System and method for flipping a displayed image to present real-time additional data pertaining to that image
View Patent ↗By using a server separate from an image it is possible to display real-time auxiliary data, such as advertisements and other pertinent data, to viewers of that image by flipping the image and presenting the auxiliary data on the reverse side of the flipped image. In this manner, additional information is presented to a viewer without increasing the footprint of the image. In some embodiments, the identity of the viewer dictates the data that is provided. In other embodiments, the base images that are being viewed are uploaded by a viewer and are not provided by the sponsor of the server. The data could, for example, be data supplied by the image owner, by the site sponsor or by a third party.
1. A method for allowing a viewer to obtain supplemental information pertaining to an image hosted on a website common to a plurality of users, said method comprising:
sensing a selection by a particular viewer at said particular viewer's display of a particular viewed image, wherein said particular viewed image is displayed in a specific area of a display space;
upon said sensing, selecting supplemental information pertinent to said particular viewed image based, at least in part, on attributes of said particular viewer and on a profile supplied by an originator of said particular viewed image, including determining what supplemental information is available and what available supplemental information said particular viewer is entitled to view;
upon said sensing, causing said particular viewed image to appear to flip over within said display space;
displaying said supplemental information pertinent to said sensed particular viewed image, said supplemental information provided by said website on a real-time basis;
causing said supplemental information to appear to be displayed on a back side of said flipped over image within said display space;
displaying in conjunction with said particular image a control icon unique to said image;
sensing when said particular viewer has selected said control icon; and
causing, in response to said sensing when said particular viewer has selected said control icon, an additional flip to occur, such that additional supplemental information appears to be displayed on said back side of said flipped over image within said display space.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said supplemental information is substituted for said particular viewed image.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said originator is an entity other than a sponsor of said website.
4. A processor for providing additional information to viewers of images on a website; said processor operable for:
displaying various images to a user within said user's display space;
presenting with respect to at least some of said displayed images a control icon unique to each said at least some of said displayed images;
flipping over a particular image at said user's display space in response to said user selecting said particular image's unique control icon, said flipping occurring within a display area defined by said particular image, said flipping presenting to said user within said display area an area cleared of said image for allowing said user to view supplemental data pertaining to said flipped particular image;
compiling data to be presented to said user, said data compiled in real-time in response to said user selection of said particular image's unique control icon, wherein said processor compiles said data to be presented based, at least in part, on parameters associated with said selecting user and on a profile supplied by an originator of said particular image, wherein said parameters include relation of said user to said originator, and said processor compiles said data to be presented at least in part by determining what data is available and what data said user is entitled to view; and
presenting said compiled data to said selecting user within said cleared area.
5. The processor of claim 4 wherein said various images are supplied to said processor by a party not in control of said processor.
6. The processor of claim 4 wherein said website is part of a social network and wherein said processor is controlled by said social network and wherein said various images are uploaded from time to time by users of said social network and viewable by said uploading users and by friends of said uploading users.
7. The processor of claim 4 wherein said parameters additionally include known preferences of said user.