Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relates to and claims priority from United States
Patent
Application Serial No. 14/028,402 filed September 16, 2013, and United States
Patent
Application Serial No. 61/799,030 filed March 15, 2013, the entire disclosures
of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of methods
and systems
for providing multimedia, and more particularly, to exemplary embodiments of
methods and
systems for providing multimedia from a sender to a recipient at a future
time.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] People throughout history have tried to save some type of artifacts
about
themselves, their family or someone they know. A problem with artifacts is
that they can get
lost or destroyed over time. Further, the preservation of such artifacts can
be resource
intensive and expensive. Due to the high costs of creating and managing such
artifacts, most
individuals do not save such artifacts. Currently, the artifacts of an
individual's life can be
kept in boxes, on shelves, and in storage facilities. Most people do not have
the personal
wealth necessary to preserve the personal artifacts of each family member's
life.
[0004] Physical artifacts cannot be shared in multiple locations at one
time. The transfer
of artifacts into the future usually fragments the original collection because
recipients lack the
resources and space to keep all of the items together. It's easier for a
family to divide up the
possessions, e.g., books, painting, dishes, jewelry, cookware, house, car,
pictures, letters, etc.,
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of a loved one after death than for a single descendent to take responsibility
for the
preservation of these life artifacts. Often these items are sold to others who
have the
resources and inclination to own these possessions. Furthermore, physical
items cannot be
copied without devaluing the original item, because the value of physical
items is based on
scarcity. Therefore, the items must be shared such that the ability to share
these artifacts is
limited by the resources of the recipient of these items.
[0005] Digital technology and social media tools for capturing, curating,
publishing, and
syndicating media can provide for new opportunities to tell the story of
humanity. However,
the current methods lack the necessary controls to make today's story viewable
and useable
by future generations of our family, community, and civilization. Today's
social networks
only capture the moments that people choose to share with the public. They may
not capture
all the significant moments in a person's life and weave those moments into a
collective story
of a generation or a larger moment in time.
[0006] Social media networks are focused on and designed for communicating
in the
present and on real-time communications, not the future. The architecture of
these
communications omits the ability to archive the important moments worth
remembering. The
digital world has the ability to provide a new type of sharing of life
information. When you
look at a person in real time, all you can see is their life in the moment.
When people post
information (e.g., writings, pictures, videos, & recordings) of themselves
online, they are
leaving behind a digital footprint, or digital identity. Right now it is
difficult to save that
information in one easily accessible place to share with an audience in the
future with
specific controls in place deeming who gets to see it and when.
[0007] Digital media cannot be easily aggregated across platforms over
time. Digital
media, e.g., photos, text, videos and other multimedia, from disparate social
networks cannot
be easily aggregated in a readily accessible form and therefore it is
difficult to knit together
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the story of a person's life. Collecting all the digital artifacts that users
want to save requires
open, cross-platform technologies that plug-in to social networks, where many
of these digital
artifacts are generated.
[0008] Further, people may wish to provide messages to others such as
future
generations, but leaving a letter or some other communication not knowing
whether that
person will ever receive that communication, or whether an event that would
trigger that
communication will happen, is often problematic for people that wish to
provide such
messages. For example, a father of children may wish to send a video message
to his first
future grandchild that will arrive on the future grandchild's seventh
birthday. A mother of a
six year old daughter may wish to send a video greeting for her daughter's
sixteenth birthday,
who may not have an email account yet. A grandfather for a grownup single
young woman
may wish to send a message to his granddaughter's future husband, and since
the
granddaughter is not in a relationship at the moment the future husband is not
defined and
thus not addressable. A woman may want to send an empowering video message to
all of her
future female offspring in future generations to come, which is triggered by
an event such as
an inauguration of the first U.S. female president. However, in all these
examples, the people
or the date of the event may not be known, and may need to be triggered by an
event or by a
person's birth or marriage or so forth.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for methods and systems for providing
multimedia
relating to an individual's life to specific recipients chosen by the
individual, in which such
multimedia can be provided at a time determined by the individual.
SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] At least some of the above described problems can be addressed by
exemplary
embodiments of the methods and systems according to the present disclosure.
For example,
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using such exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide methods and
systems that
provide for people to capture memories for posterity, e.g., moments that
matter most
personally and in the context of history, to be kept private and enjoyed later
in life, or shared
with family members in the future, or added to the story of humanity. The
exemplary
embodiments of the methods and systems provide for capturing, publishing, and
delivering
memories based on permissions, events, and time. Advancement of data, mobile
computing
and other technologies can allow people to digitally capture and archive their
life's most
memorable moments, create digital messages for specific audiences in future
generations, and
record stories that can survive using the methods and systems of the present
disclosure.
[0011] The present disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of methods
and systems
that can provide for a service that can allow for electronic messages of
various types (e.g.,
text, images, videos and/or audio) to future recipients who may not exist, may
not be
addressable, may not be defined at the time of creating the message, or may be
based on
certain events. The delivery can be triggered by logical conditions that may
occur at any
point in the future.
