Network-based collage editor   

The present application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/838,347, filed Jul. 16, 2010, which is a non-provisional application to provisional application 61/227,042, filed Jul. 20, 2009. Priority is claimed to the priority date of the parent application, and the entire disclosure of the parent application is incorporated herein at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of electronic commerce and pertains particularly to network-based collage editors.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

In the field of electronic commerce also known as ecommerce, there are project-oriented Websites where users may create and edit works including models, poems, art, and photo-based products. Websites catering to photo-based editing promote online publishing and online transacting relative to printed works. The current state of such electronic services leaves much to be desired. Many of these services have fixed templates and multiple interfaces for project editing, making it tedious to get the desired output.

Other problems with the current state of photo-based services include inflexibility of the editor interface relative to process steps for editing content. Most such processes are not transparent and could lead to errors in printing and therefore in the final output product. Furthermore, each typical project is initiated from scratch in a way that does not promote efficiency from start to finish of a project.

Therefore, what is clearly needed is a network-based collage editor that reduces the amount of work required to create edit and print photo and or text-based projects.

SUMMARY

The problem stated above is that efficiency and flexibility are desirable in creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, but many of the conventional means for photo editing, such as Photoshop type editors, also create inefficiencies and can result in error-prone finished products. The inventors therefore considered functional elements of a photo-based collage editing system, looking for elements that exhibit interoperability that could potentially be harnessed to provide a more efficient and flexible user experience but in a manner that would not create errors or more inefficiency.

Every networked collage editing system is driven by repeat and new users hoping to create products that preserve memories of family and friends, one by-product of which is a healthy demand for computing resources and data storage resources. Most such systems employ storage repositories and powerful servers to manage activity and data uploaded to the service by many users, and runtime servers, project editing software applications, and data storage facilities are typically part of such apparatus.

The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if, during editing of a project using a network-based editor, work could be reduced by providing automation and streamlining processes relative to the editing process, a significant increase in efficiency and reductions in print errors might result. The inventor therefore constructed a unique network-based collage editor for creating, editing and printing image and or text-based projects that allowed users to quickly populate and print a photo and or text-based product, but constrained time delays and potential errors to an absolute minimum. A significant improvement in the user experience results, with no impediment to the overall process created.

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, a network-based collage editor is provided for creating and editing image and or text-based-based projects. The editor includes a graphics user interface (GUI) implemented in software executable from a digital medium. The GUI interprets dimensional ink printing instructions inputted manually, automatically, or a via combination thereof and applies the instructions to output dimensional printing relative to one or more project items.

In one embodiment, the GUI is accessible through a Webpage and is hosted by a server connected to the Internet. In one embodiment, a project includes but is not limited to a photo-card, a photo-calendar, or a photo-book. In one embodiment, the collage editor is implemented as a browser-based extension or plug-in. In one embodiment, access to the editor is granted by default to users who do not have registered accounts or other authorization to use the editor.

In one embodiment, two or more users may collaborate simultaneously on a same project using custom versions of the same editor. In this embodiment, the collage editor includes a messaging capability for realtime messaging between collaborating users. In as preferred embodiment the collage editor further includes a page viewport for displaying a page canvass being edited within a multiple page project. In one embodiment, the collage editor further includes a message posting section accessible to users from within the editor.

In a preferred embodiment, the collage editor is integrated with a print engine wherein the editor and print engine are flash-based components. In one embodiment, content available for incorporation into a project is served into the editor according to a ranking hierarchy. In one embodiment, default content available for incorporation into a project under a theme is automatically populated into the project when the project theme is selected.

In one embodiment, the collage editor further includes a mechanism for opening a theme-based project created by another user and for pre-cleansing the project of that user\'s photos and text content during the open process leaving the rest of the content for consideration by the new user.

FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a communications network supporting network-based graphics manipulation and production of image and or text-based products according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary screen shot of an introduction page of Website of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen shot of a login/sign-up page presented to a user as a result of interaction with the introduction page.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary screen shot of a welcome page presented to a user as a result of successful login to the site.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary screen shot of a project configuration page presented to the user as a result of interaction with the Create option of the page of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary screenshot of size-selection page for selecting an initial orientation and size for a project.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary screen shot of a theme-selection page for selecting an initial theme for a project.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary screen shot of a Mixbook Editor™ (MBE) user interface (UI) for editing a project in progress according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary screen shot of an add-photo page for acquiring photos to add to a project according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a photo spread of a photo-book project exhibiting a dynamically editable text box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the photo spread of FIG. 10 with the text box moved to a position of conflict relative to a print parameter applied to a printing process for the photo-book.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a photo spread of a project illustrating real-time text color application using theme colors.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of photo spread of the same project illustrating real-time font color change using system colors.

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a photo spread illustrating a photo-editing frame and intuitive photo panning interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the photo spread of FIG. 14 with a style editing interface 1501 invoked from photo editing toolbar according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary screen shot of a contributor invitation interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary screenshot of a proxy-login interface that enables a user or contributor to gain access to a personal account to link to or otherwise acquire access to photos available through the personal account.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary screen shot of an add friends interface for adding friends to the service of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary screen shot of a preview interface for previewing a finished project according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an exploded screenshot of the background selection portion of the user interface of FIG. 8 including an advanced background touch-up section according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a page-on-canvas view illustrating a relative page coordinate system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a grouping of portrait page sizes exhibiting similar aspect ratios.

FIG. 23 is a process flow chart illustrating steps for displaying project page content at a core aspect ratio and optimizing the content for printing at a specified size.

FIG. 24 is a process flow chart illustrating steps for migrating content from one aspect ratio grouping to another aspect ratio grouping.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating system architecture for interpolating sample and default data into a project template using a special markup language according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a front view of a photo frame that can be automatically sized to fit a photo according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a front view of photo frame automatically-sized about a photo.

FIG. 28 is an exemplary screenshot of an editing interface displaying a photo spread across multiple pages (front cover, back cover, and spine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating an asset recommendation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is an architectural diagram illustrating a printing network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a process flow chart illustrating steps for printing large output images according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an elevation view of a photo book project undergoing editing for dimensional printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventors provide a unique network-based graphics-manipulation system along with a set of novel manual and automated methods and processes that enable users operating network-capable computing appliances to efficiently create a variety of image and or text-based products with or without collaborative effort. The systems and methods of the present invention are described in enabling detail using the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a communications network 100 supporting network-based graphics manipulation and production of image and or text-based products according to embodiments of the present invention. Communications network 100 includes a wide-area-network (WAN) that is in most embodiments the well-known Internet network. WAN 101 may be a private, corporate, or publicly-accessible data network without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. WAN 101 may be referred to throughout this specification as the Internet 101. Internet 101 is further illustrated by way of a network backbone 116, which represents all of the lines, equipment, and access points that make up the World Wide Web (WWW) as a whole including any connected sub-networks. Therefore, there are no geographic limits to practice of the present invention.

Internet backbone 116 supports a Web server (WS) 105. It is noted herein that all network-capable computing appliances such as physical computers, servers, and other computing machines discussed in this specification shall be assumed to contain, be coupled to, or otherwise have accessible thereto, one or more digital mediums adapted to contain the data and software required to support and enable the primary function or functions (in the case of multi-task machines) of the computing appliance.

WS 105 is an electronic information server connected to Internet 101 and adapted to server information pages or Web pages as they are known in the art. WS 105 may be maintained by a third party that provides a Website hosting service. In one embodiment a service provider providing the service of the present invention owns and maintains WS 105. WS 105 hosts a Website 106, through which, users may access elements of the present invention. Website 106 is adapted to provide authenticated access to users who create, publish, print, and purchase image and or text-based products such as photo-books, photo-cards, photo-calendars, photo-posters, and related products.

Because all of the products are image and or text-based and created using a graphics manipulation system provided by the inventors as a network-based software application, the relative term descriptive of the overall process and for the providing company is Mixbook™. The term Mixbook™ may be used throughout this specification to describe the overall image and or text-based product creation and editing process of the invention, the Website through which the process is made accessible to authorized users, and the service-providing company.

Communications network 100 also includes an access network (AN) 104, which may represent any data network adapted to provide access to Internet network 101. AN 104 may be a public-switched-telephone-network (PSTN) or some other public or private telephony network. AN 104 may be a local wireless network, a cellular time division multiple access (CDMA) network, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network, or any other candidate access network through which one may access Internet 101.

User may access WS 105, more particularly Mixbook™ Website 106, through an Internet access facility 107 in access network (AN) 104 and an Internet access line 120. Internet access facility 107 may be maintained and operated by an Internet service provider (ISP) or by a wireless Internet service provider (WISP), which ever is appropriate for any particular Internet connection. Users who might access WS 105 are represented herein as network-capable computing appliances, more particularly, a laptop computer 122, a desktop computer 123, and a smart telephone 124. Each mentioned appliance may be assumed to be Internet-capable by way of one or more network browsing applications residing thereon and executable there from.

Desktop computer 123 is connected to an Internet-connection server 107 by way of an Internet access line 126. Desktop computer 123, once connected, may access Website 106 hosted on WS 105. Desktop computer 123 has one or more input devices (not illustrated) coupled thereto such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone for (Speech-to-Text Commands). Smart phone 124 may connect wirelessly via a wireless link 127 to an Internet service provider (also represented by machine 107) that establishes a wireless Internet connection like public WiFi for example. Smart phone 124 may or may not include a keyboard input device. In one embodiment smartphone 124 has a touch-screen display. Laptop 122 is illustrated as connected wirelessly to Internet 101 via WISP 107 using wireless link 128. Laptop 122 includes a keyboard and/or other input devices as may be appropriate.

