Patent Abstract:
Systems, methods, and media for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided, the systems comprising: at least one processor programmed to: receive an electronic document, a definition of a first panel on a page in the electronic document, and a definition of a second panel on the page in the electronic document; control a display of the first panel based on the definition of the first panel; and transition from the display of the first panel to a display of the second panel by re-scaling the display and panning from the first panel to the second panel.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/216,383, filed May 14, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosed subject matter relates to systems, methods, and media for presenting panel-based electronic documents. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    With the continued proliferation of portable electronic devices, there is a continued growth in the demand for mechanisms to view electronic documents, such as books, newspapers, magazines, comic books, etc. 
         [0004]    Certain forms of electronic documents, such as comic books, include content in a layout that has multiple panels of content for each page. For example, with comic books, a top-left-most panel on a page may represent a first panel for the page, and the bottom-right-most panel of the page may represent a last panel for the page. By viewing and reading these panels from the top-left toward the bottom-right, a reader can observe a time-sequence of events in the comic books story line. 
         [0005]    Current electronic document reading mechanisms do not adequately facilitate reading of such panel-based electronic documents, and therefore new mechanisms for presenting such electronic documents are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Systems, methods, and media for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided, the systems comprising: at least one processor programmed to: receive an electronic document, a definition of a first panel on a page in the electronic document, and a definition of a second panel on the page in the electronic document; control a display of the first panel based on the definition of the first panel; and transition from the display of the first panel to a display of the second panel by re-scaling the display and panning from the first panel to the second panel. 
         [0007]    In accordance with some embodiments, methods for presenting panel-based electronic documents are, provided, the methods comprising: receiving an electronic document, a definition of a first panel on a page in the electronic document, and a definition of a second panel on the page in the electronic document; controlling a display of the first panel based on the definition of the first panel; and transitioning from the display of the first panel to a display of the second panel by re-scaling the display and panning from the first panel to the second panel. 
         [0008]    In accordance with some embodiments, computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for presenting panel based electronic documents, the method comprising: receiving an electronic document, a definition of a first panel on a page in the electronic document, and a definition of a second panel on the page in the electronic document; controlling a display of the first panel based on the definition of the first panel; and transitioning from the display of the first panel to a display of the second panel by re-scaling the display and panning from the first panel to the second panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of hardware that can be used in some embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a process for creating a definition file in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an example of a definition file in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an example of a title selection interface in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of another example of a title selection interface in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of an example of an introductory display in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example of a multi-panel display in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of an example of a panel with masking displayed in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of a process for rotating an image in response to a device rotating in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of an example of an inter-panel transition in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of another example of an inter-panel transition in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a diagram of yet another example of an inter-panel transition in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a diagram of a process for transitioning between panels in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a diagram of an example of a panel and two sub-panels in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    In accordance with various embodiments, mechanisms for presenting panel-based electronic documents are provided. These mechanisms can be used in a variety of applications such as to allow for viewing and reading panel-based documents, such as comic books, on portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, portable media players, e-readers, tablet computing devices, laptop computers, non-portable devices and computers, etc. 
         [0024]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , an example of hardware  100  that can be used in some embodiments is illustrated. As shown, hardware  100  includes content creator computers  102 , document processors  104 , storage  106 , a server  108 , a communication network  110 , reading devices  112 ,  114 , and  116  (such as a laptop computer  112 , a tablet computing device  114 , and a handheld device  116 ), online retailer  118 , and a brick and mortar retailer  120 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, a panel-based electronic document may first be created by content creators on content creator computers  102  or created on paper and then transferred to content creator computers  102  (e.g., by scanning the document). These documents may be provided on computers  102  in any suitable format, such as ADOBE PORTABLE DOCUMENT FORMAT (PDF), bitmap, JPEG, etc. 
         [0026]    The document can then be transferred to a document processor  104  directly or via network  110 . Any suitable protocol for transferring the document can be used in some embodiments. For example, the document can be transferred using the TCP/IP protocol. 
         [0027]    At the document processor  104 , the document can be processed to define various parts of the document as described further below in accordance with some embodiments. This can result in a definition file, such as an XML file, for the document being created in accordance with some embodiments. 
