{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852761","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9852761","title":"Device, method, and graphical user interface for editing an audio or video attachment in an electronic message","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2009-09-24T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G11B","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06Q","G11B","G11B","H04L","H04L","H04M","H04M","H04M"],"num_claims":18,"abstract":"A method is performed at a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. User selection of an audio or video file to be sent in an electronic message is detected. In response to detecting a first input by the user, an audio or video file editing interface is displayed. The editing interface comprises: a time bar, a user-adjustable begin-edit icon, and a user-adjustable end-edit icon. The distance between the user-adjustable begin-edit icon and the user-adjustable end-edit icon is constrained to be equal to or less than a distance that corresponds to a predefined maximum allowable size for the file. In response to detecting a second input by the user on the touch-sensitive surface, at least one of the begin-edit icon and the end-edit icon is adjusted in the audio or video file editing interface. The audio or video file is edited to a shorter."},"analysis":{"summary":"The patent titled \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" introduces a pivotal innovation for multimedia communication on multifunction devices. At its core, this invention provides an integrated and intuitive solution for users to edit audio or video files directly within an electronic messaging application before sending them.\n\nThe primary problem this technology solves is the cumbersome, multi-step process previously required to trim media. Before this patent, users typically had to exit their messaging app, open a separate editor, perform the trimming, save the new file, and then re-attach it. This fragmented workflow led to significant user frustration, wasted time, and often resulted in users sending untrimmed, oversized, or irrelevant media.\n\nThe key technical approach involves displaying a specialized audio or video file editing interface immediately after a user selects a media file for attachment. This interface is equipped with a visual time bar and two user-adjustable icons—one for the beginning of the desired segment and one for the end. A critical aspect of this system is its intelligent constraint mechanism: the selected duration between the begin-edit and end-edit icons is automatically limited to ensure the resulting file size does not exceed a predefined maximum allowable size for the electronic message. User input on the touch-sensitive surface allows for precise, real-time adjustments of these icons, after which the media file is edited to the shorter, selected segment.\n\nFrom a business perspective, this innovation offers substantial value by dramatically enhancing the user experience on mobile devices. It streamlines the media sharing workflow, encourages more frequent and richer multimedia communication, and reduces support issues related to oversized attachments. This patent has broad applications across messaging platforms, social media, and any application involving user-generated media content. It enables companies to offer a more seamless and engaging product, fostering higher user retention and satisfaction.\n\nThe market opportunity for such an integrated editing solution is vast, as nearly all modern communication and social media platforms rely heavily on audio and video sharing. This technology provides a competitive advantage by offering superior user convenience and efficiency, directly impacting user engagement metrics. This innovation set a new standard for in-app media processing, becoming a foundational element for countless applications that followed.","layman_explanation":"## What Problem Does This Solve?\n\nImagine you've just captured a great moment on your smartphone—a quick video of a product demo or an audio clip of an important discussion. Now you want to share just a small, relevant portion of it with a colleague via email or a messaging app. The common problem before this patent was a significant workflow bottleneck: you couldn't simply trim the media within your communication tool. Instead, you'd typically have to record, then exit your email or messaging app, open a separate, often more complex, video or audio editing application, import the file, manually trim it, save the new, shorter version, and only then could you return to your communication app to attach and send it. This multi-step process was inefficient, time-consuming, and frequently led to frustration, especially if the trimmed file was still too large to send.\n\n## How Does It Work?\n\nThe patent, \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message,\" introduces an elegant solution by integrating this editing capability directly into the messaging experience. Think of it like this: when you go to attach an audio or video file to your message, instead of just seeing a static preview, a smart, interactive editing window pops up. This window features a visual 'time bar'—a timeline representing your entire media file. On this timeline, you'll see two simple, draggable markers: one to indicate where you want your clip to *start* and another for where you want it to *end*. The truly clever part is that as you drag these markers, the system intelligently ensures that the segment you select will *not* exceed a predefined maximum file size for your message. It's like having a helpful assistant making sure your clip is always the perfect length and size to send, without you having to worry about technical limitations. You simply use your finger on the screen to adjust the markers, and the system handles the rest, preparing a perfectly trimmed and optimized file for your message.\n\n## Why Does This Matter?\n\nThis innovation is crucial because it dramatically streamlines the process of sharing rich media, which is fundamental to modern business and personal communication. For businesses, this means:\n\n*   **Increased Efficiency:** Employees can share relevant video snippets of meetings, product features, or client interactions much faster, boosting productivity.