System and method for previewing digital content

Abstract

The present application relates to a system and method for previewing digital content. The present application provides a system for previewing protected media, the system comprising a touch screen display, a processor and a memory storing a plurality of executable instructions. When the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor receives an original image from a server via a network, generates a blurred copy of the original image, overlays the blurred image on the original image, detects user interaction on the touch screen display, determines the location of the user interaction, and applies a mask to a portion of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an application with a filing date of January 22, 2016, application number 2016800001459, and invention name “System and method for previewing digital content”.

[0002] Copyright Notice

[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Background of the Invention Field of the Invention

[0005] The invention described herein relates generally to image preview technology, and particularly to digital media whose previews are blurred to prevent piracy.

[0006] Related technical notes

[0007] As consumers become more savvy with digital technology, the imaging business of many industries, covering everything from theme parks, tourist attractions, special projects to stock photo image libraries, has changed from selling hard copy publications and media to selling digital soft copies (image files, videos, etc.) that are delivered online via special codes or login access. It is common to provide previews of digital media to potential consumers in order to make purchasing decisions for them. Consumers will usually have legitimate reasons to want to preview these digital media, such as to see if their eyes are closed, or to see if their baby is looking at the camera, or simply to ensure that the picture has good focus, etc. Consumers can preview digital media in a mobile or online manner at the counter via computers and all other similar devices that are now available or to be introduced. However, when digital media are previewed on potential consumers' own devices (like PCs or smart phones), they can be easily captured without the consent of the copyright owner.

[0008] To prevent such abuse, copyright owners may allow potential consumers to preview digital media in smaller thumbnails or watermarked images. Using watermarks or smaller thumbnail images neither provides the best experience for consumers nor effectively prevents them from taking advantage of the previews. There are challenges in picking the right size of thumbnails to allow consumers to see details clearly but not enough to be captured for unauthorized use. Watermarks can obscure important parts of the photo or be easily cropped away. Current methods and technologies are not sufficient to prevent consumers from stealing digital media during the preview process (before consumers decide to purchase them). Therefore, there is a need to prevent unauthorized use of digital media when providing previews of digital media, which is useful for consumers' purchasing decisions for digital media. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention provides a method and system for previewing protected media. According to one embodiment, the system includes a touch screen display, a processor, and a memory having a plurality of executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to receive an original image from a server via a network, generate a blurred copy of the original image, overlay the blurred image on the original image, detect a user interaction on the touch screen display, determine the location of the user interaction, and apply a mask on a portion of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction.

[0010] The processor may be configured to generate a blurred copy of an image by copying an original image and applying a blur effect on the copied image. The applied mask is operable to reveal a portion of the blurred copy of the original image. In at least one embodiment, the applied mask includes a window of a predetermined size and shape located at the portion of the blurred copy of the original image. The processor may be further configured to determine additional user interactions on the display screen and apply multiple additional masks to multiple portions of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined additional user interactions. The processor may also be further configured to determine that there is no user interaction and remove the mask applied to the portion of the blurred copy of the original image.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the system includes a touch screen display, a processor, and a memory having a plurality of executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an original image from a server via a network, generate a blurred copy of the original image, present the blurred copy of the original image, detect a first user interaction on the touch screen display, determine a location of the first user interaction, extract a first portion of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the first user interaction, and present the extracted first portion of the original image by pasting the extracted first portion on the presented blurred copy of the original image.

[0012] The processor may be configured to generate a blurred copy of the image by copying the original image and applying a blur effect on the copied image. In one embodiment, the extracted first portion comprises a predetermined size and shape around the location of the first user interaction. The processor may be further configured to detect a second user interaction on the display screen, remove the extracted first portion of the original image from the presentation of the blurred copy of the original image, determine the location of the second user interaction, extract a second portion of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the second user interaction, and present the extracted second portion of the original image by pasting the extracted second portion on the presented blurred copy of the original image. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are intended to be exemplary and non-limiting, in which like reference numerals are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

[0014] Figure 1 A computing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented;

[0015] Figure 2 A computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0016] Figure 3 Another computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0017] Figure 4 A flowchart of a method for previewing digital media according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0018] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method for previewing digital media according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0019] Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The subject matter will now be described more fully below with reference to these drawings forming a part of the specification, and it illustrates by way of illustration a number of exemplary embodiments in which the present invention can be put into practice. However, the subject matter may be embedded in a variety of different forms and therefore the subject matter covered or claimed is intended to be interpreted as not being limited to any example embodiment set forth herein; the example embodiments are provided only as illustrative. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, it is intended to reasonably expand the scope of the subject matter claimed or covered. For example, among other items, the subject matter may be embodied as a method, device, component or system. Therefore, for example, an embodiment may take the form of hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof (except the software itself). Therefore, the following detailed description is not intended to be limiting in a sense.

