Abstract:
In a presentation control system environment, the methods and systems of this invention manipulate presentation elements to create a unified display characteristic between the elements selected for presentation. In particular, the systems and methods of this invention receive style identification information that corresponds to at least one attribute tags within a presentation element. A stylizer then manipulates the attribute tags to invoke style preferences governed by the style identification. Therefore, a unified, or customized, look can be achieved with any requested presentation element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention is related to presentation systems. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A plethora of available software packages are very capable of accomplishing tasks such as word processing, data management and presentation authoring. Specifically, presentation authoring software allows a user to input data which is then translated into “slides.” These slides are then electronically displayed to an audience using a presentation system during a presentation to facilitate and supplement a speaker&#39;s presentation. 
     These presentation systems allow a pre-assembled presentation to be replayed. Specifically, these presentation systems allow a user to navigate, via a graphical user interface or keyboard control, to a previous slide, a next slide or another slide within the pre-assembled presentation, or cycle through unrelated slides, i.e., skip slides, to present a more relevant slide of the presentation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     While presentation authoring software and presentation systems work well for sequential presentations drawing their content from a common source, this technology fails to manipulate the presentations to create a uniform appearance when “slides” are drawn from varying sources. Specifically, and especially in the case of a presentation using electronic media, numerous file types are available from which a presenter can compile information to generate “slides.” Furthermore, with each varying type of electronic media, there can be elements within the document that control the context, or appearance, of the document during presentation. For example, context elements may be background color or texture, orientation of the document, transition of the elements into and out of the presentation, font, font size, bullet style, or the like. 
     The varying formats of the presentation elements, coupled with the varying methods of identifying context within these elements has led presenters to generating piecemeal presentations that lack a uniform or consistent appearance. 
     This lack of uniformity detracts from the content of the presentation. Furthermore, the lack of uniformity makes it difficult, or impossible, for a presenter to manipulate contextual elements within a presentation unless the presenter has the appropriate software dedicated to that particular presentation element. 
     Accordingly, the systems and methods of this invention are more attuned to a presenter&#39;s environment and allow a majority of the user&#39;s attention, as well as the presenter&#39;s attention, to be dedicated to tasks other than manipulation of the presentation system, especially when dealing with electronic media of varying formats. Selecting material for viewing and subsequent display to an audience should be as simple as retrieving a transparency, yet sufficiently flexible, functional and dynamic to deal with the dynamic content afforded by available and anticipated presentation and multimedia systems and formats. 
     This invention provides presentation control systems and methods that provide support for manipulating the context of elements within a presentation. 
     Specifically, the systems and methods of this invention receive a request to display a presentation element, e.g., a slide. The context of the slide is then manipulated in accordance with a style profile, or template, that can ensure a uniform display characteristic between presentation elements of varying formats. 
     Alternatively, an identification-carrying device is presented to a sensor of a presentation control system. The presentation control system associates an identification on the identification-carrying device with a presentation element. The presenter then has a variety of options for modifying the style, or context of the presentation element. The stylized presentation element is then presented for display. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods for assisting users in presenting electronic media. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods that allow a user to interact with a presentation system via a tangible identification-carrying device. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods that allow users to create tangible identification-carrying devices containing style identifiers to be applied to the context of presentation elements. 
     The presentation systems and methods of this invention provide a user with a mechanism that provides ease of use and better support to the user during, for example, a presentation. 
     The presentation systems and methods of this invention can use physical objects, such as note cards, that contain, or are provided with, identifiers that represent styles to be applied to presentation elements. Mnemonics which clearly express the style, e.g., background color, are represented by an object affixed to the physical object. Along with these mnemonics, users can incorporate additional notes or graphics which may supplement the mnemonic, such as notes describing which background is better for a particular presentation element, which further aid in the display characteristics of the presentation. 
     The mnemonics incorporated on, attached to, or otherwise associated with the physical object are supplemented by a readable identification device which permits the presentation control systems and methods according to this invention to interpret a user&#39;s actions associated with the physical object. For example, a presenter may distribute a set of cards on a table or podium which contain mnemonics representing the material for the presentation. The presenter may also distribute a set of cards that contain identifications of styles in which to present those elements. The presenter can then select a presentation element card, introduce it to the sensor device of the presentation system, and have the context of current or subsequent presentation elements modified to create a custom appearance by introducing a “style card” to the sensor device. 
     The presentation control systems and methods according to this invention off-load activities from the presenter&#39;s over-taxed cognitive system to under-utilized areas, such as the peripheral ranges of the presenter&#39;s senses. The presentation control systems and methods according to this invention enable a user to manipulate the context of a presentation while very little attention is dedicated to manipulating a particular user interface. The presentation systems and methods according to this invention engage a wider range of human perception and enable a larger degree of low-intentional interaction than is found in current presentation systems, methods and interfaces. The presentation systems and methods of this invention recognize a direct physical action can be more efficient and reliable than interactions with a graphical user interface. For example, using the knob on a computer&#39;s speaker to adjust its loudness is more easily accomplished than finding and adjusting a slider in a control window. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the presentation system according to this invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary context identification-carrying device; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary context identification-carrying device; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a third exemplary context identification-carrying device; 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling the context of presentation elements during a presentation; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling the context of a stored presentation according to this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for automatically controlling the context of a presentation according to this invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart outlining in greater detail the applied style steps of FIGS. 5-7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling font attributes according to this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Operation of the presentation control systems and methods according to this invention reduce the amount of attention required from a presenter to maintain an electronic system supporting the presentation, while allowing immediate access to an array of presentation aids with differing formats. A presenter generates a set of presentation aids, or elements, such as a slide show, to supplement a presentation to be given to an audience. The presenter can then associate at least one tangible sensible object, such as a card carrying a sensible code or other identification element, with at least one presentation aid element of the presentation as described in co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 09/152,677 filed Sep. 14, 1998now U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,093, and Ser. No. 09/393,962, filed Sep. 10, 1999, each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The presenter thus possesses physical objects that correspond to the presentation elements. To display the presentation elements, such as slides, the presenter presents an object, such as one of the cards, to a sensor of the presentation system which causes the presentation system to retrieve and display the slide corresponding to the selected card to, for example, an audience. 