         [0028]    The electronic document and/or the definition file can then be stored in storage  106  in some embodiments. Any suitable mechanism for storing the electronic document and/or the definition file can be used. For example, the electronic document and/or definition file can be stored in database (such as database hardware and/or software), a mass storage device (such as a disk drive, an optical drive, magnetic media, memory, etc.), etc. 
         [0029]    Server  108  can then access the electronic document and/or definition file and make them accessible to users using reading devices  112 ,  114 , and/or  116  via communication network  110 . Users can access the electronic documents and/or the definition file as described below in accordance with some embodiments. 
         [0030]    Any suitable server  108  can be used in some embodiments. For example, server  108  can be an Internet server that can communicate with the reading devices and/or storage  106 . 
         [0031]    Any suitable network and/or combination of networks may be used as network  110  in some embodiments. For example, network  110  may include the Internet, a wired network, a wireless network, a local area network, a wide area network, a telephone network, a cable network, a satellite network, a fiber optic network, etc. In some embodiments, network  110  can include any suitable equipment such as routers, firewalls, servers, proxy servers, gateways, etc. 
         [0032]    Reading devices  112 ,  114 , and  116  can be any suitable devices such as a laptop computer  112 , a tablet computing device  114 , and a handheld device  116 , mobile phones, portable media players, e-readers, tablet computing devices, laptop computers, non-portable devices and computers, etc. 
         [0033]    As described below, in some embodiments, a user can use a reading device  112 ,  114 , or  116  to purchase a paper copy of an electronic document. For example, a user can use the reading device to purchase a paper copy of an electronic comic book. This purchase can be facilitated in some embodiments via online retailer  118  and/or brick and mortar retailer  120 . Any suitable equipment, such as a Web server can be located at the retailer  118  and/or  120 . 
         [0034]    Any suitable components in hardware  100 , such as content creator computers  102 , document processors  104 , storage  106 , server  108 , reading devices  112 ,  114 , and  116 , online retailer  118 , and a brick and mortar retailer  120 , can be implemented in one or more general purpose devices such as a computer or a special purpose device such as a client, a server, etc. Any of these general or special purpose devices can include any suitable components such as a processor (which can be a microprocessor, digital signal processor, a controller, etc.), memory, communication interfaces, display controllers, input devices, etc., and can be configured to operate in response to software instructions consistent with the functionality described herein. 
         [0035]    As mentioned above, in some embodiments, document processor  104  can be used to create a definition file for an electronic document. An example of a process  200  for creating a definition file that can be used in some embodiments is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . An example of a definition file  300 , in XML format, that can be used in some embodiments is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0036]    As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , after process  200  begins at  202 , the process can receive an electronic document. The document can be received using any suitable mechanism. For example, the document can be received via network  110  from content creator computers  102  or directly from the content creator computers  102 . 
         [0037]    Next, at  204 , process  200  can create book information for the definition file. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3  at  302 , the book information can define a version, a title, and a background color for the book as well as a cover image. Any other suitable book information can additionally or alternatively be defined. 
         [0038]    After defining the book information, process  200  can select the first page of the book at  208 . The first page of the book can be selected on any suitable basis. For example, the first book can be selected as the first page following the front cover in a corresponding paper form of the electronic book. 
         [0039]    Page information for the selected page can next be created at  210 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3  at  304 , page information can define a page file for the page and an index file for the page. Any other suitable page information can additionally or alternatively be defined. The page information can also include panel information corresponding to the page (as shown in  306  of  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0040]    Next, at  212 , process  200  can select the first panel on the page. The first panel on the page can be selected on any suitable basis. For example, the first panel can be selected as the panel in the top-left-most position on the page. 
         [0041]    At  214 , panel information for the selected panel can next be created. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3  at  306 , the panel information can include a panel mask color, a panel origin (e.g., such as the upper, left corner of the panel), and a panel size (which can be specific in absolute terms (e.g., in number of pixels) or in relative terms (e.g., as a percentage of a page), for example). Any other suitable panel information can additionally or alternatively be defined. For example, one or more sound effects for a panel can be defined. Such sound effects could be played when the panel is displayed. As another example, a vibration option could be defined for a panel so that a reading device vibrates when a corresponding panel is displayed. As yet another example, a panel could be defined so that it is to appear as being shaking relative to a reading device when displayed. 
         [0042]    Process  200  can next determine, at  216 , whether any sub-panels are to be included for the panel. Subpanels can be used, in some embodiments, for example, to enable a portion of a panel to be highlighted when the panel is displayed. 