\n*   **Enhanced Communication:** Rich media can convey information more effectively than text alone. By making it easier to share, this patent encourages more dynamic and clear communication within teams and with clients.\n*   **Improved User Experience:** For consumer-facing products (e.g., social media platforms, communication apps), a seamless media sharing experience is a key differentiator, leading to higher user satisfaction, engagement, and retention.\n*   **Reduced Technical Headaches:** Proactively managing file sizes means fewer failed uploads and less frustration for users, which translates to fewer support tickets and better brand perception.\n\nThis technology has become a standard expectation in almost all modern communication platforms, demonstrating its significant impact on how we interact digitally.\n\n## What's Next?\n\nThe principles established by this patent continue to evolve. We can expect to see further advancements building on this foundation, such as more sophisticated AI-driven suggestions for optimal trim points, automatic highlight reel generation, and even more dynamic constraint systems that adapt to network conditions or recipient device capabilities. The core idea of bringing powerful, yet simple, editing tools directly into the user's workflow will remain a cornerstone for future innovations in media-rich communication, influencing everything from collaborative work tools to immersive social platforms. For investors, understanding the foundational patents like this one helps in identifying companies that truly enable seamless digital experiences and have strong potential for future growth in the multimedia communication space.","technical_analysis":"The patent \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" (US-9852761) describes a novel approach to integrate multimedia editing capabilities directly into the electronic message composition workflow on multifunction devices. This technical analysis delves into the architectural and algorithmic specifics that underpin this significant innovation.\n\n**Technical Architecture Overview:**\nAt a high level, the system operates on a multifunction device equipped with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The core architecture involves an event-driven model. When a user initiates the process of attaching an audio or video file to an electronic message, a specific event is triggered. This event is intercepted by a dedicated media editing module, which is responsible for rendering and managing the specialized graphical user interface (GUI).\n\n**Implementation Details:**\nUpon detecting the user's initial input (selection of a file), the editing module presents a GUI comprising three primary interactive components:\n\n1.  **Time Bar:** This is a visual representation of the entire duration of the selected audio or video file. For video, it might display a series of thumbnails; for audio, a waveform. This component provides the user with contextual awareness of the media's length and content.\n2.  **User-Adjustable Begin-Edit Icon:** This icon marks the start of the desired segment. It is designed to be movable along the time bar via touch input.\n3.  **User-Adjustable End-Edit Icon:** Similar to the begin-edit icon, this marks the end of the desired segment and is also movable via touch input.\n\n**Algorithm Specifics and Constraint Enforcement:**\nThe most technically innovative aspect of this patent lies in its constraint mechanism. The system dynamically enforces a rule that the 'distance' (i.e., temporal duration) between the begin-edit icon and the end-edit icon must be equal to or less than a distance that corresponds to a predefined maximum allowable size for the file. This is a critical algorithmic component. When a user manipulates either the begin-edit or end-edit icon (the 'second input'), the system performs real-time calculations:\n\n*   **Estimated File Size Calculation:** Based on the current position of both icons, the system estimates the size of the resulting trimmed media. This estimation typically considers the original media's bitrate, codec, resolution (for video), and the selected duration. It might use heuristic models or actual metadata parsing to derive this.\n*   **Constraint Logic:** If the estimated size exceeds the predefined maximum, the system programmatically restricts the movement of the icon being manipulated. For instance, if the user drags the end-edit icon past a point where the file size would become too large, the icon will cease to move, or snap back to the maximum allowed position. This provides immediate, intuitive feedback to the user, preventing the creation of an invalid file.\n*   **Dynamic UI Feedback:** The GUI updates in real-time to reflect these constraints, perhaps by highlighting the valid segment or visually indicating the maximum possible length.\n\n**Integration Patterns:**\nThis editing functionality would typically integrate as a service or a module within a larger messaging application framework. It would interface with the device's native media framework (e.g., AVFoundation on iOS, MediaCodec on Android) for efficient media loading, manipulation, and encoding. The module would receive the raw media file, present the editing GUI, return the trimmed segment, and then pass control back to the messaging application for attachment and transmission.\n\n**Performance Characteristics:**\nPerformance is paramount for a seamless user experience. The rendering of the GUI, the responsiveness to touch inputs, and the real-time constraint calculations must be executed with minimal latency. Furthermore, the final media editing operation (trimming/transcoding) should be highly optimized to complete quickly, especially for short clips, to avoid user waiting times. Efficient memory management and CPU utilization are crucial on resource-constrained mobile devices.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:**\nDevelopers implementing this technology would need to consider:\n\n*   **Cross-platform Compatibility:** Ensuring consistent behavior and performance across different operating systems and hardware.