     In conjunction, or supplemental to, the physical objects corresponding to presentation elements, the presenter can also generate, or input, context control identification devices for the presentation. This context control information can then be applied, similarly to the physical objects corresponding to the presentation elements, to manipulate the display characteristics of the presentation elements, or slides, of the presentation. Thus, as each presentation element is prepared for display to, for example, an audience, the systems and methods of this invention modify the context of the presentation element based on a style chosen by the presenter. Each modified presentation element is then presented, via a presentation display device, while maintaining a specific appearance or display characteristic. 
     To present the presentation elements of the presentation with a specific context or display characteristic, the user introduces one of the tangible, sensible identification-carrying devices into the sensible area of a sensor of the presentation control system of this invention. In response to sensing the tangible sensible identification-carrying device, the user has a variety of options for manipulating the style of the sensed presentation element associated with the tangible, sensible identification-carrying device. Specifically, the presentation control system manipulates the presentation element in accordance with the style selected by the presenter and presents the updated presentation element with a modified display characteristic on a presentation display device. In this manner, the presenter&#39;s attention can be redirected from the presentation system and especially away from the user interface and to an audience. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the components of a presentation control system  100  used during a presentation. The presentation control system  100  includes an I/O interface  110 , a controller  120 , an identification controller  130 , a presentation controller  140 , a history memory  150 , a style memory  160 , a stylizer  170 , a presentation element type identifier  180 , a style memory portion  220  with style identifications  222 - 226 , a presentation element memory portion  200  with presentation elements  202 - 206 , and a presentation element identification memory portion  210  with presentation element identifiers  212 - 216 , all stored in memory  190 , an identification sensing device  300 , a presentation display device  310 , a user input device  320 , one or more tangible sensible identification-carrying devices  330 , one or more tangible sensible style identification-carrying devices  340  and links  105  and  305 . 
     The systems and methods of this invention will be described in relation to an embodiment in which tangible sensible identification-carrying devices are presented to the presentation control system  100 . The presentation control system  100  then retrieves presentation elements corresponding to a presentation element identifier that is sensed from the tangible sensible identification-carrying device. However, it should be appreciated that the systems and methods of this invention will work equally well on any known, or later developed, presentation control system. For example, a user need not select a presentation element for presentation with the use of a tangible, sensible identification-carrying device. Alternatively, the user can use an input device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a voice recognition system, to control the retrieval, and subsequent display, of a presentation element. 
     Therefore, while the embodiments described herein are directed toward dedicated systems and methods for controlling a presentation, the systems and methods of this invention could be incorporated by one of ordinary skill in the art into any known or later developed presentation control system. 
     Once the tangible sensible identification-carrying devices  330  have been produced, for example by the systems and methods described in co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 09/156,677 or Ser. No. 09/393,962, a user can use the identification-carrying devices  330  during a presentation. The particular tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330  for a desired presentation element is identified by the user based on the mnemonic for that presentation element that is attached to, or otherwise associated with, one of the tangible sensible identification-carrying devices  330 . That tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330  is placed, at least momentarily, in the sensible area of the identification sensing device  300 . The identification sensing device  300  outputs, via the I/O interface  110  and the link  305 , the presentation element identifier associated with that particular tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330 . The identification controller  130  associates the presentation element identifier information received from the identification-carrying device  330  with a particular presentation element based on the presentation element identifier stored in the presentation element identification memory portion  210 . The identification controller  130  then outputs a signal to the presentation controller  140  indicating the selected presentation element. The presentation controller  140  retrieves, via the link  105 , a particular presentation element indicated by the received signal. 
     The user is then queried whether a style, or certain display characteristic, should be applied to the particular presentation element. If a style is not desired, a signal representing the selected presentation element is output via the link  105 , the I/O interface  110  and link  305  to the presentation display device  310  and displayed. 
     Otherwise, if the user desires a style to be associated with one or more presentation elements, the presentation element type identifier  180  determines the format of the particular presentation element. For example, presentation element types may be in a POWERPOINT® format by Microsoft, a PERSUASION® format by Adobe, a CORELSHOW® format by Corel, or an image element such as a GIF, JPEG, bitmap, or the like, or any other known or later developed format that can be used in conjunction with a presentation. The presentation element type identifier  180  queries the style memory  160  to determine if attribute tags, i.e., information that identifies display characteristics of the presentation, such as background color or the like, for that particular presentation format are available. If attribute tags for the particular presentation element are available, the presentation system  100  assembles a list of predetermined available styles for selection by the user. An example of available styles that can be applied to a particular presentation element are of background color, background texture, background image, presentation element transition, font, font size, font spacing, font color, font family, font style, word spacing, letter spacing, text alignment, text indent, line spacing, bullet style, bullet size, bullet color, list style, presentation element orientation, presentation element display time, presentation element size, border color, border width, visual effect, audio effect, design selection, template selection or any other style which affects the context or display characteristics of the presentation element. Upon selecting a style, via, for example, the user input device  320 , such as a mouse, keyboard, voice control system, or the like, or through the use of a style identification-carrying device  340 , the stylizer  170  applies the selected style to the presentation element(s). 
     Alternatively, if the user desires a particular style that is not indicated as being available based on data stored in style memory  160  for the particular detected presentation element type, the user can enter, via user input device  320 , or retrieve, for example, from a database or data source collocated or remote from the presentation control system  100 , a custom style. As previously noted, the examples discussed above are illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the scope or combination of styles that can be applied to any particular presentation element type. 
     The stylizer  170  applies the selected or custom style to the presentation element with the cooperation of controller  120 . In particular, the stylizer  170  compares the detected presentation element type to a presentation element attribute table, which can be stored in style memory  160 . If the presentation element attribute table for the particular presentation element type contains attribute tags which correspond to the attribute tags affected by the style selection of the presenter, the stylizer  170  replaces the attributes of the tags with new attributes that correspond to the selected style. For example, if the presentation element type is a product of a well known presentation authoring system, the presentation element will contain tags, or identifiers, e.g., function calls, followed by attributes that describe various features of the presentation element. Table 1 illustrates some of the common tags used to identify attributes within a presentation element. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PRESENTATION ELEMENT TYPE 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 HTML 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Tag and Cascading Style 
               
