Method and system for setting up a system for sharing images over a communication network between multiple users
View Patent ↗A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence. The method includes providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of the digital images among a plurality of designated users in the first image sequence; providing a list of list of electronic addresses for the designated users; forwarding an invitation to the designated users for gaining access to the plurality of images over a communication network by the controlling computer; forwarding user software to the designated users that accept the invitation; and automatically forwarding the plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence to the designated users that accepted the invitation.
1. A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence, comprising:
providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of said plurality of digital images between a plurality of designated users in a first image sequence;
providing a list of electronic addresses of said plurality of designated users;
forwarding an invitation to said plurality of designated users in said list for gaining access to said plurality of digital images over a communication network by said controlling computer;
forwarding user software to said designated users that accept said invitation; and
automatically controlling the forwarding of said plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence between said designated users that accepted said invitation by said controlling computer.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said designated users that receive said plurality of digital images having the ability to add digital images and/or comments with respect to plurality of digital images that can be seen by said designated users that view said plurality of digital images at a later point in time so as to create a new image sequence.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said designated users can, without viewing said plurality of digital images in said predetermined sequence, retain the ability to add a digital image to said plurality of digital images that can be seen by said designated users that view said plurality of digital images at a later point in time so as to create a new image sequence.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital images are displayed in a presentation format on a display device of a computer such that another task may be viewed and/or interacted with on said display device without interrupting the presentation format of the digital images.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said presentation format comprises a plurality of imagettes that are located along at least a portion of the peripheral area of said display device.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling computer is operated by one of said plurality of users.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling computer is operated by a service provider.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said sharing is initiated by an initiator.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said initiator controls what may be shared among said plurality of users.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said initiator and/or a user designated by the initiator may ban a user from said plurality of designated users.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said compilation of digital images corresponds to a selected theme.
12. A method according to claim 1 wherein additional data may be associated with any of said images of said compilation.
13. A method according to claim 12 where said additional information is related to said associated image.
14. A method according to claim 13 where said additional data comprises sound.
15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said compilation is presented to each of said users in a preselected pattern.
16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said preselected pattern comprises scrolling said compilation of images on said display device being used by said user.
17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said user display device is controlled by a computer, said compilation is scrolled across said display device.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said user display device is controlled by a computer, said compilation is presented atop another program being run by said computer.
19. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of said user making an inquiry with respect to one of said images of said compilation.
20. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer software program having instructions executable by the computer for sharing images over a communication network, said computer software program when loaded onto a computer will cause said computer to perform the steps of:
a. providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of said plurality of digital images between a plurality of designated users in a first image sequence;
b. providing a list of electronic addresses to said plurality of designated users;
c. forwarding an invitation to said plurality of designated users for gaining access to said plurality of digital images over a communication network by said controlling computer;
d. forwarding user software to said designated users that accept said invitation; and
e. automatically controlling the forwarding of said plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence between said designated users that accepted said invitation by said controlling computer.