Laptop 122, desktop 123, and smartphone 124 each include an Internet browser application (not illustrated) for accessing and navigating network 101. Backbone 116 supports a runtime server (RS) 109 adapted to host a Mixbook™ user-interface 110. User interface 110 is accessible to all Website visitors for the purpose of creating, manipulating, and printing image and or text-based products such as a photo collage book, for example. Users accessing Website 106 who are ready to create a product may be re-directed to RS 109.

Each user authorized to create and publish an image and or text-based product using the site may receive a small download containing a compact editing package known as the Mixbook™ editor (MBE) to the inventors. MBE 125a is installed as a browser-based extension or plug-in in one embodiment on desktop computer 123. Laptop 122 has an instance of MBE 125b installed as a browser-based extension or plug-in. Smartphone 124 has an instance of MBE 125c installed as a browser-based extension or plug-in. An instance of MBE may be customized for any computing appliance that may access the Internet and through which a user may see and edit content. Therefore, MBE instances 125 (a-c), though the same basic extension or plug-in, may contain differences based on host requirements. In one embodiment of the present invention there are no software downloads required in order to practice the present invention. In this case the Mixbook™ editing Software (SW) may be server hosted only. In another embodiment, the Mixbook™ editing SW may be ported to a desktop application such as Adobe Air™ and thus be operated as a desktop application. In one embodiment the SW is included as an add-on feature to any suitable desktop application and may be installed on a computing host with that desktop application from a removable medium such as a CD ROM, for example.

Service provider facility 107 includes a connected data repository 108 labeled Data. Data repository 108 contains all of the customer contact and billing information for the Internet service provider. One with skill in the art will appreciate the many possible internet connection schemes. It is preferred in most embodiments that user have a high speed Internet connection for the purpose of manipulating and editing graphics, which can be bandwidth intensive. The inventors provide one or more innovative solutions for saving bandwidth while editing images and image products online making the entire experience more efficient and easier for users practicing the invention.

The Mixbook™ Website 106 establishes a community-based portal and social interaction site that revolves around creating, editing, sharing publishing, printing, and purchasing image and or text-based products created online by one or more user working in collaboration together. Users such as those operating appliances 122-124 connect online and navigate to WS 105 to access Website 106. When any user determines to create an image and or text-based product like a photo album, for example, they are directed to an appropriate portal server like RS 109 hosting Mixbook™ user interface (UI) 110. UI 110 is adapted to provide all of the assets needed to create and publish complete image and or text-based products. Image and or text-based products created through Website 106 include products containing images uploaded by one or more authorized users. Any work in progress or completed is termed a project. A project may be initiated by one user whereby other users are then invited by the initiating to join the creative experience in collaboration and those users may contribute their own photos to the project. Such a project may be published for viewing by all or some of the community. Finished projects may be printed and distributed as “hard products” available for purchase by members of the community.

In one embodiment persistent storage of graphics uploaded by community members to be included into projects is obtained (leased) through a third-party storage provider. In this example a simple storage service (s3) data storage cloud 102 is illustrated and made available for use by a third-party service provider such as Amazon™. A storage server 112 is illustrated within S3 cloud 102 and has connection to Internet backbone 116. Storage server (SS) 112 may be one of many servers including associated mass data repositories connected to SS 112 such as repository 113 contained within storage cloud 102. In this logical representation all of the graphics (photos) that are uploaded to insert into projects are stored in a repository such as repository 113 in storage cloud 102. Repository 113 may be an optical, magnetic, or some other type of data storage facility. In one embodiment the mass computations required for real-time and transparent editing and collaborating on multiple projects are performed by virtual machine instances 120 in a computing cloud 103. In another embodiment the service host may maintain one or more powerful computing machines and storage devices for performing computations and for storing graphics for users of the service.

In use of the present invention a user such as one operating one of computing appliances 122-124 connects online and accesses Mixbook™ Website 106 and logs into the site. If the user has already registered and created a project, a Web page personalized to that user is served that includes all of that user\'s projects in the latest states of progress. The user may enter any project for which she or he has authorization to contribute to and may review, edit, or otherwise work those projects. Photos uploaded by the user to include into projects may be stored in cloud 102 and served to the projects when needed by the system. Any computing such as editing resizing, alterations, and so on may be handled in cloud 103. A user may, through Website 106, authorize other users registered with the service of the invention to collaborate on a project initiated by that user. In one embodiment a user having a project initiated may invite other potential users to the site so they may, with permissions, enter the site and collaborate with that user.

In one embodiment of the present invention photos that are stored on the Internet can be represented in any online project provided the user has authorized access to those photos. For example, a user who has one or more accounts to third-party social interaction networks like MySpace™, Facebook™, Photobucket™, Flicker™, or similar sites may use photos of registered friends that they are allowed to access in their own personal projects. These photos do not have to be uploaded to the service of the present invention. Rather, these photos can be accessed from their present storage locations anywhere on the Internet provided that the storage system is online.

Internet backbone 116 supports a Facebook™ server (FB) 114 coupled to a data repository 115 for storing images and other graphics. Internet backbone 116 supports a Myspace™ server (MS) 111 coupled to a data repository 117 adapted to store images and other graphics. Backbone 116 supports a Flicker™ server (FL) 118 coupled to a data repository 119 adapted to store images and other graphics. Any of these images can be served to an active project by the respective servers directly from their storage locations. Any of these images that are altered during project work or collaboration may be subsequently saved to third-party s3 storage cloud 102 in repository 113 controlled by SS 112.

In one embodiment of the present invention Mixbook™ Website 106 includes or has working access to a SW print engine (not illustrated here) that is adapted to render any Mixbook™ project for professional printing. In one embodiment printing is performed by a third-party provider who may also ship or distribute finished products for a price. In one embodiment a user may access the service through Website 106 and may initiate and complete a project that will be printed for that user for a static price for that particular product.

It is noted herein that a project created on Mixbook™ may be efficiently gathered for print in virtually any print format. Likewise, content originally laid out in one format or aspect ratio may be efficiently converted to another layout before printing in an automated process that incorporates the typical size and layout changes necessary to convert from one layout to another automatically. Furthermore, content assembled for a particular layout and product type may be automatically converted for print output in another layout and product type. These and other unique advantages over current systems will be made apparent in the following examples.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary screen shot of an introduction page 200 of Website 106 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Introduction page 200 includes interactive indicia 201, which includes an option for retrieving help, signing up for service, and for logging into the service. On the same title bar containing the interactive indicia 201 for signing up or signing into the process, there are the navigation options More; Pricing; and Gallery. The option more may lead to further capabilities or information not available on the instant page. The pricing option brings up one or more complete pricing structures for the available products that can be created and printed. The option Gallery is an option that provides access to completed projects authorized for public viewing.

Page 200 contains more than one feature advertisement 202. Each feature advertisement may comment or provide some input, access to, or information about a feature of the service or fact about the providing company. In the first feature advertisement (center top) there is an interactive option 204 for getting started now. Invocation of this interactive link may launch a registration or sign-up process followed by an opportunity to begin a Mixbook™ project. Hyperlinked information is provided on introduction page 200 under categories such as Learn More, Our Services, Idea Center, Programs, and Corporate.

In one embodiment, page 200 includes an option “try it now”, which may be replace option 204. Invoking such an option may take the “guest” to a Mixbook Editor™ without requiring them to login or have an account with the site. Transparent to the user, the system creates a temporary account for them. If the new guest user attempts to save any work on the site they are asked to register as a user.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen shot of a login/sign-up page 300 presented to a user as a result of interaction with the introduction page. Login/sign-up page 300 includes a log-in interface 301 for entering an email address and password for authenticating the user to use the site. A login button 303 is provided for submitting the authentication data and logging onto the site. If a user has reached page 300 and has not yet signed up for the service of the present invention, the user may be presented with various benefit statements and a signup now button, which when invoked calls up a registration interface.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary screen shot of a welcome page 400 presented to a user as a result of successful login to the site. Page 400 is a welcome home page personalized for the user. Page 400 includes navigation options 402 including the locations Home, Create, Pricing, and Gallery. The link Pricing takes a user to a pricing page detailing different prices for ordered products. The Link Gallery take a user to a gallery of public Mixbook™ products created by community members who have given permission to view their created products.

Page 400 includes a personal welcome and may also include information 405 including status indication of an email account provided to the user as part of the service. Information 405 also includes account information, a Help option, an option for logging out, and a link to a shopping cart for purchasing Mixbook™ products. A user may purchase products created by that user or products created by others that the user is authorized to purchase. Page 400 includes a sidebar area 403 that includes several navigation links such as My Home, My Books, My Friends, My Photos (uploaded) and My Inbox (provided mail account).

Page 400 includes a workspace window 404 that contains an interface 406 for uploading a picture for creating a profile. Interface 406 includes a data entry field to enter the path of a picture or the user may browse the commuting appliance for a profile picture. An upload button is provided to effect upload of a profile picture. A place holder 409 is provided to display the uploaded picture. After creating a profile and uploading a profile picture, the profile picture appears as a profile link 408. Page 400 has a site search button 411 adapted to enable that user to search the Website using a keyword or phrase.

Page 400 includes a status report or listing 407 that tells the user what projects are active or available to the user. This may include projects created by the user and any projects initiated by others that the user has authorized access to. In this example, the user has yet to create a Mixbook™ product. Listing 407 includes an interactive command option (Create One) for creating a product such as a photo-book for example.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary screen shot of a project configuration page 500 presented to the user as a result of interaction with the Create option of the page of FIG. 4. Page 500 includes a workspace window 501 for entering information about a project that a user wants to initiate. Information fields 504 include a project title field, a project description field, a field for entering tags for the project, which may be used later by friends of the user or by other community members to search for the project. Fields 504 also include a category field for selecting a category of a project.

A configuration option 502 is provided for electing who may view the proposed project. In this example the project will be viewable by friends of the user. An invitation window 503 is provided for enabling the user to invite or add contributors to the project. A contributor is any of the user\'s friends or any other community member that the user invites to contribute. In one embodiment a project may be initiated by a user and may be designated open to all contributors or all of the site\'s community members. Online community members represent an active network established to aid book creation.

