CA2636248A1 - Automated composite image design - Google Patents
Automated composite image design Download PDFInfo
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- CA2636248A1 CA2636248A1 CA002636248A CA2636248A CA2636248A1 CA 2636248 A1 CA2636248 A1 CA 2636248A1 CA 002636248 A CA002636248 A CA 002636248A CA 2636248 A CA2636248 A CA 2636248A CA 2636248 A1 CA2636248 A1 CA 2636248A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
- G06F40/10—Text processing
- G06F40/103—Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06T11/00—2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
- G06T11/60—Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
Abstract
Systems and methods for creating and using composite images are provided. An online design customization tool receives user-supplied text and automatically combines the text with a user-selected image to create horizontal and vertical composite images. The aspect ratios of the composite images are compared to the aspect ratio of an image container in an electronic product design template to determine which composite image version is appropriate. The appropriate composite image is automatically incorporated into the electronic product design template and displayed, the user.
Description
AUTOMATED COMPOSITE IMAGE DESIGN
Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to the autornated creation of custoinized composite images.
I3ackgrotind of the Iiivention [0002] Printing services Web sites allowing a user to access the site fY=om the user's homc or worlc and dcsigii a personalized document are well lalown and widely used by many consumers, professionals, and businesses. Typically, these types of sites allow the user to review thumbnail images of a number of custonlizable designs prepared by the site operator having a variety of different styles, fortnats, backgrounds, color scheines, foiits and designs fronl which the user may choose.
When the user has selected a specific product template design to customize, the sites typically provide online tools allowing the user to incorpoi=ate the user's personal information and content into the selected teniplate to create a custotn document design. When the design is completed to the r.iser's satisfactioti, the user can place ar-order thz=ougli the site for production and delivery of a desired quantity of the corresponding printed product.
Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to the autornated creation of custoinized composite images.
I3ackgrotind of the Iiivention [0002] Printing services Web sites allowing a user to access the site fY=om the user's homc or worlc and dcsigii a personalized document are well lalown and widely used by many consumers, professionals, and businesses. Typically, these types of sites allow the user to review thumbnail images of a number of custonlizable designs prepared by the site operator having a variety of different styles, fortnats, backgrounds, color scheines, foiits and designs fronl which the user may choose.
When the user has selected a specific product template design to customize, the sites typically provide online tools allowing the user to incorpoi=ate the user's personal information and content into the selected teniplate to create a custotn document design. When the design is completed to the r.iser's satisfactioti, the user can place ar-order thz=ougli the site for production and delivery of a desired quantity of the corresponding printed product.
[0003] Many customers of Web-based custom business product design sites are sole proprietors and small businesses wlio have a need for high-quality printed materials, such as business cards, letterhead, postcards, announcements, and Uroclnlres, to distribute in conncction with the promotion of their service or product offerings. Many of these small office/home office customers do not have a logo to eonvey an identity for thcir business; perhaps because they are just starting in business or they do not have the time andlor financial resoctrces to obtain a logo tllrough traditional channels. Many design professionals provide the sei-vice of designing individual business logos, but the cost of having a professional designer craft a custom logo can be expensive and may involve devoting time to consulting with the designer and reviewing candidate logos.
9~y u:enua~ a n= ~ p d Doakct 06-001 [0004] "Do-it-yourself' logo design sites are also available. These sites typically allow the user, to select an iniage from a set of available images provided by the site operator, enter text to appear in the logo, select among available fonts and colors, and then manually cliclc-and-drag or otherwise manipulate the relative sizes and positions of the image and the text. When the user is satisfied with the asseenUled logo, the user can make payment arrangements and receive the logo in electronic forn-iat.
9~y u:enua~ a n= ~ p d Doakct 06-001 [0004] "Do-it-yourself' logo design sites are also available. These sites typically allow the user, to select an iniage from a set of available images provided by the site operator, enter text to appear in the logo, select among available fonts and colors, and then manually cliclc-and-drag or otherwise manipulate the relative sizes and positions of the image and the text. When the user is satisfied with the asseenUled logo, the user can make payment arrangements and receive the logo in electronic forn-iat.
[0005] If a user who has acquired a logo from a designer or a logo design site later wants to incorporate the logo into a prinled product being designed online on a product design site, the user naust typically retrieve the lago from the user's computer storage system, upload the logo to the product design site, and incorporate and position the logo in tlie product being designed online. In some cases, the size or aspect ratio of the user's logo may not be well suited to the product being designed, resulting in a finished product that is not completely satisfactoiy, [0006] There is, theroforc, a nccd for an automated design tool that is integrated with aii onliiie product desigii system and allows the user to create a composite iniage containing user-supplied text and incorporate the custom logo into one or more products being designed on the site.
Stuximary [0007] The present invention is directed at satisfying the need for automated tools facilitating the ereation of customized images.
Stuximary [0007] The present invention is directed at satisfying the need for automated tools facilitating the ereation of customized images.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, use.r-supplied text is automatically combined with a user-selected image to create horizontal and vertical composite images. The aspect ratios of the two composite arrangements are automatically calculated and compared with the aspect ratio of a colnposite image container to determine which of the two arrangements is preferable for that containcr.
[0009] It is an advantage of the invention that multiple custom composite images can be quickly and easily prepared and autosnatically evaluated to select the appropriate composite image for an available composite iinage container, Il,utUVV6s t~rvS~lrv k~ !~tkE~~6aakDfa. uo!
Docke106-001 [0010] It is another advantage that that the appropriate coinposite iunage can be autolnatically incorporated into one or more electronic product designs.
[00111 '[ liese and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be better viiiderstood with i=eferencc to the acconlpanying drawings, description and clainis.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0012] Fig, I depicts a representative system with wllich the invention may be ennployed.
[0013] Figs. 2-5 are representations of coinposite iniage customization screelis.
[0014] Figs. GA-GB depict representative product tcmplate screens incorporating the conlposite iYnage.
[00151 Figs. 7A-7C depict representative arrangements of composite image coinponents.
[0016] Figs, $A-8D depict representative composite image positions within an ilnage container.
[0017] Fig. 9 is a flowchart of an enibodiment of the invention.
[0018] Fig. 10 is a representation of an alternative composite image arrangernent.
