US 6,964,025 B2 · Auto thumbnail gallery

Abstract

A tool that enables a user to easily and automatically create a photo gallery of thumbnail images on a Web page. A user selects a group of original images, and the tool automatically produces a corresponding group of thumbnail images on the Web page, with hyperlinks to the corresponding original images. Four predefined templates are included, each defining a different format for the thumbnail images including a vertically oriented gallery, a horizontally oriented gallery, a slide show gallery, and a montage gallery. Captions and descriptive text can also be entered and displayed for the thumbnail images in most of the style galleries. An edit function enables a user to add or delete images to existing galleries and to automatically modify the appearance of a photo gallery by selecting and applying a different template.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A method for enabling a user to automatically introduce a plurality of thumbnail images into a Web page to represent a plurality of original images, each thumbnail image having a size that is substantially smaller than each corresponding original image, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to select the plurality of original images that are to be represented on the Web page by the plurality of thumbnail images;
(b) producing a thumbnail image from each original image, by enabling the user to drag and drop an original image onto said Web page, and in response, automatically generating a corresponding thumbnail image for the original image;
(c) determining a position of each thumbnail image on the Web page in accord with a format specified by a template;
(d) automatically providing a hyperlink from each thumbnail image to each corresponding original image in the Web page;
and
(e) enabling the user to save the Web page which includes the plurality of thumbnail images and hyperlinks to the original images, each thumbnail image appearing in the position specified by the template when the Web page is displayed, selection of a thumbnail image and activation of a hyperlink associated with said thumbnail image causing the corresponding original image to be retrieved for display.

3 more elements

An article of manufacture adapted for use with a computer to enable a user to automatically introduce a plurality of thumbnail images into a Web page to represent a plurality of original images, each thumbnail image having a size that is substantially smaller than each corresponding original image, comprising:

(a) a memory medium;
and
(b) a plurality of machine instructions stored on the memory medium, said plurality of machine instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to:
(i) enable a user to select the plurality of original images that are to be represented on the Web page by the plurality of thumbnail images;
(ii) automatically produce a thumbnail image from each original image, by enabling the user to drag and drop an original image onto said Web page, and in response. automatically generate a corresponding thumbnail image for the original image;
(iii) determine a position of each thumbnail image on the Web page in accord with a format specified by a template;
(iv) automatically providing a hyperlink from each thumbnail image to each corresponding original image in the Web page;
and
(v) enable a user to save the Web page, which includes the plurality of thumbnail images and hyperlinks to the original images, each thumbnail image appearing in the position specified by the template when the Web page is displayed, selection of a thumbnail image and activation of a hyperlink associated with said thumbnail image causing the corresponding original image to be retrieved for display.

6 more elements

A system for enabling a user to automatically introduce a plurality of thumbnail images into a Web page to represent a plurality of original images, each thumbnail image having a size that is substantially smaller than each corresponding original image, said system comprising:

(a) a memory for storing a plurality of machine instructions;
(b) a display that displays text and images;
(c) a user interface that enables a user to provide input to the system;
and
(d) a processor, coupled to the memory, the display, and the user interface, said processor executing the plurality of machine instructions, causing a plurality of functions to be implemented, said plurality of functions including:
(i) enabling the user to select the plurality of original images that are to be represented on the Web page by the plurality of thumbnail images;
(ii) producing a thumbnail image from each original image, by enabling a user to drag and drop an original image onto said Web page, and in response, automatically generating a corresponding thumbnail image for the original image;
(iii) determining a position of each thumbnail image on the Web page in accord with a format specified by a template;
(iv) automatically providing a hyperlink from each thumbnail image to each corresponding original image in the Web page;
and
(v) enabling the user to save the Web page, which includes the plurality of thumbnail images and hyperlinks to the original images, each thumbnail image appearing in the position specified by the template when the Web page is displayed, selection of a thumbnail image and activation of a hyperlink associated with said thumbnail image pausing the corresponding original image to be retrieved for display.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Auto thumbnail gallery

Life of this patent

Auto thumbnail gallery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49