The inventors emphasize the idea of a community that develops around creating projects such as photo book. More importantly the system streamlines the act of starting projects by creating a social interaction network on the site to help propagate book creation. For example, by linking with friends and family on the site, the user can utilize the platform for inviting other site users to collaborate on a project such as a photo book with them, rather than having to enter their email addresses. Members of this network are community members termed “Friends” from the perspective of an inviting user.

When the user begins a project such as a photo book and enters book information, the user is enabled to select members from his network (friends) already registered with the site to help work on it. This allows the user to quickly select the appropriate members to contribute material to the book without having to enter their email addresses.

The system of the present invention enables real-time collaboration. Users may interact with one another in real time as they collaborate on a project. A user may be a contributor without necessarily collaborating in real time with the creator or other users on a project. The transparency of collaboration is such that users may communicate with each other while working on a particular book and may also view real-time editing and creation of that book while it is happening.

As multiple contributors work on a multi-page project such as a photo-book for example, they are able to view the edits made by other users in real time such as adding, changing, and removing pictures and text. For example, a user that is viewing a page that a contributor is working on will see a picture move or some other changes happening on the page in real time.

The system supports presence reporting so any user can see real-time status of all the other current contributors or editors of the project and may invite any of them to collaborate on the page(s) the user is working on. When two users are on a same page, they can annotate and change the page in real time, and see each other\'s mouse cursors in real time as they move across the screen. When a user selects friends and/or family to contribute to a project such as a photo book at the time project initiation or by selecting the collaborate feature after the book as been started, those selected friends or family will be sent automated invitations to contribute to the selected book. Once a friend or family member accepts such an invitation they will automatically be approved as become a contributor of the book.

Members of the network who are contributors to a project will be able to add various materials to the project including but not limited to photos, videos, text, and pages that have already been created on the site. When a new project is created the creator and/or contributors of the new project such as a photo book may take pages from other existing photo books on the site and may use them in the new book. In this way, many different projects may use the same project pages. When members become contributors to a book they have the option of adding any pages that they have previously created on the site in addition to pages of their friends that they have permission to use and any publicly available pages on the site. Adding pages from other projects can be done two different ways.

In one embodiment a same page added to a project that exists in one or more other projects may be referenced so that any changes made to that page affect every project that has this page present. In another embodiment a same page found in another project and contributed to the new project is copied so that any changes made to the copy will not propagate to the original page. Members of the site may search public projects and pages and may use any public pages they find on the site. A public page is a page created by a member of the site that is allowed to be used by any member in any book. Users will have the option to use these pages in any book that they create or contribute to. In one embodiment part of a project may be public while other parts of the project are held private. A public page may be embedded in a project that has pages private pages not made public.

A server such as RS 109 of FIG. 1 facilitates transfer of information between users collaborating in real time on a project. For example, if five collaborators are in the process of editing a book, the server can use open socket connections to read when each user is making a change and then push the change data in an unobtrusive way to the other collaborators. The Mixbook™ editor (MBE) enables live messaging between users or friends that are currently collaborating on a project whereby all of the users are using the MBE. In this way users may exchange ideas, tips and other information as they edit a project together.

Invitation window 503 may be expanded to enable a user to view any of the user\'s friends that are registered with the service as “friends” of that user. In one embodiment those friends are flagged as being “Online” or “Offline” using a suitable presence protocol. In both instances, a user may invite any of the “online” or “offline” friends to contribute or collaborate in real time on a project. One invitation may be sent to multiple users. When a user receives an invitation to collaborate on a project, the invitation may appear as a pop-up window, or some other visual that identifies the sender and the nature of the project. An invitation may also contain a text body describing the project and what type of collaboration is desired. A create Mixbook™ button is provided to continue the process of book creation. Invoking button 505 calls up a next screen adapted to enable the creator to select the size (form factor) of the project.

In one embodiment users may form groups around areas of interest. In this embodiment a user that belongs to a group created around a subject of interest may start a new project such as a photo book relating to the subject around which the group was founded by clicking on a “start new book” button on a main page established on the site by the group. The group project initiation automatically included the group members as collaborators. This represents yet an additional way the community network is leveraged as way to propagate more project creation.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary screenshot of size-selection page 600 for selecting an initial orientation and size for a project. In this example, all of the project options are for multiple page photo books. Other project options may be made available to a user without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention such as a photo card, a poster board, or some other type of publication that utilizes photos and/or and text.

A banner feature advertisement 601 states the intent of page 600 of helping the user to select a size for a Mixbook™. The feature advertisement may include text information (not illustrated) that informs the user that the service is free for creating and publishing a project and that printed materials begin at a specific price range. A user may also click on “Pricing” at the top of the page to determine what the current prices are for printed projects.

Page 600 includes an option 602 for selecting a square photo book that can be printed in two available sizes. Although not illustrated, the exact sizes which are exemplary only are twelve inches square and eight and one-half inches square for a square photo book. Other sizes may be offered for a square book without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Option 602 includes information that the book may be ordered in soft or hard cover. Option 602 includes recommendations that are not specified in this example but may include what the system recommends selection of a square book is best for such as, best for a storybook (baby), a digital scrapbook, or a photo book that is shared online.

Page 600 includes an option 603 for selecting a mini-photo book that is a landscape orientation and that is only available in one printed size. Although not illustrated here the exact size of the mini photo book is six inches by four inches. Option 603 includes information that the book may be ordered in soft cover only. Option 603 includes recommendations that are not specified in this example but may include what the system recommends selection of a mini book is best for such as, family brag book, portable photo album, or gifts. An additional piece of information is represented by an information cloud adjacent to the mini-book sample. In one embodiment this additional piece of information may be pricing information. The information contained in the information cloud may also be some other type of useful information without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Page 600 includes an option 604 for selecting a landscape photo book that can be printed in three available sizes. Although not illustrated here the exact sizes which are exemplary only are fourteen inches by eleven inches, eleven inches by eight and one-half inches, and eight inches by six inches. Option 604 includes information that the book is available in hard cover or in soft cover. Option 604 includes recommendation by the system that selecting a landscape book is best for wedding photo books, guest photo books, or a photography photo book. An additional piece of information is provided in an information cloud associated with the medium sized landscape sample illustrated in option 604. In one embodiment the information in the cloud designates the sample as the most popular size of landscape book. Other types of information may be tagged to the samples using an information cloud without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Page 600 includes an option 605 for selecting a portrait photo book that can be printed in one size of eight and one-half inches by eleven inches. Option 605 includes recommendation by the system that selecting a portrait size is best for creating a class yearbook, a team or group yearbook, or a child\'s storybook. It should be noted herein that the offered sizes in the different orientations are not intended to be limiting in any way. A number of other sizes might be envisioned for print for any orientation without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary screen shot of a theme-selection page 700 for selecting an initial theme for a project. Theme-selection page 700 includes a scroll menu 701 that contains a number of themes that a user may select from for use in a project. In typical order, theme selection may take place immediately after size and orientation selection when configuring project parameters. Illustrated in the visible portion of the window are themes for “Season” including Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring, Saint Patrick\'s Day, and Easter. Themes listed under “General” include Classic. Other theme categories might include Wedding, Travel, Baby, Family, Occasion, Holiday, Romance, and Education among many other possibilities. In one embodiment, a user may create a new theme.

In this example the theme Spring under the category Seasons is selected. Page 700 includes a preview pane 702 adapted to show the theme layout suggested for the size and orientation of the project being created. A layout in the preview pane 702 includes a page 703 on the left and a page 704 on the right. On page 703 there are two photos 707 and one text box 705. On page 704 there are two photos 708 and a text Box 706. All of the photos are those that come with the sample that the user has selected from menu 701 (sample photos).

A user may select preview theme by invoking option 710 to view a theme in the form of the intended product. The user may then select another theme from theme pool 701 for preview until the user selects a theme they want. A user may choose a theme by invoking a choose theme button on the Website. When the user invokes this option the theme will be incorporated into the project template. A user may invoke option 710, which is an option not to select a theme. A user may also invoke an option 712, which requests that the system load a project of the selected size orientation and theme with suggested stickers, backgrounds, and photos (if applicable). Invoking the choose theme option 709 moves the project to the editing stage.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary screen shot of a Mixbook™ Editor (MBE) user interface (UI) 800 for editing a project in progress according to an embodiment of the present invention. UI 800 includes some of the options presented on previous pages including a personalized welcome, an inbox mail indicator, an account option, a help option, a logout option, and a link to a shopping cart. Also present from previous pages are the navigation links to Home, Create, Pricing, Gallery, and Site Search.

An information bar 802 contains an array of selectable options invite contributors, change theme, automix, full screen, help, and save. It is noted herein that the system of the present invention initiates and completes auto saves to a user\'s Mixbook™ project at opportune moments such as when the user changes pages within the project when editing. In this way the most data a user may lose is data on one project page.

By triggering a save event on specific actions the system mitigates a user\'s loss of data in the event of software crashes and other catastrophic events. This system works by persisting the canvas (page) data to the runtime server from the client via a client/server communication channel such as an ActionScript Message Format (AMF) remote framework, which transfers AMF data between the client and the server. This pull system mitigates the amount of work a user could potentially lose on a project to just one canvas page worth of data. It also drastically simplifies the process of creation by removing a recurring step.

In one embodiment, the auto-save feature activates whenever a page is swapped out in the viewing window or “viewport” of the GUI editor. Various other auto-save triggers may be configured and triggered according to established rules. In one example, the auto-save feature triggers when a specific amount of time elapses while they are working within the editor. In one embodiment the auto-save feature triggers when a pushed event is received by the client that informs the client that the site is going down or for any reason. In one embodiment the auto-save feature triggers when a specific copious amount of changes are made on a single page without save, a threshold established to define the amount or weight of the changes made.