Detailed Description [0019] Referring to Fig, 1, an exemplary user con7puter system UCS 100 includes processor 101 and nzelnory 102. ivlemory 102 r=epresents all UCS 100 componeizts and i ItttC.,uaOil~~iuui ~~a31y~ I~tlu''~,Ã. ~a19r'iirodru~~S u~ugb~wuycuu$~ ~~~8 Vi~sl I'Mckct 06-001 subsystems that provide data storage, such as RAM, ROM, and hard drives. In addition to providing permanent storage for all programs installed on UCS 100, ineinory 102 also provides temporary storage required by the operating system and tlie applications wktile they are executing. UCS 100 can be a typically equipped personal compttter, a portable coinputer, a tablet computer, or other device. The user views images fi=om UCS
7 00 on display 140, such as a CRT or LCD screen, and provides inputs to UCS 100 via input devices 130, such as a lceyboard and a mouse.
[00201 When UCS 100 is operating, an instaiice of the USC 100 operating system will be running, represented in Fig. 1 by operating system 103. In addition, the user 3nay be running one or more application programs Apps 104. In Fig. 1, UCS 100 is ruiuling Web browser 105, such as Inteniet Explorer from Microsoft Corporation. In the depicted embodiment, Design Tools 106 is a product design prograin downloaded to UCS 100 via network 120 from reniote server 110, such as downloadable design tools provided by VistaPrint Limited and publicly available at VistaPrint,com.
Design tools 106 t-uns in browser 105 and exchanges information and instructions with server 110 during a design session to support the user's preparation of a customized product design in electronic fornl. When the customer is satisfied with the design of the product, the design can be uploaded to seiver 110 for storage and, if desired by the user, subseqttent production ot'the desired quantity of the physical product on appropriate printing and post-print processing systenis.
[0021] While server 110 is shown in Fig. 1 as a single block, it will be understood that seiver 110 could be multiple servers configured to couununicate and operate cooperatively to support Web site operations, Servcr 110 will typically be interacting with many user coniputer systems, such as UCS 100, simultaneously. Memory 111 x=epresents all components and subsystems that provide server data storage, such as RAM, ROM, and disk drivcs or arrays. Icon memory 112 represents the portion of memory 111 containing the information and images, referred to herein as "icons", provided by the service provider to enable the autoniated creation and rendering of a compositc image coinbining an icon image with user--supplied text.
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Docket 06=001 [0022] Desigu Tools 106 includes coinposite image design screens allowin.g a user to prepare a custonlized composite image by atitoinatically oombining user-supplied text with an icon selected by the user frocn the images available in Icon 112. Thc user is further given the option of selecting a color scheme for the coniposite image and a choi ce of fonts for thc user-supplied text. For tlie purpose of the following discussion, an embodiment for designing a logo will be disclosed. The invention is not limited to 'a composite design that is used as a logo, but it will be understood from the discussion below that the invention can be readily used to prepare, and incorporate into a product design, any coinposite image having at least an image component and a text component.
The pai-ticular location where the computations and processing described below are performed is not critical. They could be performed at Server 110 or at UCS 100 by tools downloaded from Server 110 to UCS 100 for execution in Browser 105, or a combination of botli, [00231 Referring now to Figs. 2-5 and 9, an illustrative system and method for creating a customized coniposite iinage logo will be discussed. At step 902, the logo design tool is activa.ted. Activation of the tool could be accomplished in any one of various well-knovvn ways, such as by the user clicking a link to the tool displayed elsewhere on the site or a link incorporated in a promotional email message sent to the user. Fig. 2 is a representation of an initial logo design screen displayed to the user when the tool is activated. In the embodiment of the logo cttstomization process described herein, the user creates a customized logo in four steps. The logo tool is designed to first present a text entry page (.Uig. 2), then move to icon selection (Fig. 3), then color sehe7ne selection (Fig. 4), and finally to font selection (Fig. 5).
It will be understood that either more or fewer customization options could be offered to the user, as desired by the site provider, and t11e specific sequence of presenting tlze options to the user could be arranged differently.
[0024] Indicator tabs or buttons 202, 204, 206 and 208 are provided. These could be implemeiated as merely status indicators to provide a visual indication to the user of ~
~~q W: CR ~f4 44'V'~NlYYS'~~ ~Iirrli:it il.wii~~ur~~uil!'~!tE~~bPU4.bSUG6t41!Us4i:@ tDOCkat 06-001 where the user is within the design process flow or they could also seive as active navigation controls allowing the user to select a button to override the usual design sequence and tnove ainong the customization screens in another order, In Fig.
2, button 202 is highliglzted, represented in the figure by the button being showii with a bold oLttline, indicatin.g to the user that the user is on the first austomization step, A text entry field 210 is provided to allow the user to enter the speciiic character or characters the user desires to incorporate into the logo. The characters entered by the user could include letters, nuinbers, punctuation marks or other symbols as supported by the site operator.
All characters of all types entered by the user are collectively referred to herein as "text".
Typically the user will desire to enter a business name in this field, so the instructional phrase "Enter Company Name" is provided adj acent to text field 210. 4Uhen initially displayed to the user, text entry field 210 will typically be einpty. At step 904, the user enters whatever text the user wants to appear in the logo, In Fig. 2, for illustration pttrposes, thc: cliaracters "XYZ Inc." are shown as having bcen entered by the user in field 210, [0025] Also displayed to the user on this screen are links for assisting the user in locating a sttitable icon element for the logo. The operator of the site has associated the available icons with variou5 industries, occupations, or interests, such as Accounting/Financial Services, Animals/Pet Care, Ail & Photography, and so forth, and has provided links 214 allowing the user to request to see the specific set of icons selected by the site operator as being suitable or desirable for that industry. It will be appreciated tliat the site operator could, if desired, provide a Iink to allow the user to see all available icons or have the icons categorized and searchable by otk-er icon characteristics or attributes. The tool eould also be implemented to allow the user to upload an iinage from the UCS 100, or another rernote system, to be used as the icon image of the logo.