[0021] Throughout this specification and claims, terms may have a nuanced meaning that is implied or implicit in context beyond their explicitly stated meanings. Likewise, the phrase "in one embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase "in another embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, it is intended that the claimed subject matter includes, in whole or in part, a combination of multiple exemplary embodiments.

[0022] Various systems and methods are described herein to allow consumers to preview unpaid digital media while preventing them from copying or stealing the digital media. Unpaid digital media can be from stock photo libraries across a variety of businesses or industries, such as theme parks, tourist attractions, special projects, and in the broadest context.

[0023] Figure 1 A computing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented. For example, when visiting a theme park (such as Disney and Universal Pictures), a passenger may be equipped with a ticket, card, badge, label, or similar pattern that may be associated or connected to a specific photo, video, or other media, which may be recorded or photographed as a souvenir by a theme park photographer, recording device, photo booth, or by a guest client device (e.g., using a software application provided by the theme park), which may be retrieved and purchased later. In another embodiment, a park ticket may include a barcode or identifier that may be associated with the holder's recorded media. Client device 102, recording device 104, and photo booth 106 are exemplary devices that may be used to capture the passenger's media. The media may be recorded on these devices and transmitted to server 110 via network 108. Server 110 may store the media in a media database 112, from which the passenger may subsequently retrieve or download the media corresponding to his ticket, card, badge, label, identifier, etc.

[0024] The network 108 may be any suitable type of network that allows data communications to be transmitted across it. For example, the network 108 may connect multiple devices so that communications may be exchanged, such as between a server and a client device or other types of devices (including between wireless devices connected via a wireless network). The network may also include mass storage, such as, for example, network attached storage (NAS), storage area network (SAN), cloud computing and storage, or other forms of computer or machine readable media. In one embodiment, the network may be the Internet, the following known Internet protocols for data communications, or any other communication network, such as any local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) connection, cellular network, wired connection, wireless connection, or any combination thereof. Communications and content stored and / or transmitted to and from client devices may be encrypted using, for example, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 256-bit key length or any other encryption standard known in the art.

[0025] The theme park can prepare to capture the story of the experience of the tourists in the theme park to recreate the experience of the tourists in the storybook recorded in digital media. The software application can be provided by the theme park and downloaded by the tourists (e.g., via a website or from a server 110) to their client devices 102. The software application can provide a virtual map that can be used to create the outline of the virtual storybook of the tourists' experience in the park. The tourists can change or modify the virtual storybook outline or choose from several templates. The virtual map includes the location of the venue, landmarks, and the places where the tourists can use theme park equipment or photographers (e.g., recording devices 104 and photo booths 106) to record their own digital media in the park. The software application can also include a media recording feature to allow tourists to record digital media using their client devices 102. For example, every time a tourist takes a photo with an application on his or her client device, the photo can be added to his or her virtual storybook. The downloaded software application can also be used to add images of certain themes such as the park or corresponding to a specific part of the theme park to the recorded digital media. The template can be provided by the software application fixed on the location, time, image, etc. as part of the process of the ride or activity in the park.

[0026] The recorded digital media can be transmitted and stored on the server 110 and the media database 112 for purchase by the passenger. The server as described herein can vary widely in configuration or capability, but at least includes a dedicated digital computing device, which includes at least one or more central processing units and memory. The server can also include one or more mass storage devices, one or more power supplies, one or more wired or wireless network interfaces, one or more input / output interfaces or one or more operating systems (such as Windows servers, Mac OS X, Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, etc.). These server operations are used to receive requests from client devices and process these requests so as to generate multiple responses across the network for these client devices. These requests can include requests for previewing digital media, requests for purchasing digital media and / or commodities associated with digital media, and requests for downloading, unlocking, authenticating or otherwise authorizing access to the purchased digital media. The network can be any suitable type of network that allows data communication across it.