         [0043]    An example of subpanels  1400  is shown in  FIG. 14 . As illustrated in panel  1402 , the panel can have two sub-panels—e.g., each an area within panel  1402 . As shown the panel and sub-panels can be used to show the entire panel or some sub-portion of the panel. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a panel may be used to show “Olivia” using  1404 . For dramatic affect, it may be desirable to highlight Olivia&#39;s face using  1406  or Olivia&#39;s eyes using  1408 . 
         [0044]    If it is determined at  216  that one or more sub-panels are to be included, the sub-panel information can be created at  218 . This sub-panel information can include any suitable information, such as the information described above for a panel in connection with  214 . 
         [0045]    After the sub-panel information has been created at  218 , or if it is determined that no sub-panel information is to be included, then process  200  can determine whether the selected panel is the last panel on the page at  220 . If the selected panel is determined to not be the last panel, then process  200  can select the next panel on the page (on any suitable basis) at  222  and loop back to  214 . 
         [0046]    Otherwise, if the selected panel is determined to be the last panel on the page, then, at  224 , process  200  can determine whether the selected page is the last page in the book. If it is determined that the selected page is not the last page, then process  200  can select the next page (on any suitable basis) at  226  and loop back to  210 . 
         [0047]    Otherwise, if the selected page is determined to be the last page in the book, then, at  228 , process  200  can store the information. The information can be stored in any suitable manner, such as by writing the information to an XML file (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and saving it to storage  106  of  FIG. 1 . Once the information has been stored, process  200  can end at  230 . 
         [0048]    The creation of a definition file for an electronic document could be performed based on manual input or fully automatically in some embodiments. For example, the definition of a panel could include receiving a user click on an origin for an electronic document&#39;s panel and a dragging of a rectangle around the panel. As another example, the border of a panel could be determined by automatically detecting the edges of a panel and creating a shape around the panel and/or finding the best fit for a rectangle around the panel. 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, rather than have rectangular (or square) shapes as described herein, panels could be defined as having any suitable shape. Such panels could be defined using vectors, using bitmaps, using combinations of one or more geometric shapes, etc. 
         [0050]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , an example of a user interface  400  for selecting an electronic document to be displayed in accordance with some embodiments is shown. As illustrated, this interface may include one or more titles  402  that a user can select for viewing. In some embodiments, after the user has selected a title, the user may be prompted for payment information, or pre-stored payment information may be accessed so that a payment for the title can be effected using the information. 
         [0051]    Another example of a user interface  500  for selecting an electronic document to be displayed in accordance with some embodiments is shown in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, the interface can include a carousel of title  502  that can be quickly scrolled by user, and individual titles  504  that a user can select for purchase and/or viewing. 
         [0052]    Once a user has selected a title for viewing (perhaps after purchasing the title), an introductory panel  600  for the title can be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Any suitable introductory panel can be displayed and such panels can (and likely will) vary greatly from title to title. 
         [0053]    Next, in some embodiments, a multi-panel page  700  may be displayed as shown in  FIG. 7 . This page may present multiple panels simultaneously so that a user can experience a similar feel to seeing a first page of a paper book when the previous page is turned. In some embodiments, a multi-panel display of a page when the first panel on the page is to be displayed can be disabled when desired. 
         [0054]    As shown in display  800  of  FIG. 8 , when a panel  802  is to displayed (e.g., after a multi-panel page has been displayed), the displayed panel can include masking  804  to obscure adjacent panels of the corresponding page. This masking can be in a color specified in the definition file. For example, the masking color can be defined for a specific panel, for a page, or as a default for a book. In some embodiments, the mask can be a given level of transparency, can have a pattern, can disabled, and/or have any other suitable characteristic. The characteristics of the mask can be defined based on definitions of default mask characteristics at the book, page, panel, and/or sub-panel level. 
         [0055]    As shown in series  900  of  FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, when a user rotates a compatible reading device, the orientation of the display can be adjusted to compensate. This may be desirable, for example, when a panel is best viewed in a landscape orientation and the user is holding a reading device in a portrait orientation. Thus, for example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , when a user rotates a reading device counter-clock wise at  902 , a displayed image can automatically rotate clockwise in the device at  904  and scale to fit the new display orientation at  906 . In some embodiments, a rotation of a panel being displayed can be performed even when the reading device has not been rotated. 