[0026] VJhen the tiser selects one of the liiiks 214, an icon selection screen (Fig. 3) is automatically displayed to the user. Navigation buttons Start Over 320 and Back 322 are displayed on this screen and also on the color scheme and font selection screens CE7'~I~I010',IY
. ~ I i I tLG F6k~~lii IUIlJ9 ~ Chiut~ib4hhhh6i .. ~G.i ~ E ~~lEf PE6E~ PJi DoCICeI 06-001 discussed below. Start Over 320 will take the user luaclc to the initial screen (Fig. 2), while Back 322 will take tha user back to the previous screen in the noznzal eustoinization sequence.
[0027] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the user is presented wi1:h a selection of nine candidate icon images 301-309. More or fewer icons could be preseirted depending on how the site has been designod by the site operator and the numbcr of icons available matcliing the selected industry link.
[0028] In this illustrative example, at step 906 the user selects icon 304 as the icon element for the user's custoniized logo, At step 908, in response to the user's selection of the icon element, for exaznple by the user clicking on the logo image, the logo tool deterinines the aspect ratio of a llorizontal logo arrangement and a vertical logo arrangenlent of the solected icon and the user's text, as will be described in more detail below. At step 910, the logo tool selects a logo arrangement for logo conlailiors 401-409 used to display the logo color choices to the user on the color selection screen (Fig, 4).
Each logo image 401-409 displays the logo selected by the user in a different color scheme for the user's review. At this stage of the normal process flow, a default font is uscd for the text component. As will be discussed below, because the version of the user's logo that will be incorporated into a product design is deterinined based on the specific aspect ratio of the target image container in the design, tlie version of the logo later used in a particular product design inay not be the san-ie version as displayed to the user during the customization process as logo images 401-409.
[0029] When the user selects a desired color schomc at step 912, a font selection screen (Fig. 5) is autoinatically displayed. Nine variations 501-509 of the user's logo are displayed for user review. The nuinber of font options displayed is a design choice by the site opcrator. Each image 501-509 contains the selected icon, the selected color scheme, and the user's te~t rendered in a different font. The name of the font used in images 501-509 may be displayed for the user's information, such as thc example font names shown below unages 501 and 502.
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Docket 06-001 [0030] If the user has progressed through the eustomization screens in the typical manner, the nine images 501-509 are finished customized logo designs. If the user is not eoinpletely satisfied with the logo, the user ean use Back 322 to go back to one or more earlier customization screens to modify one or inore elernents of the logo or, if desired, the tiser can use Start Over 320 to return to the initial text entry screen (Fig. 2) to begin the process again. If the user is satisfied with the one of the images 501-509, the user can select that image as the user's logo at step 914. This selection action by the user coinpletes the logo design process and causes a post-design screen to be autoinatically displayed at step 916 showing one or more possible product designs contauling the user's newly prepared 1ogo.
[0031] The user's customized logo can be readily integl,-ated into the site provider}s custom product design process. For example, referring to Fig. 6A, the user could be shown a screen having a variety of product teiliplates 601-604 available for seiection and personalization by the user. Each template 601-604 would be an image of a product available through the site, such as templates for business cards, letterhead, or postcards.
Each displayed template would typically include a different eombination of text layout, background image, azid other design clcinents and would have been designed by the site operator to have a logo container 605-608 for the user's logo at different locations within the template to offer the user a range of options for presenting the logo in the user's printed materials. The user's customized logo image will be automatically positioned in logo contairlers 605-608 wheii Fig. 6A is displayed to the user. If none of the initial product templates 601-604 appeal to the user, the operator of the site could allow the user to request to see more templates. When the user sees a desirable product template, the user can continue to customize the template by adding the user's name, address, or whatever other personalization content the user desires and then upload the finished electronic product design to server 110 for conversion to a suitable prepress format and production of a requested quantity of the printed product.
Docket 06-001 [0032] Other post-design screens could also be einployed. For example, a user may liave already selected a product template prior to initiating the logo design tool. In this case, tl-xe site could remember the selected tenlplate and, when the user completes the logo design process, automatically incorporate the logo into the selected teYnplate and present the user with a product custotnization screen (Fig. 6B) sliowing the previously selected template 611 autonlatically updated to incorporate an itnage 610 of the user's newly created logo.
[0033] In tlie disclosed embodiment, because thc sitc opcrator supports logo image containers having multiple aspect ratios, the site operator treats the logo arrangetnent as flexible and adaptable to logo containers of differeilt aspect ratios. In other words, the site operator deterniines the best logo arrangenient for each logo container separately for each template displayed to the user. For exarnple, referring again to Fig. GA, to give the user increased choice of logo appearance, the site operator may provide different aspect ratios for logo containers 605-608. It is, therefore, possible that, because of tlie different aspect ratios of the logo containers, a vertical arrangemeiit of the user's logo may be displayed to the user in one or more of the containers 605-608 while a horizontal arrangement of the logo is displayed in the other containers. Both the horizontal and vertical versions of the logo are automatically stored by the site operator for possible use by the user in the future. Alternatively, if a site operator chose to implement a site such that all logo inaage containers have the identical aspect ratio, only the version ot'the logo best suited for that particular aspect ratio would need to be retained.
[0034] Turning now to the step of determining the aspect ratios of a logo having an icon cotnponent and a text component, in the embodiment discussed herein, two possible a.rrangen,ents of the customized logo are discussed: a' vertical" arrangement, in which the icon is positioned above the text eoniponent, and a"horizontal"
arrangement, in which the icon is positioned to the left of the text component. It will be clear frorn the discussion below that these particular relative positions are not essential to the techniques discussed.
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'll i~~+1 Dooket 06-001 [0035] The site operator has prepared a variety of product design layouts having an image container positioned within the teniplate to contain the user's logo.
The logo container will have a laiown size within the product template, and tlierefore, a known aspect ratio. As will be discussed in morc detail below, the aspect ratios of the two possible logo arrangements are automatically calculated and compared to the aspect ratio of the logo container into which the user's logo will be placed. The logo arrangement that will yield logo eoniponents having the largest size when the logo is placed in the logo container will be automatically selected. As used herein, tlse aspect ratio of an eletnent is defined as the height of the elenzent divided by the width of the elelnent.
[0036] Referring to Figs. 7A-C, three representative logo situations are depicted.