[0027] Travelers can preview recorded digital media after recording and before purchasing. According to multiple embodiments of the present invention, requiring certain user interactions to be performed can be used to protect digital media from unauthorized / unpaid acquisition when previewing on devices such as smart phones or computers (preview devices). Digital media can be downloaded for previewing on devices but shown in a fuzzy preview format or initially displayed as a fuzzy rendering of the original digital media content. As used herein, the fuzzy and already fuzzy formatting is generally intended to include distortion manipulation and functions applied to and used to protect digital media such as images, audio signals and video signals. However, it can also be applied to other types of data, including files (e.g., through lines, word or character shifts), software, multidimensional graphic models and surface textures of objects. These fuzzy renderings make digital media content fuzzy and distorted until specific user interactions are performed to prevent users from performing screen capture or other piracy actions.

[0028] In order to render visual digital media (e.g., without blurring), the user may be required to use, place or activate a pointer (finger touch or mouse cursor) to navigate over the blurred preview digital media and maintain the finger's user interaction (e.g., drop or press on a touch screen) or the pointer's user interaction (e.g., hold a mouse click or key press). A portion of the digital media (or a window of a predetermined size) may be displayed clearly or undistorted once the user interaction is initialized and maintained in the portion. For example, a user may place his finger on the touch screen of a phone (e.g., a preview device) so that a portion of the blurred preview image becomes clear and visible. When the pointer leaves or is removed, all of the digital media or a clear portion of the digital media may return to a blurred preview format. User interaction (e.g., navigating the blurred digital media) prevents theft or attempts to capture screenshots for unpaid use. By requiring the user to perform specific user interactions with the digital media, the user is prevented from taking screenshots or performing other functions on the device because the user is preoccupied with maintaining the user interaction.

[0029] The size and / or zoom level of the previewed digital media need not be limited and allows the user to see the details of the digital media more clearly. This increases the user's propensity to purchase the digital media because the user can preview the digital media in actual size or enlarged size from low resolution to high resolution. Users who are satisfied with the preview can purchase a pass or password to download a certified (unblurred) version of the digital media or unlock and make the blurred digital media clear.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using a touch screen on a mobile phone device or on any other client device that allows a finger or mouse or any form of pointing instrument used to move on the screen to preview digital media. Client devices may include computing devices (e.g., desktop computers, TV set-top boxes, terminals, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, e-book readers, smart watches and wearable devices, or any computing devices with a central processing unit and a storage unit that can be connected to a network). In addition, client devices may be mouse-based or pointer-based devices (e.g., Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks) or touch-based devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, any other mobile devices). The term "pointer" used herein may generally refer to a mouse pointer or cursor (if a mouse-based device is used) and finger touch (if a touch-based device is used).

[0031] Client device can also include or execute application to convey content, for example, as text content, multimedia content or the like.Client device can also include or execute application to perform various possible tasks, such as browsing, searching, playing various forms of content, including local storage or streaming video or game.Client device can include or execute various operating systems, including personal computer operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS or Linux or mobile operating systems such as iOS, Android or Windows Mobile.Client device can include or execute various possible applications, such as enabling such as via email, short message service (SMS) or multimedia message service (MMS) (including via network, such as including social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr or Google+, only providing several possible examples) to convey one or more messages and other devices to communicate client software applications.

[0032] Figure 2 A preview image is presented that is shown on the client device as a blurred image.

[0033] Figure 3 It is presented that when touching on the client device, the area around the touch point will gradually become sharp. As the user moves their finger on the screen, the sharpening effect follows the adjacent area around the touch point while the rest of the image remains blurred. According to the embodiment shown, the user may be allowed to select the area on the preview image that he wants to preview, however, the entire image cannot be previewed at once. This mechanism is operable to prevent the user from performing a screenshot.

[0034] Figure 4 A flow chart of a method for previewing digital media according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented. Step 402, generate a blurred copy of an original image. The original image may be a photo, video frame, text, etc. received from a server for previewing on a client device. Generating the blurred copy of the original image includes copying the original image and applying a blur effect, filter, or operation on the copied image.

[0035] Step 404, overlay a blurred copy of the original image on top of the original image. The original image can be placed at the bottom or on a first layer, and the blurred copy of the original image is placed on top of the original image or on a second layer just on top of the original image. The visualization of the layers of images can be presented or displayed to the user on the client device. The blurred copy of the original image is opaque or non-transparent, so that from the user's perspective, the user can only see the blurred copy of the original image. Step 406, the method waits for user interaction. The user interaction can be a touch press or a mouse click hover on the blurred copy of the original image.