The automix option in information bar 802 is an automated process driven by an algorithm. Automix takes the user\'s photos and dynamically creates new pages based on the project\'s theme and the size, orientation, and metadata of the user\'s photos. UI 800 has a side bar area 803 that contains assets that may be used in creating the project. Sidebar 803 is scrollable and includes at least four interactive presentation controls, each representing a category of assets, which when invoked provide access to certain assets under each category represented. The control furthest to the left of the Fig. labeled P for photos. Invoking Photos loads all of the user\'s uploaded photos into the scrollable area for use in the project. The next control to the right labeled L is for layouts.

A layout is a page or spread configuration containing photo slots and text boxes along with shapes and stickers that go with the theme of the project. Under layouts, there are sub-categories for project layouts, theme layouts, and recommended layouts. A layout may be a system provided layout or one that is created by a user from scratch elements. A next control over to the right is labeled B for backgrounds.

A background is a page background that underlies the added content. When a background image is stored by the system, the system, in one embodiment, creates a mirror image of that background by default. This unique process is termed background “flipping” by the inventor. By default, all background images are stored as “mirrored images” (original and flipped version). In this way when a user selects a particular background image for two adjacent pages, the flipped image is used as the second background image and may be auto-inserted onto the page. For assets that display one or more asymmetric aspects, background flipping provides a more aesthetic look to a two-page photo book spread. Flipping of assets (storage of mirrored images) may be practiced by default on backgrounds, layouts, photos, and stickers without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, an algorithm drives the background flipping process by first identifying a background image that is asymmetrical in characteristic such as having an asymmetric coloring, texture, pattern, etc. Any images that qualify are flipped meaning that a mirrored-image copy of the original is created and stored alongside the original. In addition, the system automatically serves a “flipped” image where useful such as when a two-page photo book spread will use the same background image. The left canvas would contain the original background image while the right canvas would contain the mirrored image auto-inserted when the background was selected by the user for application to the spread.

The next control furthest to the right is labeled S for stickers. The system maintains clip-art called stickers comprising shapes and other clipart images used as content to dress a layout on a page. The category of stickers includes shapes, project stickers and theme stickers. Project stickers are those that are currently being used in a given project and theme stickers are those that are considered relevant to a project theme. Sidebar area 803 serves as a content interface within UI 800 that provides access to all content whether it is system-provided or user-provided.

In one embodiment the system of the invention includes a recommendation engine driven by several different algorithms that intelligently recommends content according to several different criteria. For example, certain theme-related stickers might be recommended to a user based on the theme selected for a project. If the project theme is babies, then baby related stickers known to the system would be displayed to the user ahead of any other sticker types. In another embodiment a hierarchal recommendation system is provided whereby the system makes suggestions or recommendations of content based on number of times the content is used by others, commented on by others, ranked by others, and so on. Using a recommendation system helps expedite the project creation process by displaying the most relevant or used content assets to the user first so that the user does not have to search or browse for relevant content assets to include in a project.

In one embodiment a method for selecting a photo from a plurality of photos placed in the project by a project contributor for recommendation includes (a) accessing the contributor\'s project photos stored in the database, (b) weighting data associated with each photo used in the project against one or more business rules, (c) selecting one or more photos based on the weighting results of step (b); and (d) recommending one or more photo products containing one or more photos selected at step (c) to the contributor at an appropriate time.

In a preferred embodiment, stickers such as shapes may be adapted as photo-viewing windows or “photo-slots” complete with all of the unique properties of a photo-slot such as access to the photo panning tool, photo-edit tool, and other tools for editing. Shapes may also be used as text boxes. There are many possibilities.

UI 800 includes a content storyboard 807 that displays all of the pages and, or “spreads” 806 of a project in sequence at the current edited states of those pages or spreads. A spread is simply two or more single pages connected as a spread of pages. Storyboard 807 is scrollable and may contain as many pages as are included in any project. A user may click on any of the pages or spreads in storyboard 807 to bring it up for active display and editing. A user may select a viewing mode 808 (bottom right) for viewing a single page or for viewing a page spread. A page tools interface 809 is provided in UI 800 to enable simple page manipulations such as adding a blank page, duplicating an existing page, and removing an existing page from the storyboard.

In this example the front cover 801 and the spine 805 of a photo book are displayed for edit in UI 800. The front and back cover are considered pages but are not numbered in this example. Spine 805 is also considered a page. Interface 800 includes a welcome message 804 that may appear on display when the user invokes the editing process. The welcome message includes a warm welcome to the user followed by some general information about the service and expectations. The pop-up may prompt a user to add photos to the relative project, customize the project and when satisfied with the project, order one or more printed copies of the project. In one embodiment a themed page already containing stickers and photo-slots can be added.

In one embodiment a user may remix a project that is in progress or finished. A page may be remixed by interacting with a remix option provided in toll bar 802. Remixing can be undertaken to change the various aspects of a page including but not limited to changes in layout of the page, changes to the background of the page, changes to the fonts of the page, and changes to the styles of items on the page. Remixing a page may also include adding or removing page items like stickers, photos, text boxes, and shapes. Remixing a page may also include changing effects or the current cropping of items on the page.

In one aspect all of a user\'s remixing efforts are undoable by clicking on an editing undo button or dialog box. A user may remix any number of pages any number of times. During the remix operation, a user may be enabled to include photo effects such as B&W, sepia, antique, and so on to all page photos. The user may also be enabled to include mean brightness and contrast adjustments on all of the photos in the remix and application of font on the page may be included to match as well. A layout change may source from a pool of layouts stored by the system. A layout change may also originate from an automated layout algorithm that automatically lays out all of the items on a page.

The automated layout algorithm described above may select a special layout and then may convert a group of photos into a canvas page. A specific layout may be chosen based on the corresponding photo group data by the algorithm which further minimizes the amount of zooming or scaling that must be afforded the photos. By minimizing the amount of scaling required, the resulting canvas page fits the photos into photo slots of similar orientation and subsequently requires very little zooming of the photos. This lends to higher quality output once a user chooses to purchase a created project in a high-dot per inch (DPI) output.

In one embodiment a flash tool for creating books is embedded in the editing system of the present invention. The flash window expands automatically to fill up the user\'s browser space when the user increases the size of the window. The flash window contracts to fit as well if the user decreases the size of the browser space. Using JavaScript on Resize events, the page creation canvas is adjusted in size to either zoom in to or out of the created book page as the user resizes their browser.

In one embodiment the system may access data quickly for display while uploading a bandwidth intensive file like a high resolution photo. Bandwidth is a precious resource on the Internet. Photos typically use a lot of bandwidth during transfer from one network location to another. While a user uploads photos, the system has the capability of accessing enough of the data using Flash Player™ (FP) 10 to create stand-in thumbnails of the uploading photos so that a user does not have to wait before resuming the editing process. Once the photos are uploaded, they automatically replace the thumbnails and take on all of the attributes applied to the thumbnails in the absence of the real photos. In this way user will be enabled to work on a group of uploaded photos immediately using the thumbnails as a stand-in.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary screen shot of an add-photo page for acquiring photos to add to a Mixbook™ project according to an embodiment of the present invention. Page 900 appears as a result of the user clicking on “add photos” within the Mixbook™ editor UI. Page 900 functions much like an interface for downloading songs from a music site with the exception that the user is uploading and/or physically referencing photos stored at a remote location accessible to the service provider. An option bar 902 is provided within page 900 and includes many separate links to popular network service locations where photos may be acquired for a project.

At the far left of the options bar, the option upload is invoked. In this case the user is uploading photos from a local hard drive or from some other digital medium accessible to the operating appliance hosting the activity. Photos may be uploaded from any internal memory or from any external memory such as a connected thumb drive, a connected compact disk, a connected camera, or through some other removable memory that can be coupled to the user\'s computing appliance. In one embodiment the system may “capture” photos from media such as a video clip that is played back on the user\'s computing appliance. In one embodiment the system may also upload any photos that are scanned into the user\'s computing appliance using any type of image scanning device.

Page 900 includes a status window 901 that is divided into columns and rows. From left to right, the columns in status window 901 are labeled File Name, Status, Progress Bar, and File Size. An unlabeled column at far right contains either an X or a check mark indicating that the associated photo is not yet uploaded (X), or that the photo is already uploaded (check mark). There are ten rows illustrated in this example indicating that ten photos are to be uploaded. A user may upload one photo art a time or the user may upload a group of photos by using group selection techniques such as control click or using a shift and hold option.

It can be seen in this example that three of the ten photos being uploaded are completely uploaded into the system as indicated in the status column (100%) and by an overall progress bar 903 at the bottom of the window. One photo (DSC01273.JPG) is 63% complete while another (DSC01267) is being processed just after upload to determine optimal display size and perhaps other factors for the UI. In one embodiment photo-add page 900 is a window that appears within the UI of the Mixbook™ editor. In this embodiment as the photo status for a particular photo indicates that upload and processing are complete for the photo then it will display within the side bar area of the UI under the category Photos.

Add-photo page 900 includes links for acquiring photos from a plurality of photo hosting locations on the Internet. The location My Photos is the collection of all of the photos that the user has already uploaded to the service. The user may click My Photos to view those photos and select one or more of those photos for transfer to the current project. A user may acquire photos from virtually any Internet-connected repository that the user has authorized access to directly or through a hosting service account. Examples of such accounts where photos may be located include Facebook™, Flickr™, Yahoo™, SmugMug™, Photobucket™, and Picasa™. There may be fewer or more photo-location options (Hosts) referenced within page 900 than are illustrated in this example without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

If a user has a Facebook™ account that user may acquire any photo that user has authorized access to including those photos of family and friends on Facebook™. The same is true for all of the other photo-locations listed in bar 902. A user may, if desired, physically download photos from these third-party-controlled photo-hosting services. However, the inventors provide a unique data structure for photo data transfer that permits use of the photo in online and in printed projects but does not include a requirement for literally possessing the photo. The data structure represents a photo and enables partners to transfer photos without performing a physical upload.