               
                   
                 PowerPoint ® 
                 Sheet Access to Attribute 
               
               
                   
                 API Access to Attribute 
                 HTML Tag(s) listed first; 
               
               
                 ATTRIBUTE 
                 Visual Basic Function Call(s): 
                 CSS properties listed next 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 background color 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 &lt;body bgcolor=#XXXXXX&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Background.Fill.ForeColor.RGB 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                 value 
                 background-color: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 background image 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 &lt;body 
               
               
                   
                 .Background.Fill.UserPicture 
                 background = “filename.gif”&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 “C:\pic.bmp” 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 background-image: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 background texture 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 &lt;body 
               
               
                   
                 .Background.Fill.Patterned value 
                 background=“filename.gif”&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                 .Background.Fill.PresetTextured 
                 background-image: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 value 
               
               
                 font family 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange. 
                 &lt;FONT FACE=“facename1, 
               
               
                   
                 Font.Name = “font-name” 
                 facename2 . . . ”&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 font-family:&lt;name&gt; 
               
               
                 font style 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;B&gt;&lt;/B&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Bold = msoTrue 
                 &lt;BLINK&gt;&lt;/BLINK&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;CITE&gt; &lt;/CITE&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Emboss = msoTrue 
                 &lt;CODE&gt; &lt;/CODE&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;EM&gt; &lt;/EM&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Italic = msoTrue 
                 &lt;I&gt;&lt;/I&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;KBD&gt; &lt;/KBD&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Shadow = msoTrue 
                 &lt;LISTING&gt; &lt;/LISTING&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;PLAINTEXT&gt;&lt;/PLAINTEXT&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Subscript = msoTrue 
                 &lt;SAMP&gt; &lt;/SAMP&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;STRIKE&gt; &lt;/STRIKE&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Superscript = msoTrue 
                 &lt;STRONG&gt; &lt;/STRONG&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;SUB&gt; &lt;/SUB&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Underline = msoTrue 
                 &lt;SUP&gt; &lt;/SUP&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;TT&gt; &lt;/TT&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;U&gt; &lt;/U&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;VAR&gt; &lt;/VAR&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 font-style: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 font-variant: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 font-weight: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 text-transform: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 text-decoration: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 vertical-align: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 font size 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange. 
                 &lt;BASEFONT SIZE=number&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 Font.Size = value 
                 &lt;BIG&gt; &lt;/BIG&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;FONT SIZE=+1&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;SMALL&gt; &lt;/SMALL&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 font-size: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 font color 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;FONT 
               
               
                   