[0036] At step 408, when a user touch or mouse hover is detected on the blurred copy of the original image, the location of the user interaction is determined. At step 410, a mask is applied to the blurred image at that location. The mask causes the portion of the blurred copy of the original image to become transparent, and thus the original image at that portion on the underlying layer is revealed. The mask may be a window of a predetermined size and shape around the location of the user interaction.

[0037] Step 412, determine additional or additional user interactions. As the user drags their finger (or mouse movement) over the blurred copy of the original image, the mask follows the finger touch or mouse position and reveals the portion of the original image on the bottom layer according to the user interaction position. Step 414, when the user lifts their finger or mouse away (no user interaction), the mask is removed from the blurred copy of the original image, and the user will only see the blurred copy of the original image. The system can either incrementally reveal the portion of the original image on the bottom layer or only reveal multiple portions according to the current user interaction position and remove the mask of the previous user interaction position.

[0038] Figure 5 A flow chart of a method for previewing digital media according to another embodiment of the present invention is presented. Step 502, generate a blurred copy of an original image. Generating the blurred copy of the image includes copying the original image and applying a blur effect on the copied image. The blurred copy of the original image can be presented or displayed to a user on a client device. Step 504, monitor user interaction. The client device can wait for a user to touch press or mouse click to hover over the blurred copy of the original image.

[0039] Step 506, determine the location of the user interaction. When the user touches a finger or clicks a mouse on the blurred copy of the original image, the client device can detect the location of the touch or mouse. Step 508, extract the portion of the original image corresponding to the location of the user interaction. Step 510, in the next step 510, the extracted portion is pasted on the blurred copy of the original image. The extracted portion is pasted on the blurred image at the location of the user interaction (finger touch or mouse pointer), so it looks like the original image is displayed at the location of the finger touch or mouse pointer. The extracted portion can have a predetermined size and shape around the location of the user interaction.

[0040] At step 512, additional user interactions are determined. At step 516, as the user drags his or her finger or moves the mouse pointer over the blurred copy of the original image, the previously pasted portion may be removed, and the method continues to repeat steps 506 to 510. This will appear as the original image being displayed where the finger touched or the mouse pointer moved. At step 514, when the user lifts his or her finger or the mouse moves away, any pasted portion will be removed and a blurred copy of the original image will be left displayed.

[0041] Figures 1 to 5 It is a conceptual diagram that allows the interpretation of the present invention. It is worth noting that the above drawings and examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, because other embodiments are possible by exchanging some or all of the elements described or shown. In addition, when a plurality of known components can be used to partially or completely implement certain elements of the present invention, only those parts of such known components necessary for understanding the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other parts of these known components are omitted so as not to confuse the present invention. In this specification, unless otherwise expressly stated herein, embodiments showing a singular number of components should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of identical components, and vice versa. In addition, unless expressly stated, the applicant does not intend to attribute any term in this specification or claims to a rare or special meaning. In addition, the present invention includes the present and future known equivalents of the known components mentioned herein by explanation.

[0042] It should be understood that the various aspects of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof. In such embodiments, each component and / or step will be implemented in hardware, firmware and / or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same hardware, firmware or software module can execute one or more modules (e.g., components or steps) in the modules shown. In a software implementation, computer software (e.g., program or other instructions) and / or data are stored on a machine-readable medium as part of a computer program product and are loaded into a computer system or other device or machine via a removable storage drive, hard drive or communication interface. A computer program (also referred to as computer control logic or computer-readable program code) is stored in a primary and / or secondary memory and is executed by one or more processors (controllers or the like) so as to cause one or more processors to perform the functions of the present invention described herein. In this document, the terms "machine-readable medium", "computer-readable medium", "computer program medium" and "computer-usable medium" are generally used to refer to media such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable storage units (e.g., disks or optical disks, flash memory devices, etc.), hard disks, etc. or the like.

[0043] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so completely reveal the general nature of the invention that, without undue experimentation and without departing from the general concept of the invention, others can easily modify and / or adapt various applications of such specific embodiments by applying knowledge within the technical scope of the relevant art (including the contents of these documents cited and incorporated herein by reference). Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments based on the teachings and guidance presented herein. It should be understood that the words or terms in this article are for descriptive and not restrictive purposes, and therefore the terms or words of this specification will be interpreted by the technician in accordance with the teachings and guidance introduced herein in combination with the knowledge of the technician in the relevant art.