The generic data structure includes an array of photo sizes. Each image size has at least three fields. These are a value for the photo width in pixels, a value for the photo height in pixels, and the network location (URL/URI) of the image or photo. The address is the address where the photo is stored. In a preferred embodiment each of the selectable photo sizes for a single photo has the same aspect ratio. The term aspect ratio refers to the ratio of width to height of a photo. If a partner site has three sizes for a photo like small, medium, and large, these sizes must have the same aspect ratio for selectable representation of the image without requiring physical upload of the photo.

An algorithm enables the system to determine the best photo-display size from the available partner-configured photo sizes for use in Mixbook™ projects. The algorithm loops through the available photo sizes in the generic image data structure describing the remote photo. The system leverages an algorithm for photo display of the remote photo that automatically selects the optimal photo size to display out of the array of partner-configured sizes provided the photo display on the partner site. For example, if the service of the invention has three available photo sizes (small, medium, and large), and the platform partner, such as Facebook™ for example, has only two image sizes available (medium and large), the algorithm considers the two available sizes in the best light. The result may be that the small photo size allowed by the service would be replaced with the medium photo size allowed for the photo at the partner site.

The algorithm automatically fits the image into the photo slot. To do this the algorithm determines the limiting dimension either the width or the height. To find the limiting dimension, the algorithm takes the first element in the size array and creates two ratios. The first ratio created is a width ratio which is equal to the width of the first element in the size array divided by the width of the display slot. The second ratio created is the height ratio which is equal to the height of the first element in the size array divided by the height of the photo slot. If the width ratio is greater than the height ratio, then the limiting dimension is the height. If the height ratio is greater than the width ratio the limiting dimension is the width.

The algorithm orders the sizes by the limiting dimension, which is ascending order. Beginning with the first and second sizes, the algorithm compares the sizes on their limiting dimension with the size of the photo slot on its limiting dimension. If the size of the display slot is bigger than the second size, then the algorithm continues on to the next size grouping, the second and third sizes. The algorithm continues until one of two sizes is greater than the size of the display slot. At this point, the algorithm will intelligently choose which size to display.

The photo is displayed in the same manner as other photos that were physically uploaded to the service with an exception that the photo is accessible only when the link from the service to the photo is active. A user could potentially build and print a photo book that contains only remote photos that are never uploaded physically to the service. In one embodiment option bar 902 is scrollable in the case that more partners are listed than can be displayed at one time in the window.

The system of the invention includes a partner platform and application programming interface (API) that enables partners to integrate their applications (desktop or web-based applications) with the service of the present invention. This platform allows partners to implement code within their applications that can transfer data to and from Mixbook™ servers including, but not limited to user data, photos, and project data (books, calendars, posters, prints, mugs, mouse pads, and other photo gift or collage items). In one aspect of the present invention the system includes an application program interface API for enabling partners to access user accounts and make contributions to those user accounts. Usage of partner aliases helps to distinguish such partners from other users when they are on the site. The system creates an “alias” for each object that a partner application needs to access within the collage editing platform. The created alias will be stored within the system to enable quick and easy access to objects stored in the system. Aliases can be defined by the partner, so that the partner can use existing data in their own system to reference data in the Mixbook™ partner platform. The system will automatically detect attempted duplication of a partner alias. If a partner attempts to create a duplicate partner alias, the alias will not be created. Rather, the existing alias may be updated with any change in information passed in the associated action.

In order to create an alias for a given object, a partner must have access through that user by having authenticated access to that user account. If a partner does not have an alias connected to a given object, there is no way for it to access that object. This makes it easy for a given partner to create and manage “private” and “secure” data through the partner platform without worrying about having others accessing that same data.

Partners may create user accounts on Mixbook by passing an alias with which they will be able to access the user in the future. If the email address is already registered on Mixbook, the partner must authenticate the user by sending that user to a Mixbook log-in interface and to their account. Once the user logs in, the alias relationship will be created with that user for the requesting partner.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a photo spread 1000 of a photo-book project exhibiting a dynamically editable text box according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an elevation view of photo spread 1000 of FIG. 10 with the text box moved to a position of conflict relative to a print parameter applied to a printing process for the photo-book.

Referring now to FIG. 10, photo spread 1000 is exemplary of any photo spread or project page that may be used in a project. In this example photo spread 1000 is part of a photo-book project. Photo spread 1000 includes two pages whereby the page on the right of the spreads includes a text box 1001. Text box 1001 is an asset provided by the system for users to insert text information relative to project theme and photos. In this example, a user has clicked on the text box 1001 to dynamically edit the text within.

A sizing frame 1011 is visible about text box 1001 in this example. When a user clicks on text box 1001 anywhere on or within the boxed area a text box re-sizing frame 1011 dynamically appears. A text editing tool bar 1003 and a text box rotation tool 1002 also appear in synchronization with the text box re-sizing frame. Frame 1011 enables a user to resize textbox 1001 by grabbing any one of the corner handles or side handles and dragging the handle to change the box footprint. Text box 1001 can be stretched taller or stretched wider by grabbing and dragging a top/bottom resize handle or a left side/right side resize handle on frame 1011. Text box 1001 may be made larger or smaller while retaining the same aspect ratio using any of the corner-located resize handles on frame 1011. In one embodiment resizing the text box after text is inserted into the box results in stretching of the text. In another embodiment resizing the text box with inserted text does not change the font size.

Text box rotation tool 1002 appears dynamically when the user clicks on box 1001 or anywhere within the box. Rotation tool 1002 may be grabbed and manipulated by the user to rotate text box 1001 about its center to the left or to the right at any angle desired. In one embodiment an additional window may be visible that provides the amount of rotation in degrees in real time as the box is rotated by the user. Text editing toolbar 1003 includes a font style selection menu 1004. Menu 1004 contains a field that can be used to type in a known font style or a drop-down feature in the menu may be leveraged to select from a list of included styles available to the editor.

In live editing, an auto-preview feature is provided whereby a user may mouse over a font style exposed from the drop down menu and see the font change in text window 1001. When the user slides the mouse pointer off of the selection, the font reverts back to the original font. The user may type over or type a font within the font window of menu 1004 and see the font change within text window 1001 once the system recognizes the font selection. Auto-preview is also provided for other types of edits including but not limiting to font size, font color, font presentation (italics, caps, bold, etc), and font justification (left, right, center). A user generally selects or highlights a text item within a project. This action may cause automatic display of a text editing toolbar, the toolbar including controls for at least editing font style, font size, font justification, and font color; and selecting one of the controls of step (b) and mousing over a menu option. For auto-previewing graphics the user selects or highlights a graphic within the project. As a result of this action, the system automatically displays a graphics editing toolbar, the toolbar including a styles interface having controls for applying at least, shadow effect, reflective effect, border style, blur effect, transparency effect, shapes effect, color saturation, hue, brightness, and contrast. The user selects one of the presented controls and mouses over a menu option to preview the option.

Toolbar 1003 includes a font sizing menu 1005 that is adapted to enable a user to efficiently select an optimum size for the font in text window 1001. Like the font style menu, the font sizing menu contains a field and a drop down list feature. A user may click the downward arrow causing a font list to be presented to the user. This list contains all of the allowable font sizes. A user may mouse over a font size in the list and see the size change take place in real time within window 1001 (auto-preview). When a user selects the font resizing tool 1005, a separate slider bar 1006 appears adjacent to the menu.

A user may grab the slider handle of the bar 1006 and move it up or down (vertical slider) or left and right (horizontal slider) to make the font in window 1001 larger or smaller according to the allowed font size increments that can otherwise be selected or ordered in menu 1005. Auto-preview enables a user operating slider bar 1006 to see the font changing in real time within window 1001 as the user moves the slider handle. In one embodiment of the present invention, a user may operate a set of directional arrows to change the font size. For example, clicking on the up arrow may increase font size by allowed increments while clicking on the down arrow may reduce the font size by allowable increment. Altogether there are four ways of manipulating the size of the font in text box 1001. These four methods include moving a slider, clicking sizing arrows, entering a number into a field, and selecting a font size from a drop-down menu. Auto-preview is supported by all of the text resizing methods and interfaces.

Toolbar 1003 includes a text Bold, Italicize, and Underline tool and a paragraph/justification formatting tool for adjusting the way the paragraph is presented. Anytime the text parameter controls such as Bold, Underline, and Italicize are moused over, the user can see the effect on the text in text box 1001 in real time using the auto-preview feature. Toolbar 1003 includes a font color management interface 1008 that includes three different ways to manage the color of the font within text box 1001.

Interface 1008 includes a rectangular color grid control that calls up a thumbnail selection interface containing all of the allowable theme colors in the form of selectable thumbnails when invoked. Interface 1008 includes an annular color palette control that calls up a system color palette that enables a user to pick a color from a field of blended colors or from a color bar of blended colors. Interface 1008 includes a color picker tool that when selected and or invoked provides a pixel color reader to the user\'s input device in the form of a color dropper that can be placed over any color manifested on the user display monitor to read a color.

The color of the text in text box 1001 may be changed to any color visible in the user interface that is read from a pixel by the color input tool. A user may operate the color selection tool to perform operations such as save a color, apply a color to all of a specific type of item, and so on. Moreover, an extension may be provided to the color picking tool to enable a user to blend or mix colors, or to select multiple colors in order of priority and save the colors to a personal color swatch or palette.

The method can be practiced by selecting or invoking a color reading tool; moving the tool over the display monitor to read and preview colors using mouse movement; and selecting a color read by the tool. The selected color may be applied to a single item or to multiple items. In one embodiment the color picking tool is used to select colors to save to a color palette or to a color mixing tool. In one embodiment a recommendation system is in use during color picking and can make recommendations to the user as to the popularity of any color read by the tool at the time of reading.