                 .Font.Color.RGB = value 
                 COLOR=FFFFFF&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 color: &lt;color&gt; 
               
               
                 word spacing 
                 Adjust by font change 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 word-spacing: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 letter spacing 
                 Adjust by font change 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 letter-spacing: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 line spacing 
                 With ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                 .ParagraphFormat 
                 line-height: 200% 
               
               
                   
                 .LineRuleWithin = msoTrue 
               
               
                   
                 .SpaceWithin = value 
               
               
                   
                 End With 
               
               
                 text align 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;CENTER&gt;&lt;/CENTER&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .ParagraphFormat.Alignment = value 
                 &lt;P ALIGN=alignment&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 text-align: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 text indent 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange 
                 &lt;DFN&gt;&lt;/DFN&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .TextFrame.MarginLeft = value 
                 &lt;FRAME 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MARGINWIDTH=number&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange 
                 &lt;FRAME 
               
               
                   
                 .TextFrame.MarginRight = value 
                 MARGINHEIGHT=number&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                 .TextFrame.MarginTop = value 
                 text-indent: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange 
                 border-bottom-width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .TextFrame.MarginBottom = value 
                 border-bottom: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-color: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-left-width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-left: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-right-width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-right: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-style: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-top-width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-top: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border-width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 border: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 clear: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 float: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 height: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 margin-bottom: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 margin-left: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 margin-right: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 margin-top: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 margin: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 padding-bottom: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 padding-left: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 padding-right: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 padding-top: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 padding: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 width: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 list style 
                 ActivePresentation.ApplyTemplate 
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                 FileName:=“C:\file.dot” 
                 list-style-type: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 list-style-position: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 bullet for list 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.TextRange 
                 &lt;LI DINGBAT=“ name”&gt;&lt;/LI&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .ParagraphFormat.Bullet.Character = value 
                 &lt;LI TYPE=type&gt; &lt;/LI&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;LI VALUE=number&gt; &lt;/LI&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 same for &lt;OL&gt; and  &lt;UL&gt; tags 
               
               
                   
                   
                 CSS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 list-style-image: &lt;value&gt; 
               
               
                 visual effect 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 &lt;MARQUEE behavior=“slide” 
               
               
                   
                 .SlideShowTransition.EntryEffect = value 
                 direction = “left, right, up, or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 down” LOOP=1&gt; 
               
               
                 audio effect 
                 ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange 
                 &lt;BGSOUND SRC=“URL”&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 .SlideShowTransition.SoundEffect 
               
               
                   
                 .Name= value 
               
               
                 design/template 
                 ActivePresentation.ApplyTemplate 
                 Apply a CSS using 
               
               
                 selection 
                 FileName:=“C:\file.dot” 
                 CLASS=‘name’ tag to different 
               
               
                   
                   
                 HTML elements 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Or &lt;LINK REL=StyleSheet 
               
               
                   
