System and method for sequencing media objects

Abstract

A method of displaying a long animation is provided. The animation is defined in an animation file, which identifies a set of images that form the animation when sequentially displayed. A batch processor segments the set of images into sequential subsets, with each subset sized smaller than a maximum size. In this way, all of the images identified in a particular subset may be loaded into memory. Each subset of images is associated with a respective segment identifier, and an instruction is provided along with the images to order the subsets. In this way, a first subset of images provides for the loading of a second subset of images, thereby enabling the display of long animations.

1 . A method for displaying an animation on a mobile phone having a processor, a memory and a display screen, comprising:
 enabling the processor to perform as a batch processor and as an animation engine;   receiving an instruction to display an animation file on the mobile phone, retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor;   predetermining a maximum memory size based on the memory corresponding to the mobile phone;   generating a first and second set of images with the batch processor;   associating a callback identifier with the second set of images;   providing the callback identifier with the first set of images;   loading the first set of images into the memory, the memory readable by the animation engine;   displaying sequentially each image in the first set of images;   retrieving the callback identifier associated with the first set of images;   using the callback identifier to load the second set of images into the memory; and   displaying sequentially each image in the second set of images.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animation file further comprises a plurality of images ordered for sequential display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein predetermining a maximum memory size based on the memory corresponding to the mobile phone further comprises the maximum memory size corresponding to a maximum amount of memory usable to load each set images. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animation file further comprises
 a plurality of images ordered for sequential display;   a file identifier that indicates a file name for each image;   a file format descriptor that indicates the stored format for each image; and   a file size indicator that provides a file size for each image.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor further comprises the batch processor extracting the file identifier for each image, the file format descriptor for each image, and the file size indicator for each image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of receiving an instruction to display an animation file on the mobile phone according to  claim 5 , wherein the animation file comprises a file size indicator that indicates the number of bytes or kilobytes that each image consumes in memory. 
     
     
         7 . The method of receiving an instruction to display an animation file on the mobile phone according to  claim 5 , wherein the animation file comprises a file size indicator that is a relative number indicating a relative size of a bit map. 
     
     
         8 . The method of retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor of  claim 5 , wherein the batch process has a configuration file for setting default configurations. 
     
     
         9 . The method of retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor of  claim 5 , wherein the instruction is an end of file indicator for the final set of images. 
     
     
         10 . The method of retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor of  claim 5 , wherein the batch process is completed at a different time than when the animation is to be viewed. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile phone, comprising:
 a processor capable of performing as a batch processor and an animation engine;   a memory operatively coupled to the processor;   a display screen operatively coupled to the processor, the display capable of displaying an animation file in response to an instruction received by the processor;   the animation file retrieved responsive to the instruction received by the batch processor;   a maximum memory size based on the memory, the maximum memory size corresponding to a maximum amount of memory usable to load each set of images;   a first set of images generated with the batch processor;   a second set of the images generated with the batch processor;   a callback identifier associated with the second set of images;   a callback identifier providing along with the first set of images;   wherein the first set of images are loaded into the memory readable by the animation engine; and   wherein the callback identifier provided with the first set of images is retrieved and used to load the second set of images into the memory.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile phone of  claim 11  wherein the animation file further comprises a plurality of images ordered for sequential display. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile phone of  claim 12  wherein predetermining a maximum memory size based on the memory corresponding to the mobile phone further comprises the maximum memory size corresponding to a maximum amount of memory usable to load each set images. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile phone of  claim 11  wherein the animation file further comprises
 a plurality of images ordered for sequential display;   a file identifier that indicates a file name for each image;   a file format descriptor that indicates the stored format for each image; and   a file size indicator that provides a file size for each image.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile phone of  claim 14  wherein retrieving the animation file responsive to the instruction with the batch processor further comprises the batch processor extracting the file identifier for each image, the file format descriptor for each image, and the file size indicator for each image. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile phone of  claim 15  wherein the first set of images generated with the batch processor further comprises the file size of each image aggregating to a size up to the predetermined maximum memory size, the first set of images having a file identifier and a final image. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile phone of  claim 16  wherein the second set of images generated with the batch processor further comprises the file size of each image aggregating to a size up to the predetermined maximum memory size, the images in the second set being in sequence behind the final image. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile phone of  claim 17  wherein after the first set of images are loaded into the memory readable by the animation engine, each image in the first set of images is displayed sequentially, using the image order in the animation file. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile phone of  claim 18 , wherein after the callback identifier provided with the first set of images is retrieved and used to load the second set of images into the memory, each image in the second set of images is displayed sequentially, using the image order in the animation file. 
     
     
         20 . A mobile phone, comprising:
 a processor capable of performing as a batch processor and an animation engine;   a memory operatively coupled to the processor;   a display screen operatively coupled to the processor, the display capable of displaying an animation file in response to an instruction received by the processor, the animation file comprising:
 a plurality of images ordered for sequential display, 
 a file identifier that indicates a file name for each image, 
 a file format descriptor that indicates the stored format for each image, 
 a file size indicator that provides a file size for each image; 
   the animation file retrieved responsive to the instruction received by the batch processor, wherein the batch processor extracts the file identifier for each image, the file format descriptor for each image, and the file size indicator for each image;   a maximum memory size based on the memory, the maximum memory size corresponding to a maximum amount of memory usable to load each set of images;   a first set of images generated with the batch processor, in which the file size of each image aggregates to a size up to the predetermined maximum memory size, the first set of images having a file identifier and a final image;   a second set of the images generated with the batch processor, in which the file size of each image aggregates to a size up to the predetermined maximum memory size, the images in the second set being in sequence behind the final image;   a callback identifier associated with the second set of images;   a callback identifier providing along with the first set of images;   wherein the first set of images are loaded into the memory readable by the animation engine;   wherein each image in the first set of images is displayed sequentially, using the image order in the animation file;   wherein the callback identifier provided with the first set of images is retrieved and used to load the second set of images into the memory; and   wherein each image in the second set of images is displayed sequentially, using the image order in the animation file.