FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention in general relates to a system and method for content generation and
sharing among various users and devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
system and method for content creation and sharing among various users and devices with
minimal text input and minimum operation by using intuitive icons (image, audio or video based,
or any combination of them), which can be user generated.
PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION:
Currently the usage of the handheld devices like phones or computer requires basic literacy as
they use text-based format. Aware that a text-heavy format would pose a challenge, especially
with the illiterate or less literate people, who are a living store-house of information. Thus there
exists a need to shift the medium to voice, images, videos and other media or file formats to
reach out to a larger audience.
In the recent years, research has been done for developing image based user interfaces and
applications for helping illiterate people. Applications are also developed multilingual so that it is
not restricted to English or Hindi only.
Reference may be made to the following-
Reference may be made to an article entitled "Methodologies for designing and developing
hypermedia applications" which focuses on the hypertext design as a computer supported human
activity. It examines what is general both in the design methods and in the design process of
hypertexts in order to determine which general features are helpful to designers. This analysis has '
been obtained from the observation of the behavior of MacWeb users during design tasks. It is
related to sound and well known results in cognitive science. The paper also describes how the
proposed features are implemented in the MacWeb system. This system is for a designer who has
functional operating knowledge of a computer and is necessarily literate and hence does not
suitable for people with limited literacy. Also, this design is primarily for computers not for
handheld devices. The article covers designing and developing application and not a method to
share and access information through icons.
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Reference may be made to an article entitled "Digital Library Access for Illiterate Users" that
talks about creating a digital library where content is already there (or is sourced), but indexing is
done by a graphical method, which then becomes easier for the user to navigate (Shaleen Deol,
Sally Jo Cunningham, David M. Nichols, and Ian H. Witten, ISRN UIUCLIS--2002/4+ISRL).
However it doesn't talk about users being able to create content and doesn't have functionality of
sharing content by tagging people visually in an intuitive manner. The article is only for access
by illiterate users and does not cover addition of context to content for sharing, or browsing
content via context.
Reference may be made to a thesis entitled "User interface design of small-display devices for '
rural developing world" by Chia Ling Chang (July 2008) that talks about speech basedltyped
input and organized visual output (with audio feedback), that is content being displayed on the
device and audio functionality also being there. However it doesn't talk about sharing of content
by tagging people visually in an intuitive manner. The patent covers UI design for small display
devices, and does not talk about a method to share content information with context information
through icons.
US Patent No. 7603621 discloses a user interface for illiterates but does not cover the aspect of
sharing media using visual tags. Also, it does not talk about the aspect of user generated content
and peer to peer sharing. This method described is only for computers. It does not describe the
usage for sharing content by users, but instead is only limited to browsing. Also, in this patent, '
the icon pictures have a restricted way of use only on cursor hover (only limiting it to mouse
connected computers, as touch screen devices computers and mobiles might not have a notion of
cursor at all) and the only way it presents the context information is through a help message in
audio and image formats.
US Patent No. 7,849,135 relates to the content provider provides a link to enable the process of
sharing the content. This link may appear on the content page itself, or on multiple content pages,
and may be configured to be readable by one or more applications running on a content sharing
system, which may be associated with the user's mobile service provider or may be independent.
While the patent talks about sharing of content on mobile devices, it does not include embedding
of context information through icons (making it intuitive and requiring minimal literacy levels) '
such as audio, video, image, location and time which will allow even a non-literate person to
access the content later.
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US Patent No. 8327012 relates to the communication of content and, more specifically, to
systems and methods for the sharing of content via multiple content distribution servers. The
patent talks about the servers sharing live media content to other servers, and not about users .
sharing content in multiple formats. The content described in this patent area also not augmented
by context.