The icon images and text containers described herein are rectangular areas having portions that are rendered so as to be visible to the user and portions that are transparent such that any other image "underneath" the icon or the text container remains visible in those transparent areas. Fig. 7A depicts a vertical arrangeinent whure text container 704 and icon 702 are separated by a vertical separation distance Sv and the width of the icon Iw exceeds the text width Tw. Fig. 7B depicts another vertical arrangement where text conlainer 708 arid icon 706 are again separated by vertical separation distance Sv, but in this case t'he text widtli Tw exceeds the icon width IW. Fig. 7C depicts a.
horizontal arrangement wliere text container 712 and icon 710 are separated by horizontal separation distance Sh. Each of these composite logo art'angements has a logo aspect ratio equal to the logo height Lh divided by the logo width Lw. The goal is to identify whether the horizontal arrangement or the vertical arrangement will yield the largest logo component eleirnents when the logo is placed in a logo container of known aspect ratio.
[0037] In the embodiment discussed herein, the relative heights of the icon and text components of the logo are constrained to have a.Cxed size relationship to each other. In this example, the height of the text component Th is controlled to be a constant portion of the height of the icon, for example 33%. The separatiorl distances Sv and Sh are also iinplemented to have a fixed i-elationship to the size of thc cleinents. For example, refei-ring to Fig. 7A, vertical separation distance Sv could, for example, be sat as 10% of Docket 06=001 the icon heigltt. The exact proportional relationsllips of these elements are an aesthetic decision by the site operator. A single set of proportional rules could be applied consistently across all logos, or, if desired, could vary according to the aspect ratio of the icon selected by the user, the specific fotit selected, or other paraineters.
[00381 Orzce the user has entered text in text field 210, the aspect ratio of the text component can be deterinined. For example, Microsoft GDI Plus tools can be tised to draw the user-supplied text and then supply the resulting dirnensions. As an alternate inethod, the dimensions of the container coniaining the text can be directly obtained from Browser 105. Knowing the aspect ratio of the text container, the logo aspect ratio can be deterinined.
[0039] Referring again to Figs. 7A and 7B, in the case of the vertical logo arrangements, the height of the logo is the saine in both cases, that is Iw +
Sv + Tli. The width ofi'the logo will be the larger of the icon width Iw, as shown in Fig.
7A, or the text width Tw, as shown in Fig. 7B. The aspect ratio of the uscr's logo will, therefore, be the smaller of (Ih + Sv + Th)/Iw or (Ih + Sv + Th)/Tw. Expressing these two possible aspect ratios in a different maimer allows for them to be readily and automatically compared.
[0040] For the first expression, dividing all elements by icon height Ih yields (1 + Sv/Ih + Th/Ih) I Iw/Ih or, expressed differently, (1 + Sv/Ih + T.h/Ih) *
IhlIw. Ih1iw is the lcnown aspect ratio of the icon and, as discussed above, the relationship betweeii the vertical sepa.ration Sv, the text height Th and the icon height Ih are all fixed, therefore the value5 of Sv/lh aiid Th/Ih are lcnown.
[0041] For the second expression, dividing all elements by text hei,glit Th yields (Ih/Th + Sv/Th I- 1) / Tw/Th or, cxpressed differently, (IhlTh + Sv/Th +1) *
Th/Tw.
Th/Tw is the aspect ratio of the text coiatainer aild the relationships between Ih, Sv, and Th again are fixed and known.
Docke106-001 [0010] It is another advantage that that the appropriate coinposite iunage can be autolnatically incorporated into one or more electronic product designs.
[00111 '[ liese and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be better viiiderstood with i=eferencc to the acconlpanying drawings, description and clainis.
Brief Description of the Drawings [0012] Fig, I depicts a representative system with wllich the invention may be ennployed.
[0013] Figs. 2-5 are representations of coinposite iniage customization screelis.
[0014] Figs. GA-GB depict representative product tcmplate screens incorporating the conlposite iYnage.
[00151 Figs. 7A-7C depict representative arrangements of composite image coinponents.
[0016] Figs, $A-8D depict representative composite image positions within an ilnage container.
[0017] Fig. 9 is a flowchart of an enibodiment of the invention.
[0018] Fig. 10 is a representation of an alternative composite image arrangernent.
Detailed Description [0019] Referring to Fig, 1, an exemplary user con7puter system UCS 100 includes processor 101 and nzelnory 102. ivlemory 102 r=epresents all UCS 100 componeizts and i ItttC.,uaOil~~iuui ~~a31y~ I~tlu''~,Ã. ~a19r'iirodru~~S u~ugb~wuycuu$~ ~~~8 Vi~sl I'Mckct 06-001 subsystems that provide data storage, such as RAM, ROM, and hard drives. In addition to providing permanent storage for all programs installed on UCS 100, ineinory 102 also provides temporary storage required by the operating system and tlie applications wktile they are executing. UCS 100 can be a typically equipped personal compttter, a portable coinputer, a tablet computer, or other device. The user views images fi=om UCS
7 00 on display 140, such as a CRT or LCD screen, and provides inputs to UCS 100 via input devices 130, such as a lceyboard and a mouse.
[00201 When UCS 100 is operating, an instaiice of the USC 100 operating system will be running, represented in Fig. 1 by operating system 103. In addition, the user 3nay be running one or more application programs Apps 104. In Fig. 1, UCS 100 is ruiuling Web browser 105, such as Inteniet Explorer from Microsoft Corporation. In the depicted embodiment, Design Tools 106 is a product design prograin downloaded to UCS 100 via network 120 from reniote server 110, such as downloadable design tools provided by VistaPrint Limited and publicly available at VistaPrint,com.
Design tools 106 t-uns in browser 105 and exchanges information and instructions with server 110 during a design session to support the user's preparation of a customized product design in electronic fornl. When the customer is satisfied with the design of the product, the design can be uploaded to seiver 110 for storage and, if desired by the user, subseqttent production ot'the desired quantity of the physical product on appropriate printing and post-print processing systenis.