\n*   **Codec Support:** Handling a wide array of audio and video codecs and formats for both input and output.\n*   **Error Handling:** Gracefully managing scenarios like corrupted files, insufficient storage, or unexpected user inputs.\n*   **Security and Privacy:** Ensuring that media processing occurs securely and adheres to user privacy standards.\n\nIn essence, this patent describes a sophisticated interaction model that intelligently combines GUI design with underlying media processing logic and real-time constraint enforcement. It fundamentally streamlined the user workflow for multimedia sharing, making it a cornerstone for modern mobile communication platforms. The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message represents a significant advancement in human-computer interaction and mobile media technology.","business_analysis":"The patent \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" (US-9852761) represents a foundational innovation with profound business implications, particularly in the realm of mobile communication, social media, and user-generated content platforms. This invention addresses a critical pain point for end-users and, by extension, for businesses that rely on rich media interaction.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:**\nThe market for applications leveraging this technology is virtually boundless, encompassing every smartphone user globally who sends or receives multimedia messages. This includes multi-billion dollar industries such as messaging apps (WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger), social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat), and even enterprise communication tools. The ability to seamlessly edit media in-app is now a table stakes feature, making the market opportunity for its underlying principles immense and pervasive across the digital communication ecosystem.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:**\nThis innovation provides a significant competitive advantage by:\n\n1.  **Superior User Experience (UX):** By eliminating the need to switch between applications for media editing, this technology drastically reduces friction, saving users time and frustration. A superior UX leads to higher user satisfaction, engagement, and retention rates.\n2.  **Increased Engagement with Rich Media:** When media sharing is easier, users are more likely to do it. This patent encourages the creation and sharing of audio and video content, driving higher engagement metrics for platforms that implement its principles.\n3.  **Reduced Technical Support Overhead:** The intelligent file size constraint mechanism prevents users from inadvertently creating files that are too large to send, thereby reducing errors, failed transmissions, and the associated burden on customer support teams.\n4.  **Faster Content Creation:** For platforms reliant on user-generated content, this streamlined editing process enables quicker content creation and sharing, fostering a more dynamic and vibrant content ecosystem.\n\n**Revenue Potential and Business Models:**\nWhile the patent itself describes a method, its integration into various products can drive revenue through several business models:\n\n*   **Ad-Supported Platforms:** Higher user engagement driven by seamless media sharing translates to more ad impressions and higher ad revenue.\n*   **Subscription Services:** Enhanced user experience can justify premium features or subscription tiers.\n*   **In-App Purchases:** Faster content creation can encourage users to purchase additional filters, effects, or storage.\n*   **Enterprise Solutions:** Businesses using internal communication platforms can benefit from more efficient multimedia sharing, improving productivity.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:**\nCompanies that adopted the principles of the Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message early gained a strategic advantage by offering a more intuitive and powerful media sharing experience. This allowed them to differentiate their products in a crowded market and establish leadership in mobile communication. The patent positioned in-app media editing as a core, expected functionality rather than a niche feature.\n\n**ROI Projections:**\nThe return on investment for implementing this technology is substantial, albeit often indirect:\n\n*   **Increased User Retention:** A more satisfying user experience directly correlates with lower churn rates.\n*   **Higher User Acquisition:** Positive word-of-mouth and superior features attract new users.\n*   **Enhanced Brand Loyalty:** Users develop loyalty to platforms that simplify their digital lives.\n*   **Operational Efficiency:** Reduced support costs and fewer failed transmissions contribute to overall operational savings.\n\nIn conclusion, the Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message is not merely a technical advancement; it's a strategic business enabler. Its impact on user experience, content creation, and platform engagement has been transformative, making it a cornerstone for any business operating in the digital communication and social media landscape. The principles embodied in this patent continue to drive innovation and define user expectations for seamless, intuitive media interaction on mobile devices.","faqs":[{"answer":"The \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" is a groundbreaking patent (US-9852761) that describes an innovative system for editing audio and video files directly within an electronic messaging application on a multifunction device. Essentially, it allows users to trim or shorten multimedia attachments without having to leave their messaging app or use a separate, external editing tool. This patent significantly streamlined the process of sharing multimedia content.\n\nThis invention focuses on user convenience and efficiency. It presents a specialized graphical user interface (GUI) that appears when a user selects an audio or video file to attach to a message. This GUI includes intuitive controls like a time bar and adjustable markers for defining the start and end points of the desired media segment.