                   
                 HREF=“style.css” 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TYPE=“text/css”&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     For example, for a PowerPoint® presentation element, the background color will be identified by the ActiveWindow.Selection.SlideRange.Background.Fill.ForeColor.RGB value tag. Alternatively, the background color tag for an HTML presentation element will be identified by the &lt;body bgcolor=#XXXXXX&gt;tag. 
     The stylizer  170  then replaces the attributes of tags with the new attributes that correspond to the selected style. 
     However, if there are no tags present in the presentation element that correspond to the currently selected style attributes, the stylizer  170  updates the global presentation context style attributes. This allows all presentation elements within the presentation to be aligned with the currently selected style attribute. 
     In particular, and for example, if the presentation element is a bitmap image, and the user has requested a particular background color to unify the presentation, the stylizer  170 , in cooperation with the presentation controller  140 , outputs a modified presentation element to the presentation display device  340 . The presentation display device will show the bitmap image superimposed on, for example, a blue background. 
     Therefore, the area surrounding the presentation element will be affected by the selected style, but not the image itself. Hence, these context style attributes can be applied to global display characteristics of the presentation element. 
     Then, upon updating the display characteristics of the presentation element, a signal representing the stylized presentation element is then output via the link  305  and the I/O interface  110  to the presentation display device  310  and displayed. 
     Alternatively, in a more complicated example, if the presentation element is a presentation slide of a PowerPoint® containing, for example, text boxes, and the user has requested a particular font and font size to unify the presentation, the stylizer  170 , in cooperation with the presentation controller  140 , outputs a modified presentation element to the presentation display device  340 . The presentation display device  340  will show the updated presentation element containing the new font size and style. 
     In particular, a user can, for example, select a style that indicates all presentation elements should be displayed in, for example, New Times Roman font with a font size of 14 point. Upon selection of a presentation element, the system will determine a first text box within the presentation element and retrieve its identification. Then, in order to maintain the spatial relationship existing in the presentation element, a determination will be made as to whether the text box has a border, or frame. If a border is present, the system retrieves the dimensions for the text box and records them in association with the text box identifier. The stylizer  170  then applies the new font size and shape to the text within the selected text box. 
     If the text box has a border, the stylizer  170  will retrieve the saved text box identifier and dimensions previously stored. If after the new font size and shape attributes have been applied to the selected text box, the borders are larger than the stored borders, the stylizer  170  will decrease the font size accordingly until the original boundary size is restored. Alternatively, if the text box boundaries are smaller than the original stored text box boundaries, the stylizer  170  will proportionally increase the font size to achieve the same size text box that appeared in the original presentation. Thus, the spatial relationships between the text boxes are maintained. This process can continue until each text box has been subjected to the new style attribute. 
     However, it should be appreciated, that the spatial relationships with a presentation element may not be critical. Therefore, if, for example, the spatial relationships within a presentation element are irrelevant, a user could alternatively force all text to a particular font or font size in accordance with the user&#39;s selected, or customized style attribute. 
     Additionally, the stylized presentation element, along with any associated style identification, is stored in, or in a combination of, the memory  190  and the history memory  150 . This allows the presentation system  100  to track at least one previous style that has been applied to at least one particular presentation element. 
     The presentation control system  100  works equally well for presentations that have been stored with an associated style identification. For example, if an exemplary presentation has one or more presentation elements  202 - 206 , those presentation elements are identified by corresponding presentation element identifiers  212 - 216 , respectively. Furthermore, each of those presentation elements  202 - 206  has an associated style identification  222 - 226 , respectively. These style identifications  222 - 226  correspond to previous styles that were associated with the respective presentation element  202 - 206 . Therefore, when subsequently displaying a particular presentation element, the presentation controller  140  can query the memory  190  to determine if a style identifier is associated with the selected presentation element. If a style identifier is associated with the selected presentation element, the presentation controller  140  can retrieve the previously stored style information and forward a signal representing the selected presentation element and associated style to the presentation display device  310 . 
     Alternatively, after the presentation control system  100  has associated the identifier from the identification-carrying device  330 , or user input device  320 , with a particular presentation element, the presentation control system  100  can query the user whether a style is to be applied to the selected presentation element. If no style is desired for the selected presentation element, a signal representing the selected, unmodified presentation element is output via the link  305  and I/O interface  10  to the presentation display device  310  and displayed. 
     However, if a style is to be applied to the selected presentation element, the presentation element type identifier  180  identifies the presentation element type. Alternatively, the identification controller  130  determines whether any style information is currently associated with that particular presentation element. Therefore, the presentation control system  100  can determine if styles have been previously associated with the presentation element. Furthermore, the presentation control system  100  can determine if the user has selected a style to be applied generically to one or more particular presentation element types. If a particular style is associated with the selected presentation element, or the presentation element type matches a flag set by the user indicating all elements of this type are to have a particular style, the associated style attributes can be displayed to the user. The user then has the option of applying a new style to the selected presentation element, or, alternatively, displaying the presentation element using the previously associated style information. 
     While the above-described embodiments require user input to associate style information with a particular presentation element(s), the presentation control system  100  is also capable of operating in an “auto stylize” mode. Upon being placed in this mode, the presentation control system  100  receives a request to display a particular presentation element. Upon receiving this request, the presentation element type identifier  180 , in conjunction with the controller  120 , determines if a style has previously been associated with the selected presentation element. If an associated style for the selected presentation element is not available, the stylizer  170 , in conjunction with the presentation element type identifier  180 , analyzes the presentation element to create a style based on that presentation element&#39;s display characteristics. For example, if the requested presentation element is an HTML file with a white background and an element transition of, for example, fade in/out, the stylizer  170  creates a style based on the display characteristics of the requested presentation element. For example, the stylizer  170  can query the presentation element and identify the attributes associated with the “Background” and “Transition” tags. The attributes of these tags are then associated with a new style having, for example, a white background and transition of fade in/out. Therefore, this created style can be used, and applied to, subsequently requested presentation elements, with or without interaction on the user&#39;s part. 