[0012] For example, using such exemplary embodiments, it is possible to
provide a
method for providing multimedia, comprising receiving one or more data files
containing
multimedia from a first user, storing the one or more data files containing
the multimedia,
and providing at least one of the one or more data files based on access
granted by the first
user and at a future time set by the first user. The multimedia can comprise
one or more of
image(s), audio, text, animation and video. The first user and at least one
other user can
provide multimedia to at least one of the one or more data files.
[0013] The method can further comprise providing the at least one of the
one or more
data files to one or more users, and providing notification to the one or more
users that the at
least one of the one or more data files shall be provided by the first user
before providing the
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at least one of the one or more data files to the one or more users. The at
least one of the one
or more data files are provided in a chronological order. The one or more data
files can be
received from an electronic device including one or more of a mobile device,
laptop, notepad,
tablet or personal computer.
[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, a computer-accessible medium can be
provided
which contains thereon software for providing multimedia, wherein, when a
processing
arrangement executes the software, the processing arrangement is configured to
perform
procedures comprising receiving one or more data files containing multimedia
from a first
user, storing the one or more data files containing the multimedia, and
providing at least one
of the one or more data files based on access granted by the first user and at
a future time set
by the first user. The multimedia can comprise one or more of image(s), audio,
text,
animation and video.
[0015] The processing arrangement can be further configured to perform
procedures
comprising providing the at least one of the one or more data files to one or
more users, and
providing notification to the one or more users that the at least one of the
one or more data
files shall be provided by the first user before providing the at least one of
the one or more
data files to the one or more users.
[0016] In some exemplary embodiments, a system for providing multimedia can
be
provided, comprising a database of accounts for each of a plurality of users,
a storage system
for storing data files containing multimedia associated with the accounts for
each of the
plurality of users, including first instructions from each of the plurality of
users specifying a
set of user(s) that the data files associated with their respective accounts
can be provided to,
and second instructions specifying when the set of user(s) can be provided the
data files
associated with their respective accounts, and a processing arrangement
configured to provide
the data files to the specified set of user(s) based on the first and second
instructions.
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[0017] The
processing arrangement can be further configured to provide notification to
the specified set of user(s) that the data files shall be provided before
providing the data files
to the specified set of user(s) based on the first and second instructions.
The multimedia can
comprise one or more of image(s), audio, text, animation and video. Each data
file can
contain multimedia from more than one of the plurality of users. The data
files can be
provided in a chronological order. The one or more data files containing
multimedia can be
received from each of the plurality of users from an electronic device
including one or more
of a mobile device, laptop, notepad, tablet or personal computer.
[0018] In
some exemplary embodiments, a method of providing a trustee service for
providing multimedia can be provided, comprising receiving one or more data
files
containing multimedia from a first user,
storing the one or more data files containing the
multimedia, receiving information from the first user specifying one or more
people with
whom at least one of the one or more data files should be provided to based on
a
predetermined criteria, monitoring if the predetermined criteria has been met
over a period of
time, and providing the at least one of the one or more data files to the one
or more people
specified by the first user when the predetermined criteria has been met. The
multimedia can
comprise one or more of image(s), audio, text, animation and video.
[0019] The
predetermined criteria can comprise one or more of a date, a condition and a
future event. The method can further comprise providing notification to the
one or more
people specified by the first user that the at least one of the one or more
data files shall be
provided by the first user before providing the at least one of the one or
more data files to the
one or more people specified by the first user. The at least one of the one or
more data files
can be provided electronically to the one or more people specified by the
first user.
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[0020] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present
disclosure will
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments
of the
present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing and other exemplary objects of the present disclosure
will be
apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with
the accompanying exemplary drawings and claims, in which like reference
characters refer to
like parts throughout, and in which:
[0022] Figure 1 is an illustration of a system according to an exemplary
embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0023] Figures 2-7 are illustrations of a mobile application according to
an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] Figure 8 is a block diagram of a trustee service according to an
exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0025] Figure 9 is an illustration of an example in which the trustee
service of Figure 8
can be utilized according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0026] Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters,
unless
otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or
portions of the
illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject disclosure will now be
described in
detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the
illustrative
embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the
described
embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF DISCLOSURE
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[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems according to the
present
disclosure are described below.
[0028] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide for
methods
and systems that can allow users to capture multimedia (e.g., in the form of
text, images,
audio, video, animation and/or other multimedia), create and publish audience
specific data
files using this multimedia, and deliver these data files at a time determined
by the sender.
These data files can be delivered based on various criteria, such as
permissions, events, and
time, and can be delivered via a secure cloud-based platform. The exemplary
embodiments
can provide users with the ability to customize a full spectrum of secure file
sharing based on
the intended audience, from completely private to completely public.
