WO2018011323A1

WO2018011323A1 - Architecture and method for sharing digital forms of expression

Info

Publication number: WO2018011323A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/067649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vittorio Corona
Original assignee: Vittorio Corona
Priority date: 2016-07-13
Filing date: 2017-07-12
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: IT201600073379A1

Abstract

Architecture for sharing digital forms of expression, comprising: at least a multimedia exhibition space (16) on which to exhibit one or more digital forms of expression (El -En) and associated with at least one server (17) to connect the multimedia exhibition space (16) with a data exchange network (12) on a global level; one or more data processing devices (10) configured to communicate with the server (17) and to send to it, and therefore to the multimedia exhibition space (16), through the data exchange network (12), the one or more digital forms of expression (El-En); and at least an interface (11) for managing and sharing the one or more digital forms of expression (El -En), the interface (11) being installed at least on the one or more data processing devices (10).

Description

"ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD FOR SHARING DIGITAL FORMS OF EXPRESSION"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression, in particular an architecture for sharing one or more forms of expression or digital creations on one or more multimedia display spaces.

The multimedia display spaces can be located inside any enclosed environment, for example inside a building, such as a museum or other, but also in any outdoor environment, such as a public square or other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, there are different environments or complexes of environments used for the collection and display of works of art or rare objects of historical, cultural or scientific importance. Consider, for example, the exhibition of paintings inside a museum.

Inside these environments it is possible that there are also multimedia spaces where multimedia works are displayed, or in which certain artworks owned by the museum are projected, in order to display, for example, the collection of works of art of said museum.

However, in none of these environments, museums or exhibition spaces in general is it possible to project and share one's own concept or artistic or emotional content, since normally what is displayed and/or projected inside these environments is viewed passively.

The need that emerges from these preliminary considerations is to be able to share artistic and/or emotional forms of expression among multiple users, also remotely, and to actively participate by contributing to the creation of these artistic and/or emotional contents and/or expressions.

From the point of view of sharing data and information among many people, there are, as is known, different networks or social platforms that allow to create a group of individuals connected to each other by different social ties. Such ties range from random acquaintance, work relationships, family ties, or other.

These social networks allow to view and share certain contents with any user of the network or with certain circles of selected users, such as friends or acquaintances.

However, even known platforms or social networks do not allow one or more users to share a space on which they can project artistic and/or emotional content, or suchlike.

To date, therefore, there are no multimedia display spaces where people can project or insert their own artistic, emotional or similar content to be publicly shared with other people.

One purpose of the present invention is therefore to obtain an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression that represents the emotional state of the community of people participating in the project as a conceptual artistic work by displaying or representing in multimedia form the stream of digital forms of expression of the participants.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression that allows one or more remote users to insert their own digital contents or digital form of expression, of an artistic, emotional, or conceptual character or other, on a multimedia display space.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression that allows to increase the opportunities for people to participate in artistic, cultural or similar events.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression that also allows to create groups of people who want to share a particular interest, who want to express a point of view on a particular situation, piece of news or other and who want to project that form of expression and/or interest on a public multimedia display space.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression that can also advantageously be used for sociological investigations for therapeutic, educational or other purposes.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method for sharing digital forms of expression.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes and according to a first aspect of the invention, an architecture for sharing digital forms of expression, comprises: at least a multimedia exhibition space on which to exhibit one or more digital forms of expression and associated with at least one server to connect the multimedia exhibition space with a data exchange network on a global level; one or more data processing devices configured to communicate with the server and to send to it, and therefore to the multimedia exhibition space, through the data exchange network, the one or more digital forms of expression; and at least an interface for managing and sharing the one or more digital forms of expression; the interface is installed at least on the one or more data processing devices.

According to another aspect of the invention, the architecture comprises a plurality of multimedia exhibition spaces each provided with its own connection device to the network; the connection device is able to cooperate with one or more servers and the one or more servers are connectable remotely with one or more data processing devices for loading and displaying the digital forms of expression on the plurality of multimedia exhibition spaces.

According to another aspect of the invention, the interface of the data processing device allows to create one or more digital forms of expression.

In some embodiments, a mosaic of digital forms of expression, created and shared by a plurality of users, is exhibited on the multimedia exhibition space by means of the server.

The mosaic can be divided into a plurality of sub-groups relating to groups of users who share common interests.