[0021] While server 110 is shown in Fig. 1 as a single block, it will be understood that seiver 110 could be multiple servers configured to couununicate and operate cooperatively to support Web site operations, Servcr 110 will typically be interacting with many user coniputer systems, such as UCS 100, simultaneously. Memory 111 x=epresents all components and subsystems that provide server data storage, such as RAM, ROM, and disk drivcs or arrays. Icon memory 112 represents the portion of memory 111 containing the information and images, referred to herein as "icons", provided by the service provider to enable the autoniated creation and rendering of a compositc image coinbining an icon image with user--supplied text.
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Docket 06=001 [0022] Desigu Tools 106 includes coinposite image design screens allowin.g a user to prepare a custonlized composite image by atitoinatically oombining user-supplied text with an icon selected by the user frocn the images available in Icon 112. Thc user is further given the option of selecting a color scheme for the coniposite image and a choi ce of fonts for thc user-supplied text. For tlie purpose of the following discussion, an embodiment for designing a logo will be disclosed. The invention is not limited to 'a composite design that is used as a logo, but it will be understood from the discussion below that the invention can be readily used to prepare, and incorporate into a product design, any coinposite image having at least an image component and a text component.
The pai-ticular location where the computations and processing described below are performed is not critical. They could be performed at Server 110 or at UCS 100 by tools downloaded from Server 110 to UCS 100 for execution in Browser 105, or a combination of botli, [00231 Referring now to Figs. 2-5 and 9, an illustrative system and method for creating a customized coniposite iinage logo will be discussed. At step 902, the logo design tool is activa.ted. Activation of the tool could be accomplished in any one of various well-knovvn ways, such as by the user clicking a link to the tool displayed elsewhere on the site or a link incorporated in a promotional email message sent to the user. Fig. 2 is a representation of an initial logo design screen displayed to the user when the tool is activated. In the embodiment of the logo cttstomization process described herein, the user creates a customized logo in four steps. The logo tool is designed to first present a text entry page (.Uig. 2), then move to icon selection (Fig. 3), then color sehe7ne selection (Fig. 4), and finally to font selection (Fig. 5).
It will be understood that either more or fewer customization options could be offered to the user, as desired by the site provider, and t11e specific sequence of presenting tlze options to the user could be arranged differently.
[0024] Indicator tabs or buttons 202, 204, 206 and 208 are provided. These could be implemeiated as merely status indicators to provide a visual indication to the user of ~
~~q W: CR ~f4 44'V'~NlYYS'~~ ~Iirrli:it il.wii~~ur~~uil!'~!tE~~bPU4.bSUG6t41!Us4i:@ tDOCkat 06-001 where the user is within the design process flow or they could also seive as active navigation controls allowing the user to select a button to override the usual design sequence and tnove ainong the customization screens in another order, In Fig.
2, button 202 is highliglzted, represented in the figure by the button being showii with a bold oLttline, indicatin.g to the user that the user is on the first austomization step, A text entry field 210 is provided to allow the user to enter the speciiic character or characters the user desires to incorporate into the logo. The characters entered by the user could include letters, nuinbers, punctuation marks or other symbols as supported by the site operator.
All characters of all types entered by the user are collectively referred to herein as "text".
Typically the user will desire to enter a business name in this field, so the instructional phrase "Enter Company Name" is provided adj acent to text field 210. 4Uhen initially displayed to the user, text entry field 210 will typically be einpty. At step 904, the user enters whatever text the user wants to appear in the logo, In Fig. 2, for illustration pttrposes, thc: cliaracters "XYZ Inc." are shown as having bcen entered by the user in field 210, [0025] Also displayed to the user on this screen are links for assisting the user in locating a sttitable icon element for the logo. The operator of the site has associated the available icons with variou5 industries, occupations, or interests, such as Accounting/Financial Services, Animals/Pet Care, Ail & Photography, and so forth, and has provided links 214 allowing the user to request to see the specific set of icons selected by the site operator as being suitable or desirable for that industry. It will be appreciated tliat the site operator could, if desired, provide a Iink to allow the user to see all available icons or have the icons categorized and searchable by otk-er icon characteristics or attributes. The tool eould also be implemented to allow the user to upload an iinage from the UCS 100, or another rernote system, to be used as the icon image of the logo.
[0026] VJhen the tiser selects one of the liiiks 214, an icon selection screen (Fig. 3) is automatically displayed to the user. Navigation buttons Start Over 320 and Back 322 are displayed on this screen and also on the color scheme and font selection screens CE7'~I~I010',IY
. ~ I i I tLG F6k~~lii IUIlJ9 ~ Chiut~ib4hhhh6i .. ~G.i ~ E ~~lEf PE6E~ PJi DoCICeI 06-001 discussed below. Start Over 320 will take the user luaclc to the initial screen (Fig. 2), while Back 322 will take tha user back to the previous screen in the noznzal eustoinization sequence.
[0027] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the user is presented wi1:h a selection of nine candidate icon images 301-309. More or fewer icons could be preseirted depending on how the site has been designod by the site operator and the numbcr of icons available matcliing the selected industry link.
[0028] In this illustrative example, at step 906 the user selects icon 304 as the icon element for the user's custoniized logo, At step 908, in response to the user's selection of the icon element, for exaznple by the user clicking on the logo image, the logo tool deterinines the aspect ratio of a llorizontal logo arrangement and a vertical logo arrangenlent of the solected icon and the user's text, as will be described in more detail below. At step 910, the logo tool selects a logo arrangement for logo conlailiors 401-409 used to display the logo color choices to the user on the color selection screen (Fig, 4).
Each logo image 401-409 displays the logo selected by the user in a different color scheme for the user's review. At this stage of the normal process flow, a default font is uscd for the text component. As will be discussed below, because the version of the user's logo that will be incorporated into a product design is deterinined based on the specific aspect ratio of the target image container in the design, tlie version of the logo later used in a particular product design inay not be the san-ie version as displayed to the user during the customization process as logo images 401-409.
[0029] When the user selects a desired color schomc at step 912, a font selection screen (Fig. 5) is autoinatically displayed. Nine variations 501-509 of the user's logo are displayed for user review. The nuinber of font options displayed is a design choice by the site opcrator. Each image 501-509 contains the selected icon, the selected color scheme, and the user's te~t rendered in a different font. The name of the font used in images 501-509 may be displayed for the user's information, such as thc example font names shown below unages 501 and 502.