         [0056]    In some embodiments, after a user has viewed a panel, the user may initiate a transition to a new panel as shown, for example, by series  1000  of  FIG. 10 . As illustrated, at  1002 , the user may tap on the displayed panel (or take any other suitable action). Next, at  1004 , the display can scale to the new panel size and then begin to pan to the new panel on the corresponding page. As the panning progresses, a remnant of one or more adjacent panels may be visible prior to the panel being finally displayed as shown at  1006 . Finally, after the transition is complete at  1008 , the panel can be displayed with any specified masking, such as illustrated in connection with  FIG. 8 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 11  illustrates another example of a series  1100  showing a panel transition in accordance with some embodiments. As show, after a user taps a panel at  1102 , the panel scales to the new panel and pans toward the right on the page to shown the new panel at  1104  and then  1106 . 
         [0058]    Yet another example of a transition between panels is shown in series  1200  of  FIG. 12 . As can be seen, this transition is between two panels diagonally located with respect to each other. After a user taps on a panel at  1202 , the transition scales and pans between the beginning panel and the ending panel at  1204 ,  1206 , and  1208 . In some embodiments, the panning can occur along a line connecting the centers of the beginning panel and the ending panel. 
         [0059]    Turning to  FIG. 13 , a process  1300  for transitioning between panels in accordance with some embodiments is shown. As illustrated, after process  1300  begins at  1302 , a tap, or any other user indication, is received at  1304 . This tap (or other user indication) can be received in any suitable manner. For example, with a touch screen reading device, the tap can be received in response to a user touching the screen of the reading device. As another example, with a reading device that includes a mouse or other pointing device, the tap can be received in response to the user click a button on the mouse or other pointing device. 
         [0060]    Next, at  1306 , information for the next panel to be displayed can be accessed. This information can be accessed from any suitable source. For example, the information can be accessed from a definition file, such as an XML file as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0061]    The scale for the new panel can next be determined at  1308 . This display scale can be determined on any suitable basis. For example, the display scale can be determined based on the available display area on a screen, the orientation of the screen, making sure that the full content of a panel is displayed on the screen, balancing maximizing the percentage of the panel displayed against minimizing the amount of masking used, having a matte or margin of a certain amount of each side around the new panel, having a given amount of white space of one or more sides of the new panel, etc. 
         [0062]    After the new scaling is determined, the displayed panel can be progressively re-sealed (e.g., by zooming to the new scale) at  1310 . Any suitable speed for re-scaling can be used in some embodiments. At  1312 , process  1300  can pan to the new panel based on the centers of the panels. Any suitable speed for panning can be use in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the re-scaling and panning in  1310  and  1312  can occur at the same time. 
         [0063]    As the new panel becomes fully displayed, or after the new panel becomes fully displayed, the masking can be applied to adjacent panels that would be displayed due to the display size at  1314 . Once the masking is applied, process  1300  can then end at  1316 . 
         [0064]    In some embodiments, the transition between some or all of the panels/sub-panels can be implemented without requiring user input. For example, in some embodiments, the transition between panels can occur without requiring that a user tap a panel. This can be implemented, for example, by waiting a specified and/or random amount of time before transition occurs. 
         [0065]    In some embodiments, after the last panel on a page is displayed, a multi-panel view (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 7 ) of the last panel and all of the panels of the page can be displayed. In this way, a user can see the entire page of panels upon completing viewing of the panels for a page. In order to display the multi-panel display of the page, a transition as described above may be made from the last panel to the entire page of panels, wherein the page of panels is treated as a panel for the purposes of re-scaling and panning. In some embodiments, the display of the multi-panel display after the last panel of a page is displayed can be disabled. 
         [0066]    In some embodiments, any suitable computer readable media can be used for storing instructions for performing the processes described herein. For example, in some embodiments, computer readable media can be transitory or non-transitory. For example, non-transitory computer readable media can include media such as magnetic media (such as hard disks, floppy disks, etc.), optical media (such as compact discs, digital video discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), semiconductor media (such as flash memory, electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), etc.), any suitable media that is not fleeting or devoid of any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or any suitable tangible media. As another example, transitory computer readable media can include signals on networks, in wires, conductors, optical fibers, circuits, any suitable media that is fleeting and devoid of any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or any suitable intangible media. 
         [0067]    Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6