According to other aspects of the invention, the server is configured to decontextualize the digital forms of expression received from a determinate group of users, by displaying on the multimedia exhibition space only the digital forms of expression sent by this group of users.

These digital forms of expression can comprise at least a first graphical element and at least a second conceptual element.

The interface of the data processing device can comprise at least a first screen for choosing a graphical element and at least a second screen for choosing a conceptual element.

The first graphical element can be for example an image, a photo, a drawing or suchlike and the second conceptual element can be for example a color to be associated with the first graphical element.

The digital forms of expression can be generated by a first algorithm for selecting fractal mathematical formulas, a second algorithm for selecting the variables of said mathematical formulas, and a third algorithm for selecting conceptual elements to be combined with said graphical elements.

The first algorithm can receive at input the statistical data relating to a group of digital forms of expression in a determinate period of time, so as to perform a statistical calculation of the conceptual elements associated to the group of digital forms of expression, for example the prevalent emotions associated with a series of images.

The statistical calculation can advantageously be performed off-line.

The invention also concerns a method for sharing digital forms of expression, comprising a step of choosing, by a determinate user, at least one digital form of expression through a data processing device connectable to a data exchange network on a global level; sending and sharing this digital form of expression on one or more multimedia exhibition spaces also shared by other users; creating a group or mosaic of digital forms of expression on these one or more multimedia exhibition spaces.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- figs, la, lb and lc schematically show a data processing device in a functioning sequence according to the method of the present invention;

- fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram relating to the logic and the architecture for sharing digital forms of expression according to the present invention;

- fig. 3 is a view of a multimedia exhibition space on which a plurality of remote users can project their own digital forms of expression, such as an element with an artistic and/or emotional content;

- fig. 4 shows a block diagram relating to an example of the present method of sharing multimedia exhibition spaces.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We shall now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

With reference to the attached drawings, fig. 1 shows a data processing device 10, for example a portable device such as a smartphone or suchlike.

The data processing device 10 could also be a tablet, a fixed or portable computer, or other.

The data processing device 10 comprises an interface 1 1 for data acquisition, display and processing, for example in the form of a touchscreen or other.

The processing device 10 will comprise a communication module able to enable it to access a data transport network 12 on a global level, such as the internet, represented by continuous lines and lines of dashes in fig. 2.

The interface 1 1 of the device 10 is associated with an app provided with at least a first screen 13a containing a series of graphical elements 14.

The interface 11 allows to choose at least one of the graphical elements 14, let us suppose the graphical element 14a.

The graphical elements 14, 14a may be images, drawings, photos or suchlike, but also texts, textual elements, symbols or other.

The app then allows to display at least a second screen 13b by which a conceptual element 15, for example the conceptual element 15a, can be associated with the selected graphical element 14.

The conceptual elements 15, 15a can be, for example, a color, a writing, another image, a photo, a textual or other element.

The conceptual elements 15, 15a substantially have the function of associating a feeling or another emotion with the selected graphical element 14a.

If the conceptual elements 15, 15a are colors, for example, it is known that the colors chosen by a particular person correspond to certain emotions and/or moods: for example, yellow generally corresponds to a feeling of joy, red to a feeling of anger, blue to a feeling of anguish or sadness, purple to a feeling of hatred, certain shades of green can mean confidence, fear or surprise, and so on. The app on the device 10 allows to display on the interface 1 1 an additional screen 13c in which a complete digital form of expression El is represented, that is, formed, for example, by a first graphical element 14a and a second conceptual element 15 a. If, for example, the first graphical element 14a chosen is an image and the second conceptual element 15a chosen is a color, in the screen 13c the image will be projected with a sort of veil of the chosen color.

As can be seen from fig. 2, a number of users Ul-Un spread around the world have been hypothesized and provided with a data processing and transmission device 10.

A series of places Ll-Ln in which a multimedia display space 16 is positioned, such as a monitor or other, are also hypothesized.

Each of the multimedia display spaces 16 present in a determinate place Ll-Ln will be connected to a data communication and data processing server 17. In this way, it is possible to connect each of the multimedia display spaces 16 of any one place Ll-Ln to the data transport network 12.

Each of the multimedia display spaces 16, therefore, to connect to the server 17 and hence to the network 12, will be provided with its own integrated connection device.

The digital form of expression El, created and sent by way of example by any one of the users Ul-Un, let us suppose user Ul, will therefore be projected on the multimedia display space 16 of one or more places, for example in the multimedia display space of place L 1.

