Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to generating static images using 3D scenes that include variable data locations. 
     2. Brief Discussion of Related Art 
     Variable data images typically provide value by customizing an image with information specific to an intended recipient. For example, an image of a beach can have the recipient&#39;s name written in the sand, or a product can be displayed in an environment resembling the recipient&#39;s home location. Images are typical defined without data parameters for defining depth even though the images may produce the effect of depth. As a result, attempting to insert text into the images to achieve a desired effect and perspective can be difficult because the text typically needs to be scaled, rotated, or otherwise deformed depending on the location at which the text will be inserted. 
     Conventionally, in order to insert variable content into a variable data image, a user must perform transformations on the custom image information to define appropriate scaling, rotation, and other deformations needed to achieve the proper effect and perspective. These transformations are typically specified manually, or using image analysis, adding cost to the design process. The process of generating variable data images in this manner can also be burdensome and time consuming for users. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method for generating a variable data image using a computing system having one or more computing devices configured to implement a variable data image generator. The method includes assigning a variable identifier to a specified location in a 3D scene to identify the specified location as being variable and populating the 3D scene with at least one component at the specified location based on the variable identifier and in response to at least one predefined populating rule implemented using the variable data image generator. The at least one predefined populating rule is applied based on at least one attribute of a recipient for which a static image of the 3D scene is to be generated. The component is selected and inserted at the specified location in accordance with the at least one populating rule. The method further includes generating the static image of the 3D scene for the recipient. The static image includes the at least one component. 
     According to other aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computing system including at least one computing device, wherein execution of the instructions implements a method for generating a variable data image. The execution of the instructions implements a method that includes assigning a variable identifier to a specified location in a 3D scene to identify the specified location as being variable and populating the 3D scene with at least one component at the specified location based on the variable identifier and in response to at least one predefined populating rule implemented using the variable data image generator. The at least one predefined populating rule is applied based on at least one attribute of a recipient for which a static image of the 3D scene is to be generated. The component being selected and inserted at the specified location in accordance with the at least one populating rule. The execution of the instructions implements a method that also includes generating the static image of the 3D scene for the recipient. The static image includes the at least one component. 
     According to further aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a system for generating a variable data image. The system includes a computing system having one or more computing devices. The computing system is configured to assign a variable identifier to a specified location in a 3D scene to identify the specified location as being variable and populate the 3D scene with at least one component at the specified location based on the variable identifier and in response to at least one predefined populating rule implemented using the variable data image generator. The at least one predefined populating rule is applied based on at least one attribute of a recipient for which a static image of the 3D scene is to be generated. The component is selected and inserted at the specified location in accordance with the at least one populating rule. The computing system is further configured to generate the static image of the 3D scene for the recipient, wherein the static image includes the at least one component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a variable data image generator. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary computing device configured to implement embodiments of a variable data image generator. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary distributed system for implementing embodiments of a variable data image generator. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary three-dimensional (3D) scene that can be generated using a variable data image generator. 
         FIG. 5  shows the 3D scene of  FIG. 4  from another point of view. 
         FIG. 6  is the exemplary 3D scene of  FIG. 4  with variable components inserted therein. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for generating variable data images using embodiments of the variable data generator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments include a variable data image generator for generating three-dimensional (3D) scenes including variable data, which can be populated according to attributes of identified recipients. Embodiments of the variable data image generator can insert various components into the 3D scenes based on populating rules that are applied to recipient attributes and can identify a virtual camera position and orientation from which a screenshot can be captured. The 3D scenes can be converted to static images targeting recipients, and the static images can be output for distribution to the recipients. 
     As used herein, a “3D modeling unit” refers to a tool for implementing 3D scenes in a 3D area. The 3D area allows users generate a 3D scene that can be viewed from different points of view to change a perspective and orientation of the 3D scene with respect to the user viewing the 3D scene. A “3D modeling area” is a simulated environment providing a virtual area in which 3D scenes can be generated. Some examples of a 3D area include computer aided design tools, such as AutoCAD from Autodesk, Inc., SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., TopSolid from Missler Software Corp., Cinema 4D from Maxon Computer GmbH, Google SketchUp from Google Inc., and so on, and virtual worlds, such as Second Life from Linden Research, Inc. (Linden Labs®), Project Wonderland from Sun Microsystems, Inc., Qwaq Forums from Qwaq, Inc., and the like. 
     As used herein, a “3D scene” refers to a virtual space generated in a 3D modeling area, which is rotatable and defined in three-dimensions to permit a user to view the 3D scene from different points of view. 
     As used herein, “variable” refers to something that is subject to change, a “variable data image” refers to an image in which variable locations have been populated with components, and a “variable identifier” refers to a marker used to identify a variable in a 3D scene. 
     A “variable data image generator” is a tool for generating variable data images from a 3D scene having locations identified as being variable. 
     As used herein, “populating” refers to inserting a component into a 3D scene and a “populating rule” refers to a defined procedure for determining which components to use when populating a 3D scene. 
     As used herein, a “component” refers to an item that can be inserted into a 3D scene including, for example, a textural component, a 3D model component, a textual component, and the like. A “textural component” is a component that imparts texture to a surface or thing in the 3D scene, where texture refers to visual characteristics that create a distinctive appearance. Some examples of a textural component include a brick wall, grass, sand, dirt, and the like, that is implemented virtually in a 3D scene. A “3D model component” is defined using three-dimensions such that the 3D model component can be viewed from different points of view to reveal different aspects and features of the 3D model component. Some examples of a 3D model component can include, for example, a virtual model of a car, boat, a person, a house, a machine or device, and so on. A “textual component” is a component that formed from text. 
     As used herein, an “attribute” refers to a characteristic, trait, demographic, feature, or quality that can be associated with a person, place, thing, component, and the like. 
     As used herein, a “recipient” refers to a person or group of people for which a variable data image is generated and to which a variable data image can be distributed. 
     As used herein, “static” refers to constant and unchanging and a “static image” refers to an image that is defined from a single point of view having a fixed perspective and orientation. A static image can be defined in two-dimensions with three-dimensional perspective, but is undefined from other points of view because the static image does not have a defined third dimension that allows the content of the image to be viewed from different points of view. 
     As used herein, “perspective” refers to a spatial relationship of components in a scene or image to each other and to the scene or image as a whole to represent three-dimensions and depth relationships. 
     As used herein, “orientation” refers to a relationship between a location or position and components of a 3D scene. An orientation can be based on a coordinate system of the 3D scene such that the orientation can be relative to an origin of the coordinate system or other coordinates of the coordinate system. 
     As used herein, a “surface” refers to a bounded area having a surface area, such as, for example, a wall in a 3D scene. 
     As used herein, a “point” refers to a location in a 3D scene that can be identified by a single x, y, and z coordinate or a group of x, y, and z coordinates which are close together. 
     As used herein, “virtual camera” refers to a tool for capturing a screenshot of a 3D scene from a specific point of view to generate a static image of the 3D scene having a fixed perspective and orientation. A screenshot refers to a process of copying a 3D scene as it is, or would be, displayed on a display device. 
     As used herein, a “point of view” refers to a position from which a 3D scene can be observed. 
     As used herein, “capturing” refer to storing information in computer memory. Information captured can be stored in one or more computer file formats. 
