US5986671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of combining two digitally generated images
Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 1997-04-10
•
Granted: 1999-11-16
•
Expires: 2017-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image and a prestored digital image. The method includes providing a customer generated image in digital form; automatically determining the aspect ratio of the selected customer generated image; providing a plurality of prestored digital images, each having a predetermined location wherein the customer generated digital image may be placed, the location of each of the plurality of prestored digital images having a different predetermined size aspect ratio; and automatically selecting one of the prestored digital images wherein the location has an aspect ratio closest to the aspect ratio of the selected customer generated image.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Fredlund
- 👤 Ronald S. Cok
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/387; H04N1/3872; H04N1/3873
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated image in digital form; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image; c) providing a plurality of prestored digital images, each having a predetermined location wherein said customer generated digital image may be placed, said location of each of said plurality of prestored digital images having a different predetermined aspect ratio; and d) automatically selecting one of said prestored digital images wherein the location has an aspect ratio closest in size to the aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated image in digital form; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image; c) providing a plurality of prestored digital images, each having a predetermined location wherein said customer generated digital image may be placed, said location of each of said plurality of prestored digital images having a different predetermined aspect ratio; and d) automatically selecting one of said prestored digital images wherein the location has an aspect ratio closest in size to the aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: e) providing at least one output means for printing, displaying, transmitting, or storing of an image; f) merging the selected prestored image and said customer generated image so as to produce a merged digital image; and g) forwarding said merged image to said output means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the location of said selected prestored image has a buffer zone surrounding said location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 20% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 10% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a prestored digital image, said prestored digital image having a predetermined location of a first predetermined aspect ratio wherein a captured generated digital image may be placed, said prestored image having a buffer zone around said location that can be removed in order to accommodate a customer generated image having an aspect ratio greater than said predetermined aspect ratio; b) providing a customer generated image of a second predetermined aspect ratio different from said first predetermined aspect ratio of said location; and c) modifying said location by removing a portion of said buffer zone such that the first aspect ratio of location corresponds to the second aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a prestored digital image, said prestored digital image having a predetermined location of a first predetermined aspect ratio wherein a captured generated digital image may be placed, said prestored image having a buffer zone around said location that can be removed in order to accommodate a customer generated image having an aspect ratio greater than said predetermined aspect ratio; b) providing a customer generated image of a second predetermined aspect ratio different from said first predetermined aspect ratio of said location; and c) modifying said location by removing a portion of said buffer zone such that the first aspect ratio of location corresponds to the second aspect ratio of said customer generated digital image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: d) providing at least one capture means for obtaining said customer generated image in digital form; e) providing at least one output means for printing, displaying, transmitting, or storing of an image; f) automatically modifying the aspect ratio of said location so as to correspond to the aspect ratio of said customer generated image; g) combining the modified prestored digital image with said customer generated image so as to form a merged digital image; and h) forwarding said merged image to an output device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the location of said selected prestored image has a buffer zone surrounding said location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 20% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 10% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated digital image; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated digital image; c) automatically selecting a prestored digital image based on the aspect ratio of said customer generated image, said prestored digital image having a predetermined location of a predetermined aspect ratio wherein the customer generated digital image may be placed, said prestored image having a buffer area around said location that can be removed in order to accommodate said customer generated image; and d) automatically modifying said buffer area so that the location of the selected prestored digital image corresponds to the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated digital image; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated digital image; c) automatically selecting a prestored digital image based on the aspect ratio of said customer generated image, said prestored digital image having a predetermined location of a predetermined aspect ratio wherein the customer generated digital image may be placed, said prestored image having a buffer area around said location that can be removed in order to accommodate said customer generated image; and d) automatically modifying said buffer area so that the location of the selected prestored digital image corresponds to the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the steps of: e) providing at least one output means for printing, displaying, transmitting, or storing of an image; f) merging the selected prestored image and said customer generated image so as to produce a merged digital image; and g) forwarding said merged image to said output means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said location of said selected prestored image is modified by removing a portion of said buffer zone.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated image in digital form; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image; c) providing a plurality of substantially identical prestored digital images, said plurality of prestored digital images each having a predetermined location wherein said customer generated digital image may be placed, said location of each of said plurality of prestored digital images having a different predetermined aspect ratio; and d) automatically selecting one of said prestored digital images wherein the location has an aspect ratio closest in size to the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of combining at least one captured generated digital image with a prestored digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a customer generated image in digital form; b) automatically determining the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image; c) providing a plurality of substantially identical prestored digital images, said plurality of prestored digital images each having a predetermined location wherein said customer generated digital image may be placed, said location of each of said plurality of prestored digital images having a different predetermined aspect ratio; and d) automatically selecting one of said prestored digital images wherein the location has an aspect ratio closest in size to the aspect ratio of said selected customer generated image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of: e) providing at least one output means for printing, displaying, transmitting, or storing of an image; f) merging the selected prestored image and said customer generated image so as to produce a merged digital image; and g) forwarding said merged image to said output means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the location of said selected prestored image has a buffer zone surrounding said location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 20% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said location has a length L and a height H and said buffer zone has a width W, said width being not greater than 10% of said length L or said width W, further comprising the step of modifying said location in said buffer zone so that said location corresponds to said aspect ratio of said customer generated image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2180427A
Cited
US5146548A
Cited
GB2246929A
Cited
US5459819A
Cited
US5530793A
Cited
US5485554A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |