Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a video e-mail kiosk for creating and sending video e-mail messages such as full motion videos or still snapshots. The method comprises recording a video message, requesting an e-mail address of an intended recipient, and sending the video message to the intended recipient. The apparatus comprises a display device capable of displaying video and computer graphics, an input device capable of accepting input from a user, a digital video camera, a microphone, a digital network communications link, and a processor connected to the display device, the input device, the digital video camera, the microphone, and the digital network communications link, and capable of accepting an input from a user and generating display output, and further capable of converting a video input from the digital video camera and an audio input from the microphone into a digital video e-mail message and transmitting the digital video e-mail message over the digital network communications link.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an interactive kiosk for creating and sending video information over a communication network to a recipient as an electronic mail or “e-mail” message.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Background Art  
           [0004]    Digital communications networks, such as the Internet, are designed for the exchange of large quantities of information in a digital form. Because digital networks can communicate large amounts of data, they are rapidly gaining in popularity. Digital information can be sent almost instantaneously and practically anywhere. In addition, the number of users is skyrocketing as more and more people discover that digital communications, such as e-mail, are easy to use, fast, and relatively inexpensive. Email has several advantages over previous modes of communication, such as the instantaneousness of a telephone call and the ability to wait for the recipient like a letter.  
           [0005]    A user creates an e-mail message by creating message information and specifying the address of a recipient. The address, and other information such as the size and format of the message, are saved in a header file that is appended to the message information. The address is a unique identifier which instructs routing computers where to send the message. When the message is transmitted, it is sent from the host computer (the user&#39;s computer) to the recipient. The message will usually be routed through several intermediate computers that act as relay stations.  
           [0006]    Although traditionally used for text messages, e-mail is capable of transferring any type of digital information, including digital audio, graphics, and video. In the recent past, transmission of video over digital networks was hampered by the large quantity of data that was required to be transmitted, and by the relatively limited bandwidth of most digital networks. The growth of the capabilities of digital communications networks and the capabilities of personal computers has now enabled graphical and pictorial information to be widely communicated. This is beginning to be true for video transmission also.  
           [0007]    Video clips and messages on the Internet are becoming more popular as computer and network capabilities expand, and also as more people discover their use. Video is popular for advertising and educational purposes, and will likely become popular as a method of personal communication.  
           [0008]    Video communications and other types of visual communications have long been sought and desired by the general public. Images of videophones and wrist televisions are in existence. Reducing a message, scene, or event to writing in most cases necessitates a loss of non-verbal communication, emotional content, or other significance. Many forms of current communication, such as communication by telephone, are also lesser substitutes for video or other types of visual communications.  
           [0009]    The lack of video communication and other types of visual communications is most readily apparent when the event desired to be shared has family or emotional significance. The birth of a child, the relaying of personal news, or contact with family or friends at a distance is best accomplished by visual communication. Although many forms of digital communications are possible, they are often confined to textual or other limited communications, such as the e-mail transmission of text and graphics.  
           [0010]    What is needed therefore is a method and apparatus for creating and sending video e-mail messages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of creating and recording a video message and transmitting the message to a recipient via e-mail.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the invention to provide a video email kiosk capable of recording a video e-mail message at the prompting of a user.  
           [0013]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of providing a recorded full motion video or a still snapshot e-mail message for review by a user.  
           [0014]    It is an object of the invention to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of re-recording a full motion video or still snapshot e-mail message at the option of a user.  
           [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of requesting an e-mail address of a recipient.  
           [0016]    An object of the invention to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of sending a full motion video or still snapshot e-mail message to one or more designated e-mail recipients.  
           [0017]    It is an object of the invention to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of verifying the validity of the entered address of an e-mail recipient.  
           [0018]    An object of the invention is also to provide a video e-mail kiosk capable of accepting a payment from the user.  
           [0019]    A computer-implemented method for creating and sending a video e-mail message is provided according to a first aspect of the invention. The method comprises the steps of recording a video message, requesting an e-mail address of an intended recipient, and sending the video message to the intended recipient.  
           [0020]    A video e-mail kiosk for creating and sending a video e-mail message is provided according to a second aspect of the invention. The video e-mail kiosk comprises a display device capable of displaying video and computer graphics, an input device capable of accepting input data from a user, a digital video camera, a microphone, a digital network communications link, and a processor connected to the display device, the input device, the digital video camera, the microphone, and the digital network communications link, and capable of accepting input data from a user and generating display output, and further capable of converting a video input from the digital video camera and an audio input from the microphone into a digital video e-mail message and transmitting the digital video e-mail message over the digital network communications link.  
           [0021]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a video e-mail kiosk of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows an inactive screen that is displayed when the video e-mail kiosk is idle;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 shows a record screen that is displayed when a user has activated the video e-mail kiosk;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4A shows a preview screen that is displayed after a user has recorded a video message;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4B shows a processing wait screen that is displayed during video processing;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows an address screen that is displayed when a user is prompted to enter a recipient&#39;s e-mail address;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a payment screen that is displayed when a user is prompted to tender payment;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows a final screen that is displayed to a user when the video e-mail transaction is completed; and  
         [0030]    FIGS.  8 A- 8 D is a flowchart of the method of operation of the video e-mail kiosk. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a video e-mail kiosk  100  of the present invention. The video e-mail kiosk  100  comprises a digital processor  110 , a touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 , a digital video camera  130 , a microphone  140 , audio speakers  150 , a credit card acceptor  160 , a cash acceptor  170 , and a digital network communications link  180 . Preferably, the digital network communications link  180  is an Internet connection. In one alternative embodiment, a general purpose video monitor (not shown) and a conventional keyboard (not shown) may be substituted for the touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 . In another alternative embodiment, the audio speakers  150  may be replaced by a single audio speaker or no audio speakers, as the playback of audio is desired but not necessary for the review of a recorded video message. In yet another alternative embodiment, the digital video camera  130  is of a type that can capture a still digital photograph, whereby an e-mail message can be created containing a still snapshot.  
         [0032]    The processor  110  may be any type of general purpose computer, such as a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, or other microprocessor-based type of computer. The processor  110  is connected to the touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 , the digital video camera  130 , the microphone  140 , the audio speakers  150 , the credit card acceptor  160 , and the cash acceptor  170 . The processor  110  receives user inputs from the touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 , sends display output to the touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 , receives and stores digital video input from the digital video camera  130  and audio input from the microphone  140 , and conducts a payment transaction by means of either the credit card acceptor  160  or the cash acceptor  170 . The processor  110  is also capable of replaying stored video (full motion or still snapshots) and audio, creating a full motion video or snapshot e-mail message containing the stored full motion video and audio or stored snapshot, and transmitting the message to a recipient or recipients via the digital network communications link  180 .  
         [0033]    The processor  110  records the video e-mail message to a memory, which preferably is internal random access memory (RAM), but alternatively may be recorded onto optical or magnetic disk, or equivalents thereof. The processor  110  forms an e-mail message having the recorded video and audio segments or snapshot as the body of the message, and adds the address or addresses of the recipient(s) as entered by the user by touching alphanumeric key icons on the touch-sensitive screen monitor  120 . The video e-mail message may be formatted in any one of a number of known formats, such as MPEG, AVI, MOV, or the like. Likewise, the video message may be formatted in any one of a number of known formats, such as BMP, JPG, GIF, or the like. The processor  110  prompts the user to enter payment, which can be made through either the credit card acceptor  160  or the cash acceptor  170 . The processor  110  establishes a connection to a digital network through the digital network communications link  180 , and transmits the full motion video or still snapshot e-mail message over the digital network.