\n\nA key aspect of this technology is its intelligent constraint mechanism. It ensures that the selected portion of the media file, and thus its resulting file size, adheres to a predefined maximum allowable size for the electronic message. This prevents common issues like sending oversized files that fail to transmit, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.\n\nIn essence, this patent laid the foundation for the seamless in-app media editing features that are now commonplace in modern messaging and social media applications, making rich media communication effortless and reliable. Its principles are integral to the fluid digital interactions we enjoy today.","question":"What is Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message?"},{"answer":"The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message works by integrating a dedicated editing interface directly into the electronic message creation process on a multifunction device like a smartphone or tablet. The method begins when the system detects a user's initial input, which is the selection of an audio or video file intended for an electronic message.\n\nIn response to this detection, a specialized audio or video file editing interface is displayed on the device's screen. This interface is designed for intuitive interaction and typically comprises a visual time bar representing the entire duration of the media file. Along this time bar, there are two user-adjustable icons: a 'begin-edit' icon and an 'end-edit' icon. These icons allow the user to visually and precisely define the start and end points of the desired media segment.\n\nA critical functional component is the constraint mechanism. The system dynamically ensures that the temporal distance (duration) between the begin-edit and end-edit icons is either equal to or less than a distance that corresponds to a predefined maximum allowable size for the file. This means the user cannot inadvertently select a segment that would result in an oversized file. When the system detects a second input by the user on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., dragging an icon), it adjusts the icon's position within these constraints. Finally, the original audio or video file is edited, resulting in a shorter, optimized segment ready for attachment and transmission.","question":"How does Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message work?"},{"answer":"The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message patent primarily solves the significant problem of fragmented and cumbersome multimedia editing workflows on mobile devices. Prior to this innovation, users faced a multi-step process for sending a trimmed audio or video file within an electronic message. This typically involved recording the media, then exiting the messaging application, opening a separate media editor, performing the trim, saving the new file, and finally returning to the messaging app to attach it.\n\nThis disjointed workflow led to several pain points:\n\n*   **User Frustration and Time Waste:** The constant switching between applications was inefficient and annoying, deterring users from sharing rich media.\n*   **Oversized File Issues:** Users often created files that exceeded the size limits of messaging platforms or network capabilities, leading to failed transmissions and further frustration.\n*   **Reduced Spontaneity:** The complexity of the process hindered spontaneous sharing of moments, limiting the richness and immediacy of digital communication.\n\nThis patent provides an elegant solution by integrating a user-friendly editing interface directly into the message composition process. It streamlines the workflow, prevents oversized file errors, and empowers users to share concise, relevant media effortlessly, thus transforming the efficiency and enjoyment of mobile communication.","question":"What problem does Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message solve?"},{"answer":"The patent \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" (US-9852761) was filed by Apple Inc. as the assignee. While the specific individual inventors are not listed in the provided abstract, it is common for such innovations to be the result of collaborative efforts by a team of engineers and designers within a large technology company like Apple.\n\nApple is renowned for its focus on user experience and intuitive interfaces, and this patent aligns perfectly with that philosophy. The invention reflects a deep understanding of mobile user behavior and the challenges associated with multimedia content creation and sharing on touch-sensitive devices.\n\nThis patent is a testament to Apple's ongoing commitment to enhancing the functionality and usability of its multifunction devices, such as iPhones and iPads. Innovations like this have been instrumental in shaping the modern smartphone experience and setting industry standards for integrated features. The company's vision for seamless interaction is clearly evident in the design and capabilities described within this patent.","question":"Who invented Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message?"},{"answer":"The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message offers several transformative benefits for users and the broader digital communication landscape:\n\n*   **Enhanced User Experience (UX):** By integrating media editing directly into the messaging workflow, it eliminates the need to switch between multiple applications. This drastically reduces friction, making the process of sharing trimmed audio and video files significantly faster, more intuitive, and less frustrating for the user.\n*   **Optimized File Sizes and Reliability:** A core benefit is the intelligent constraint mechanism. This feature ensures that the selected media segment's duration is automatically limited to prevent the creation of files that exceed predefined size limits. This proactive approach minimizes transmission failures and ensures reliable media delivery, saving users from frustrating error messages.\n*   **Increased Multimedia Engagement:** By simplifying the editing process, the patent encourages users to share more audio and video content. This enriches digital conversations, making them more dynamic, expressive, and engaging, which is crucial for social media and communication platforms.