Reference may be made to an article entitled "Sugar Sync for iPhone and iPad updated with a
brand new design, Search, and Open In" by Vibhor Chhabra, SugarS', Inc., Apr 15, 2013
which describes the original Sugarsync iOS app. The customers love the ability to access all of
their folders on any computer via their iPhone1iPad. This has enabled them to access and share
their documents, photos, and videos while on the go. This app talks about storing and accessing
information. However, primarily focus is on search and it does not talk about sharing with other
users as all. The publication is not giving a user interface through icons with context information
(so that it requires minimal literacy levels).
Reference may be made to an article entitled "An Information Kiosk With Text-Free User
Inreflace " by Prashant Sunkari (201 1-01-20) which describes InfoKiosk, an end-user application
as a step towards providing a text-free user interface (UI) using an existing architectural
framework. InfoKiosk UI is designed using features such as action images to represent types of
information, mouse-over audio for navigation help, and universal help videos throughout every
screen of the application. User inputs and outputs to InfoKiosk are kept intuitive and easy to
understand. Two kinds of possible user inputs are - audio and mouse click. In response, the user
will receivebstreaming audio andlor video from YouTube or the InforKiosk server. It is a desktop
based application which can be applied to a web based or phone application. It talks about
abstracted cartoons being used, not about visual tags created by users themselves and doesn't -
allow tagginglsharing. It does not describe the usage for sharing content by users but is only
limited to browsing. Also, the icon pictures have a restricted way of use only on cursor hover
(only limiting it to mouse connected computers, as touch screen devices computers and mobiles
might not have a notion of cursor at all) and the only way it presents the context information is
through a help message which is in audio and image. Also, this method is restricted only to
computers.
Reference may be made to an article entitled "Socio-Cultural Communication System--a
Communication Mechanism For Multi-Media Information Access System for Non-Literate and
Linguistically Diverse Users " by Jamithireddy, Venkata Rama which discloses Socio-cultural
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communication system (SoCCS) for building an information access system that helps both
literate and non-literate users to access information in various media formats. SoCCS is designed
using client server architecture, isolating much of the logic from the client. This helps the client
run on a basic system of a very low end configuration with an application based on a webbrowser.
The client will send the text/image/audiolvideo request to the request interpreter (RI)
and it will then process the request and respond with text, image, audio, or video link
information. However it doesn't talk about the user being able to tag his content using visual tags
to help organize and add relevance to the content he has created (by adding context). The system
described in this publication takes input in multiple formats and outputs back in multiple formats.
It does not talk about content with context either for accessing or sharing through icons.
Thus in view of the above prior arts, no prior art has described the visual tags1 icons created by
users themselves and allow tagginglsharing of content between users by using intuitive visual
icons. Also no attempts have been made for accessing as well as sharing the content among the
people who have limited literacy levels.
Therefore, the present invention provides a system and method for users for accessing and
sharing the content by minimal operation (operation can be taps/clicks/press of buttons or any
other form of input) using intuitive visual icons.
Also the present invention provides a system which allows users to browse and share content by
using intuitive visual icons which can be user generated.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for users for
accessing and sharing content by use of icons (in the form of images, audio or video, or any
combination of them), which can be user generated. These icons could also be used to add
context to the content, and the context could denote topics, people, organizations, location or
time, or any combination of them.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for users for accessing
and sharing the content by minimal operation (operations could be taps in case of handheld and
other devices with touch screen functionality and/or clicks or press of buttons in case of handheld
and other devices without touch screen functionality or any other form of input).