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 shows an inactive screen display  200  of the video e-mail kiosk  100  when the kiosk  100  is in an inactive or “stand-by” mode; that is, no user is currently conducting a transaction. The inactive screen display  200  in the preferred embodiment displays information about the video e-mail service, displays sample full motion video or still snapshot messages  210 , and has a start button  220  whereby a user may start the process of creating and sending a video e-mail message by touching the start button  220 , which sends a “wake-up” signal to the processor  110 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 shows a record screen display  300  that is displayed when a user has activated the video e-mail kiosk  100  by pressing the start button  220  of the inactive screen display  200 . The record screen  300  contains information explaining the operation of this stage of the process, a record button  310 , a stop button  320 , an image window  330 , a status window  340 , and a time remaining display  350 . A user can initiate the start of recording by pressing the record button  310 , and may halt recording before the expiration of the recording period by pressing the stop button  320 . The status window  340  tells the user when the video e-mail kiosk  100  is recording and when it is ready to record. When the user presses the record button  310 , the status window  340  will change from displaying “ready” to displaying “record.” The recording may be monitored by the user by means of the image window  330  and the time remaining display  350 . The time remaining display  350  graphically shows the user how much recording time is left. The stop button  220  will stop the recording process if the time remaining display  350  indicates that the recording is still in process, but will have not effect if the recording time has expired. In an alternative embodiment, the video recording may be replaced by the taking of a still digital snapshot when the record button  310  is pushed.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4A shows a preview screen  400  that is displayed after a full motion video or still snapshot message has been recorded. The preview screen  400  contains text explaining the operation of this stage of the video recording process, an erase button  410 , a play button  420 , an image window  430 , a status window  440 , and a send button  450 . The preview screen  400  is presented to the user after the video message has been recorded, and allows the user to review the recorded full motion video or still snapshot message and decide if the recorded message is acceptable. If the recorded message is not acceptable, the preview screen  400  allows the user to erase and re-record the video message by pressing the erase button  410 . Alternatively, the preview screen  400  allows the user to erase and re-take the video message by pressing the erase button  410 . If the user presses the erase button  410 , the display reverts to the record screen  300 , where the user may again record a full motion video or still snapshot message.  
         [0037]    In order to decide whether to accept or reject the recorded video message, the user may press the play button  420  and review the recorded message on the image screen  430  (the user may not need to press any button to review a still snapshot message, as that captured message may already be displayed). The status window  440  reflects the current status of the image window  430 . The status window  440  may display “ready” if the recorded video is not playing, and may display “playing” after the play button  420  has been pressed and while the video message is yet playing. If, after reviewing the video message, the user is satisfied with the video message, the send button  450  may be pressed to advance to the next display screen and the next step.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4B shows a processing wait screen  450  that is displayed if the user presses the play button  420  in order to review the recorded video message. The processing wait screen  450  contains text instructing the user to wait for the video message to be processed, and a processing status window  455 .  
         [0039]    The processing wait screen  450  is displayed while the recorded video is being processed, e.g., compressed. As will be recognized by one skilled in the art, the video message may be processed using a data compression algorithm to reduce the size of the video message for storage and transmission. The processing status window  455  indicates the time remaining in the processing procedure, and in the preferred embodiment shows the percentage of compression time remaining. Alternatively, the processing status window  455  may display discrete units of time remaining.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 shows an address screen  500  that is displayed after the full motion video or still snapshot message has been satisfactorily recorded and compressed, and it allows the user to enter an e-mail address or addresses and thereby designate a recipient or recipients. The address screen  500  contains information explaining the operation of this stage of the process, an add address button  510 , an address display window  520 , a keyboard display  530 , and a send button  540 . The user presses the add address button  510  to initiate the input of an e-mail address of a recipient. After pressing the add address button  510 , the user may enter an e-mail address via the keyboard display  530 . The entered address is displayed in the address display window  520 . When the address is complete, the user may press the add address button  510  again to add another address of another recipient, or may press the send button  540  to proceed to the next step of the process.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 shows a payment screen  600  that is displayed after the e-mail address or addresses have been entered. The payment screen  600  allows the user to choose the method of payment and pay for the full motion or still snapshot e-mail message before it is transmitted. The payment screen  600  contains descriptive text, an address display window  610 , a price display window  620 , and a cancel button  630 . The address display window  610  displays the e-mail address or addresses of the intended recipients as a confirmation of the address entry process. The price display window  620  displays the fee the user must pay before the process will be completed and the video e-mail message will be sent. The cancel button  630  allows the user to cancel the transaction if desired. However, if the user enters payment as shown in the price display window  620 , the video e-mail message will be sent and the process will proceed to the next step.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 7 shows a final screen  700  that is displayed at the end of the process after payment has been made and the video or photographic e-mail message has been sent to the intended recipient or recipients. The final screen  700  contains text communicating that the video e-mail message has been sent and the transaction has been completed.  
