Multi-media story editing tool

• US 20040205515A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Simple Twists
• Original Assignee: Simple Twists Limited
• Inventors: Socolow, Seth Louis, Bassi, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/411,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/501.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A method for: creating a presentation of a story comprises the steps of: displaying a screen comprising a representation of a timeline relating to a story wherein the representation comprises a plurality of points, each for representing an event; receiving information relating to at least one event and a time associated with the event; storing the received information in association with the at least one event; and linking the information to at least one point in the representation such that a user can retrieve the information by selecting the at least one point; the method is also for creating a production using a timeline file; and presenting the production according to the timeline file.

Claims

1. A method for creating a production of a story, comprising the steps of:

displaying a screen comprising a representation of a timeline relating to a story wherein the representation comprises a plurality of points, each for representing an event;

receiving information relating to at least one event and a time associated with the event;

storing the received information in association with the at least one event; and

linking the information to at least one point in the representation such that a user can retrieve the information by selecting the at least one point.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step further comprises displaying a graphical and text screen for entering information on that screen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step comprises receiving an identification of a point on the timeline as a beginning point for the story.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving an identification of a point on the timeline as an end point for the story.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving digital images for storage and linking with at least one event.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying the digital images in proximity to the timeline.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving scanned images for storage and linking with at least one event.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving text and images from the Internet for storage and linking with at least one event

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying a device for prompting the user to open a new story.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

merging two or more timelines into one story by choosing a point representing a time where the two or more timelines intersect.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step further comprises guiding the user through a series of text and graphical displays responsive to a user'"'"'s selection.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step further comprises prompting the user with a series of questions responsive to the user'"'"'s selection.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying an enlarged image of the timeline, responsive to a user command.

4. The method of claim 4 wherein the graphical and text screen comprises displaying a choice for deleting information from the story.

3. The method of claim 4 wherein the graphical and text screen comprises displaying a prompt for adding information to the story.

16. A method comprising:

creating a production using a timeline file; and

presenting the production according to the timeline file.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of presenting a user with a set of selectable events for including in the production.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a step of receiving a selection from the user, the selection comprising a set of selected events for including in the production.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user command to rotate a displayed image into a plurality of placeholders; and

displaying the image rotating into a plurality of placeholders, responsive to the user command.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of displaying a plurality of slides each representing at least part of an event.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising a step of playing a single song while displaying all of the slides.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising a step of playing a voice-over while playing the song.

23. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for creating a production of a story, comprising instructions for:

displaying a screen comprising a representation of a timeline relating to a story wherein the representation comprises a plurality of points, each for representing an event;

receiving information relating to at least one event and a time associated with the event;

storing the received information in association with the at least one event; and

linking the information to at least one point in the representation such that a user can retrieve the information by selecting the at least one point.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising program instructions for:

creating a production using a timeline file; and

presenting the production according to the timeline file.

25. A production generator comprising:

an image editor;

an audio editor;

a video editor and

a text editor, all integrated for generating a multimedia production;

wherein the image editor comprises means for cropping an image;

resizing the image;

rotating the image;

mirroring an image horizontally, flipping an image vertically;

removing red-eyes from a digital photograph;

auto adjusting the brightness and contrast of a picture;

manually adjusting the brightness of a picture, manually adjusting the contrast of a picture;

wherein the audio editor comprises means for;

editing two or more channels of audio with a voiceover channel and a music channel;

wherein the video editor comprises means for cutting a video clip down to a desired video sequence; and

wherein the text editor comprises means for changing text fonts, text colors, background colors, and alignment.

26. The production generator of claim 25 wherein the audio editor comprises means for cutting a plurality of songs together such that a second song seamlessly commences where a first song ended.

27. The production generator of claim 25 wherein the video editor further comprises means for seamlessly cutting a plurality of video clips together.

28. The production generator of claim 25 wherein the video editor further comprises means for creating transitions comprising a fading effect.

29. The production generator of claim 25 wherein the video editor further comprises means for creating transitions comprising a wiping effect.

30. A production generator comprising:

an input for receiving a plurality of multimedia production components; and

an integrator for integrating the plurality of multimedia production components received into a production for display;

the integrator comprising adaptive means for automatically generating a production adapted to the plurality of multimedia production components received so that each of the plurality of multimedia production components received is used in the production.

31. The production generator of claim 30 wherein the integrator comprises means for recognizing a type of event from user selections and adapting the production to the type of event.

32. The production generator of claim 31 wherein the means for recognizing a type of event comprises means for receiving an indication of the type of the event to be portrayed in the production.

33. The production generator of claim 31 comprising a plurality of templates comprising pre-selected multimedia components for including in the production based on the type of event to be portrayed in the production.

34. The production generator of claim 30 further comprising a receiver for receiving a file of date stamped images;

and means for inserting the date stamped images into the production according to their respective date stamps.