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Docket 06-001 [0030] If the user has progressed through the eustomization screens in the typical manner, the nine images 501-509 are finished customized logo designs. If the user is not eoinpletely satisfied with the logo, the user ean use Back 322 to go back to one or more earlier customization screens to modify one or inore elernents of the logo or, if desired, the tiser can use Start Over 320 to return to the initial text entry screen (Fig. 2) to begin the process again. If the user is satisfied with the one of the images 501-509, the user can select that image as the user's logo at step 914. This selection action by the user coinpletes the logo design process and causes a post-design screen to be autoinatically displayed at step 916 showing one or more possible product designs contauling the user's newly prepared 1ogo.
[0031] The user's customized logo can be readily integl,-ated into the site provider}s custom product design process. For example, referring to Fig. 6A, the user could be shown a screen having a variety of product teiliplates 601-604 available for seiection and personalization by the user. Each template 601-604 would be an image of a product available through the site, such as templates for business cards, letterhead, or postcards.
Each displayed template would typically include a different eombination of text layout, background image, azid other design clcinents and would have been designed by the site operator to have a logo container 605-608 for the user's logo at different locations within the template to offer the user a range of options for presenting the logo in the user's printed materials. The user's customized logo image will be automatically positioned in logo contairlers 605-608 wheii Fig. 6A is displayed to the user. If none of the initial product templates 601-604 appeal to the user, the operator of the site could allow the user to request to see more templates. When the user sees a desirable product template, the user can continue to customize the template by adding the user's name, address, or whatever other personalization content the user desires and then upload the finished electronic product design to server 110 for conversion to a suitable prepress format and production of a requested quantity of the printed product.
Docket 06-001 [0032] Other post-design screens could also be einployed. For example, a user may liave already selected a product template prior to initiating the logo design tool. In this case, tl-xe site could remember the selected tenlplate and, when the user completes the logo design process, automatically incorporate the logo into the selected teYnplate and present the user with a product custotnization screen (Fig. 6B) sliowing the previously selected template 611 autonlatically updated to incorporate an itnage 610 of the user's newly created logo.
[0033] In tlie disclosed embodiment, because thc sitc opcrator supports logo image containers having multiple aspect ratios, the site operator treats the logo arrangetnent as flexible and adaptable to logo containers of differeilt aspect ratios. In other words, the site operator deterniines the best logo arrangenient for each logo container separately for each template displayed to the user. For exarnple, referring again to Fig. GA, to give the user increased choice of logo appearance, the site operator may provide different aspect ratios for logo containers 605-608. It is, therefore, possible that, because of tlie different aspect ratios of the logo containers, a vertical arrangemeiit of the user's logo may be displayed to the user in one or more of the containers 605-608 while a horizontal arrangement of the logo is displayed in the other containers. Both the horizontal and vertical versions of the logo are automatically stored by the site operator for possible use by the user in the future. Alternatively, if a site operator chose to implement a site such that all logo inaage containers have the identical aspect ratio, only the version ot'the logo best suited for that particular aspect ratio would need to be retained.
[0034] Turning now to the step of determining the aspect ratios of a logo having an icon cotnponent and a text component, in the embodiment discussed herein, two possible a.rrangen,ents of the customized logo are discussed: a' vertical" arrangement, in which the icon is positioned above the text eoniponent, and a"horizontal"
arrangement, in which the icon is positioned to the left of the text component. It will be clear frorn the discussion below that these particular relative positions are not essential to the techniques discussed.
~,,~ ~ ~
'll i~~+1 Dooket 06-001 [0035] The site operator has prepared a variety of product design layouts having an image container positioned within the teniplate to contain the user's logo.
The logo container will have a laiown size within the product template, and tlierefore, a known aspect ratio. As will be discussed in morc detail below, the aspect ratios of the two possible logo arrangements are automatically calculated and compared to the aspect ratio of the logo container into which the user's logo will be placed. The logo arrangement that will yield logo eoniponents having the largest size when the logo is placed in the logo container will be automatically selected. As used herein, tlse aspect ratio of an eletnent is defined as the height of the elenzent divided by the width of the elelnent.
[0036] Referring to Figs. 7A-C, three representative logo situations are depicted.
The icon images and text containers described herein are rectangular areas having portions that are rendered so as to be visible to the user and portions that are transparent such that any other image "underneath" the icon or the text container remains visible in those transparent areas. Fig. 7A depicts a vertical arrangeinent whure text container 704 and icon 702 are separated by a vertical separation distance Sv and the width of the icon Iw exceeds the text width Tw. Fig. 7B depicts another vertical arrangement where text conlainer 708 arid icon 706 are again separated by vertical separation distance Sv, but in this case t'he text widtli Tw exceeds the icon width IW. Fig. 7C depicts a.
horizontal arrangement wliere text container 712 and icon 710 are separated by horizontal separation distance Sh. Each of these composite logo art'angements has a logo aspect ratio equal to the logo height Lh divided by the logo width Lw. The goal is to identify whether the horizontal arrangement or the vertical arrangement will yield the largest logo component eleirnents when the logo is placed in a logo container of known aspect ratio.
[0037] In the embodiment discussed herein, the relative heights of the icon and text components of the logo are constrained to have a.Cxed size relationship to each other. In this example, the height of the text component Th is controlled to be a constant portion of the height of the icon, for example 33%. The separatiorl distances Sv and Sh are also iinplemented to have a fixed i-elationship to the size of thc cleinents. For example, refei-ring to Fig. 7A, vertical separation distance Sv could, for example, be sat as 10% of Docket 06=001 the icon heigltt. The exact proportional relationsllips of these elements are an aesthetic decision by the site operator. A single set of proportional rules could be applied consistently across all logos, or, if desired, could vary according to the aspect ratio of the icon selected by the user, the specific fotit selected, or other paraineters.
[00381 Orzce the user has entered text in text field 210, the aspect ratio of the text component can be deterinined. For example, Microsoft GDI Plus tools can be tised to draw the user-supplied text and then supply the resulting dirnensions. As an alternate inethod, the dimensions of the container coniaining the text can be directly obtained from Browser 105. Knowing the aspect ratio of the text container, the logo aspect ratio can be deterinined.
