen  52  with a finger. Once the spotlight area  150  has been selected and the before message  160  has been inputted and positioned, the user may navigate from the first message screen to the second message screen by tapping the forward button  90 . At this point, the application saves a first media  20  with the first message  160  and the media with only the spotlight area  150  in view, with the remaining portions of the media hidden beneath an opaque barrier  190 . 
         [0031]    The second message screen  40  shows the entire media with the spotlight area  150  highlighted and allows the user to input a second or “after” message  170 , associated with the second media, shown in  FIG. 11  as step  260 . The after message  170  may also be inputted using a keypad associated with the device, or using a keypad function of the application, and may also be repositioned by dragging, as described above with respect to the before message  160 . Once the after message  170  has been inputted and positioned, the user may navigate from the second capture screen  40  to the preview and share screen  42 , shown in  FIG. 8 , to access preview and share functions of the device. At this point, the application saves the second media  22  with the second message  170  at the selected position over the media, with the full media in view. The first and second are stored together as a sharing media. 
         [0032]    The application further includes a preview function, accessed via a preview screen. The preview screen  42  may show the first media  20  with the before message  160  for the user to review before sharing, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, the preview screen  42  may also or alternatively show the second media  22  with the after message  170  for the user to review before sharing. The preview screen  42  further includes a share button  180  which the user may tap to share the media with followers. Previewing and sharing the media are shown in  FIG. 11  as step  270 . 
         [0033]    Once the media has been shared, the followers will then be notified of the user&#39;s share, and may, upon logging into the application, be shown the first media  20 .  FIG. 9  shows the first media  20  with the before message  160 , as presented on a follower&#39;s home screen  30 . As shown, this home screen  30  includes the same features as the user&#39;s home screen  30 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The follower may prompt the application to reveal the second media, for example by holding down on the touch screen  52  over the spotlight area  150 , shown in  FIG. 11  as step  280 . Upon such a touch or an extended hold touch, the application will reveal the second media. When this occurs, the spotlight area  150  may expand and open up to display the second media  22  with the after message  170  as shown in  FIG. 10 , including the full media with the spotlight area highlighted and the after message  170  displayed. This is shown in  FIG. 11  as step  290 . In some embodiments, the second media may be displayed with the spotlight area enlarged, and a zooming out animation may take place as the spotlight area  150  expands, creating a dramatic expansion effect. 
         [0034]    Users may share and reveal media as described above as a means of communicating and interacting with each other. In some embodiments, users may challenge each other, for example to guess the meaning of the first message, using the spotlight area as a clue. In some embodiments, users may attempt to come up with clever or insightful first and second messages. For example, in the example shown in  FIGS. 2-10 , the first message recites “birds,” which may be associated with the spotlight area focusing on the sky shown in the image. When the user navigates to the second shared media it is revealed that the second message reads “of paradise,” and the photograph also contains birds of paradise, which the first message could also have been indicative of. A recipient of this shared media may, upon viewing the first shared media, attempt to guess at what the second message will read or what the entire image will display. In some embodiments, users may challenge each other, for example, to guess at what the second message or image will reveal, or to come up with alternative first or second messages, as well as select different spotlight areas for the same image. Users may also attempt to gain followers by sharing particularly interesting shared media, and in some embodiments users may challenge themselves or others to gain a high number of followers. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments above, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.