Such a category may be segmented according to various criteria such as by collaboration group, by friends of the user, by all site users, and so on. Other interesting statistical data may also be provided to the user relative to a selected or read color in the form of a pop-up or other visible message. For example the color picker may read a specific color and in preview mode a message appears that ranks the color and mentions one or more other colors that go well with the read or selected color. There are many possibilities.

Each of these font color application tools of interface 1008 is supported by auto-preview so that the user may see the text color changing before saving the text in a particular color. More detail about application of colors to font is described further below.

Toolbar 1003 includes a layering tool 1009 containing two controls. One control brings an item forward to overlay another item and the other control operates to send an item back one layer behind another item in the window. A unique aspect of interface 1009 is that the system “remembers” what layers items reside on and assumes that all items on the canvas that do not overlap are on the same layer. The tool will skip intermediate layers if an item is selected to “move forward” to overlap or “move backward” to hide behind another item that is more than one layer away from the item moved. In this way the user always sees the visual effect of moving an item forward or sending an item backward relative to the other items. The layering system is driven by algorithm and also detects which items are being intersected with and replaces depth level values attached to those items. In one embodiment, items or assets may be grouped on a page and may be incrementally brought forward or sent backward as a group of items. Toolbar 1003 includes a delete control 1010 for removing any items on the page or canvas.

Referring now to FIG. 11, text box 1001 has been inadvertently moved toward the gutter area of the spread by grabbing onto frame 1011 and dragging it toward the center of the spread. The system of the invention includes a user alert system for warning a user anytime a text box is moved to a position where some of the text might be cut off because it intersects or overlaps a print boundary such as print boundary 1100 made visible to the user as part of the alert process. A visual dialog box 1101 appears while the user is in process of moving text box 1001 in real time. The dialog box contains a warning to the user that the movement of the text box into the print boundary may result in a cut off of text during printing.

The print boundaries are based on the output dimensions for the printed output boundaries. The boundaries and text dialog alert box appear only when the user has moved text too close to a boundary edge. A buffer boundary area might be observed in some embodiments to cover outputs in slightly different aspect ratios. That is to say that the warning would occur if a user brought the text box across the buffer boundary even though text did not cross the actual print boundary of a particular output format. Much work is reduced by providing this early warning system way back in the editing process and well before the printing process.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a photo spread 1200 of a project illustrating real-time text color application using theme colors. FIG. 13 is an elevation view of photo spread 1200 of the same project illustrating real-time font color change using system colors.

Referring now to FIG. 12, as described further above, font color management may be accomplished using a font color management interface 1008. In this example a user has selected the theme colors control of interface 1008 as evidenced by the illustrated mouse pointer during a process of changing font color of the font in text box 1001. A theme color grid 1201 immediately appears upon selection of the control. Theme color grid 1201 contains all of the theme colors 1204 that are generic to the theme the user or the system (in some cases) has selected for the project. In one embodiment, the theme color grid may include colors that the user has previously used in the project or colors that the user has saved to his or her account on Mixbook. Color pallet 1201 includes a color swatch containing the current font color of the text in text box 1001. An adjacent box 1203 includes the code name for that particular color. Auto-preview allows the user to see the font color change as the user mouses over any of the theme colors before actually committing to any one color.

Referring now to FIG. 13, as described further above, font color management may be accomplished using a font color management interface 1008. In this example a user has selected the system colors control of interface 1008 as evidenced by the illustrated mouse pointer during a process of changing font color of the font in text box 1001. A system color palette 1301 immediately appears upon selection of the control. System color palette 1301 contains all of the system colors 1302 that are available to the user by moving a pixel reading icon (circle, square, etc.) over the area of the palette to read the colors.

In addition to color palette 1302, a color strip 1303 presents all of the same colors from the top to the bottom of the strip. Color strip 1303 has a slider bar that a user may grab and drag over the blended color strip to determine a best color for the font. Like theme color grid 1201, interface 1301 includes a color swatch 1304 that contains the current color that is being moused over or selected and an information box that contains the code name for that color. An interactive option 1306 for cancelling a color selection is provided as is an interactive option 1307 for accepting the new color for the font in text box 1001.

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a photo spread 1400 illustrating a photo-editing frame and intuitive photo panning interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Photo spread 1400 contains a photo slot 1407 on the left page of the photo spread. A photo 1408 has been inserted into photo slot 1407 by a user building the project. Photo slot 1407 automatically hides any part of photo 1408 that extends past its boundaries. The portion of the photo extending past the boundary is invisible to the user until the user grabs the photo for the purpose of panning the photo to improve the position of the photo within the photo slot.

The above process is illustrated by a mouse grab-hand controlled by computer input device (mouse). When the user drops photo 1408 onto photo slot 1407 an algorithm automatically sizes the photo so that its top and bottom edges or its left side and right side edges align exactly with the corresponding boundaries of the photo slot in accordance to whichever dimension of the photo is a closer fit to the corresponding dimension of the photo slot (width or length). In this example the top and bottom edges of photo 1408 align to the top and bottom edges of photo slot 1407. A user may then grab photo 1408 in the center using a grab operation and move or “pan” the photo to the left or to the right. The rest of the photo extending past the slot boundaries (left edge and right edge) is visible at some level of transparency as photo boundary 1406. When the user lets go of the photo, the portion of the photo 1406 is hidden completely providing a convenient and innovative virtual photo cropping capability.

In one embodiment the photo slot is an image display window of a predefined geometric configuration disposed on a project page for containing and displaying an image that has been placed thereon. In this example the user may grab the photo by interacting with an image handle associated with the image container, the image handle visible on highlight or selection of the image within the image container or display window. Again if one or more dimensions of the image exceed the dimensions of the image container or photo slot, a user may grab the contained image by the image handle and may move the image about within the container in any direction to present the best view of the image. Parts of the image that are hidden behind the page canvas become visible to the user when the image is grabbed enabling the user to see what parts of the image are cropped by the predefined geometry of the image container as described further above.

A photo sizing frame, similar to the text box sizing frame described further above includes side grab handles and corner grab handles to facilitate sizing. A photo-slot rotation tool 1409 is provided above the photo resize frame for rotating the photo clockwise or counter clockwise. Optimal sizing constraints are applied in the algorithm used to optimally fit photo 1408 to photo slot 1407 such that photo zooming or scaling requirements are kept to a minimum to increase the efficiency of the overall process of building a project.

A photo-editing toolbar 1401 is provided to enable a user to make edits to photo 1408. Toolbar 1401 appears along with the sizing frame 1404 when the user selects photo 1408 for editing. Toolbar 1401 contains a photo zoom interface 1402 for enlarging and reducing the photo size. Zoom interface 1402 is a horizontal slider. The photo placed in the photo slot is optimally sized so that the bar on zoom slider 1402 is all the way to the left. A user may grab the bar on slider 1402 and drag it to the right to enlarge or “zoom in” the photo. Enlarging a photo causes the unseen portion of the photo outside the photo slot to expand beyond the boundary edges of the photo slot. After enlarging a photo, a user may re-pan the photo to ensure that the best part of the photo is viewable through the photo viewing window or photo slot.

Photo editing tool 1402 includes a rotation tool 1403 that rotates the photo counter clockwise by an angle of 90 degrees. Photo editing toolbar 1405 contains a spread feature for extending a photo over onto the next page of the spread. A user may place the photo in the gutter portion of the spread and click onto control 1405 to facilitate a view of the photo spanning across the two pages of the spread. Another click on the control cuts off the content of the photo that is bleeding over onto the second page. In this case the second page is simply the page that the photo was initially absent from before proceeding to span the photo.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of photo spread 1400 of FIG. 14 with a styles editing interface 1501 invoked from photo editing toolbar 1401 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A user may invoke a styles editing interface 1501 by clicking on a control 1500 as illustrated via a mouse or other input method. Styles interface 1501 is an extension of tool bar 1401. Interface 1501 is also available on text editing toolbar 1003 described further above in the description of FIG. 10. Styles editing interface 1501 includes effect application options 1502 for enhancing photos.

Options 1502 visited from left to right include a shadow selection interface control that when invoked produces shadow levels 1503 from no shadow to heavy shadow. Next to the right is a control option that when invoked calls up a reflection interface to apply a level of reflection to the photo. A border control is provided to the right of the reflection interface and provided a variety of borders to select from for bordering photos and text boxes. Next to the border control is a shape control. The shape control provides a menu of shapes (stars, hearts, etc) that can be used as innovative photo crops by dropping them into a photo-slot. The final styles option is a transparency interface control that brings up a transparency level interface where a user may select from different levels of transparence for a photo.

It is noted herein that all of the same style editing controls are present in the styles editing interface for text boxes that can be executed from toolbar 1003 described further above. Those controls produce the same selections for shadow, reflection border, shapes, and transparency. Further all of these controls include auto-preview options so the user may see the effect in the photo or text before saving the effects. In addition to the effects listed as options 1502 in styles editor 1501, other photo effects and editing tools might be included as options in the interface without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention such as a brightness control, contrast control, color saturation control, hue control, and other standard photo editing options.

Automatically previewing edits to graphics items within the image-based project involves selecting or highlighting a graphic within the project to automatically display photo-editing toolbar 1401 inclusive of styles editing interface 1501, which may include controls for applying at least, shadow effect, reflective effect, border style, blur effect, transparency effect, shapes effect, color saturation, hue, brightness, and contrast. A user may select any of the controls and mouse over the menu option to preview an effect.

Before applying any effect to a canvas component like a photo or sticker a user may preview how the effect may appear on an object in the styles editor. The items current effects are considered saved effects. When a user desires to change the effect or style of an item they first select the item on the canvas, which automatically opens a toolbar with the styles and effects editing interface. In one embodiment a display of the selected item is provided in preview mode where the display is of the actual item or a representation of the item.

