User interface for generating parameter values in media presentations based on selected presentation instances

• US 20020171668A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SONY CORPORATION AND SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
• Inventors: Samra, Sukendeep
• Granted Patent: US 6,897,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A system providing a user interface to allow a user to easily modify parameters of media presentations such as images and audio. The user selects first and second reference instances, such as images. The images are described by parameters and parameter values. Differences between the images'"'"' parameter/value characteristics are identified. The first and second reference images are placed at different points on a display screen. By moving a pointer relative to the positions of the first and second reference images, a current image is generated that is a combination, or function, of the identified parameter/value characteristics. Thus, the user is able to quickly, and intuitively, achieve many desired modifications to the media. A feature of the invention allows image content to be modified in a similar manner. First and second computer model positions, animations, bitmap images, etc., can be used and the same technique employed to create many derivations from the selected reference images. Multiple parameters can be changed concurrently. A user can be presented with a list of parameters so that the user can selectively enable or disable parameters to be changed.

Claims

1. A method for varying an attribute of a media presentation, wherein the attribute is derived from a parameter having a value, the method using a processing system including a user input device and media presentation device, the method comprising

accepting signals from a user input device to select a first media presentation having a parameter with a first value;

accepting signals from a user input device to select a second media presentation having the parameter with a second value;

accepting signals from a user input device to generate a new value; and

presenting, on the media presentation device, a new media presentation using the new value of the parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media presentation device includes displaying images.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second media presentations include first and second images, respectively, wherein the media presentation device includes a display screen, the method further comprising

displaying the first and second images at different positions on the display screen;

accepting signals from a user input device to select a position on the display screen;

determining the new value by using the distances between the selected position and the positions of the first and second images.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising

displaying the first image at a first corner of a predefined area of the display screen;

displaying the second image at a second corner of a predefined area of the display screen; and

displaying the new media presentation at the center of the display, wherein the new media presentation includes a new image displayed by using the new value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media presentation device includes audio waveforms playback.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second media presentations include first and second images, respectively, wherein the first and second images correspond to first and second audio waveforms, respectively, wherein the media presentation device includes a display screen, the method further comprising

displaying the first and second images at different positions on the display screen;

accepting signals from a user input device to select a position on the display screen;

determining the new value by using the distances between the selected position and the positions of the first and second images.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising

displaying the first image at a first corner of a predefined area of the display screen;

displaying the second image at a second corner of a predefined area of the display screen; and

displaying the new media presentation at the center of the display, wherein the new media presentation includes a new image displayed by using the new value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media presentation device includes display of non-linear animation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-linear animation includes a rendered view of a computer model.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rendered model includes facial animation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein inputs from multiple user input devices are used to generate a collaborative new value for the parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein two or more user input devices are in separate locations.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising

displaying a list of parameters to be modified;

accepting signals from a user input device to select one or more parameters; and

generating a modified image by changing only the selected one or more parameters.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one parameter is associated with modification of visual content of an image.

13. A method for modifying images in an image processing system, the method comprising

displaying the first and second images at different positions on a display device, wherein the first image includes a first parameter set and wherein the second image includes a second parameter set;

accepting input from a user input device to indicate a position relative to one or more of the first and second positions;

displaying a modified image on the display device based on the first parameter set, the second parameter set and the indicated position.

16. An apparatus for varying an attribute of a media presentation, the apparatus comprising

a storage device coupled to a processor, user input device and display device;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a first media presentation having a parameter with a first value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a second media presentation having the parameter with a second value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to generate a new value; and

one or more instructions for presenting, on the media presentation device, a new media presentation using the new value of the parameter.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for varying an attribute of a media presentation, wherein the attribute is derived from a parameter having a value, the computer-readable medium comprising

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a first media presentation having a parameter with a first value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a second media presentation having the parameter with a second value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to generate a new value; and

one or more instructions for presenting, on the media presentation device, a new media presentation using the new value of the parameter.

18. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for varying an attribute of a media presentation, wherein the attribute is derived from a parameter having a value, the computer-readable medium comprising

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a first media presentation having a parameter with a first value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to select a second media presentation having the parameter with a second value;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from a user input device to generate a new value; and

one or more instructions for presenting, on the media presentation device, a new media presentation using the new value of the parameter.