     As used herein, “specify” refers to defining particulars or specifications, where a “specified location” is particular area, region, surface, point, and so on, in a 3D scene. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a variable data image generator  100  (hereinafter “generator  100 ”) that includes a 3D modeling unit  110 , a rules engine  130 , a scene populating unit  150  (hereinafter “populating unit  150 ”), and an image outputting unit  160 . The generator  100  can interface with a variable component database  170  and a recipient database  180 . In some embodiments, the databases  170  and  180  can be integrated with the generator  100 . The generator  100  provides a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment in which a 3D scene can be generated to include locations identified as being variable. Variable components, such as text, graphical components (e.g., 3D modeling of components, such as cars, balloons, signs, buildings, textures, etc.), and the like can be inserted into the 3D scene at the locations identified as being variable based on the rules applied to attributes of the recipients. The generator  100  uses one or more virtual camera positions and orientations from which a screenshot can be captured to create one or more static images of the scene for each identified recipient. Depending on attributes associated with the recipient, different components can be inserted into the scene by the generator  100 . For example, different text can be displayed on a surface identified as being variable, different components can be placed at a point in the scene that is identified as being variable, and/or different camera positions and orientations can be used within the virtual environment to generate the final static image for each identified recipient based on attributes associated with the recipients. The proper perspective and lighting is automatically created by the generator  100  so there is no need to specify or compute any image transformation. 
     The 3D modeling unit  110  includes a modeling area  112  and a variable identifier  116 . The modeling area  112  provides a 3D modeling environment for development of a 3D scene  114 . The modeling area  112  can provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to create the 3D scene  114  being defined in three-dimensions using a 3D coordinate system having an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis such that points in the 3D scene can include x, y, and z coordinates. The modeling area  112  allows a user to rotate the 3D scene  114  to view the 3D scene  114  from different points of view so that, for example, an component in the 3D scene  114  can be viewed from different sides and at different angles while providing the appropriate scale, perspective, and orientation of the component in the 3D scene  114 . The 3D scene  114  can include terrain, surfaces (with or without texture), 3D models, text, and the like. The point of view of the 3D scene  114  can be changed by adjusting the camera position and orientation so that components of the 3D scene  114  can be viewed from any locations within the 3D scene. Virtual lighting sources can be implemented in the 3D modeling area  112  to illuminate regions of the 3D scene  114  and cast shadows in other regions of the 3D scene  114 . The location and orientation of the virtual light sources can be changed to vary the lighting effects in the 3D scene  114 . 
     The user can specify locations in the 3D scene as being variable using variable identifiers  116 . The variable identifiers  116  can, for example, associate identifiers with coordinates in the 3D scene  114  at which components can be dynamically inserted in response to an application of rules conditioned upon attributes of identified recipients. For example, the user can select or otherwise specify coordinates, such as a set of x, y, and, z coordinates that define a surface in the 3D scene  114  and can associate the variable identifiers  116  with the coordinates. The variable identifiers  116  can include, for example, a string of characters and/or can be a graphical component inserted in the 3D scene at the coordinates to identify the locations as being variable. The variable identifiers  116  can be associated with a set of rules to be applied by the rules engine  130  and can be associated with a set of components that can be inserted at the locations associated with the variable identifiers  116 . 
     The variable component database  170  can include components  172  for insertion into the 3D scene at locations that have been specified as being variable using the variable identifier  116 . The components  172  can be 3D models of textured surfaces, terrain, components, text, and the like. Sets of components  172  in the database  170  can be associated with the variable identifiers  116  used to indicate that locations are variable. For example, when the user specifies that a surface in the 3D scene is variable by associating a variable identifier with a surface, a set of texture components can be associated with the variable identifier so that any one of the texture components from the set can be inserted into the 3D scene to cover the surface. 
     A recipient database  180  can identify recipients  182  and attributes  184  of the recipients  182 . The database  180  can include a list of the recipients  182  and can associate some, all, or none of the attributes  184  with the recipients  182 . The recipients  182  can be those individuals or entities for which a custom variable data image can be generated and to whom the custom variable image can be distributed. The attributes  184  can include gender, age, educational level, consumer interests, occupation, income, hobbies, marital status, ethnicity, religious affiliation, political affiliation, information generated from marketing research, and the like. The attributes  184  can be used by the rules engine  130  when determining which of the components  172  from the variable component database  170  should be inserted into the 3D scene as well as at what camera position and camera orientation (point of view) a screenshot should be taken to generate a static image for the recipients  182 . 
