Method and apparatus for image construction and animation
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for generating, sending, receiving and reconstructing an image, for use, for example, over a mobile telephone network ( 10, 12, 14, 20 ) comprises means to prepare the image by selecting pre-stored parts image ( 24, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46 ) to be assembled as part of an entire image where the properties of the part images are specified, specification including the viewpoint, position of a part image, color, texture, movement, speed, time and times of visibility. The assembled image is coded as a text message to be sent to a receiving mobile telephone ( 20 ). The receiving mobile telephone ( 20 ) can decode the coded text message and display the coded image, can display a true text message with the image, can store and display an image as an indication of a person who has contacted that mobile telephone ( 20 ), and can store and add images to other messages. The part images ( 24, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46 ) can be downloaded from a central store ( 14 ). The text messages can be compacted.
1. A method, comprising:
a wireless communication device receiving input indicative of:
a set of part images;
positions to be occupied in an animated image for one or more part images in said set of part images; and
at least one movement parameter for at least one part image in said set of part images;
the wireless communication device creating a text message that includes an image representative code sequence, different portions of which specify:
a first set of characters indicative of the at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of the at least one movement parameter for the at least one part image;
wherein the text message has a character limit, and wherein the text message is usable by a device receiving the text message to display motion of the at least one part image from the initial position along a trajectory according to the first, second, and third sets of characters; and
the wireless communication device sending the text message.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third set of characters is indicative of an angular velocity.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the text message is a short message service message, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sets of characters is one character long.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the motion of the at least one part image includes changing direction to simulate bouncing from a boundary.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third set of characters is indicative of an angular velocity and a linear velocity.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the text message further includes text elements usable by the device receiving the text message to display text, and wherein a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile telephone.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device sending the text message includes sending the text message to at least one of a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.
10. A method, comprising:
a wireless communication device receiving a text message that has a character limit, wherein the text message includes an image representative code sequence, different portions of which specify:
a first set of characters indicative of at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of at least one movement parameter corresponding to motion of the at least one part image along a trajectory; and
the wireless communication device using the image representative code sequence to display an animated image depicting the at least one part image moving along the trajectory from the initial position according to the first, second, and third sets of characters.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the third set of characters is indicative of an angular velocity, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sets of characters is one character long.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the text message is a short message service message, and wherein the trajectory includes a non-linear portion.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the image representative code sequence includes compacted codes, and wherein the at least one part image moving along the trajectory includes the at least one part image changing direction to simulate bouncing from a boundary.
14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising obtaining said set of part images from a server in a network.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said network comprises a mobile telephone network.
16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.
17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the text message further includes text elements usable by the wireless communication device to display text.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit.
19. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile telephone.
20. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.
21. An apparatus, comprising:
first means for receiving input indicative of:
a set of part images;
positions to be occupied in an animated image for one or more part images in said set of part images; and
at least one movement parameter for at least one part image in said set of part images; and
second means for creating a text message conforming to a text messaging protocol that specifies a character limit, wherein the text message includes an image representative code sequence, different portions of which specify:
a first set of characters indicative of the at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of the at least one movement parameter for the at least one part image;
wherein the text message is usable by a telephone to display motion of the at least one part image from the initial position along a trajectory according to the first, second, and third sets of characters.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one movement parameter relates to angular velocity.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the text messaging protocol is short message service, and wherein the second means is configured to employ compacting codes in the image representative code sequence.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the motion along the trajectory includes the at least one part image changing direction of motion to simulate bouncing from an object or a boundary.
25. The apparatus according to claim 21 , comprising a server.
26. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the text message further includes text elements usable by the telephone to display text, and wherein a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit.
27. The apparatus according to claim 21 , comprising the telephone.
28. The apparatus according to claim 21 , comprising a personal digital assistant.
29. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising:
third means for sending the text message to at least one receiving device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a receiving mobile telephone;
wherein the motion along the trajectory includes motion of the at least one part image along a curved path.
30. An apparatus, comprising:
first means for receiving a text message, wherein the text message has a character limit and includes an image representative code sequence, different portions of which specify:
a first set of characters indicative of at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of at least one movement parameter corresponding to motion of the at least one part image along a path; and
second means for using the image representative code sequence to display an animated image that includes the at least one part image moving along the path from the initial position according to the first, second, and third sets of characters.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the third set of characters is indicative of a linear velocity and a spin axis.
32. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the text message is a short message service message, and wherein the third set of characters is indicative of a linear velocity and rotation angle.
33. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the image representative code sequence includes compacted codes.
34. The apparatus according to claim 30 , comprising third means for obtaining said set of part images from a server in a network.
35. The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said network comprises a mobile telephone network, and wherein the at least one part image moving along the path includes simulating bouncing of the at least one part image.
36. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal digital assistant, and the mobile telephone.
37. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the text message further includes text elements usable by the apparatus to display text, and wherein the path includes a curved portion.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit.
39. The apparatus according to claim 30 , comprising a personal digital assistant.
40. A device, comprising:
an input interface configured to receive selection information indicative of an animated image;
a processor coupled to the input interface, wherein the processor is configured to cause the device to create a text message that includes an image representative code sequence that is indicative of the selection information, wherein the image representative code sequence has different portions specifying:
a first set of characters indicative of at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of at least one movement parameter for the at least one part image;
wherein the text message has a character limit, and wherein the text message is usable by a telephone to display motion of the at least one part image from the initial position along a trajectory according to the first, second, and third sets of characters; and a wireless transmission interface coupled to the processor, the wireless transmission interface being configured to send the text message to a receiving device.
41. The device of claim 40 , wherein the selection information comprises:
the at least one part image; and
one or more animation properties of the animated image;
wherein the motion of the at least one part image includes simulating the at least one part image changing direction in response to contacting an object or boundary.
42. The device of claim 40 , wherein the character limit is less than or equal to 160 characters, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sets of character is one character long.
43. The device of claim 40 ,
wherein the text message further includes text elements usable by the telephone to display text;
wherein a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit; and
wherein the trajectory includes a non-linear portion.
44. A device, comprising:
a wireless reception interface configured to receive a text message that includes an image representative code sequence, wherein the text message has a character limit, and wherein the image representative code sequence includes different portions specifying:
a first set of characters indicative of at least one part image;
a second set of characters indicative of an initial position for the at least one part image; and
a third set of characters indicative of at least one movement parameter corresponding to motion of the at least one part image along a trajectory;
a processor coupled to the wireless reception interface, the processor being configured to determine the image representative code sequence from the text message; and
a display interface coupled to the processor, the display interface being configured to display an animated image depicting the at least one part image moving along the trajectory from the initial position according to the first, second, and third sets of characters;
wherein the device is a telephony device.
45. The device of claim 44 ,
wherein the trajectory includes a curved portion.
46. The device of claim 44 , wherein the character limit is less than or equal to 160 characters; and wherein the at least one part image moving along the trajectory changes direction of movement to simulate bouncing from an object.
47. The device of claim 44 , wherein:
the text message further comprises text elements usable by the telephony device to display text; and
a possible character length of the text elements is reduced by a character length of the image representative code sequence such that an overall character length of the text message does not exceed the character limit.