The data processing server 17 is also responsible not only for communicating between the various users Ul-Un spread around the world and the various multimedia display spaces 16, but also for processing the digital forms of expression El -En generated by users Ul-Un, see also fig. 3.

The server 17 is provided with an application component able to display individual digital forms of expression El -En, for example in a panoramic format.

The server 17 basically assembles and positions in the corresponding multimedia display space 16 the various digital forms of expression El -En until a mosaic 18 is formed.

The mosaic 18 in this case is rectangular in shape, but clearly, it can be provided that it is made in any other shape and/or size.

The mosaic 18 can comprise a uniform distribution of digital forms of expression El -En, or zones with greater density of digital forms of expression, empty spaces or other can be provided on the multimedia display space 16. Substantially therefore, a stream of digital forms of expression El -En is created, sent by the various users Ul-Un and is displayed on one or more multimedia display spaces 16 of multiple places Ll-Lm, for example museums, public or private exhibition spaces, at the same time. Each multimedia display space 16, as we said, is connected to the network 12, for example the internet, through its own server 17 and it can download the stream therefrom.

Each multimedia display space 16 will be updated in real time, and the spectator physically present in the vicinity of the multimedia display space 16 can interact with and participate in the effects of the dynamic changes of the installation, each contribution arriving from the network 12 will produce a visible change on each active multimedia display space 16.

The finished multimedia display space 16 will be filled up to a maximum number of digital forms of expression El -En to be set, the spectator who is physically in front of the multimedia display space 16 can select the single digital form of expression El -En to highlight it for example, possibly together with correlated information (author, location, associated text, etc.).

At the base of the digital form of expression El -En there may be a temporal chronology that indicates to which period what the spectator is seeing corresponds, and it will be possible to scroll through the stream in the "past" by means of an interface provided with directional keys, touchscreen modes or suchlike.

The multimedia display spaces 16, as we said, are provided with attached connection devices that will discharge the stream of digital forms of expression

El -En directly from the server 17.

The server 17 can consist of an infrastructure distributed on a global level, it can be achieved by a multiplicity of servers that replicate the stream of digital forms El -En, so as to maintain continuity in the event of breakdowns or other anomalies in the data transport network, or other.

Preferably, therefore, the multimedia display spaces 16 do not interact and are not directly connected to the devices 10 but, as we have seen, through their own integrated or attached connection device and the server 17, or the multiplicity of servers.

Each of the servers 17 associated with the corresponding multimedia display space 16 can also be provided with data storage units.

It is also possible to provide that there are groups of people who want to create their own stream, regarding a topic of common interest, for example an event, activity, news or other.

Let us suppose, by way of example, that the users U1-U5 of fig. 3 belong to the same group Gl that shares a common interest: the users U1-U5, even located in different parts of the world, can project their digital forms of expression, for example the digital forms of expression E1-E5, in a determinate multimedia display space 16. It may be possible to display, on said multimedia display space 16, only the digital forms of expression E1-E5 belonging to that particular group Gl.

In other words, the groups, such as for example the group Gl, are a subset of the main stream created by this architecture.

A user who wants to create his own stream, such as the group Gl, can invite his contacts and friends to participate in his own space, giving it a title and contextualizing it, deciding who can participate and who can view it.

The experience for users will be a hybrid between known social media and social networks, with the possibility of receiving notifications when a member of the group of the group's "followers" has provided his own contribution.

In essence, therefore, the group Gl will feed the main stream of digital forms of expression coming from other users. The digital forms of expression E1-E5 uploaded by users U1-U5 in the group Gl will preferably be displayed, as mentioned, in de-contextualized mode compared to the digital forms of expression E6-En of all the other users U6-Un. Among the other users U6-Un, of course, there may be other groups that will form other subsets of the main stream.

In this case, the server 17 will also have filtering functions for the digital contents or forms of expression from a particular group of users.

The possibility of dividing streams from users according to topics or groups of interest may also have significant sociological and research implications, for example a multimedia display space installed in a city square and where users can project their own digital forms of expression, and therefore for example their moods, feelings and emotions about certain topics.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a flow chart of an example of use of the app installed on the data processing device 10.

The app installed on the data processing device 10 can be accessed substantially in three modes: a first mode as a new user, block B 1, a second mode as an already registered but unconnected user, block B2, or a third mode as an already registered and connected user, block B3.