     The rules engine  130  includes populating rules  132  (hereinafter “rules  132 ”) for determining which components  117  should be used to populate the locations in the 3D scene  114  that have been identified as being variable. The rules  132  can include conditional logic for making the determinations based on recipient information  134  to facilitate targeted image generation for identified recipients. As one exemplary implementation, the rules engine  130  can identify a particular component for insertion into the 3D scene if the recipient is between the ages of 18-25 years old and can identify another particular component if the recipient is between the ages of 26-35 years old. 
     The identifiers used to specify locations in the 3D scene  114  as being variable can be associated with different sets of rules. For example, a first identifier can be associated with a first set of rules directed to the gender of the recipient and a second identifier can be associated with a second set of rules directed to an age of the recipient. The rules  132  can be compound conditions such that for example logic conditions for multiple attributes are performed depending on the level of targeting specificity desired during the image creation. For example, the rules  132  can identify a particular component to be inserted into the 3D scene based on whether the recipient is a female and is between the ages of 35-45 years old. 
     The populating unit  150  inserts components identified by the rules engine into the 3D scene at the locations that of been identified as being variable using the variable identifiers  116 . The populating unit  150  inserts the components into the 3D scene  114  at the locations and the modeling unit  110  automatically modifies the components so that a scale, perspective, and orientation of the components are appropriate for the locations at which the components are inserted and for the points of view from which the components can be viewed. The modeling unit  110  can modify the components appearance to conform to the perspective of the location by accounting for the 3D coordinates of the location. As one example, an component can be a brick wall to be cover a surface in the 3D scene  114  that has been identified as being a variable surface. The populating unit  150  can insert the brick wall into the modeling area  112  and the modeling unit  110  can conform the brick wall to the surface so that the brick wall has the same perspective and orientation of the surface. As another example, an component can be a 3D model of a car can be inserted into the 3D scene and the modeling unit  110  can modify the size of the 3D model of the car to ensure that the 3D model has the appropriate perspective for the location at which it is inserted. The modeling area can also rotate the 3D model of the car so that the 3D model has the appropriate orientation in the 3D scene. 
     The image outputting unit  160  captures the 3D scene based on the rules  132  implemented by the rules engine  130 . The rules engine  130  can identify camera positions and orientations (e.g., a point of view of the scene from the perspective of an observer) and the image outputting unit  160  can generate static images from the 3D scene  114  by capturing a screenshot of the 3D scene from the camera position and orientation identified by the rules engine  130 . The static images can include the components inserted by the populating unit  150  and can be output for distribution to the recipients for whom the images were generated. The static images can be distributed as print media, electronic mail (e-mail) messages, image files, and the like. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary computing device  200  for generating variable data images to facilitate personalized static images based on the intended recipients using the generator  100 . The computing device  200  can be a mainframe, personal computer (PC), laptop computer, workstation, handheld device, such as a PDA, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the computing device  200  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  202  and can include a display device  204 . The display device  204  enables the computing device  200  to communicate with an operator through a visual display. The computing device  200  can further include data entry device(s)  206 , such as a keyboard, touch screen, and/or mouse. The computing device  200  can include storage  208  for storing data and instructions, such as 3D scenes, variable identifiers, variable components, rules implemented using the rules engine, recipient information, populated scenes, generated images using the scenes, applications, and the like. The storage  208  can include such technologies as a floppy drive, hard drive, tape drive, Flash drive, optical drive, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and the like. 