[0029] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide for
a virtual,
cloud-based location for providing this multimedia. As a result, the survival
rate of such
multimedia is significantly increased as they are less likely to be lost or
destroyed as
compared to physical files (e.g., letters, tapes and/or prints of photos). In
addition, such
exemplary embodiments reduce the cost associated with preserving such
multimedia.
[0030] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, users can
capture
multi-sensory moments using both web-based and mobile applications to upload
any text,
images, audio, video, and/or other multimedia to their specific account. Once
media assets
are uploaded to the account and to their specific platform, users can create a
message from,
e.g., a blank template using an online editor. The user can also choose
customizable
"memory filters" to compile and artistically render messages in ways that
capture the user's
impression of the memory in one click. Any template can be saved and shared at
the user's
discretion.
[0031] Flexibility and ease-of-use can be provided in the various
implementations of the
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Users can select their
audience, for each
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type of media or combination of media from their personal network, including
email contacts
and/or other social media connections. The user(s) can provide tiered access
and/or
condition(s)-based access to the one or more files for any combination of
users in their
network(s).
[0032] Tiered access can allow users to permit full access, limit access or
deny access to
the available audience in their network. It can also allow users to permit
full access or limit
access or deny access to selected elements of the file(s) for the intended
audience within their
network. Conditions-based access can allow users to set conditions for
accessing one or
more data files. When the conditions are met the date file or element in the
file becomes
viewable. Conditions can be based on various factors, such as an event(s),
time, date,
condition or other similar factor, that can trigger the delivery or unlocking
of the file and
grant access to a recipient.
[0033] The files can be delivered based on a specified time lapse, a future
date, and/or an
event in the future or other predetermined condition. Time lapses can be
measured in
seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years and can be determined by the user. In
some
exemplary embodiments, events can trigger the delivery of a file when the
criteria of the
event are satisfied, that is, when the event occurs. If the event does not
occur, conditions can
be set such that the file is not delivered to a recipient. For example, a
wedding or the birth of
a daughter can be the event to trigger the delivery of the file to a
recipient.
[0034] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure allow users to
capture and
share moments of their life that they want to share with others and/or future
generations.
Users can organize these moments and information from a central hub and
archive them in
the form of data files, which can be shared in a "life story" and shared with
audiences the
user chooses.
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[0035] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, these data
files
containing one or more multimedia (such as text, audio, video and/or
pictures), can be stored
in a secure, searchable, cloud-based database. Users can select the amount of
data storage
needed to preserve their files. Users can be provided the ability to save
information scattered
across multiple social networks in a central, easily accessible location.
[0036] Users can login to a website with a unique identifier to the user
(e.g., email
address, phone number, social network profile, etc.), and there can be an
added security
feature that can be used via 2-factor authentication. From a home page, people
may notate
user-representative information and add metadata to organize their data files
and determine
who may have access to the data files. Users can have a variety of memory
filter templates
that can facilitate this indexing and organization, such as by providing
titles to each data file.
For example, a data file can be titled "My Sweet 16", and can contain one
piece of
information, such as a picture, or can contain several pieces of information,
such as pictures,
text, video and/or audio.
[0037] During the time the data file is stored on a server, according to an
exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure, the user can control and enable whom,
when, and
where the data can be viewed. The creator of the data files can change these
permissions and
limit or provide access at any time. Through dedicated recordkeeping, it can
be ensured that
only the intended recipient(s) will receive the data file(s).
[0038] A database can be provided according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present
disclosure, such as a central repository where storing, locating, and sharing
the data files
containing various multimedia for each user can be provided. Centralized
digital storage can
enable scalable collaboration and the sharing of data files with friends,
families and others.
[0039] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, more than
one user can
contribute or provide multimedia to a particular file. For example, more than
one user can
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provide pictures, video, text and/or other multimedia to the particular data
file, such as a
particular event in the user's life (e.g., wedding, birthday, etc.). This can
allow certain family
members, friends, vendors or associates to contribute data files to and/or
collaborate on a
given data file. Users can invite others to follow them, allowing users to
follow relevant
events in a user's life. A search bar can be provided having a database of
everyone in the
user's network. Each follower will only have access to the data file(s) the
user intends the
follower to have.
[0040] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure allow for the
data files to
be shared in the present, such as with friends or family, or in the future,
such as for future
family and future generations if the user desires to do so.
[0041] Figure 1 is an illustration of an exemplary system of the present
disclosure. For
example, as shown in Figure 1, there may be a user A, B, C and D. The number
of users is
not limited to any particular number and the present disclosure contemplates a
number of
users. The users may use electronic devices 103, 105, 107 and 109. The
electronic device
can be a personal computer, laptop, notepad, tablet, mobile device, camera,
video camera or
any other type of electronic device. The user can have various multimedia,
such as but not
limited to audio, video, images, text and/or other multimedia stored on their
electronic
device. These multimedia can be uploaded in the form of a data file to server
111. For
example, user A can upload data files 113, 115 and 117 to server 111, user B
can upload data
files 119 and 121 to server 111, user C can upload data files 123, 125 and 127
to server 111,
and user D can upload data files 129 and 131 to server 111.