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodluser interface for creating and
sharing content, which requires minimal literacy levels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system, which allows users to browse and
share content by using intuitive icons, which could be in the form of images, audio or video, or
any combination of them.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system which allows users to browse
and share content by using intuitive icons (which could be in the form of images, audio or video,
or any combination of them) and can also be user generated.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method where contents
can be created and shared between individual entities (one person or organization) and between a
group of entities (many people and/or organizations) by the use of intuitive icons.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which allows users to
add context (which could denote topics, people, organizations, location or time, or any
combination of them) and map the content to multiple contexts on a single screen, pre or post I
creation of the content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention provides a system which allows users to access and share content by
minimal operation (taps in case of handheld and other devices with touch screen hnctionality
and1 or number of clicks press of buttons in case of handheld and other devices without touch
screen functionality or any other form of input). The system aIlows users to browse and share
content by using intuitive icons (which could be in the form of images, audio or video, or any :
combination of them), which can also be user generated.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system for allowing users to access and
share content by minimal operation using intuitive icons comprises an application program
according to the present invention, database and atleast one communication device which
comprises of one communication interface, a processing unit, main memory, display unit with
interface, secondary memory further comprising hard disk drive, removable storage drive,
interface for secondary storage with removable storage units and communication interface and
communication path.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the content for accessing and sharing is
selected fiom such as but not limited to media content such as an image file, audio file, video
file, digital file, time and location.
In another embodiment of the present invention, intuitive icons are selected from such as but
not limited to an image, audio, video, or a combination of any of them to represent the context of
a userlusers, topic, organization(s) and location or any combination of these to notiyrepresent
the conversation.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the user maps and shares the'content with
specific people, topics, organization and add the context of conversation just by use of such
icons.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the system provides user sharing contents
through a user interface in multiple format by augmenting the information containing multiple
types of information by adding context.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing .
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein:
Figure 1 shows block diagram of a system which allows users to access and share content by
minimal operation;
Figure 2 shows workflow according to the present invention;
Figure 3 shows flowchart of the process in terms of different content and context according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 shows the block diagram of a system which allows users to access and share content by
minimal operation wherein the minimal operation is taps in case of handheld and other devices
with touch screen finctionality andlor number of clicks press of buttons in case of handheld and '
other devices without touch screen finctionality or any other form of input. The system
comprises of a database, an application program which contains the present invention and a
communication device comprising of a communication interface 201, a processor 202, main
memory 203, display unit 204 with interface 205, secondary memory 206 having hard disk drive
207, removable storage drive 208, interface for secondary storage 209 with removable storage
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units 2 10, 2 1 1 and communication interface 2 12 and communication path 2 13. The application
contains the methoduser interface for users to map the context icons to the media content, where
the context icons are either referenced from the database through the communication path or
suggestedlcreated by the user and once the media content is tagged the media content along with
the context icons are again sent via application on the communication device through the
communication path to the database from where other users can access the content through the
context icons. For example, a user who takes a picture of a tractor through the device camera tags
it with the icons of contacts he wants to share the picture with, along with the topic of advice
(e.g. farming), and an audio tag to attach a voice message for asking where he can buy a tractor
from. So, while the media in this illustration is the image of tractor but some of the possible
contexts which get attached to the media content are time, location, contacts and topic.
Figure 2 shows workflow according to the present invention. User chooses the desired context -
(without text input) to access or tag content to relevant context. Context represents such as
without limitation topics, people, organizations, locations or time. User accesses, creates or
shares content to tag with context. Content could lie in an image, audio, video or other file
format. The chosen content is tagged with relevant context for sharing with other users and the
content and context is stored in a storage database which is further used by other users for
accessing, creating or sharing the content through their devices.
Figure 3 shows flowchart of the process in terms of different content and context according to the
present invention. The system allows users to browse and share content by using intuitive icons
(which could be in the form of images, audio or video, or any combination of them), which may
be user generated (e.g. a picture taken by a devicelexternal hardware such as a camera or an
audio recorded by a microphone by the user). Such icons are tagged with context, which could be
denoted in the form of topics, people, organizations, location or time. One of the methods of
tagging the context would be clicking/ tapping on the context icons along with the desired media
file the user decides to share using the share functionality in the application. User maps and
shares content with specific people, topics, organization(s) and adds the context of time just by
use of such icons. Contents are created and shared between individual entities (one person or
organization) and between a group of entities (many people andor organizations), and context
can be added to this content.