In one embodiment a user may click on an effect for an item and then mouse over the item in preview mode to see how the effect will appear on the item. Mousing off of an item returns the appearance of the item back to its saved state. If the user clicks on one of the preview displays in the case of multiple displays as in the styles editing interface, the styles or effects represented by that display will be applied to the selected item and those styles or effects will be saved, such that the saved state now includes those settings.

Interface 1501 includes a customize option that incorporates a slider bar 1505 that is shared relative to a plurality of editing options including Blur; Distance; Angle; and Opacity. A user may select any one of the just-mentioned options and then use slider bar 1505 to scale the level of effect of the selected option. Furthermore, each listed option has a text value menu where a user may type in a desired value, or select a listed value from a dropdown menu. At the very bottom of styles editing interface 1501, a color editing interface similar or identical to interface 1008 described previously is provided that includes a control for bringing up a grid of theme colors, a control for bringing up a color palette and/or a color strip, and a control for picking a color using a pixel color reader in the form of a ink dropper that replaces the mouse pointer when picking a color. Any pixel that is visible in the user display may be read and its color may be used to recolor any item of the photo book. At the bottom of interface 1501 an interactive option is provided enables the user to apply a change to all items on photo spread 1400.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary screen shot of a contributor invitation interface 1600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention enables a user to initiate a project as a creator or project host and then to invite other users to help work on the project or contribute assets to the project. Interface 1600 appears as a result of the user clicking on “add contributors” when first starting a new project as described further above with reference to FIG. 5.

Interface 1600 includes a text field 1601 for entering the email addresses of other users that the hosting user wishes to invite to contribute to the project. These other users may already be registered on Mixbook™ or they may not be community members yet. Users who are invited to contribute to a project but are nor members of the service may be directed to a membership page to register as a user before being allowed to contribute to a member\'s project. Interface 1600 includes a second text field for selecting friends from a list of friends that are already known to the system. If the friends are already known, the list is presented each time the user clicks on the feature. An option for selecting all of the listed friends is provided at the top right corner of text field 1004.

Once the invitees are selected, the user may elect to provide a personal message to the group of friends invited. A text field 1603 enables a user to type in a text message, which will be sent to the users. Such a message may explain the project and the reasons for establishing or at least inviting contributors. For the purpose of term definition as it applies to this specification, a contributor to a project can be any person that is able to contribute creative assets to an existing project either in collaboration or singularly. A contributor may be a friend or family member already registered to the site. A contributor may also be a family member or friend that is treated as an invited guest that has not yet signed up for the service.

Once the contributors are identified either by email address and name or both, the invitations are automatically sent as email, short message service (SMS), Instant Message (IM) or some other invitation message to those users. Interface 1600 includes a widget 1605 for enabling a user to browse an address book to add users. Once friends are registered with the site, the user need not enter any email address information to invite them to be contributors. Contributors may also be collaborators that help the user work on a project in real time. In this case, the collaborators may already be online as detected by presence reporting or monitoring. The user simply selects those that are online from the list in text field 1602. An icon may be provided next to the name of a friend to indicate whether that friend is online or offline.

The inventors emphasize that the system of the invention is designed to make it easy for multiple users to work on and share projects with one another in a manner that promotes use of pages from different projects to contribute to a project in the works. In this way users may contribute pages from other projects to one they are currently collaborating on. An option for making a project open to all community members registered with the site is provided at the start of a project. In some cases projects created by one or a group of community members may be copied by another user whereby the new creator edits the original work to make it personal to the new user. In this scenario many different projects may contain many of the same photos and other creative assets that were originally copied.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary screenshot of a proxy-login interface 1700 that enables a user or contributor to gain access to a personal account to link to or otherwise acquire access to photos available through the personal account. In this example, the login interface is for logging into a Yahoo™ account where that user may have access to photos stored remotely at the service. Interface 1700 includes the traditional fields for entering a user name or email and password pair. A back button 1702 is provided on interface 1700 for navigating back to the previous page. A sign in or login button 1703 is provided for submitting the information.

Navigation to the user\'s personal account takes place through the Mixbook™ server by proxy. Once logged in to the account, the system finds the photos associated with the account and allows the user to select and transfer a photo or simply establish an active link to the photo so that the photo may be used in a project without a physical upload to the service. This is accomplished by a data structure that includes a URL to the photo as described previously. It is noted herein that the exact look of the log-in page may vary and may include a sign-up option for signing up with the service through Mixbook™.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary screen shot of an add friends interface 1800 for adding friends to the service of the present invention. Interface 1800 includes a plurality of email services 1801 that a user may have accounts with. The user may select any of these services to locate contacts of the user that the user may wish to invite to become friends on the Mixbook™ site. As previously described the service of the invention collects a list of invitees and sends emails, IMs or SMS messages to invite them to the service on behalf of their friend. Once the invitees have registered for the service they are included as friends of the inviting user and members of the Mixbook™ community as a whole.

Once a user has indicated one or more services to access contacts from, the user may select the next button 1802 to proceed to gather the email contacts of each of the selected services. In one embodiment the contacts are in a list resident on the user\'s computing appliance. In thee case of Instant Messaging Access Protocol (IMAP) accounts such as Gmail for example, the proxy log-in interface of FIG. 17 might be used to access the contact list for that service.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary screen shot of a preview interface 1900 for previewing a finished project according to an embodiment of the present invention. Interface 1900 enables a user to preview an online project or other users to view a project they might have access to on the system. In this example the preview interface is in the form of a book that has multiple pages with photos and text. In one embodiment a play book widget is provided that enables viewing of a photo book in the form of an interactive slide show or a form correct book preview as is illustrated in the example.

Interface 1900 includes a number of pages in addition to a front cover, back cover and spine (not illustrated). Pages two and three of the photo book are visible and are given the element numbers 1901 (page 2) and 1902 (page 3). Referring now to page 1901, a user may configure a slide show or automated presentation of a Mixbook™ that includes comments such as comment 1904 made by other users. Comment 1904 includes the user\'s email address and time that it was inserted. The system enables users to view their books as an online slideshow that displays all the pages of the book along with additional multimedia content that can be added. Users will have the ability to add music or any type of sound track to one or more pages within the book or to the widget to play in the background while the book is being viewed as a slide show.

In one embodiment interface 1900 enables automated panning and zooming of the pages of the previewed book. A small information box 1903 shows the user that created page 1901 with a very simple statement and email address. If more than one user contributed to a single page, then two information balloons might be presented; each citing one of the creators. It is noted herein that a user may turn off automatic display of user information related to contributors. Interface 1900 enables users who have viewed the project to leave comments embedded on pages of the book. In this example a comment is present on page 1901 from a user Joed2@aol.com. A profile picture of the commenter is illustrated in text balloon 1904. If many comments are present, they may not all display at once so as not to obstruct viewing.

In one embodiment of the present invention, users may add music or soundtracks to the system and may associate those to particular projects or to particular pages of a project. In one embodiment the granularity of adding multi-media content extends to a photo. For example if a photo in a project themed as a barnyard is a rooster, then a multimedia clip of a rooster crowing might be provided and embedded on the page containing the photo of the rooster. When the page showing the user is played, the clip of the rooster crowing automatically plays as well. In another embodiment the entire slideshow might be set to some background music that would play or loop back for the entire time the slideshow is running In one embodiment a static clip associated with a page or a photo on a page might include a small control panel such as control panel 1905, which enables the user to stop the clip, play the clip again manually, or pause the clip momentarily. In one embodiment a user would be able to interact with items on the page to trigger multi-media “actions” including but not limited to playing a video, playing an animation, moving various items around the page, playing a sound or music, or moving to another page in the project.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a preview interface such as interface 1900 and a slideshow window for viewing an automated presentation of the book are two different interfaces. In another embodiment both the playback widget and slideshow widget are one in the same. In this respect the interface “look” may be different depending on which process the user is engaging, previewing a book or viewing a finished book in the form of a slide show. There are many possibilities. In one embodiment a photo slot might be associated with more than one photo such that each photo slot in a slideshow could be a small slideshow of two or three photos for example.

In an embodiment where a slideshow of a book is to be viewed through a single presentation window having a footprint smaller than a two-page book spread, an algorithm analyzes the content of each page of the book and dynamically generates a path of traversal through the page content including photos, text, and other media. Page transitions between the last traversed content on one page and the first traversed content on the next page may be statically ordered or dynamically selected by the algorithm from a pool of possibilities.

In one embodiment the algorithm considers for each page of the book, the state of the previous page and the state of the next page relative to the location or position of the navigable content and then determines the optimal mode of traversing the page using the single presentation window used to present the slide show and subsequently determines the best available transition option to get to the next page. The algorithm creates a tree of possibilities and selects the best fit path of traversal for a page and the best transition to the next from the tree of possibilities. The traversal path over a page of a project book may be defined by the current X and Y coordinates of the window on the page and the current zoom level of the window. It is noted herein that in slideshow presentation mode, which may be different from book preview mode, the playback widget is able to zoom in and out and pan the content of the pages during the presentation.

In one embodiment where a slideshow of a project book is viewed, the playback widget will allow the dynamic display of user comments about the book. While the Play Book Widget is traversing a page, comments made on that area of the page, or comments that are relevant to a particular area of a page will be displayed, along with information about the user including but not limited to a profile picture, first name, last name and headline or quote.

In one embodiment of the invention the system incorporates a persistent message board for each photo book project termed a book wall by the inventor. A book wall allows users to post messages to each other about an entire project. When a user makes a note on a page of a photo book the note will be posted to the book wall as well and may include a link to the page. A book wall may be opened from anywhere in the book. The book wall may be a section that may be navigated to and opened from within a Mixbook™ editor. In one aspect an additional section might be created where a user working on a project with multiple collaborators could propose ideas and suggestions for collaborators. Collaborators may be allowed to comment or edit the creator\'s comments.