[0042] Each data file can include one or more multimedia. For example, data
file 113
can include audio and video related to a wedding, data file 115 can include a
picture of a
birthday, and data file 117 can include pictures and video of holiday
gathering for a family.
The data files are not limited to any particular media and each data file can
contain one or
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more of any audio, video, images, text and/or other multimedia that can be
uploaded to a
server 111.
[0043] Each data file also includes control access that the particular user
who uploads the
data file to the server can provide, such that the user can control and
provide permission to
who can view the data file and when. For example, user A can control data file
113 so that
only user B and user C can see the data file 113, and data file 117 can only
be seen by user D.
In this situation, the server 111 would only allow access to the particular
data files to the
users set by the user who uploaded the data file. Further, the user can
control when the
particular recipient will be able to view the data file. For example, user A
may control data
file 115 such that user B can see it at a certain time, e.g., 30 days. The
time can be any
number of seconds, hours, days, months or years and is not limited. The user
can also modify
this time at any point. An immediate notification can be provided to users B
and C that user
A has shared a data file with them, but is not immediately available. This can
build
anticipation from users B and C of what was sent to them by user A. The user
can also send
themselves a data file in the future. For example, user A can send themselves
data file 117 in
the future, such that when that time comes, server 111 would send the user
that particular data
file, via email or a request to view that particular data file in their
account. Such
embodiments can be used for predictions, such as for sporting events,
elections, stocks,
housing markets, etc.
[0044] Optionally, a "teaser" can be sent immediately to recipients if the
user plans to
send his data file to other users after a certain time period. For example,
user B may decide it
wants to send data file 119 to users C and D, but not for two days. User B can
send a "teaser"
immediately to users C and D such that users C and D would anticipate this
data file. For
example, a title could be sent such as "My Big Bash", leaving users C and D
curious as to
what event the data file may contain. If text is included in the data file,
the text could be
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scrambled and provided to the recipients. If a photo is included in the photo
could be blurred
or some other type of variation of the photo could be provided. If a video is
included in the
data file, a short clip of the video or a ripple effect on a few frames of the
video could be
provided to spark curiosity of the recipients.
[0045] The data file can also be delivered based on an event that may
occur, such as the
next presidential election, or the delivery may be conditional, depending on a
certain
condition or event to occur.
[0046] The user can have an account stored in the server so that all data
files uploaded are
shared with anyone in the user's networks, such that if users B and C are in
user A's network,
then all data files uploaded by user A can be viewed by users B and C. User A
can still
control when each data file can be viewed by users in their network. The user
A may restrict
access to view their data files at any time for any recipient. Therefore, each
user can have a
particular number of contacts in their network, and can have more than one
network. For
example, user A can have users B in their personal network, such as family or
friends, and
have user D in the professional network, such as a business partner.
Therefore, user A can
restrict each data file as to which is to be viewed by their personal or
professional networks.
[0047] The user can also be an entity or group, and not a person. For
example, user D
can be a group, such as a political party, fraternity, high school friends,
company or other
group, and is not limited to any particular person or number of people, or
type of entity.
[0048] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide for
collaboration
with other websites and/or social networks. For example, a user can choose
multi-media
from other websites in order to not only capture the multimedia, but also the
particular
contact with who that multimedia is associated, and the time period. For
example, a user can
upload pictures and video from other websites to the server, and create a data
file from that
multimedia, for sharing with other users immediately or at another time. The
contacts
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associated with the multimedia can also be included such that such information
is captured in
the particular data file, e.g., a person in a particular picture with the
user.
[0049] A user can view all their data files stored in a server based on a
particular contact,
a group or a date. For example, the user can select data files according to a
date, allowing
them to see all data files associated with a particular date or time frame,
creating a way to
remember the particular date or time frame for the user, which can assemble
all multimedia
uploaded to the server along with any multimedia from other social websites.
[0050] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a user can
upload all
pictures, audio recordings, videos, texts and/or other multimedia to the
user's account in the
server 111. The user can create data files at a later time, and choose which
multimedia can be
attached to which data file, and choose any contacts associated with that
multimedia. Any of
these data files can be chosen to share with any recipient in the present or
in the future.
[0051] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a data file
can be
created between more than one person, so that users can share it on their
network. Multiple
users can add to that data file, so that the data file is shared between users
in their network,
allowing more than one user to add to or modify the data file. For example,
user C can
upload data file 127 using electronic device 107 to the server 111, which can
be related to a
particular event, e.g., a wedding. User C can choose to allow user D to also
be a creator of
the data file 127, such that user D can also have access to data file 127, and
can add pictures,
video, text or other multimedia to data file 127. Therefore, user C and user D
can control
who can view the data file 127 and can control when any particular recipient
would have
access or be provided permission to that particular data file.