[0044] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are described by way of example rather than limitation. It will be clear to those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above exemplary embodiments, but should only be limited according to the following claims and their equivalents.

[0045] The present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0046] 1) A system for previewing protected media, the system comprising:

[0047] a touch screen display;

[0048] a processor; and

[0049] A memory having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

[0050] Receiving an original image from a server via a network;

[0051] generating a blurred copy of the original image;

[0052] Overlaying the blurred image on the original image;

[0053] detecting user interaction on the touch screen display;

[0054] determining the location of the user interaction; and

[0055] A mask is applied over a portion of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction.

[0056] 2) The system of 1), wherein the processor is configured to generate the blurred copy of the image by copying the original image and applying a blur effect on the copied image.

[0057] 3) The system of 1) wherein the applied mask reveals the portion of the blurred copy of the original image.

[0058] 4) The system of 1) wherein the applied mask comprises a window of predetermined size and shape located at the portion of the blurred copy of the original image.

[0059] 5) The system as described in 1), wherein the processor is further configured to:

[0060] determining additional user interactions on the touch screen; and

[0061] Additional masks are applied on portions of the blurred copy of the original image corresponding to the determined additional user interactions.

[0062] 6) The system as described in 1), wherein the processor is further configured to:

[0063] Determine that there is no user interaction; and

[0064] The mask applied to the portion of the blurred copy of the original image is removed.

[0065] 7) A system for previewing protected media, the system comprising:

[0066] a touch screen display;

[0067] a processor; and

[0068] A memory having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

[0069] Receiving an original image from a server via a network;

[0070] generating a blurred copy of the original image;

[0071] presenting the blurred copy of the original image;

[0072] detecting a first user interaction on the touch screen display;

[0073] determining a location of the first user interaction;

[0074] extracting a first portion of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the first user interaction; and

[0075] The extracted first portion of the original image is rendered by pasting the extracted first portion onto the rendered blurred copy of the original image.

[0076] 8) The system of 7) wherein the processor is configured to generate the blurred copy of the image by copying the original image and applying a blur effect on the copied image.

[0077] 9) The system of 7) wherein the extracted first portion comprises a predetermined size and shape around the location of the first user interaction.

[0078] 10) The system as described in 7), wherein the processor is further configured to:

[0079] detecting a second user interaction on the touch screen;

[0080] removing the extracted first portion of the original image from the presentation of the blurred copy of the original image;

[0081] determining a location of the second user interaction;

[0082] extracting a second portion of the original image corresponding to the determined location of the second user interaction; and

[0083] The extracted second portion of the original image is rendered by pasting the extracted second portion onto the rendered blurred copy of the original image.

Claims

1. A system for previewing protected media, the system comprising: Touch screen display; processor; as well as A memory having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving a first image from a server via a network; displaying a second image on the touch screen display; detecting user interaction on the touch screen display; determining a location of the user interaction; applying a mask over a portion of the second image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction, thereby revealing a portion of the first image; Determine that there is no user interaction; as well as In response to determining that there is no user interaction, removing the mask applied to the portion of the second image, wherein the mask is applied only when the user interaction is maintained and only the second image is displayed in other cases; Wherein, the second image is a blurred copy of the first image.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The second image is received from the server.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor is configured to generate the second image.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The second image is generated by duplicating the first image and applying a blur effect on the duplicated first image.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein: When the mask is applied, a portion of the second image is removed, thereby revealing a corresponding portion of the first image.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: This user interaction on the touch screen display prevents screenshots from being taken on the system.

7. A system for previewing protected media, the system comprising: Touch screen display; processor; as well as A memory having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving a first image from a server via a network; displaying a second image on the touch screen display; detecting user interaction on the touch screen display; determining a location of the user interaction; extracting a first portion of the first image corresponding to the determined location of the user interaction; displaying the extracted portion of the first image overlaid on the second image; Determine that there is no user interaction; as well as In response to determining that there is no user interaction, removing the extracted portion from the second image, wherein the extracted portion is applied only when the user interaction is maintained and, otherwise, only the second image is displayed during preview of the protected media; Wherein, the second image is a blurred copy of the first image.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein: The second image is received from the server.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein: The processor is configured to generate the second image.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein: The second image is generated by duplicating the first image and applying a blur effect on the duplicated first image.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein: This user interaction on the touch screen display prevents screenshots from being taken on the system.

Images