         [0043]    FIGS.  8 A- 8 D show a flowchart  800  of the preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention. In step  802 , the video e-mail kiosk  100  displays an attract loop in the inactive screen display  200 . The attract loop is a continuous loop video display that is played when the video e-mail kiosk  100  is inactive or on stand-by. The function of the inactive screen display  200  is to demonstrate the features of the video e-mail kiosk  100  concerning creating a full motion video or still snapshot message, and to that end may display sample full motion video clips or still snapshots as examples of the end result. The inactive screen display  200  may also display a start button  220  which may be pressed by a user.  
         [0044]    In step  805 , the start button  220  is monitored. If the start button  220  has not been pressed, the method branches back onto itself at step  805 . If the start button  220  has been pressed, the method proceeds to step  806 .  
         [0045]    In step  806 , the record screen  300  is displayed. The record screen  300  presents the user with buttons that can be pressed to control the recording of a video message.  
         [0046]    In step  809 , the record button  310  is monitored. If the record button  310  has not been pressed, the method branches to step  814 , where a timer is monitored. If the record button  310  has been pressed, the method proceeds to step  816 .  
         [0047]    In step  814 , if the record button timer has not expired, the method branches back to step  809 . Else, the method defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed. The purpose of the record button timer and step  814  is to return the video e-mail kiosk  100  to an inactive mode if the user does not continue with the transaction.  
         [0048]    In step  816 , the video e-mail kiosk  100  begins recording the video message by means of the digital video camera  130  and the microphone  140 .  
         [0049]    In step  819 , the stop button  320  of the record screen  300  is monitored. If the stop button  320  has not been pressed, the method proceeds to step  822 , else it proceeds to step  823 .  
         [0050]    In step  822 , a record time remaining timer is monitored. If the timer has not expired, the method branches back to step  819 , where the stop button  320  is checked again. If the timer has expired, the method proceeds to step  823 . The monitoring of the stop button  320  in step  819  in combination with the monitoring of the record time remaining timer in step  822  serve to limit the length of recording time to a preset time dictated by the record time remaining timer. However, if the stop button  320  is pressed by the user before the record time remaining timer expires, the length of the video recording will be less than the period of the maximum recording time.  
         [0051]    In step  823 , the recording of the video message is stopped, by either a press of the stop button or by the expiration of the record time remaining timer. In an alternative embodiment, the video recording steps  809 - 823  of FIG. 8A may be replaced by a step of taking a still digital snapshot.  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. 8B, in step  826  the preview screen  400  is displayed. The purpose of the preview screen  400  is to allow the user to view the full motion video or still snapshot message that was recorded in steps  816 - 823  above, and decide whether to accept or reject the recorded message.  
         [0053]    In step  829 , the play button  420  of the preview screen  400  is monitored. If the play button  420  has been pressed, the method proceeds to step  831 , else it proceeds to step  833 .  
         [0054]    In step  831 , the previously recorded video message is played back to the user through the image window  430  of the preview screen  400 . In an alternative embodiment, the video playback steps  829  and  831  may not be needed if the user is reviewing a still snapshot e-mail message. Step  831  also includes the video compression step (not shown). The processing wait screen  450  is displayed while the video is being compressed, with playback commencing when the compression is complete.  
         [0055]    In step  833 , the send button  450  is monitored. If the send button  450  has been pressed, the method proceeds to step  842  of FIG. 8C. Else, the method proceeds to step  836 . The send button  450  is pressed by the user when the recorded video or photographic message is satisfactory and is accepted by the user.  