[0052] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, users can
follow other
user's and follow the data files and life stories of other users. The users
also may follow
celebrities, public figures and groups (who can choose which data files to
share with which
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users, such as some for "all"). This can allow some users to see data files of
people or groups
they may be interested in, and allow celebrities, public figures, groups, etc.
to share their data
files with the world. The data files can have adjustable levels of privacy.
For example, if
user B was a celebrity such as a movie star, and data file 119 was related to
a shooting of a
movie, if users C and D followed user B, and user B were to provide control
access to data
file 119 to be allowed to be viewed by their followers at a predetermined
time, then users C
and D would be able to view data file 119. For example, this can be beneficial
if the trailer of
the movie was to be released by 2pm on a particular date, user B could provide
access to the
data file 119 an hour prior to that. The control for that could be provided
ahead of time, such
as a month ahead of time, so that the permission for viewing the data file 119
would
automatically be provided at that time by server 111.
[0053] This can be different than if users were in each other's network.
For example, if
data file 121 was personal to user B, then control access could be provided so
that users C
and D would not be able to view data file 121, even if users C and D followed
user B. Only
user A may be able to see data file 121 if user A is in user B's network, such
as a family
member or friend. Providing control of the recipients of the data files and
when the particular
data file can be viewed can be important to many people or entities.
[0054] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, pages of
events
relating to a person or entity can be provided. For example, digital pages can
be provided
(for viewing through an electronic device) in which each page associated with
a user can
include a different moment captured with various multimedia. Each user can
have any
number of pages as the user creates, and can have a new page for every day,
hour, week,
month, year or whatever time frame the user chooses. The pages can be filled
with a moment
the user captures in video, picture, letters, recordings, and/or contacts
associated with the
multimedia. The contact can be associated when, e.g., a picture or video has
that contact in it
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or by the user connecting a contact with the particular multimedia (e.g., by
"tagging" the
multimedia with that contact).
[0055] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the date
and place of
when and where the user is can be on a top of the page. Each page can be
unique in its
material. Some can include only text, or pictures, or video, or a combination
of all. The
pages can allow for navigation of the pages based on date, showing the various
data files
according to dates. A graphic illustration can be provided causing the digital
pages to have
the look and feel of an actual book with pages.
[0056] A page can be provided where users can submit a new page to add to
the digital
book, allowing them to add data files and contacts associated with the data
files to the
particular page. For example, a new page can be added by a user for a
particular event
(birthday, marriage, etc.). A page can also be provided for users to send
themselves data files
into the future. For example, a user can send themselves a data file with
writing, pictures,
videos, voice recordings, and contacts, and/or other multimedia into the
future by a day,
week, month, year, etc.
[0057] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be provided
using a
personal computer, laptop, notepad, mobile device or any other type of
electronic device. In
some exemplary embodiments, a mobile phone can be provided having an
application that
provides the features described in the present disclosure as will be explained
below.
[0058] Users will be able to send data files containing text, pictures,
videos, recordings
and/or other multimedia to themselves, friends, family and other generations
in the future
from their mobile device using a phone application. For example, as shown in
Figure 2, a
mobile device 100 can be provided having a screen 102 that can display a logo
104. Tapping
on the logo can provide the screen shown in Figure 3, which can give a user
various options
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or icons, e.g., "Data Files" icon 108, "Send Data File" icon 110, "Capture
Moment" icon 112
and "Profiles" icon 114.
[0059] Clicking on a "Capture Moment" icon 112 can provide the screen in
Figure 4,
where the user can choose to capture the moment utilizing all forms of media,
such as
entering text through a "Text Note" icon 116, taking a picture using a
"Camera" icon 118,
recording sound using an "Audio Recording" icon 120, or taking a video using
"Video
Recording" icon 122. There can also be a "Contact" icon 124 to select people
from their
contact lists to choose a contact by their name or picture. The icons can be
changed or
added/deleted according to the user's preference, and other icons for other
multimedia can
also be included.
[0060] Clicking on the "Data Files" icon 108 can provide a screen as shown
in Figure 5,
where a user can view all the multimedia uploaded or added in the user's
account. The user
can view all of their content, such as any video(s) 126, image(s) 128 and
audio 130. A
timeline 132 can also be provided (along with dates) showing various
multimedia associated
with the user according to the date posted (e.g., image I, sound S, video V),
where scrolling
to the left can take you backwards in time and scrolling forward can take you
forward in time.
Here, any content uploaded to the user's account can be viewed on the screen.
When a user
captures any moment or sends any data file to the server, that particular data
file will be
added or saved to the user's account.