\n*   **Efficiency and Productivity:** For both personal and professional use, the ability to quickly trim and send relevant media clips boosts efficiency. Instead of lengthy, untrimmed files, users can share concise, impactful messages without delay. This is particularly valuable in fast-paced environments where time is critical.\n*   **Standard-Setting Innovation:** This patent established a new benchmark for in-app media editing on mobile devices. Its principles have been widely adopted across the industry, becoming an expected feature in virtually all modern messaging and content-sharing applications, thereby shaping the evolution of mobile user interfaces.","question":"What are the key benefits of Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message?"},{"answer":"The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message significantly differentiates itself from prior art by addressing the fundamental inefficiencies and frustrations inherent in older methods of mobile media editing. Prior art typically involved a fragmented, multi-application workflow where users had to leave their communication app, open a separate, often generic media editor, perform the trimming, save the new file, and then return to the original app to attach it. This was cumbersome, time-consuming, and prone to errors.\n\nThis patent's key differentiators include:\n\n*   **Seamless In-App Integration:** Unlike prior art, where editing occurred in a separate context, this invention brings the editing interface directly into the electronic message composition screen. This eliminates context switching and creates a fluid, uninterrupted user experience.\n*   **Intuitive, Touch-Optimized GUI:** The patent describes a graphical user interface specifically designed for touch-sensitive devices, featuring a time bar and easily adjustable begin-edit and end-edit icons. Prior art editors were often desktop-centric or less refined for mobile touch interactions.\n*   **Proactive File Size Constraint:** A crucial distinction is the intelligent constraint that dynamically limits the selected media segment's duration to prevent the resulting file from exceeding a predefined maximum size. Prior art solutions typically lacked this proactive check, leading to frequent 'file too large' errors and failed transmissions. This patent prevents the problem before it occurs.\n*   **Simplified Workflow:** The entire process is condensed into a few intuitive steps within a single application, dramatically simplifying media sharing compared to the complex, multi-step procedures of prior art. This innovation transformed a technical chore into an effortless action, setting a new industry standard.","question":"How is Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message has had a profound impact across numerous industries, primarily those reliant on digital communication and user-generated content:\n\n*   **Telecommunications and Mobile Devices:** This is the most direct impact. The patent's principles are fundamental to the functionality of smartphones, tablets, and mobile operating systems, enabling seamless multimedia messaging. It has influenced how device manufacturers design their native messaging and media applications.\n*   **Social Media and Messaging Platforms:** Companies like Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), TikTok, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter) heavily rely on users sharing photos, videos, and audio. This patent's technology makes in-app trimming and sharing effortless, driving user engagement, content creation, and platform stickiness, which are critical for their business models.\n*   **Software Development and App Ecosystems:** Developers across the board have adopted and built upon the concepts introduced by this patent. Integrated media editing is now a standard feature expected by users, influencing UI/UX design patterns and the development of multimedia SDKs and APIs.\n*   **Enterprise Communication and Collaboration:** In professional settings, the ability to quickly share relevant video snippets from meetings, audio notes for project updates, or short instructional clips enhances internal communication and productivity. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom chat functionalities benefit immensely from these streamlined capabilities.\n*   **Content Creation and Digital Marketing:** For influencers, marketers, and content creators, the ease of editing and sharing short, engaging media directly from their mobile devices accelerates content workflows and allows for more agile campaign execution. The patent democratized on-the-go media production, impacting how digital content is created and distributed.","question":"What industries will Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message impact?"},{"answer":"The patent \"Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message\" (US-9852761) has a significant timeline related to its filing and publication.\n\n*   **Filing Date:** The patent application was filed on **September 24, 2009**. This date is crucial as it establishes the priority date for the invention, meaning the novelty of the invention is assessed relative to this date.\n\n*   **Publication Date:** The patent was officially granted and published on **December 26, 2017**. This is the date when the patent document became publicly available, detailing the claims, description, and drawings of the invention.\n\nThis timeline indicates that there was a substantial period between the filing and the granting of the patent, which is not uncommon for complex software and user interface innovations. The filing date highlights the foresight of the inventors in addressing a critical mobile user experience challenge well over a decade ago. The publication date marks the point at which the full legal protection and details of this influential technology became publicly accessible, allowing for its study and impact to be fully appreciated. This patent's journey from filing to grant underscores the rigorous process involved in intellectual property protection for groundbreaking technologies.","question":"When was Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The commercial applications of the Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message are extensive and pervasive across the digital ecosystem. This patent's principles are fundamental to enhancing user engagement and efficiency in any product or service that involves multimedia sharing.