The system allows users to map context and share content with user selected group of entities
(people and/or organizations) on a single screen, pre or post creation of the content. The system
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stores the content along with the context information is stored in the database, which can be a
network database and used later by the same user or other user to access the content via the
context icons. Also, the method to map the context with the content is independent of the order.
While a user can chose to define the context first by tapping the right context icons and can then
identifllcreate the media file to add to it, which is referred as pre-creation or, the other way
round by first identiflinglcreating the file they want to share to the system and then add the
context information as next step which is referred as post creation. This mapping allows the
system to be self-organized for users who want to access content, as browsing is facilitated
through the use of such icons.
The user interface shares a media content without any text input such as an image file or audio
file or video file or a digital file, calender time or, location or any combination of these through
icons comprising of an image, audio or video, or any combination of them to represent the
context of topic(s) of the conversation.
In an example, a media content such as an image file, audio file, video file, digital file, calender
time, location is shared through icons comprises such as without limitation an image, audio, or
video, or a combination of any of them to represent the context of a userlusers, organization(s), '
locations to be notifiedrepresent the conversation.
In another example, a media content such as an image file, audio file, video file, digital
document, calender time or location is shared through icons comprises such as without limitation
an image, audio or video, or a combination of any of them to represent the context of topic(s),
context of time associated with/ representing the conversation.
In another example, a media content such as an image file, audio file, video file, digital
document, calender time or location is shared through icons comprises such as without limitation
an image, audio, or video or a combination of any of them to represent the context of user1 users,
context of organization(s) to be notified/ represent the conversation. t
In another example, a media content such as an image file, audio file, video file, digital
document, calender time or location is shared through icons comprises of such as without
limitation an image, audio or video or a combination of any of them to represent the context of
location, topic(s), of the conversation.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and
changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and
features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is
further set forth under the following claims:-
WE CLAIM
I . A system and method for users to share, create, access content by use of intuitive icons
(which can be in the form of any combination of image, audio or video) without any text
input comprises a database, an application program and a communication device and the
content is shared, created or accessed with minimal operation.
2. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, the communication device comprises atleast one communication
interface, a processing unit, main memory, display unit with interface, secondary memory
further comprising hard disk drive, removable storage drive, interface for secondary
storage with removable storage units and communication interface and communication
path.
3. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, the content can be in the form of an image file, audio file, video file,
digital file (file formats other than audio, video or image), time, location.
4. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the system allows users to browse and share the content by using
intuitive icons, which can be image, audio or video based, or any combination of these,
which can also be user generated.
5. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim I wherein, the minimal operation is taps in case of handheld and other devices with
touch screen functionality andlor number of clicks/ press of buttons in case of handheld
and other devices without touch screen functionality or any other form of input.
6. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, the method for accessing, creating or sharing the content by user on the
communication device comprises the steps of choosing the desired context (without text
input) first by tapping the right context icons then identifjdcreate the content to add to it;
tagging the chosen content with relevant context for sharing with other users through
icons, storing the content and context in a storage database which is fUrther used by other
users for accessing, creating or sharing the content through their devices.
7. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, the method for accessing, creating or sharing the content by user on the
communication device comprises identifjling/creating the content to share and adding the
context information for sharing with other users through icons, storing the content and
context in a storage database which is further used by other users for accessing, creating
or sharing the content through their devices..
8. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, the content could be in the form of any combination of an image file,
audio file, video file, digital file (file formats other than audio, video or image), time,
location through icons comprising of image, audio or video or a combination of any of
them without any text input to represent any combination of the context selected from
topic(s) of the conversation, user/users to be notified/represent the conversation,
organization(s) to be notified or representing the conversation, location of the
conversation, time associated withhepresenting the conversation.
9. The system and method to share, create, access content by use of icons as claimed in
claim 1 wherein, any combination of content and context of the conversation is sharedl
created accessed through intuitive icons.