[0061] By clicking on the "Send Data File" icon 110, it can allow a user to
send a data
file from their mobile device 100, as shown in Figure 6. A user can choose
their intended
audience 134, allowing the user to select who to share the data file with. The
user can select
the duration of time 136, allowing the user to select a date/time to allow
when the data file
can be shared. The user can choose the moment 138 they want to use as the data
file, such as
text, audio or video stored in their mobile device, or captured at that
instant. The user can
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then send the data file to the intended recipient(s). The user can be provided
an option of
locking the data file using a lock icon 140, which can, e.g., provide a
security code for the
data file in order for the recipient to open the data file.
[0062] By clicking on the "Profiles" icon 114, the screen as seen in Figure
7 can be
provided, illustrating a Personal icon 142, Family icon 144, Generation icon
146 and Life
icon 148. The user can choose which contacts are displayed under the icons,
and can change
the names and categories of the various icons. For example, the user can
choose contacts
under family, friends, business associates, schools, fraternities, sororities,
professional
networks, etc. Choosing a particular contact will show all the shared data
files with the
particular contact.
[0063] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a GPS can
be provided
on the mobile device or other electronic device. This can allow a company such
as a
merchandise store, to monitor if a potential customer may be within the
vicinity. Any user of
the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be a potential
customer. For
example, a merchandise store can send a data file containing coupons or
special offers, which
may or may not be time limited. This can be location specific so that the user
only received
such data files if they are within a predetermined distance from the
particular merchandise
store. This can also be used if, e.g., a user is attending an event (e.g.,
sporting event, concert,
tournament, etc.) in a specific geographic area. If the user is at such an
event, e.g., a sporting
event, a team can send content or discounts at a team store, giveaways,
special offers, or other
information which the user may want to receive from the particular team.
[0064] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can allow for
members of a
family to share their data files, including text (e.g., letters), audio (e.g.,
messages to future
generations), video or pictures to their future generations or current family
members. For
example, a video can be made of a family member who moved to a new area or
country and
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wants to make a video of why he/she moved and settled in a new area, where
future
generations may live. A network of all family members could be made so that
all data files
can be shared across the network of family members currently and in the
future. Permissions
and control could be provided so that only members of that family network
would be able to
view those particular data files. This can also apply not to just family
members, but to
companies and all their employees, or a group/society and all its members.
Restricting
permissions and when the particular data file can be seen can be highly
important. For
example, a user may not want anyone to see a particular message or data file
until after a
certain time. Presidents or global leaders could provide powerful messages
years after their
death.
[0065] The controls can also be modified so that all data files are only
available at a
certain time period, e.g., ten years after they are uploaded. The access can
be controlled so
that the recipient only has permission for a certain time period to view them.
For example, a
data file can be controlled so that a recipient can view the data file in one
year, but only for
six months. Various different implementations and modifications regarding the
permissions
of the data files are provided by the exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0066] In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a trustee
service can be
set up utilizing the teachings of the present disclosure. Figure 8 is a block
diagram of a
trustee service 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
Initially, a sender 210 (e.g., a person(s) who creates and wants to send a
message) can use the
trustee service 100 or a third party system supported by the Application
Programming
Interface ("API") 250 to create a message. A message can be any electronic
message to be
delivered in the future, which can be digital, audio, video, text, or an
electronic document of
any format. The API can be used to serve the trustee service to third party
messaging
platforms such as email, Facebook0, Twitter and the like.
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[0067] The sender 210 can include various information in his/her
application (i.e., a
request application for sending a message to a recipient(s) according to
certain terms), such
as the definition of the recipient(s) 230, contact information of the related
parties 220,
estimated delivery date (not mandatory), and a definitions of terms. The
delivery date can be
the date and time in the future in which the message is to be delivered to the
recipient. The
creation date can be a date the sender submitted the message. A recipient can
be a future
recipient of the message. The terms can be a set of logical conditions that
need to be resolved
to create a triggering event that can trigger the delivery of the message to
the recipient(s).
The triggering event can be any future event in which the terms are resolved.
The related
parties can be addressable entities, people or organizations, which are likely
be the leads for
contacting the recipient and for confirming the terms and the triggering
event.
[0068] Upon submitting the application, the application may get queued in a
CRM
system 260, and can be pending review by an agent 240. The agent 240 can be a
person who
works for a trustee service performing the tasks that may require human
discretion such as
auditing, due diligence and research. The CRM system 260 can be a client
relationship
management system, which can be a software component that supports the
agent(s) by
programmatically notifying them when to conduct various tasks related to the
successful
delivery of the message such as, e.g., contacting the sender, related parties,
recipient,
checking and researching data relevant to the terms, scheduling the triggering
event and so
forth.
[0069] The agent 240 can check the feasibility of a delivering of the
message within a
reasonable effort and budget, and reviews the application. If the agent 240
determines that
delivering of the message under the terms is either not feasible or not cost
effective, they can
reject and application and notify the sender 210, or provide the sender 210
with notice of a
revised budget. If the Agent 240 deems that the message is deliverable, the
agent 240 can
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estimate its cost by considering various factors such as estimated delivery
time, complexity,
availability of the related parties 220 and so forth. The agent 240 can then
charge the sender
110 accordingly.