         [0056]    In step  836 , the erase button  410  is monitored. If the erase button  410  has been pressed, the method branches back to step  806 , where the record screen  300  is displayed and a new video message may be recorded by the user. If the erase button  410  has not been pressed, the method proceeds to step  838 .  
         [0057]    In step  838 , a preview timer is monitored. If the preview timer has expired, the method defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed. If the preview timer has not expired, the method branches back to step  829  and the video e-mail kiosk  100  waits for a button of the preview screen  400  to be pressed. In this manner, the video e-mail kiosk  100  displays the preview screen  400  for a predetermined amount of time as dictated by the preview timer period. During the preview timer period, the user may select from the play (preview) button  420 , the send button  450 , or the erase button  410 . If the user does not select one of the above buttons during the preview timer period, the video e-mail kiosk  100  will not remain in the preview screen  400 , but will default back to the inactive state and display the inactive screen display  200 .  
         [0058]    Referring now to FIG. 8C, in step  842  the address screen  500  is displayed. The address screen  500  allows the user to designate an intended recipient or recipients by entering an email address or addresses.  
         [0059]    In step  845 , the video e-mail kiosk  100  determines whether an e-mail address has been entered. If an address has not been entered, the method branches to step  847 , else the method proceeds to step  850 .  
         [0060]    In step  847 , an address entry timer is monitored. If the address entry timer has not expired, the method branches back to step  845  to wait for an address to be entered. If the address entry timer has expired, the method defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed.  
         [0061]    In step  850 , the video e-mail kiosk  100  determines whether the e-mail address is valid by checking the entered e-mail address for a standard e-mail address format. If the address is invalid, the method branches to step  853 , where an error message is displayed, and then the method branches further back to step  845  where address entry may again be attempted by the user. If the address is valid, then the method proceeds to step  856 .  
         [0062]    In step  856 , the address button  510  is monitored. If the address button  510  has been pressed, the method branches back to step  845 , whereupon another address may be entered by the user. Else, the method proceeds to step  857 .  
         [0063]    In step  857 , the send button  540  of the address screen  500  is monitored. If the send button  540  has been pressed, the method proceeds to step  864  of FIG. 8D, else it proceeds to step  861 .  
         [0064]    In step  861 , the address screen timer is monitored. If the address screen timer has expired, the method defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed. Else, the method branches back to step  856 . In this manner, the video e-mail kiosk  100  displays the address screen  500  and waits for a button press by the user for a predetermined period of time as given by the address screen timer.  
         [0065]    Referring now to FIG. 8D, in step  864  the payment screen  600  is displayed. The payment screen  600  provides the user with payment options so that the user can pay for the transaction.  
         [0066]    In step  868 , the credit card acceptor  160  is monitored. If a credit card has been offered, the method proceeds to step  873 , else it proceeds to step  870 .  
         [0067]    In step  870 , the cash acceptor  170  is monitored. If cash payment has been offered, the method proceeds to step  873 , else it proceeds to step  875 .  
         [0068]    In step  873 , the final screen  700  will be displayed. The final screen  700  informs the user that the full motion video or still snapshot e-mail message has been sent. After step  873 , a final display timer is monitored (not shown), which after expiration defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed. In this manner, the final screen  700  is displayed for a predetermined period of time before the video e-mail kiosk  100  returns to an inactive mode.  
         [0069]    In step  875 , a payment timer is monitored. If the payment timer has not expired, the method branches back to step  868 , and the video e-mail kiosk  100  waits for a predetermined period of time as given by the payment timer. If the payment timer has expired, the method defaults back to step  802  and the inactive screen display  200  is displayed. In this manner, the payment timer gives the user a time period in which to tender payment before defaulting back to an inactive state.  
         [0070]    While the invention has been disclosed in detail above, the invention is not intended to be limited strictly to the invention as disclosed. It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, the payment steps of FIG. 8D may be inserted between steps  805  and  806  of FIG. 8A. In this way, a user must pay for the transaction before being allowed to record and preview a video message. In this alternative embodiment, users such as children will be prevented from occupying the kiosk for long periods of time by recording and previewing video images, without intending to ever send the message to a recipient.