FIG. 20 is an exploded screenshot of the background selection portion 2000 of the user interface of FIG. 8 including an advanced background touch-up section according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention provides a unique color touch-up interface 2006 for modifying pre-existing or newly created backgrounds that can underlie page content in a project. Color interface 2006 appears when a user clicks on interactive control 2005 labeled more.

An interactive control 2003 for acquiring backgrounds is provided. Control 2003 opens a navigation window that the user may use to browse background images stored on the user\'s system for upload to the service of the present invention. The navigation window also provides access to any backgrounds the user has previously saved as personal backgrounds (My Backgrounds) and other backgrounds from other project themes (Theme Backgrounds).

Many backgrounds might have some textured surfaces like backgrounds designed to emulate paneling materials, brick and mortar, wood grain, and the like. Many backgrounds have asymmetric characteristics that can be flipped so that a pair of background images is created where each image is a mirror of the other in the pair.

Color interface 2006 provides advanced background coloring, color opacity adjustment, and color blending. One unique aspect of color blending in the system of the present invention is that pre-existing background images created by system designers and by some Mixbook™ users that exhibit textural characteristics such as wood grains or brick patterns, for example, can be enhanced with application of pure and blended colors to enhance and personalize them to newer users. The applications do not overwrite the original files such as system-provided theme backgrounds for example.

FIG. 21 is a page-on-canvas view illustrating a relative page coordinate system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Interface 2100 logically represents a single page 2103 on a canvas 2102. Page 2103 is square in this embodiment so it has an aspect ratio of 1:1. Page 2103 has a page size that is stored using relative units. For landscape or portrait pages the length of the shortest edge is assumed to be 1 and the length of the longest edge is equal to the value derived by dividing the length of the longest edge by the length of the shortest edge. For example, if the aspect ratio of a page is 4:3, then the height has a measurement of 1 unit and the width has a measurement of 1.33333 (landscape). The page also uses a relative coordinate system that originates from the absolute center of the page.

The grid pattern of the relative coordinate system may be rendered visible to a user or may remain invisible to a user. In one embodiment the grid pattern may be displayed to the user, but at some level of transparency. The 0 point on the grid is the absolute center point of the page.

The coordinate system is used for describing the position, size and orientation of inserted items like photos, text boxes, stickers, shapes, and so on. Other information about the content like display styles and effects on those items including but not limited to border, shadow, glow, fill, rounding of corners, reflection, photo cropping, font size, and font style is also stored relative to the position, size and orientation of the items.

Page 2103 has a plurality of elliptical shapes (2104) placed thereon generally located one per page corner. A star shape 2108 is located left of center and slightly above the midline of page 2103. All of the described shapes could be photo slots that are used as photo viewing/panning windows. Shapes might be used in other ways on page 2103 as well, such as stickers, or text boxes in one embodiment. The page size in this example is square so it is described by the relative coordinate system as −A to +A for width and −B to +B for height.

To establish a relative coordinate system on a page the 0 point or absolute center is established first. From the absolute center of the page, the system scales a number of relative units along the width direction and height direction from 0 to a negative limit and from 0 to a positive limit for both dimensions wherein a unit is an equal division of the total value from the negative limit to the positive limit for width and height.

Canvas 2102 includes a sidebar area 2101 containing the options for adding creative assets to the project like photos, layouts, stickers and backgrounds. Additional shapes 2105 are displayed for selection by the user. The system is aware at all times of the most current state of each page of a project. Logic is provided that enables the system to map the sizes, positions, and orientations of all of the items on a given page. This information is available to the system in real time as a user continues to add shapes to page 2103.

A shape 2106 may be a next shape selected for insert onto page 2103 as is illustrated in this example by a broken border and input device arrow. As the shape is dragged off of the sidebar and dropped onto the canvas as is illustrated in this example, an algorithm automatically sizes the shape and places it on the page in an optimum position based on the real-time data about the current positioning, orientation and sizes of the assets already on the page. The inserted shape is shape 2107 having undergone a resizing and reorientation before being placed on page 2103.

In one aspect of the invention a user may auto flow content onto a page using a unique grouping algorithm adapted to fit a plurality of photos in the project into logical groupings. The algorithm creates logical photo groupings based on timestamp information and other metadata information from each photo. Using a wide variety of mathematical distributions (i.e. normal, beta), the algorithm determines which photos are related and then logically groups those photos on one page. The metadata may include date and time that the photos were taken, titles, and other types of data. Additional inputs into the function include, but are not limited to, the average and standard deviation of the number of photos in a group and priorities and weightings of various metadata information for use in grouping.

At various times throughout project creation, display, and output processes, it becomes necessary to convert the relative coordinates in the page data structure described above into physical measurements. The conversion process allows the display of the content at any size, either on a display such as a computer monitor, mobile device such as a phone or tablet, or television display, or in a physical printed format such as a printed photo book or poster. By allowing for the translation of the relative coordinates and values into physical measurements, the system enables notification to users if any items on a page might not look acceptable in print. For example, the system can detect if a photo will display at a size in print that is too large based on the size that was originally uploaded or added via partner site integrations or otherwise. By storing the data in an abstract data structure with relative positioning and coordinates, created content can be used across a plurality of products and sizes.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a grouping 2200 of portrait page sizes exhibiting similar aspect ratios. An aspect ratio grouping (ARG) is a paradigm or pattern whereby two or more output or print sizes in a given orientation are grouped together to form a grouping. A grouping of similar aspect ratios for a given orientation includes the available specific output sizes that a project may be printed in without requiring any content editing by the creator before print. This innovative aspect of the system enables users to output a project to a print size within the grouping that is consistent with the orientation of that grouping.

Grouping 2200 includes three portrait-oriented page sizes in this example. These are a page 2201 having a width of L1 and a height of T1; a page 2202 having a width of L2 and the same height of T1; and a page 2203 having a width of L3 and a Width of T2. Grouping 2200 comprises pages of portrait orientation. Another grouping is available for landscape orientation and still another grouping is available for square orientation. The aspect ratios of each of the pages are very similar. An algorithm assigns a “core” aspect ratio to a project for display that is formulated as a core aspect ratio value derived from analysis of the aspect ratios of the pages in group 2200. All page content in the same orientation as an aspect ratio grouping is displayed at the core aspect ratio. More particularly, all page content intended to be printed at a specific page size (say 2201) will be displayed at the core aspect ratio of that specific page size\'s aspect ratio grouping.

In a preferred embodiment an algorithm is provided for displaying content at a core aspect ratio that may be printed to output end products like books, posters, calendars, and so on in the same orientation without any explicit resizing steps or data repositioning steps required of the user. A canvas described herein as an output canvas has a width and a height, bleed areas, and in most aspects, a gutter area. The page content is presented online in display during project creation using a “core” aspect ratio that is derived from analyzing the different aspect ratios in grouping 2200.

The algorithm determines from the canvas measurements what the optimum aspect ratio of the page content will be to ensure a minimum loss of content that would be cut off in the printing process. If the page content aspect ratio is taller than the available output canvas aspect ratio, content will be fit to the canvas such that the left and right edges of the page content fit exactly into the viewable area (left and right edges) minus a gutter allowance. The area on top and bottom of the page content will be cut off. On the other hand, if the page content aspect ratio is wider than the available output canvas aspect ratio, content will be fit to the canvas such that the top and bottom edges of the content fit exactly into the viewable area. The page content is positioned on the canvas such that the left or right content edge (depending on which page) is aligned to the gutter edge and content on the opposite edge which would include the bleed area of the page is cut off. In this way, page content can be optimally fitted to a variety of different output formats like two or more different portrait sizes for a portrait aspect ratio or two or more different sizes for landscape aspect ratio. In general, for an aspect ratio grouping that contains square-formatted output sizes, the ratio is ˜1. For an aspect ratio grouping that contains portrait-formatted output sizes, the ratio is <1. For an aspect ratio grouping that contains landscape-formatted output sizes, the ratio is >1.

The algorithm translates the core aspect ratio of the project to one of the selected sizes in a related aspect grouping. For example, a user might create an eight by six (landscape) pocket photo book using the SW of the present invention. The user may opt to print and purchase a photo book that is a classic landscape size like eleven by eight and one-half. The algorithm places the original page content for each page of the book onto the output canvas as the correct 11×8.5 classic landscape print size without requiring the user to edit any of the original content or to manually position the original content on the page. The algorithm performs the sizing adjustment during the output process in the background transparent to the user and no hard changes to stored data are necessary.

In practice, the system, aided by algorithm, determines for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, the aspect ratios of the viewable areas are recorded. The total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios relative to comparison with a given aspect ratio may be determined or quantified. Using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the total error value is found. The project page may then be displayed at the effective core or effective aspect ratio.

In one embodiment, the system determines to “find” an effective aspect ratio (EAR) for display during editing. EAR shall be analogous with core aspect ratio (CAR) in this specification. Both acronyms carry the same meaning. Given the following three candidate aspect ratios of 1.5, 1.38, and 1.65, the problem is to derive the aspect ratio that would best fit each of the candidate aspect ratios. In this case R shall equal EAR. R will fall somewhere in a range bounded by 1.38 and 1.65. The total error E can be represented using the following equation

E = ∑ i = 1 n  E i

where n=the total number of output sizes and where i=1. Ei can be represented a number of different ways. In one example, Ei=min(Eiw,Eih) wherein Eiw and Eih represent the error when the effective aspect ratio (EAR) denoted as R in this case, fits the height exactly, but spills over in the horizontal direction and wherein the reverse is also true, namely that R fits the width exactly but spills over in the vertical direction. R will best fit the aspect ratio in one of the two ways identified. Eih can be represented by

E ih =

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