[0070] Periodically and according to the particular terms, the CRM 260 can
perform
checks to assess the progress of the terms being resolved. In particular, the
CRM 260 can
send automated emails to the sender 210 and related parties 220, inquiring
about their status,
and/or send reminders to the agent(s) 240, advising them to review the status
of the terms and
use human discretion where relevant.
[0071] Once the addressable recipient(s) 230 has been identified and
confirmed by an
agent 240, their contact information can be logged. Once the triggering event
has been
identified and confirmed by an agent 140, it can be logged. Once the terms
have been
resolved and confirmed by an agent 240, a delivery date can be chosen and
confirmed by an
agent 240. On the delivery date, the message can then be sent to the
recipient(s) 230.
[0072] Figure 9 is an illustration of an example in which the trustee
service of Figure 8
can be utilized according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure. In the
example shown in Figure 9, the sender can be Bill, father to Jane and Matt.
The recipient can
be Bill's first grandson. The terms can be that Bill's first grandson is older
than 18. The
triggering event can be Bill's first grandchild's 18th birthday party, and the
related parties can
be Bill's wife Michelle, and Jane and Matt (Bill's children).
[0073] In this example, Bill can first set up the message and terms at 310,
and the
Message and terms can be provided to an agent at 320, and a quote of a charge
can be
provided to Bill and approved by Bill. In the future, Bill may pass away, in
which case the
related parties are contacted by the agent and/or the CRM. At 330, for
example, Michelle can
be contacted at periodical inquiries to inquire if she has a grandchild. At
some point in the
future, a grandchild Jon may be born at 340. Note that Michelle may pass away
as well, in
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which Bill's children will be contacted. The related parties may change as
time passes, and
there may be an order of succession of whom to contact set up by the sender.
[0074] Once Jon is born, a request may be made at 350 for Jon's contact
information,
including an email address. As this information may change over time,
periodical inquiries
may be made as to the status of the email account, and email verification may
be required.
Once Jon is 18 years of age, the Message is provided from Bill to Jon at 360.
[0075] Various other considerations can also be addressed in the exemplary
applications
described according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Different terms
and various forms of messages may be delivered. The trustee service can have
various agents
for various assignments, and some may involve human intervention and some may
not. For
example, an event such as a particular date may be picked up by the computer
and may not
require human intervention. Various events can be provided in the terms for
delivery of the
message to the recipients.
[0076] The exemplary embodiments of the trustee service of the present
disclosure can be
used in various configurations and in different systems. Various computing
arrangements
can be provided, having a processor(s) configured or programmed to perform the
exemplary
steps and/or procedures of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
described
above. Various data described above can be stored in various storage
arrangements (e.g.,
hard drive, memory device, such as RAM, ROM, memory stick, floppy drive, other
tangible
computer-accessible medium, etc.). The processor(s) can access the storage
arrangement(s)
to execute a computer program or a set of instructions (stored on or in the
storage
arrangement) which can perform the procedures according to the exemplary
embodiments of
the methods and systems of the present disclosure.
[0077] The innovations herein may be implemented via one or more
components,
systems, servers, appliances, other subcomponents, or distributed between such
elements.
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When implemented as a system, such system may comprise, inter alia, components
such as
software modules, general-purpose CPU, RAM, etc. found in general-purpose
computers,
and/or FPGAs and/or ASICs found in more specialized computing devices. In
implementations where the innovations reside on a server, such a server may
include or
involve components such as CPU, RAM, etc., such as those found in general-
purpose
computers.
[0078]
Additionally, the innovations herein may be achieved via implementations with
disparate or entirely different software, hardware and/or firmware components,
beyond that
set forth above. With regard to such other components (e.g., software,
processing
components, etc.) and/or computer-readable media associated with or embodying
the present
inventions, for example, aspects of the innovations herein may be implemented
consistent
with numerous general purpose or special purpose computing systems or
configurations.
Various exemplary computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that
may be
suitable for use with the innovations herein may include, but are not limited
to: software or
other components within or embodied on personal computers, servers or server
computing
devices such as routing/connectivity components, hand-held or laptop devices,
multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, consumer
electronic
devices, network PCs, other existing computer platforms, distributed computing
environments that include one or more of the above systems or devices, etc.
[0079] In
some instances, aspects of the innovations herein may be achieved via or
performed by logic and/or logic instructions including program modules,
executed in
association with such components or circuitry, for example. In general,
program modules
may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc.,
that perform
particular tasks or implement particular instructions herein. The innovations
may also be
practiced in the context of distributed software, computer, or circuit
settings where circuitry
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is connected via communication buses, circuitry or links. In
distributed settings,
control/instructions may occur from both local and remote computer storage
media including
memory storage devices.