In the case of a new user, there is a registration procedure, block B4, followed by a step where the new user inputs his data, block B5, and a registration confirmation message, block B6, for example by e-mail, text message or other message.

In the case of an already registered user, there is a step to access the app, block B7.

In all cases, at the end of the above steps, the homepage of the app is displayed, block B8, from which several operations can be performed.

A first operation, block B9, provides loading, for example, photos, images, texts, drawings or other, that is, the graphical elements 14. Subsequently, block B10, the graphical element is selected, for example, the graphical element 14a of fig. 1 and the conceptual element is associated with it, for example the conceptual element 15a, which is, for example, an emotion or state of mind.

After this step, there follows the publication of the digital form of expression El -En on-line on the network 12 and then on the multimedia display space 16 of one or more locations Ll-Ln scattered around the world, block Bl 1.

This step can be followed by a step of sharing the digital form of expression El -En published through a social network, block B 12. After these steps, it is possible to go back to block B8 relating to the main screen of the app or homepage.

Other operations can be performed from the main screen. Another operation can be to invite another person to access the app, block B13. The invitation can be made through social networks, email, text message or other system.

Another operation, block B14, may be surfing, and hence the display, of other digital forms of expression shared by other users.

The surfing may include interaction with said works, block B15, possibly assigning its own conceptual element, such as an emotion or otherwise, block B 16, or it can include the sharing of a particular digital form of expression that is part of the general stream sent by other users too, block B 17. The sharing can be directed to position that digital form of expression on its own homepage, block B 18.

Another function of the app is the creation of a group with whom to share a particular topic, block B 19.

An image or other digital form of expression El -En can be generated according to the process now described.

Advantageously, an algorithm is used to generate the digital form of expression El -En according to a database that contains a series of data collected over time by a plurality of users connected to the server 17, for example by the data processing device 10.

The emotional contributions of each user Ul-Un are preferably single for each image, therefore, each image can have an emotion and a color as attribute.

The data collected in the database can be defined emotional data or metadata and, like every other kind of data, can be processed statistically.

The statistical data can concern, for example, a determinate color and emotion associated over time and by various users with a determinate image. The color therefore expresses a determinate emotion, hence a conceptual element combined with a graphical element.

One step in the process of generating the digital form of expression can therefore be the processing of emotional data based on the calculation of statistical values of said data in a determinate period, so as to obtain, for example, a characteristic distribution based on parameters relating to the users and/or the zone where said users are.

In other words, the statistical calculations are performed on a group or set of single emotional data able to be linked to one or more users.

Preferably, a user can not associate an emotion and therefore a color with an image or graphic element to which another conceptual element has been already assigned, or associated, said conceptual element can be, for example, an image or graphic element that has been already assigned to said image or graphic element.

The process can be performed off-line by the present architecture.

The statistical data, relating for example to a determinate period of time, can advantageously be used in a first algorithm that selects mathematical formulas based on fractal mathematics.

The formulas are known. Substantially, the data input in said formulas will be the statistical data obtained from the emotional database, for example the conceptual elements that are most associated with a determinate image to express a determinate emotion.

The above algorithm can select a mathematical formula based on fractal mathematics. An example of such a mathematical formula is known as "Benesi Pine Tree". The input variables that can be set in said formula are, for example, the Number of Interactions, Julia mode or function with relative parameters, etc., so as to obtain at output an image, or a digital expression form, which has provided with conceptual features coherent to the conceptual elements, for example an emotion or a group of emotions, that are prevalent according to the statistic calculations.

Therefore, substantially, the first algorithm can receive at input the statistical data relating to a group of digital forms of expression in a determinate period of time, so as to perform a statistical calculation of the conceptual elements associated to the group of digital forms of expression, for example the prevalent emotions associated with a series of images.

At this point, a second algorithm able to select the variables of said mathematical formulas based on fractal mathematics can be used.

Said algorithm can calculate the number of iterations to obtain a suitable balance of the formulas, that is, the greater the number of iterations, the greater the detail of the image or digital form of expression that will be obtained.

A third algorithm will then be used to select the conceptual element, for example a color, to be associated with a determinate graphical element, for example a determinate image. This algorithm bases the selection of the conceptual elements on a statistical base, for example the choice of the color must preferably be coherent with the statistical data collected.