\n\n*   **Consumer Messaging Applications:** This is the most obvious application. All major messaging platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Signal, Messenger) utilize similar in-app editing functionalities to allow users to quickly trim videos and audio before sending, directly improving user satisfaction and retention.\n*   **Social Media Platforms:** Platforms like Instagram (for Stories and Reels), TikTok, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter) heavily rely on user-generated short-form video and audio content. The ability to quickly edit and optimize these clips within the app is critical for content creation velocity and user engagement.\n*   **Email Clients:** Modern email applications, especially on mobile devices, often integrate basic media editing capabilities to ensure that attached video and audio files are concise and meet size limitations, improving the professionalism and efficiency of email communication.\n*   **Content Creation and Editing Apps (Lightweight):** While not full-fledged professional editors, many lightweight content creation apps incorporate these principles to offer quick trims or adjustments before content is published or shared, appealing to a broad user base who need simple, immediate tools.\n*   **Enterprise Collaboration Tools:** Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and internal communication systems integrate similar features to allow employees to quickly share relevant snippets from video conferences, voice notes for project updates, or short instructional clips, thereby boosting workplace productivity and clarity of communication.\n*   **Educational and E-learning Platforms:** Students and educators can use these tools to quickly share relevant segments of lectures, presentations, or assignments via multimedia messages, facilitating more dynamic learning environments.\n\nIn essence, any digital product or service that benefits from users sending or sharing optimized, concise audio or video content can and does leverage the core concepts of this Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message?"},{"answer":"Building upon the foundational principles of the Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message, several exciting future developments are expected to further enhance in-app media editing:\n\n*   **AI-Powered Smart Trimming:** Future systems will likely leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to automatically identify the most compelling segments of an audio or video file. This could involve detecting key emotional cues, significant actions, speech patterns, or facial expressions to suggest optimal trim points, further reducing manual effort for the user.\n*   **Contextual and Adaptive Optimization:** The intelligent constraint mechanism could evolve to be even smarter. Instead of just a fixed maximum size, the system might dynamically adjust optimal file sizes and quality based on the recipient's network conditions, their device's capabilities, or the specific platform's requirements. This would ensure the best possible viewing or listening experience while maintaining efficient transmission.\n*   **Integrated Generative AI Features:** Beyond simple trimming, future iterations might incorporate generative AI to automatically enhance clips, add background music, apply smart filters based on content, or even synthesize short, relevant summary clips from longer recordings, all within the integrated editing interface.\n*   **Enhanced Interactivity and Multi-Modal Editing:** Expect more advanced, yet still intuitive, touch-based interactions. This could include gestures for zooming into the timeline for frame-accurate editing, applying real-time effects or filters with simple swipes, or even combining audio and video edits more seamlessly.\n*   **Collaborative and Live Editing:** For group communications, the concept could extend to allowing multiple users to collaboratively suggest or approve edits to a shared media file in real-time before it's finalized and sent. Imagine a team refining a video message together.\n\nThese advancements will continue to make multimedia communication even more effortless, personalized, and powerful, pushing the boundaries of user-centric design and intelligent media processing.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message?"}],"topics":["Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message","in-app media editing patent","audio video attachment editing","electronic message media trimming","graphical user interface patent","technical","background","integrated"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"In-App Media Editor - Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message - Patent US-9852761","description":"Discover the Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message patent. Seamlessly edit audio/video attachments directly in messages with optimized file sizes. Full analysis of US-9852761.","keywords":["Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Editing an Audio or Video Attachment in an Electronic Message","in-app media editing patent","audio video attachment editing","electronic message media trimming","graphical user interface patent","mobile media workflow","multifunction device editing","constrained media sizing","patent US-9852761","UX innovation","multimedia messaging","touch-sensitive interface"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852761","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852761","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Device, method, and graphical user interface for editing an audio or video attachment in an electronic message\" (US-9852761). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852761","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852761","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9852761","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T13:36:59.643Z"}