Interactive system and method for video compositing

• US 20040218100A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NOO INC.
• Original Assignee: YOOSTAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC
• Inventors: Staker, Heather Clayton, Staker, Allan Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,528,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/592
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/75 Chroma key

Abstract

An interactive video compositing device includes a chroma-key mixer, video switcher and control circuitry. The chroma-key mixer generates a composite image by combining a real-time image, such as one captured by a video recorder, with a prerecorded video image, such as a movie. The composite image includes the modified real-time image superimposed, or overlaid, onto the prerecorded image. The video switcher automatically selects either the composite image or the prerecorded image to be output to a display. The control circuitry controls the video switcher and other outputted signals based on data file information that corresponds to content of the prerecorded image or media. For example, the data files may contain information relating to the presence (or absence) of a particular character in a movie scene, thus allowing for the output and display, at appropriate times, of the real-time composite image instead of the prerecorded image.

Claims

1. A method for video compositing, the method comprising:

receiving a first video signal having multiple frames;

receiving a second video signal;

creating a composite signal by chroma-key mixing the first video signal and the second video signal; and

selectively switching, with a video switcher, between outputting the first video signal and outputting the composite signal, wherein said selective switching is performed automatically and is based on a control signal received by the video switcher,

wherein the control signal is derived at least in part from prerecorded data that corresponds to frames of the first video signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second video signal is a real-time video signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said selective switching is performed in real time with respect to the real-time second video signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded data is stored in a memory of a video compositing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded data identifies frame numbers of the first video signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded data identifies counter numbers corresponding to the first video signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded data identifies time codes associated with the first video signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded data comprises reference points that are used to identify frames of the first video signal that contain footage of a particular object.

9. A system for real-time, chroma-key compositing, the system comprising:

a first input structured to receive a first video signal;

a second input structured to receive a second video signal;

a chroma-key mixer coupled to the first input and to the second input, wherein the chroma-key mixer is structured to output a composite signal comprising portions of the first video signal and portions of the second video signal;

a data file associated with the first video signal, said data file having at least first reference data and second reference data; and

a switcher that selects between outputting the composite signal and outputting the first video signal, wherein the switcher outputs the composite signal at a time identified by the first reference data, and wherein the switcher outputs the first video signal at a time identified by the second reference data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second video signal is a real-time video signal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the data file is stored in a memory.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the output signal of the switcher is communicated to a display.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a digital video disk (DVD) player that produces the first video signal.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the switcher performs said selection automatically in real time.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first reference data identifies a frame in which a character enters a scene of a movie, and wherein the second reference data identifies a frame in which the character exits the scene of the movie.

16. A reference data system used for video compositing, the system comprising:

first reference information associated with a first video signal;

second reference information associated with the first video signal; and

a video switcher configured to switch between outputting either the first video signal or a composite signal that comprises portions of the first video signal and portions of a second video signal,

wherein the video switcher outputs the composite signal at a time identified by the first reference information, and wherein the video switcher outputs the first video signal at a time identified by the second reference information.

17. A method for coordinating the display of multiple signals, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal;

receiving a second signal;

forming a composite signal comprising portions of the first signal and portions of the second signal;

receiving with a switcher the first signal and the composite signal;

receiving reference data that corresponds to portions of the first signal; and

switching between displaying the first signal and displaying the composite signal, wherein the timing of said switching is based on information contained in the reference data.

18. A method for creating a data file used for controlling the superimposing of video images, the method comprising:

identifying a portion of a first video image during which a second video image is to be superimposed onto the first video image, said first video image portion having a beginning frame and an ending frame;

recording in a data file first information that identifies said beginning frame; and

recording in the data file second information that identifies said ending frame.

19. A software program comprising code for controlling the superimposing of a real-time image onto a prerecorded image, wherein said code identifies portions of the prerecorded image during which the real-time image is to be superimposed onto the prerecorded image.

20. A system for real-time video compositing, the system comprising:

a means for generating a composite signal by chroma-key mixing a first video signal and a real-time second video signal; and

a means for switching between the selection of the first video signal and the selection of the composite signal, wherein said means for switching is controlled according to reference information stored in at least one data file that relates to the first video signal.