Authoring tool for the authoring of wrap packages of cards

Abstract

An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An authoring tool, embedded in a tangible computer readable medium, the authoring tool configured to enable the authoring of a wrap package by defining:
 (i) a wrap descriptor that specifies a set of cards associated with the wrap package;   (ii) a structure, layout and content of the set of cards suitable for display on a computer display separately from their presentation; and   (ii) a plurality of card descriptors, each card descriptor arranged to define the content, structure and layout of an associated one of the cards.   
     
     
         2 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more card templates used for authoring the set of cards of the wrap package; and   an authoring tool set that enables customized authoring of the one or more card templates to create the set of cards of the wrap package.   
     
     
         3 . The authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further enabling the authoring of the cards of the wrap package from card templates to selectively include one or more of the following:
 (i) a component for containing or referencing an object;   (ii) a headline for the insertion of text; or   (iii) a trigger that triggers an action when activated.   
     
     
         4 . The authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further enabling the authoring of the set of cards from one or more card templates, each of the cards of the wrap package selectively authored to include the structure, layout, content and style as defined by the author using the authoring tool. 
     
     
         5 . An authoring tool of  claim 1 , further configured to selectively enable authoring of a card in the set to include one or more component(s), the one or more components containing inline or externally referencing one or more object(s) to be rendered when the card is rendered. 
     
     
         6 . An authoring tool of  claim 1 , further configured to selectively enable authoring of a card in the set to include one or more defined or declared or behavior(s) that is/are bound to the card when rendered. 
     
     
         7 . An authoring tool of  claim 1 , further configured to selectively enable authoring of a card in the set to include one or more trigger(s), each of the one or more trigger(s) causing a predefined action to be performed when activated when the card is rendered. 
     
     
         8 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more card templates used for authoring the set of cards of the wrap package, the one or more card templates defining one or more card layouts for the set of cards which are derived from the one or more card templates respectively. 
     
     
         9 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further configured to assign, for each of the cards of the wrap package, a layout that defines the presentation of the associated card and that includes a unique layout identifier and an internal layout definition in-line with the card descriptor. 
     
     
         10 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further configured to enable authoring of a wrap title for the wrap package distinct from the wrap identifier. 
     
     
         11 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further configured to assign, for each of the card descriptors, an associated card identifier that uniquely identifies the associated card. 
     
     
         12 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a sequencing tool for authoring one or more linear sequences for rendering the set of cards, the one or more sequences including:
 (i) a horizontal sequence;   (ii) a vertical sequence; or   (iii) both the horizontal and the vertical sequences.   
     
     
         13 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a new card tool for creating and adding a new card to the set of cards of the wrap package. 
     
     
         14 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a card type selector tool for defining a card type among a plurality of card types for a new card added to the wrap package, the plurality of card types including:
 (a) a textual card;   (b) an image or photo card;   (c) a video card;   (d) a document card;   (e) a gallery card;   (f) a chat card;   (g) a location or GPS functionality card;   (h) a transact card;   (i) an appointment making card; and   (j) an end of the wrap package card.   
     
     
         15 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further including an authoring workspace for authoring the set of cards of the wrap package, the authoring workspace including one or more of the following:
 (a) a new card selector tool;   (a) a card type selector tool;   (b) an authoring space for authoring a select card among the set of cards of the wrap package;   (c) a preview space to display the select card as it is authored; and   (d) a sequencing space for defining one or more linear sequences for rendering the set of cards when the wrap package is consumed.   
     
     
         16 . An authoring tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a component tool for selectively authoring a component into a select card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         17 . The authoring tool of  claim 16 , wherein the component authored into the select card is a dynamic component that is capable of dynamically changing when the select card is rendered. 
     
     
         18 . An authoring tool of  claim 16 , wherein the components is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) text;   (b) an image or photo   (c) video;   (d) a document;   (e) a chat function;   (f) a location or GPS function;   (g) a transact function; or   (h) an appointment making function.   
     
     
         19 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a text tool for selectively authoring text into one or more text headlines of a selected card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         20 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an image/photo tool for selectively authoring one or more image(s)/photo(s) into a selected card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         21 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a video tool for selectively authoring a video into a select card of the wrap package by identifying an identifier that identifies the video and associating the identifier with the select card, the identifier used to retrieve and play the video when the select card is rendered. 
     
     
         22 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning and sizing tool configured to position and size one or more component(s) authored into a select card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         23 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a document tool for selectively authoring a document into a select card of the wrap package by either:
 (i) inserting the document into the select card; or   (ii) inserting an identifier associated with a document into the select card, the identifier used to retrieve and display the document when the select card is rendered.   
     
     
         24 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an appointment tool for authoring a calendar function into a select card of the wrap package, the calendar function enabling a consumer of the wrap package to schedule an appointment while consuming the wrap package. 
     
     
         25 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a location/GPS tool for authoring location/GPS functionality into a select card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         26 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a gallery card tool for authoring a gallery card into the wrap package, the gallery card including a gallery of related content items for display in a gallery format when the gallery card is rendered. 
     
     
         27 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a transact tool for authoring a transaction function into a card of the wrap package. 
     
     
         28 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the transaction function is configured to facilitate e-commerce by:
 (i) enabling one-click buying of a displayed good or service using previously stored customer account information;   (ii) enabling cul-de-sacing to a remote location for process of a transaction and then returning to the cards; and/or   (iii) prompting the entering of requisite information needed for the processing of the transaction within the wrap package.   
     
     
         29 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further configured to assign a unique wrap identifier for accessing the wrap package, wherein the unique wrap identifier is contained within a URL. 
     
     
         30 . An authoring tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover tool for associating a cover with the wrap package, the cover defining a wrap identifier for identifying and accessing the wrap descriptor.