     Furthermore, the user can establish a half-automatic, half-manual mode of operation. For example, the user can identify that only certain display characteristics be queried by the stylizer  170 . If the stylizer  170  finds attributes associated with the limited set of display characteristics, the stylizer  170  creates a custom style based on the attributes associated with those display characteristics. However, if none of the limited set of display characteristics are found in the requested presentation element, the presentation control system  100  could default to, for example, a predefined background color with no transition parameters. 
     However, it should be appreciated that because a style has been previously associated with a presentation element, the user is not required to use that style for display of the presentation element. Alternatively, the user can select a style from the available styles based on the detected element type, or create a custom style, as described above. 
     Furthermore, the tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330  can be any device capable of carrying the mnemonic relating to the presentation element associated with the presentation element identifier contained in that tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330 . Additionally, the tangible sensible identification-carrying device  340  can be any device capable of carrying a mnemonic relating to a style identification that can be applied to a particular presentation element. 
     The tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330  and the style identification-carrying device  340  need not be limited to printed media. Alternatively, the tangible sensible identification-carrying device and the style identification-carrying device can be a physical device such as a microchip or other device capable of carrying information based on its mechanical, electrical, or magnetic properties. For example, a tangible sensible identification-carrying device and/or style identification-carrying device can be an ultrasonic transmitter and the identification sensing device an ultrasonic receiver. Upon placing the ultrasound emitting identification-carrying device in the sensible area of the identification sensing device  300 , the identification sensing device reads the presentation element identifier, or style identification, respectively, from the identification-carrying device. 
     Alternatively, the tangible sensible identification-carrying device  330  and style identification-carrying device  340  can maintain, transmit or respond to an electric or magnetic field. The identification sensing device  300  would then produce an electromagnetic field into which the identification-carrying device  330  can be placed. When the identification-carrying device is placed in a sensible area of the identification sensing device, the identification-carrying device becomes capacitively, inductively or otherwise electromechanically coupled to the identification sensing device, and the identification can be extracted from the identification-carrying device and correlated to the particular presentation element identifier or style identifier. 
     Furthermore, one of the identification-carrying devices can be a chip and the identification sensing device a chip reader. In this embodiment, the chip, when placed in the sensible area of the identification sensing device could then be read and interpreted by the presentation control system  100 . 
     Alternatively, the systems and methods of this invention, as previously described, work equally well in conjunction with known, or later developed, presentation authoring and displaying systems. In this example, a user can implement traditional techniques, for example selecting entries with a keyboard and/or mouse, to select a presentation element and/or a desired style. 
     In summary, the identification-carrying device  330 , the style identification-carrying device  340 , the identification sensing device  300  and the user input device  320  can be any device, or combination of devices, which is capable of receiving a user&#39;s selection of a presentation element, and/or style to be applied thereto. 
     Furthermore, the style identification-carrying device  340  and identification-carrying device  330  can be incorporated into one tangible sensible identification-carrying device. Additionally, more than one style or presentation element can also be associated with a single tangible sensible identification-carrying device. 
     The presentation display device  310  can be any device capable of displaying electronic media or multimedia to an audience, such as an overhead projector, a large screen TV, a video projector, a slide projector, or the like. 
     The links  105  and  305  can be a wired or wireless link or any known or later developed element that is capable of supplying electronic data to and from the connected elements. 
     One particular exemplary embodiment of a tangible sensible identification-carrying device is a card containing a thumbnail image forming the mnemonic where the thumbnail image represents a particular presentation element, or style, and at least one barcode forming the presentation element identifier, or style, respectively. While the presentation system  100  of this invention is by no means limited to this particular exemplary embodiment, this example is chosen for its simplicity. This exemplary embodiment uses a barcode scanner as the identification sensing device  300  and a card, such as a 3×5 card as the identification-carrying, or style identification-carrying device. A printer, for example at the direction of the user and/or the presentation control system, produces a printed card or page, i.e., the tangible sensible identification-carrying device or style identification-carrying device, as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/152,677 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,093. The tangible sensible identification-carrying devices contain a barcode representing the identifiers printed on the card or page. A thumbnail image representing the identifiers as the mnemonic, is also printed on the card. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate exemplary printed cards that the inventors have developed as exemplary style identification-carrying devices  340 . 
     Specifically, FIGS. 2-4 illustrate how exemplary style identification-carrying devices  340  may appear. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary style identification-carrying device  500  for setting the background in the presentation to blue. The style identification-carrying device  500  comprises a mnemonic  502  corresponding to the style identified in the barcode  504 . Additionally, the style identification-carrying device  500  contains a graphical mnemonic  506  which shows an exemplary presentation element  508  superimposed on a blue background  509 . Upon presenting this style identification-carrying device  500  to the identification sensing device  300 , at least the current presentation element is associated with a style element that directs the presentation control system to display a blue background. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary style identification-carrying device  510  that controls the display characteristics for the introduction of the presentation element on the presentation display device  310 , and the transition of that presentation element to another presentation element, or close of the presentation. As in FIG. 2, the style identification-carrying device  510  comprises a textual mnemonic  512 , a graphical mnemonic  514  and a barcode  516  corresponding to the identification of the particular style stored in style memory  160 . The style identification for this style identification carrying device directs the presentation control system to fade-in a requested presentation element, and fade-out the requested presentation element when a new presentation element is requested or the presentation closed. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary style identification-carrying device  520  that modifies the presentation element to a predetermined size. In particular, the style identification-carrying device comprises a textual mnemonic  522 , a graphical mnemonic  524  and a barcode representing the style identification  526 . Upon selection of the style represented in this style identification-carrying device, the stylizer  170  reduces or enlarges, as appropriate, the presentation element to the size defined by the style attributes. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the barcode, as a style identifier, is associated with one or more mnemonics relating to a particular style identification-stored in style memory  160 . However, it should be appreciated that the style identifier need not be linked to a particular style resident on the presentation control system  100 . To the contrary, the style identifier identifies any style, or set of styles, in any presentation. For example, the style identifier can be, for example, a hyperlink, a file name, a page number, a uniform resource locator (URL), a full text search keyword or other query syntax, a database address and/or a path to a particular memory location inside or outside of the presentation control system. It should be understood that the style identifier is in no way limited to identifying a particular style in one particular loaded presentation, or present on the presentation control system, but can also be a path to at least one memory location containing at least one style to be applied to at least one presentation element. The only requirement of the style identifier is that it contain sufficient information that the presentation control system can, possibly along with static information, identify the desired style. Such static information can be, for example, the current presentation of the current presentation element being displayed. 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart outlining one embodiment of a method for applying a style to a presentation element according to this invention. Control begins in step S 100 , and continues to step S 110 , where a presentation is opened. Next, in step S 120 , a request by the user for a presentation element is detected. Then, in step S 130 , the presentation element identifier is associated with a particular presentation element. Control then continues to step S 140 . 
     In step S 140 , a determination is made whether a style should be applied to the selected presentation element. If a style is to be applied to the selected presentation element, control continues to step S 150 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 210 . 
     In step S 150 , the type of the presentation element is detected. Then, in step S 160 , the style available for the detected element type are retrieved. Next, in step S 170 , the user is queried whether a custom style is desired, as opposed to the styles retrieved that correspond to the detected element type. If a custom style is desired, control continues to step S 180 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 190 . 
     In step S 180  the user enters, or retrieves, the style to be applied to the particular presentation element. Control then jumps to step S 200 . In contrast, in step S 190 , a style is selected by the user from the available style retrieved and corresponding to the detected presentation element type. Control then continues to step S 200 . 
     In step S 200 , the style information is applied to the particular presentation element. Next, in step S 210 , the presentation element is displayed. Then, in step S 220 , the history information, as well as any corresponding style identification information, is stored. Next, in step S 230 , the user is queried whether another presentation element is to be presented. If another presentation element is desired for presentation, control jumps back to step S 120 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 240 , where the control sequence ends. 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a presentation method used in conjunction with stored presentation elements that may, or may not, already have associated styles. Control begins in step S 1000  and continues to step S 1100 , where a presentation is opened. Next, in step S 1200 , a presentation element identifier is received and detected. Then, in step S 1300 , the presentation element identifier is associated with a particular presentation element. Control then continues to step S 1400 . 
     In step S 1400 , a determination is made whether any style information should be applied to the requested presentation element. If style information should be applied to the element, control continues to step S 1500 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 2400 . 
     In step S 1500 , the presentation element type is detected. Next, in step S 1600 , a determination is made whether any style identification information is currently associated with that particular presentation element type. If a style is currently associated with the presentation element, control continues to step S 1700 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 1900 . 
     In step S 1700 , the style information associated with the presentation element is displayed. Next, in step S 1800 , a determination is made whether to apply a new style. If a new style is to be applied, control continues to step S 1900 . Otherwise, if the currently associated style is to be used, control jumps to step S 2400 . 
     In step S 1900  a list of available styles is retrieved based on the detected element type. Next, in step S 2000 , a determination is made whether a custom style is desired. If a custom style is desired, control continues to step S 2100 . Otherwise control jumps to step S 1450 . Instep S 1422 , the custom style is entered by a user, or retrieved from a database. Control then continues to step S 2300 . 
     In contrast, in step S 2200 , a style is selected from the available styles list. Then, in step S 2200 , this style is applied to the selected presentation element. Control then continues to step S 2400 . 
     In step S 2400 , the presentation element, modified by the selected style, if appropriate, is displayed. Next, in step S 2500 , the history and/or style information associated with the displayed presentation element is stored. Then, in step S 2600 , a determination is made whether another presentation element is desired for presentation. If another presentation element is desired for presentation, control jumps back to step S 1200 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 2700 , where the control sequence ends. 
     It should be appreciated that it is not necessary to detect the element type in step S 1500 . Alternatively, for reasons of computational efficiency, or if styles are associated with a particular element, as opposed to a particular element type, step S 1500  can be eliminated. 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of an “auto stylize” method for controlling style information in accordance with this invention. Control begins in step S 3000 , and continues to step S 3100  where a presentation is opened. Then, in step S 3200 , an input presentation element identifier is detected. Next, in step S 3300 , a presentation element is associated with the input presentation element identifier. Control then continues to step S 3400 . 
     In step S 3400 , a determination is made whether a style is associated with the selected presentation element. If a style is currently associated with the selected presentation element, control jumps to step S 3700 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 3500 . In step S 3500 , when style information is not currently associated with the selected presentation element, the presentation element is analyzed to create a style based on that particular element&#39;s display characteristics. Next, in step S 3600 , a determination is made whether the created style is acceptable. If the created style is not acceptable, control jumps to step S 3800  where a new style can be selected or input. Otherwise, control jumps to step S 4400 . 
