Abstract:
A website on the Internet for interactive display of images comprises a Web page having a plurality of low resolution images; a high-resolution, insert portion positioned on the Web page which displays one of the plurality of images in a resolution greater than the predetermined resolution for that image as displayed as the low resolution image; and one of the plurality of images automatically displayed in the high-resolution, insert portion based on which of the plurality of low-resolution images senses a graphical user interface superimposed thereon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/05 1,427, filed Jan. 18, 2002, by Thomas J. Hoehn and Matthew H. Bemius, and entitled, “A Method For Displaying Photo Pages On The Internet”; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/050,980, filed Jan. 18, 2002, by Tina M. Clark, Thomas J. Hoehn and Matthew H. Bernius, and entitled, “A Webpage Authoring Tool That Automatically Modifies Links In An HTML Page Sequence Upon Insertion Of Additional HTML Pages”; U.S. application Ser. No. 09/966,314, filed Sep. 28, 2001, by Matthew H. Bernius and Thomas J. Hoehn, and entitled, “A Discussion Board of a Website Having Images”; U.S. application Ser. No. 09/944,551, filed Aug. 31, 2001, by Matthew H. Bemius and Thomas J. Hoehn, and entitled, “A Website Chat Room Having Images Displayed Simultaneously With Interactive Chatting”; and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/907,868, filed Jul. 18, 2001, by Thomas J. Hoehn and Matthew H. Bermus, and entitled, “A Website Using Images As A Navigational Tool For User-Created Photopages On The Internet.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of Web pages on the Internet containing substantially all images and, more particularly, to such Web pages having such images which are automatically converted to a higher resolution upon sensing of a cursor superimposed on the lower resolution image. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently known and utilized websites include web pages having images for visually enhancing the appearance of the web pages. The images are installed upon creation of the web pages by highly skilled web designers and are not modifiable by subsequent visitors of the web pages. In addition, some web pages also include images that have low-resolution images that are viewable in high-resolution form upon clicking on them with a mouse. 
     Although the currently known and utilized web pages are satisfactory, they include drawbacks. Typical users of the Internet are not skilled enough to include images on web pages. Creating such web pages would typically require layout design, picture resizing and enhancement, programming and the like which tasks typical users are not capable of performing. 
     Consequently, a need exists for user-friendly web pages in which typical users can include images therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, the invention resides in a website on the Internet for interactive display of images comprising (a) web page having a plurality of low resolution images; (b) a high-resolution, insert portion positioned on the web page which displays one of the plurality of images in a resolution greater than the predetermined resolution for that image as displayed as the low resolution image; and (c) one of the plurality of images automatically displayed in the high-resolution, insert portion based on which of the plurality of low-resolution images senses a cursor superimposed thereon. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has the advantages of having low-resolution images on web pages displayed in high-resolution form automatically upon sensing a user rolling over the low-resolution thumbnail image with the cursor. The present invention also permits novice users to include images on web pages in a user-friendly manner. Still further, the present invention also automatically resizes the images and includes a template photo page illustrating the page layout for ease of use in creating the web page. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a computer system for implementing the present invention; 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   e  are illustrations of a photo page creation tool for inputting images on the web pages; and 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   b  are illustrations of the web page of the present invention at progressive points in time. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a computer system  10  for implementing the present invention. Although the computer system  10  is shown for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the computer system  10  shown, but may be used on any electronic processing system. The computer system  10  includes a microprocessor-based unit  20  for receiving and processing software programs and for performing other processing functions. A display  30  is electrically connected to the microprocessor-based unit  20  for displaying user-related information associated with the software. A keyboard  40  is also connected to the microprocessor based unit  20  for permitting a user to input information to the software. As an alternative to using the keyboard  40  for input, a mouse  50  may be used for moving a selector  52  on the display  30  and for selecting an item on which the selector  52  overlays, as is well known in the art. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 a - 2   e , there are shown illustrations of a photo page creation tool  53  for assisting the user in inputting images  70  into a web page. Upon accessing the web site, and referring specifically to FIG. 2 a , the user is shown a photo page creation tool web page  53  having a template  54  with a plurality of pre-determined, low-resolution thumbnail portions  55  into which the images  70  will eventually be placed in low resolution format. A high-resolution insert portion  56  is adjacent the thumbnail insert portions  55  for displaying one of the thumbnail images in high-resolution format, as will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. The user uploads their images from their computer and the images  70  are placed in the lower portion of the web page in low resolution format, preferably in the order of uploading with the left most image being the first image  70   a  uploaded. The images are automatically converted into appropriate low-resolution format and size by programming. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 b , the user positions the cursor  52  over the thumbnail portion  55  into which the first image is to be placed and clicks the mouse  30  for forming a reserved thumbnail portion. Referring to FIG. 2 c , the user positions the cursor  52  over the image to be placed into the reserved thumbnail portion and clicks the mouse  50 . This causes this image to be inserted into both the reserved thumbnail portion  55  and the high-resolution portion  56 . The image  70   a  is automatically converted into the high-resolution format and appropriate sizing by programming. This process is continued for all of the images  70  in the lower portion until they are all placed into the thumbnail portions  55 . It facilitates understanding to note that the first image  70   a  inserted into the thumbnail portions remains in the high-resolution portion  56 . Referring to FIG. 2 d , there is shown an illustration of the images  70  inserted into their respective thumbnail portions  55  for clarity of understanding. The user then positions the cursor  52  over the “next” icon  57  for previewing the web page. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 e , the preview web page  58  is shown having the previously arranged web page design therein. A “build it” icon  59  is displayed adjacent the preview design for permitting the user to create a web page with the preview, if the user is satisfied. Upon clicking on the “build it” icon  59 , the html web page is displayed with the images as designed in the photo page creation tool. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , there are shown illustrations of the html web page  60  of the present invention at two different points in time for illustrating automated interactive display of images thereon. In this regard, the Web page  60  includes the plurality of low-resolution images  70  positioned in spatially spaced-apart relationships to each other. The images  70  form a customized “photopage” which may be viewed by other Internet users. A high-resolution image  80  is positioned adjacent the low resolution images  70  and is a high-resolution version of one of the low-resolution images  70 . The particular image inserted as the high resolution image  80  is determined by the user upon uploading of the images as described above, but may be changed to be either one of the low resolution images  70  as described hereinbelow. 
     In this regard, the web page  60  includes javascript programming for performing the changing of the high-resolution image. As the user rolls the cursor over the respective images  70  the javascript programming changes the image  70  displayed as the high-resolution image  80  to the image  70  on which the user rolled over the cursor. For example, in FIG. 2 a , there is shown the cursor  52  rolling over the image  70   a . The javascript programming receives this information and automatically displays the selected image  70   a , as determined by the cursor  52 , as the high-resolution image  80 , if not already displayed there. In FIG. 2 b , there is shown another point in time having another image  70  displayed as the high resolution image  80  as determined by received information by the cursor  52 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the user only uploads one image which is passes through a plurality of filters for creating modified versions of the original image. The filters are, for example, a black and white filter for creating a black and white version, a “cartoon” filter for creating a cartoon version of the original image, and other similar filters for creating other desired versions of the original image. The filtered images, and if desired, the original image are placed as thumbnail images  70  which are inserted into template  70 . A high-resolution version of any of the images is created as described hereinabove. 
     The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Parts List 
       10  computer system 
       20  CPU 
       30  monitor 
       40  keyboard 
       50  mouse 
       52  GUI 
       53  photo creation tool 
       54  template 
       55  low-resolution insert portions 
       56  high resolution 
       57  NEXT icon 
       59  Build It icon 
       60  web page 
       70  low-resolution images 
       80  high-resolution images