[0039] Referring again to Figs. 7A and 7B, in the case of the vertical logo arrangements, the height of the logo is the saine in both cases, that is Iw +
Sv + Tli. The width ofi'the logo will be the larger of the icon width Iw, as shown in Fig.
7A, or the text width Tw, as shown in Fig. 7B. The aspect ratio of the uscr's logo will, therefore, be the smaller of (Ih + Sv + Th)/Iw or (Ih + Sv + Th)/Tw. Expressing these two possible aspect ratios in a different maimer allows for them to be readily and automatically compared.
[0040] For the first expression, dividing all elements by icon height Ih yields (1 + Sv/Ih + Th/Ih) I Iw/Ih or, expressed differently, (1 + Sv/Ih + T.h/Ih) *
IhlIw. Ih1iw is the lcnown aspect ratio of the icon and, as discussed above, the relationship betweeii the vertical sepa.ration Sv, the text height Th and the icon height Ih are all fixed, therefore the value5 of Sv/lh aiid Th/Ih are lcnown.
[0041] For the second expression, dividing all elements by text hei,glit Th yields (Ih/Th + Sv/Th I- 1) / Tw/Th or, cxpressed differently, (IhlTh + Sv/Th +1) *
Th/Tw.
Th/Tw is the aspect ratio of the text coiatainer aild the relationships between Ih, Sv, and Th again are fixed and known.
S,GE~nr<1 ii ~in ~~~, u.uuUUU~u!~õ!.u.ii~uu4uak9~w~#a#l@4mt!u[!u~rai4swFkk Dootect 06-001 [0042] Loolcing now at the horizontal arrangexnent depicted in Fig. 7C, the widtll of the logo is Iw + Sh + Tw, therefore the aspect ratio of this logo arrangement is Ih /(Iw +
Sh + Tw). Expresshig this in terms of ratios yields (Ih /Th) / ((Iw/Ih /Th/Ih) -I- (Sh /Th) + (Tw/Th)). Tw/Th is the inverse of the aspect ratio of the text container and the relationships between the otber values again are known.
[0043] The system follows the selection rule that whichever version of the logo will present the component elements of the logo in the largest size when the logo is sized to fit within in a target image coiltainer will be automatically seleetod and placed in that iln.age eontainer. Once the horizontal and vertical logo aspect ratios are calculated, both logo aspect ratios can be tested against the target logo container to detern-iine which of the logo arrangements yields the largest logo eleinents. . As mentioned above, the image and text component elements have a fixed size relationship to each other, therefore the sizes of only one of the component elemants of the logo need to be compared to make this deterinination. Fitting an image having a lcnown aspect ratio into an iinage container having a lcnown aspect ratio is well lalown in the art.
[0044] Looking at Figs. 8A-8D, four illustrative exainples of possible logo arrangements in a logo container having heiglit Ch and width Cw are depicted.
The logo is never cropped or distorted when being placed in a logo container, therefore, unless the logo and the logo container coincidentally happen to have identical aspect ratios, the logo will not cornpletely fill the available logo container in botll dimensions.
The logo will be sized to fill the logo container in one dimension and be centered within the logo container in the other dinlension.
[0045] The visible elements of some icon images are such that the appearance of the logo is improved if the lext component overlaps the image area to sonie extent.
Horizontal spacing Sh can be assigned a negative value to allow for an overlapping horizontal configaration. For example, refeiz=ing to Fig. 10, the size and shape of the visible checkmark 1004 leaves the transparcr-t lower right portion of icon i1r-age area 1002 empty of visible coi-itent. In this situation, placing text 1006 outside of iniage Ip ~t t F il;' ~~~~,Srl,=~ i r Ir i,~i ~ $E~Sr~~l Rr~~~lig Docket 06-001 1002, sttch as s1lown in Fig. 7C, could result in the text appearing to the user to be excessively separated from checkmark 1004. Overlapping the text container and the image results in a inore aesthetically pleasing logo.
[0046] Wliile an exemplary embodiment of the inveiition has been discussed, the described enZbodiment is to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention is as intiicated in the followirig claims and all equivalent nzethods and systcins.
Sh + Tw). Expresshig this in terms of ratios yields (Ih /Th) / ((Iw/Ih /Th/Ih) -I- (Sh /Th) + (Tw/Th)). Tw/Th is the inverse of the aspect ratio of the text container and the relationships between the otber values again are known.
[0043] The system follows the selection rule that whichever version of the logo will present the component elements of the logo in the largest size when the logo is sized to fit within in a target image coiltainer will be automatically seleetod and placed in that iln.age eontainer. Once the horizontal and vertical logo aspect ratios are calculated, both logo aspect ratios can be tested against the target logo container to detern-iine which of the logo arrangements yields the largest logo eleinents. . As mentioned above, the image and text component elements have a fixed size relationship to each other, therefore the sizes of only one of the component elemants of the logo need to be compared to make this deterinination. Fitting an image having a lcnown aspect ratio into an iinage container having a lcnown aspect ratio is well lalown in the art.
[0044] Looking at Figs. 8A-8D, four illustrative exainples of possible logo arrangements in a logo container having heiglit Ch and width Cw are depicted.
The logo is never cropped or distorted when being placed in a logo container, therefore, unless the logo and the logo container coincidentally happen to have identical aspect ratios, the logo will not cornpletely fill the available logo container in botll dimensions.
The logo will be sized to fill the logo container in one dimension and be centered within the logo container in the other dinlension.
[0045] The visible elements of some icon images are such that the appearance of the logo is improved if the lext component overlaps the image area to sonie extent.
Horizontal spacing Sh can be assigned a negative value to allow for an overlapping horizontal configaration. For example, refeiz=ing to Fig. 10, the size and shape of the visible checkmark 1004 leaves the transparcr-t lower right portion of icon i1r-age area 1002 empty of visible coi-itent. In this situation, placing text 1006 outside of iniage Ip ~t t F il;' ~~~~,Srl,=~ i r Ir i,~i ~ $E~Sr~~l Rr~~~lig Docket 06-001 1002, sttch as s1lown in Fig. 7C, could result in the text appearing to the user to be excessively separated from checkmark 1004. Overlapping the text container and the image results in a inore aesthetically pleasing logo.