     Applications  210 , such as the generator  100 , or components thereof, can be resident in the storage  208 . The applications  210  can include instructions for implementing the variable data image generator  100 . The storage  208  can be local or remote to the computing device  200 . The computing device  200  includes a network interface  212  for communicating with a network. The CPU  202  operates to run the applications  210  in storage  208  by performing instructions therein and storing data resulting from the performed instructions, which may be presented to a user via the display  204  or by other mechanisms known to those skilled in the art, such a print out from a printer. The data can include the 3D scenes, variable identifiers, variable components, rules implemented using the rules engine, recipient information, populated scenes, generated images using the scenes, and the like. 
       FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary distributed system  300  for implementing embodiments of the generator  100 . The distributed system  300  includes one or more servers  310  and  320  coupled to clients  330  and  340 , via a communication network  350 , which can be any network over which information can be transmitted between devices communicatively coupled to the network. The system  300  can also include repositories or database devices  360  and  370 , which can be coupled to the servers  310 / 320  and clients  330 / 340  via the communications network  350 . The servers  310 / 320 , clients  330 / 340 , and database devices  360 / 370  can be implemented using a computing device, such as a computing device implemented in a similar manner as the computing device  200  of  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the generator  100  can be implemented using a single computing device or can be implemented using multiple computing devices in a distributed manner. 
     The servers  310 / 320 , clients  330 / 340 , and/or databases  360  can store information, such as 3D scenes, variable identifiers, variable components, rules implemented using the rules engine, recipient information, populated scenes, generated images using the scenes, and the like. In some embodiments, the generator  100  can be distributed among the servers  310 / 320 , clients  330 / 340 , and database devices  360  such that one or more components of the variable data image generator  100  and/or portion of one or more components of the variable data image generator  100  can be implemented by a different device (e.g. clients, servers, databases) in the communication network  350 . For example, the 3D modeling unit  110  can be resident on the server  310  and/or the client  330 , the rules engine  130  can be resident on the server  320 , the scene populating unit  150  and image outputting unit  160  can be resident on the client  330 , the variable component database  170  can be implemented using the database device  360  and the recipient database  180  can be implemented using the database device  370 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary 3D scene  400  that can be generated using the generator  100 . The scene  400  can include locations  405  identified as being variable using variable identifiers. For example, a surface  410  can be identified as being variable using a variable identifier  412 , a surface  420  can be identified as being variable using a variable identifier  422 , a surface  430  can be identified as being variable using a variable identifier  432 , and a point  440  can be identified as being variable using a variable identifier  442 . The variable identifiers  412 ,  422 , and  432  can be associated with sets of variable components that can be used to populate the 3D scene  400  base on an application of rules to the attributes associated with the recipients. For example, variable identifiers  412  and  422  can be associated textual components stored in the variable component database, the variable identifier  432  can be associated with textural components stored in the variable component database, and variable identifier  442  can be associated with 3D model image components stored in the variable component database. 
     The scene  400  can be associated with a coordinate system, such as an XYZ coordinate system  450  having an x-axis  452 , a y-axis  454 , and a z-axis  456  such that the components of the scene  400  can be referenced using a set of x, y, and z coordinates. The scene  400  can be viewed from different directions or locations within the 3D modeling area to change the point of view from which the scene  400  is being viewed. In this manner, every viewable location can be defined to allow a user to implement different camera positions and orientations from which screenshots can be captured. 
     For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates another point of view that can be implemented within the scene  400 . In the present example, the scene has been rotated 90 degrees about its y-axis  454  so that the position of the x-axis  452  and z-axis  456  have changed with respect to the point of view of the scene  400 , but the y-axis  454  remains unchanged. The 3D scene allows a user to generate different images from a single 3D scene by changing the variable data locations, changing the camera positions in the 3D scene, and capturing images using at the different camera positions and orientations. 
       FIG. 6  is a populated 3D scene  600  corresponding to the 3D scene  400  of  FIG. 4  after the 3D scene  400  has been populated with variable components at the variable data locations identified by the variable identifiers. In the present example, the recipient can be a male having the name “John”, which can be representative of attributes of the recipient that can be used by the generator when generating a customized image using the 3D scene  400 . While the present example illustrates a simply application of the generator, those skilled in the art will recognize that more complex applications can be implemented using additional attributes and rules. 
