System for creating and distributing a cartoon to mobile devices

Abstract

A system for creating cartoons for mobile devices facilitates the creation and dissemination of cartoons to a plurality of mobile devices and computers. A cartoon can comprise of multiple panels, and each panel, in addition to graphics and text, can have an ordered set of audio (voice, music, etc.) provided, which are played back in a mobile device by a cartoon client component in the specified order for each of the panels. A computer or PC comprising the cartoon creator functionality is used to generate cartoons and communicate it to a cartoon distribution server.

1 . A system for creating and distributing a cartoon, the system comprising:
 a cartoon creator device comprising a processor and a cartoon creator software that is executed on the processor, the cartoon creator device configured to send a new cartoon for storage and distribution;   the system configured to store the new cartoon and distribute it to a plurality of cartoon display devices associated with a plurality of recipients;   wherein the cartoon creator device is operable to facilitate creation of the new cartoon, the new cartoon comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel comprises at least one graphics or a video clip, at least one text entry, and an ordered set of audio clips recorded by the cartoon creator software; and   wherein the cartoon creator software is operable to guide a user through creation of each of the plurality of panels, one panel at a time.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the plurality of cartoon display devices each comprise a cartoon client component configured to enable a corresponding recipient to view the new cartoon; and 
 wherein the cartoon client component presents the ordered set of audio clips for each of the plurality of panels in an order specified. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartoon creator device is one of a PC, a notebook computer a tablet, a mobile device or a laptop. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartoon display devices are mobile phones, tablets or gaming consoles. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a server communicatively coupled to the cartoon creator device and the plurality of cartoon display devices; and   the server facilitating the dissemination of the new cartoon received from the cartoon creator device to at least one of the plurality of cartoon display devices.   
     
     
         6 . The system for creating and distributing a cartoon according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the plurality of cartoon display devices communicatively coupled to the server, each with at least one of an IP address, an email address or a phone number;   the server receiving a list of recipients along with the new cartoon from the cartoon creator device, wherein the list of recipients comprises one of an IP address, an email address or a phone number for at least one of the plurality of cartoon display devices; and   the server communicating the new cartoon to the at least one of the plurality of cartoon display devices employing the list of recipients.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cartoon creator software further comprising:
 the cartoon creator software operable to provide screens for creation and modification of the plurality of panels of the new cartoon, one panel at a time; 
 the cartoon creator software operable to capture a plurality of audio inputs, graphics and video inputs, for each panel; and 
 the cartoon creator software operable to arrange the plurality of audio inputs, graphics and video inputs, for each panel, into an ordered set for display. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the cartoon creator device further comprises:
 a microphone;   a plurality of music pieces in digital form; and   wherein each of the audio inputs are either one of a voice input captured by the cartoon creator software employing the microphone or a portion of one or more of the plurality of music pieces incorporated by the cartoon creator software into the new cartoon.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cartoon creator device is also one of the plurality of cartoon display devices and the cartoon creator software also incorporates the cartoon client component. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cartoon creator software provides means to integrate one of a pre-created graphics, a digital image, a digital photo taken by the user employing a camera available on the cartoon creator device and a video taken by the user employing the camera, into at least one of the plurality of panels of the cartoon. 
     
     
         11 . A method performed by a cartoon display software in a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to a network, the method comprising the steps of:
 displaying to a user of the mobile device a list of cartoons provided to the user;   accepting from the user a selection from the list of cartoons for viewing;   receiving at least one portion of the selected cartoon wherein the cartoon comprises a plurality of panels, wherein each panel comprises graphics, text, optional video, animation and an ordered set of audio clips;   showing the panels of the at least one portion of a cartoon sequentially one panel at a time, with the ordered set of audio clips presented in a specified order;   accepting user input associated with the at least one portion of a cartoon; and   advancing selectively to a subsequent panel, or reverting to a previous panel of the at least one portion of a cartoon, in response to the user input.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving a notification with one of a link, an identification or a reference to the cartoon; and   retrieving the cartoon from a server communicatively coupled to the mobile device to present it to the user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 employing a camera of the mobile device for taking digital photos and video;   using a microphone for recording voice inputs; and   facilitating creation of a new cartoon, wherein the new cartoon comprises multiple panels and each panel comprises a combination of digital photo taken, a video taken by the user, an ordered set of audio clips recorded by the user, and one or more textual data entries.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 accepting and incorporating into a cartoon panel a digital image provided by the user by drawing on a touch sensitive screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
         15 . A mobile device for creating and distributing cartoons, the mobile device comprising:
 a processor circuitry, a microphone circuitry and a camera circuitry;   a cartoon creator and display software that executes on the processing circuitry operable to at least:
 facilitate panel creation for a cartoon wherein the cartoon comprises a plurality of panels, at least one of the plurality of panels comprising at least one cartoon character; 
 guide a user through creation of each of the plurality of panels, one panel at a time, including recording a video clip optionally and recording the voice input for one of an ordered set of audio clips for each of the at least one cartoon character, employing the microphone circuitry and the camera circuitry in the mobile device; 
 associate the voice input, as appropriate, with the corresponding at least one cartoon character and the corresponding at least one of the plurality of panels and store the voice input, along with a metadata comprising a category identifier, as part of the cartoon; and 
 transmit the cartoon for queuing and distribution along with a list of recipients and the metadata for the cartoon. 
   
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the metadata comprises a category identification, a target profile describing a likely profile of recipients expected to be interested in the cartoon, security information and a digital signature of the cartoon for integrity check. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 15  further comprising:
 the cartoon creator and display software operable to facilitate the creation of a cartoon comprising a plurality of characters wherein each of the plurality of panels comprises a representation of at least one of the plurality of characters, wherein the representation is at least one of a graphic image drawn by a user, a digital photo taken by the user, a clipart, a text dialog, an animation, a video clip, a portion of the voice inputs and an audio input. 
 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the cartoon creator and display software facilitates graphic sketching by a user, using a touch sensitive display, of at least one of the plurality of characters by a user for at least one of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the cartoon creator and display software facilitates sending of a newly created cartoon via email to one or more recipients and forwarding of a received cartoon to one or more recipients. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the cartoon creator and display software displays a notification received from a server indicating availability of relevant cartoons.