     In step S 3700 , a determination is made whether the associated style should be applied to the selected presentation element. If the associated style is to be applied to the selected presentation element, control jumps to step S 4300 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 3800 . Alternatively, the style may already have been applied to or associated with the selected presentation element. In this case, control would jump directly to step S 4400  to display the presentation element. 
     In step S 3800 , the presentation element type is detected. Then, in step S 3900 , a list of available styles available for the detected presentation element are displayed, or summarized for a user. Next, in step S 4000 , a determination is made whether a custom style, other than the listed available styles, is desired. If a custom style is desired, control continues to step S 4100 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 4200 . In step S 4100  the user enters, or retrieves, custom style identification information. Control then continues to step S 4300 . In contrast, in step S 4200 , a style is selected from the available styles list, or, for example, from a menu. Control then continues to step S 4300 . 
     In step S 4300 , the style is applied to the presentation element. However, it should be appreciated that the method need not reapply the style to the presentation element, but can simply retrieve, and display, the already applied style. Control then continues to step S 4400 . 
     In step S 4400 , the presentation element is displayed. Then, in step S 4500 , the history, and associated style identification information, are stored in relation to the selected presentation element. Next, in step S 4600 , a determination is made whether another presentation element is desired for presentation. If another presentation element is desired, control jumps back to step S 3200 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 4700  where the control sequence ends. 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of the applying style to element step shown in FIGS. 5-7 in greater detail. Control commences in step S 5000 , and continues to step S 5100 , where the detected presentation element type is compared to an element attribute table. Then, in step S 5200 , a determination is made whether tags or identifiers corresponding to the desired style attributes are present. If the tags are present, control continues to step S 5300 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 5400 . 
     In step S 5300 , the current attributes of the tags are replaced with new attributes which correspond to the selected style. Control then jumps to step S 5500  where the control sequence returns to the main control sequence. 
     Alternatively, in step S 5400 , a presentation context style attribute is updated. This presentation context style attribute governs global display characteristics of the presentation element. For example, if the selected presentation element is a bitmap image, the context style attribute can be, for example, a background color, image, texture, or the like, or matting, that surrounds the selected presentation element to fill an entire presentation display device screen. Alternatively, for example, the global context style attribute can be a presentation element transition as previously described. Control then continues to step S 5500 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates step S 5300  of FIG. 8 in greater detail. In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which portions of the presentation element contain borders. For example, in a PowerPoint® type presentation, text boxes can have borders. This flowchart outlines how the spatial relationships are maintained between portions of a presentation element while still allowing for the attributes to be adjusted in accordance with a selected style. 
     Control begins in step S 6000  and continues to step S 6100 . In step S 6100 , a portion, e.g., a text box within a presentation element is identified. Next, in step S 6200 , a determination is made whether the identified portion has a border. If the identified portion has a border, control continues to S 6300 . Otherwise, control jumps to step S 7100 . 
     In step S 6300 , the border dimensions for the identified portion are retrieved. Next, in step S 6400 , the dimensions are associated with the identified portion. Then, in step S 6500 , the attributes of tags with new attributes corresponding to style for the selected portion are replaced. Control then continues to step S 6600 . 
     In step S 6600 , the current dimensions associated with the selected portion are retrieved. Next, in step S 6700 , a determination is made whether the borders are larger than the stored original dimensions. If the borders are larger than the stored original dimensions, control continues to step S 6800 , otherwise control jumps to step S 6900 . In step S 6800 , the font size is decremented and control returns to step S 6700 . 
     In step S 6900 , a determination is made whether the borders are smaller than the stored dimensions. If the borders are smaller than the stored dimensions, control continues to step S 7000 , otherwise control jumps to step S 7100 . In step S 7000 , the font size is incremented and control returns to step S 6900 . Control then continues to step S 7100 . 
     In step S 7100 , a determination is made whether all portions within the presentation element have been identified. If all portions have been identified, control continues to step S 7200  where the control sequence ends. Otherwise, control returns to step S 6100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the presentation system is preferably implemented either on a single program general purpose computer or separate program general purpose computers, with associated tangible sensible identification-carrying devices. However, the presentation system can also be implemented on a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC, or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, hard wired electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, or the like. In general, any device, capable of implementing a finite state machine that is in turn capable of implementing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5-9 can be used to implement the presentation system. 
     Furthermore, the disclosed method may be readily implemented in software using object or object-oriented software development environments that provide portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer or work station hardware platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed presentation system may be implemented partially or fully in hardware using standard logic circuits or a VLSI design. Whether software or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance with this invention is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirements of the system, the particular function, and the particular software or hardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems being utilized. The presentation system and methods described above, however, can be readily implemented in hardware or software using any known or later developed systems or structures, devices and/or software by those skilled in the applicable art without undue experimentation from the functional description provided herein together with a general knowledge of the computer arts. 
     Moreover, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented as software executed on a programmed general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or the like. In this case, the methods and systems of this invention can be implemented as a routine embedded in a personal computer, as a resource residing on a server or graphics workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated presentation control system, or the like. The presentation system can also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and method into a software and/or hardware system, such as the hardware and software systems of a graphics workstation or dedicated presentation control system. 
     It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for presenting of stylized presentation elements. While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, Applicants intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that follow in the spirit and scope of this invention.