     The populated scene  600  includes textual components  602  and  604  inserted at the variable locations  410  and  420  corresponding to the variable identifiers  412  and  422 , respectively. The variable location  410  can be sign post, which is populated with the textual component  602 , “Home”, where the text component  602  has been automatically scaled and positioned to fit on the sign post with the correct perspective and orientation so that regardless of the camera position and view perspective the textual component  602 , “Home”, has the appropriate perspective and orientation for each of the defined points of view. Likewise, the variable location  420  can be a sign on a wall of a structure, which is populated with a message in the form of the textual component  604 , which reads “Hi John, You could live here!” The textual component  604  includes a personalization directed to the intended recipient of the image to be generated from the populated 3D scene  600 . The personalization of the message can be performed by the generator using the rules as applied to the recipient attributes. As in the present example, the generator inserts the recipient&#39;s name, John, into the textual component  604  based on an application of the rules. The textual component  604  has been automatically scaled and positioned to fit on the sign with the correct perspective and orientation so that regardless of the camera position and orientation the textual component  604 , “Hi John, You could live here!”, has the appropriate perspective and orientation for each of the defined points of view. 
     The populated scene  600  includes a textural component  606  inserted at the variable locations  430  corresponding to the variable identifiers  432  and a 3D model image component  608  inserted at the variable location  440  corresponding to the variable identifiers  442 . The variable location  430  can be a wall of the structure, which is populated with the textural component  606 , which in the present example is a brick wall. The textural component  606  has been automatically scaled and positioned to fit on the wall with the correct perspective and orientation so that regardless of the camera position and orientation the textural component  606  has the appropriate perspective and orientation for each of the defined points of view. The variable location  440  can be a point in the 3D scene, which is populated with the 3D model image component  608 , which in the present example is an image of a male adult. The image component  608  has been automatically scaled and positioned to fit in the 3D scene with the correct perspective and orientation so that regardless of the camera position and orientation the image component  608  has the appropriate perspective and orientation for each of the defined points of view. 
     Once the 3D scene is populated and the camera position and orientation is specified in response to an application of the rules on the recipient attributes, the generator can capture the 3D scene as a screenshot to generate a image for distribution to the recipient. The generated image is static and lacks the 3D properties in that the image only includes a single point of view and does not define different perspectives and orientation so that the image cannot be used to implement different camera positions and orientations from which other images can be captured. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart for implementing a variable data image using the variable data image generator  100 . A 3D scene is created using the modeling unit ( 700 ). The 3D scene can include terrain, 3D components, text, and lighting sources, and so on, to provide features and effects within the 3D scene. Surfaces in the 3D scene are designated to be variable by assigning variable identifiers to the surfaces ( 702 ). Points in the 3D scene are designated as locations for variable components by assigning variable identifiers to the points ( 704 ) and one or more camera positions and orientations are designated in the 3D scene by assigning a unique identifier to the camera positions ( 706 ). A component database is created that includes a set of textures and 3D components that can be inserted into the 3D scene ( 708 ). Rules are created that can be applied to facilitate selection of textures, 3D components, and camera positions and orientation based on attributes associated with recipients in the recipients database ( 710 ). 
     The rules are applied to each recipient in the recipient database ( 712 ) and the 3D scene is populated with textures, 3D components, and text identified based on an application of the rules to attributes of the recipients ( 714 ). A screenshot of the scene is captured to generate a static image based on the camera position identified by application of the rules to the attributes of the recipients ( 716 ). The resulting static image is stored in storage ( 718 ) and can be incorporated into a larger targeted document creation process. The above process can be repeated from  712  to  718  for all recipients in the recipient database. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Technology Category: 3