[0046] Wliile an exemplary embodiment of the inveiition has been discussed, the described enZbodiment is to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention is as intiicated in the followirig claims and all equivalent nzethods and systcins.
Claims (22)
1. A computer implemented method for creating a composite image for incorporation into an image container in an electronic product design, the composite image having at least an image component and a text component, the method comprising receiving one or more text characters for incorporation into the text component, determining the aspect ratio of the text component containing the received text, receiving at least information sufficient to determine the aspect ratio of an image selected for incorporation into the composite image as the image component, determining the aspect ratio of a first composite image having the image component and the text component arranged in a first configuration, determining the aspect ratio of a second composite image having the image component and the text component arranged in a second configuration, and identifying the composite image that would result in the largest composite image components if the composite image is placed in the image container.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically incorporating the identified composite image into the image container in the electronic product design.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the identified composite image to the user.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the image component and the text component relative to each other in the composite image is controlled by a spacing parameter.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the spacing parameter causes the image component and the text component to be separated by a spacing distance.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the spacing distance varies in proportion to at least one of the components of the composite image.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the spacing parameter causes the image component and the text component to overlap by a spacing distance.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the overlap distance varies in proportion to at least one of the components of the composite image.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically retaining at least the identified composite image such that the user can access at least the identified composite image at a later time.
10. The method of claim 2 further comprising producing a printed version of the electronic product design containing the identified composite image.
11. One or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer program code for creating a composite image for incorporation into an image container in an electronic product design, the composite image having at least an image component and a text component, the code comprising code for receiving one or more text characters for incorporation into the text component, code for determining the aspect ratio of the text component containing the received text, code for receiving at least information sufficient to determine the aspect ratio of an image selected for incorporation into the composite image as the image component, code for determining the aspect ratio of a first composite image having the image component and the text component arranged in a first configuration, code for determining the aspect ratio of a second composite image having the image component and the text component arranged in a second configuration, and code for identifying the composite image that would result in the largest composite image components if the composite image is placed in the image container.
12. The computer program code of claim 11 further comprising code for incorporating the identified composite image arrangement into the image container in the electronic product design template.
13. The computer program code of claim 11 further comprising code for displaying the identified composite image to the user.
14. The computer program code of claim 11 further comprising computer program code for determining the positioning of the image container and the text component relative to each other according to a spacing parameter.
15. The computer program code of claim 11 further comprising computer program code for automatically retaining at least the composite image such that the user can access at least the composite image at a later time.
16. A computer implemented method for identifying a composite image for use in an electronic product design having an image container, the method comprising retaining a plurality of composite images associated with a user, each composite image containing at least the same text component provided by the user and the same image component selected by the user and each composite image having the text component and the image component positioned within the composite image in a different arrangement such that each composite image has a different aspect ratio, determining the aspect ratio of the image container in the electronic product design, and identifying the one of the plurality of composite images that would result in the largest composite image components if that composite image is placed in the composite image container.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising automatically incorporating the identified composite image into the image container in the electronic product design.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising producing a printed version of the electronic product design containing the identified composite image.
19. One or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer program code for method for identifying a composite image for use in an electronic product design having an image container, the code comprising code for retaining a plurality of composite images associated with a user, each composite image containing at least the same text component provided by the user and the same image component selected by the user and each composite image having the text component and the image component positioned within the composite image in a different arrangement such that each composite image has a different aspect ratio, code for determining the aspect ratio of the image container in the electronic product design, and code for identifying the one of the plurality of composite images that would result in the largest composite image components if that composite image is placed in the composite image container.
20. The computer program code of claim 19 further comprising code for incorporating the identified composite image arrangement into the image container in the electronic product design template.
21. A system for creating a composite image for incorporation into an image container in an electronic product design, the composite image having at least an image component and a text component, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer code which, when executed by the one or more processors, implements the method of claim 1.
one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer code which, when executed by the one or more processors, implements the method of claim 1.
22. A system for creating a composite image for incorporation into an image container in an electronic product design, the composite image having at least an image component and a text component, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer code which, when executed by the one or more processors, implements the method of claim 16.
one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having embodied therein computer code which, when executed by the one or more processors, implements the method of claim 16.
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| JP2003109023A (en) * | 2001-09-27 | 2003-04-11 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Method, device and program for outputting template |
| US20030137545A1 (en) * | 2002-01-18 | 2003-07-24 | Eastman Kodak Copmany | Method for displaying photo pages on the internet |
| JP4087728B2 (en) * | 2002-09-27 | 2008-05-21 | 富士フイルム株式会社 | Print service providing system |
| JP3812563B2 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2006-08-23 | カシオ計算機株式会社 | Image processing apparatus and program |
| US20040123247A1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-06-24 | Optimost Llc | Method and apparatus for dynamically altering electronic content |
| JP4145805B2 (en) * | 2003-03-17 | 2008-09-03 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Template generation system, layout system, template generation program, layout program, template generation method, and layout method |
| US7689909B1 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2010-03-30 | Szuszczewicz Edward P | System and method for generating photo collages and photo album pages |
| US20060103667A1 (en) * | 2004-10-28 | 2006-05-18 | Universal-Ad. Ltd. | Method, system and computer readable code for automatic reize of product oriented advertisements |
| US7656543B2 (en) * | 2004-11-12 | 2010-02-02 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Albuming images |
-
2006
- 2006-01-27 US US11/341,946 patent/US9354766B2/en active Active
-
2007
- 2007-01-08 CA CA002636248A patent/CA2636248A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-01-08 WO PCT/US2007/060212 patent/WO2007089955A2/en active Application Filing
- 2007-01-08 EP EP07709985.1A patent/EP2013696A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20070180406A1 (en) | 2007-08-02 |
| EP2013696A4 (en) | 2016-10-05 |
| WO2007089955A3 (en) | 2008-04-10 |
| US9354766B2 (en) | 2016-05-31 |
| EP2013696A2 (en) | 2009-01-14 |
| WO2007089955A2 (en) | 2007-08-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20160108 |