The three algorithms described above, that is, the algorithm for selecting the fractal mathematical formulas, the algorithm for calculating the number of iterations to be performed with said formulas, and the algorithm for selecting the colors substantially generate a file of setting parameters for a software for generating digital forms of expression, such as suitably processed images, based on the emotions expressed, which can also consist of works of art with which an emotion is associated.

The digital form of expression can be stored in a database of images, which can also be used to obtain data to be used in the emotional database described above.

Substantially, therefore, every user can create his own work of art based on an image and an emotion, and can then share it with the other users, through the server 17.

The data to be used in this process of generating an image or suitably processed digital form of expression can be the graphical elements 14, 14a, for example images, photos, drawings or suchlike, and the conceptual elements 15,15a can therefore be colors to be associated with said graphical elements 14, 14a.

The present architecture can also comprise a software, for example on the data processing device 10, for mapping and signaling a territorial distribution of the digital forms of expression obtained, based on the data supplied by the various users, for example in a determinate zone.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the architecture and the method for sharing digital forms of expression as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of architecture and the method for sharing digital forms of expression, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. Architecture for sharing digital forms of expression, characterized in that it comprises: at least a multimedia exhibition space (16) on which to exhibit one or more digital forms of expression (El -En) and associated with at least one server (17) to connect said multimedia exhibition space (16) with a data exchange network (12) on a global level; one or more data processing devices (10) configured to communicate with said server (17) and to send to it, and therefore to said multimedia exhibition space (16), through said data exchange network (12), said one or more digital forms of expression (El -En); and at least an interface (1 1) for managing and sharing said one or more digital forms of expression (El -En), said interface (1 1) being installed at least on said one or more data processing devices (10).

2. Architecture as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of multimedia exhibition spaces (16) each provided with its own connection device to the network (12), said connection device being able to cooperate with said server (17) or with a plurality of servers (17), and said server (17) or said plurality of servers (17) being connectable remotely with said one or more data processing devices (10) for loading and displaying said digital forms of expression (El-En) on said plurality of multimedia exhibition spaces (16).

3. Architecture as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said interface (11) of the data processing device (10) allows to create one or more digital forms of expression (El -En).

4. Architecture as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that a mosaic (18) of digital forms of expression (E l -En), created and shared by a plurality of users (Ul-Un), is exhibited on said multimedia exhibition space (16) by means of said server (17).

5. Architecture as in claim 4, characterized in that said mosaic (18) can be divided into a plurality of sub-groups relating to groups (Gl) of users who share common interests.

6. Architecture as in claim 5, characterized in that said server (17) is configured to decontextualize the digital forms of expression (E1-E5) received from a determinate group (Gl) of users, by displaying on the multimedia exhibition space (16) only the digital forms of expression (El -En) sent by said group (Gl) of users.

7. Architecture as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said digital forms of expression (El -En) comprise at least a first graphical element (14, 14a) and at least a second conceptual element (15, 15a).

8. Architecture as in claim 7, characterized in that said interface (11) comprises at least a first screen (13a) for choosing a graphical element (14, 14a) and at least a second screen (13b) for choosing a conceptual element (15, 15a).

9. Architecture as in claim 7, characterized in that said first graphical element (14, 14a) is an image, a photo, a drawing or suchlike and said second conceptual element (15, 15a) is a color to be associated with said first graphical element (14, 14a).

10. Architecture as in any claim from 7 to 9, characterized in that said digital forms of expression (El -En) are generated by a first algorithm for selecting fractal mathematical formulas, a second algorithm for selecting variables of said mathematical formulas, and a third algorithm for selecting conceptual elements (15, 15a) to be combined with said graphical elements (14, 14a).

1 1. Architecture as in claim 10, characterized in that said first algorithm receives at input the statistical data relating to a group of digital forms of expression (El -En) in a determinate period of time, so as to perform a statistical calculation of the conceptual elements associated to the group of digital forms of expression.

12. Architecture as in claim 10, characterized in that said statistical calculation is performed off-line.

13. Method for sharing digital forms of expression, characterized in that it comprises a step of choosing, by a determinate user (Ul-Un), at least one digital form of expression (El -En) through a data processing device (10) connectable to a data exchange network (12) on a global level; sending and sharing said digital form of expression (El -En) on one or more multimedia exhibition spaces (16) also shared by other users (Ul-Un); creating a group or mosaic (18) of digital forms of expression (El -En) on said one or more multimedia exhibition spaces