[0080]
Innovative software, circuitry and components herein may also include and/or
utilize one or more type of computer readable media. Computer readable media
can be any
available media that is resident on, associable with, or can be accessed by
such circuits and/or
computing components. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable
media
may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage
media
includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media
implemented in any
method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable
instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes,
but is not
limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM,
digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape,
magnetic disk storage or
other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store
the desired
information and can accessed by computing component. Communication media may
comprise computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or
other data
embodying the functionality herein. Further, communication media may include
wired media
such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as
acoustic, RF,
infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above are
also included
within the scope of computer readable media.
[0081] In
the present description, the terms component, module, device, etc. may refer
to
any type of logical or functional software elements, circuits, blocks and/or
processes that may
be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the functions of various
circuits and/or
blocks can be combined with one another into any other number of modules. Each
module
may even be implemented as a software program stored on a tangible memory
(e.g., random
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access memory, read only memory, CD-ROM memory, hard disk drive, etc.) to be
read by a
central processing unit to implement the functions of the innovations herein.
Or, the modules
can comprise programming instructions transmitted to a general purpose
computer or to
processing/graphics hardware via a transmission carrier wave. Also, the
modules can be
implemented as hardware logic circuitry implementing the functions encompassed
by the
innovations herein. The modules can be implemented using special purpose
instructions
(SIMD instructions), field programmable logic arrays or any mix thereof which
provides the
desired level performance and cost.
[0082] As disclosed herein, features consistent with the present disclosure
may be
implemented via computer-hardware, software and/or firmware. For example, the
systems
and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in various forms including, for
example, a
data processor, such as a computer that also includes a database, digital
electronic circuitry,
firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Further, while some of the
disclosed
implementations describe specific hardware components, systems and methods
consistent
with the innovations herein may be implemented with any combination of
hardware, software
and/or firmware. Moreover, the above-noted features and other aspects and
principles of the
innovations herein may be implemented in various environments. Such
environments and
related applications may be specially constructed for performing the various
routines,
processes and/or operations according to the invention or they may include a
general-purpose
computer or computing platform selectively activated or reconfigured by code
to provide the
necessary functionality. The processes disclosed herein are not inherently
related to any
particular computer, network, architecture, environment, or other apparatus,
and may be
implemented by a suitable combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.
For
example, various general-purpose machines may be used with programs written in
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accordance with teachings of the invention, or it may be more convenient to
construct a
specialized apparatus or system to perform the required methods and
techniques.
[0083] Aspects of the method and system described herein, such as the
logic, may also be
implemented as functionality programmed into any of a variety of circuitry,
including
programmable logic devices ("PLDs"), such as field programmable gate arrays
("FPGAs"),
programmable array logic ("PAL") devices, electrically programmable logic and
memory
devices and standard cell-based devices, as well as application specific
integrated circuits.
Some other possibilities for implementing aspects include: memory devices,
microcontrollers
with memory (such as EEPROM), embedded microprocessors, firmware, software,
etc.
Furthermore, aspects may be embodied in microprocessors having software-based
circuit
emulation, discrete logic (sequential and combinatorial), custom devices,
fuzzy (neural) logic,
quantum devices, and hybrids of any of the above device types. The underlying
device
technologies may be provided in a variety of component types, e.g., metal-
oxide
semiconductor field-effect transistor ("MOSFET") technologies like
complementary metal-
oxide semiconductor ("CMOS"), bipolar technologies like emitter-coupled logic
("ECL"),
polymer technologies (e.g., silicon-conjugated polymer and metal-conjugated
polymer-metal
structures), mixed analog and digital, and so on.
[0084] It should also be noted that the various logic and/or functions
disclosed herein
may be enabled using any number of combinations of hardware, firmware, and/or
as data
and/or instructions embodied in various machine-readable or computer-readable
media, in
terms of their behavioral, register transfer, logic component, and/or other
characteristics.
Computer-readable media in which such formatted data and/or instructions may
be embodied
include, but are not limited to, non-volatile storage media in various forms
(e.g., optical,
magnetic or semiconductor storage media) and carrier waves that may be used to
transfer
such formatted data and/or instructions through wireless, optical, or wired
signaling media or
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any combination thereof Examples of transfers of such formatted data and/or
instructions by
carrier waves include, but are not limited to, transfers (uploads, downloads,
e-mail, etc.) over
the Internet and/or other computer networks via one or more data transfer
protocols (e.g.,
HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and so on).
[0085] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the
description, the
words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an
inclusive sense as
opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of
"including, but not
limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural
or singular
number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "hereunder," "above,"
"below," and
words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any
particular portions
of this application. When the word "or" is used in reference to a list of two
or more items,
that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the
items in the list,
all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.
[0086] The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure.
Various
modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to
those skilled
in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that
those skilled in the
art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, manufacture and
methods which,
although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of
the disclosure
and are thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The disclosures of
all documents
and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
their entireties.
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