Broadcast control

• US 20070182864A1
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grass Valley Canada (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Evolution Broadcast Pty., Limited
• Inventors: Morrison, Craig, Barnett, Thomas, Stoneham, Mark, Caves, Matthew, Reznik, Michael, Griggs, David, Broadbridge, Graham, McMillan, Christopher, Sabine, David, Grealy, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/28 Mobile studios

Abstract

A broadcast control apparatus for visual data includes a touch screen (32, 34) display panel operable to receive and display visual data simultaneously in real time from a plurality of visual sources. It also includes a touch screen graphical panel for the retrieval of control functions from a control function register. The visual data from at least one of the visual sources is selectable for use by finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen (32, 34) display panel and the selected data is modifiable in accordance with the retrieved control function.

Claims

1. A broadcast control apparatus for visual data, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen display panel operable to receive and display visual data simultaneously in real time from a plurality of visual sources; and

a touch screen graphical panel for the retrieval of control functions from a control function register;

whereby visual data from at least one of the visual sources is selectable for use by finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel and the selected data is modifiable in accordance with a retrieved control function.

2. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where the control function is a digital video effect or an audio effect.

3. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where the retrieved control function is able to be effected by finger pressure on an associated portion of the touch screen display panel.

4. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a programmable panel having a plurality of programmable keys, each one of which is able to be programmed to retrieve a control function.

5. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, where the programmable panel is positioned proximate the touch screen display panel.

6. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, where the programmable panel is incorporated into the touch screen display panel.

7. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control panel to enable switching between visual sources.

8. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 7, where the programmable panel is incorporated into the control panel.

9. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 7, where the control panel is a customized vision switching panel.

10. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where the selected data is modifiable by finger pressure on a portion of the touch screen graphical panel that is associated with the control function.

11. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where control functions are executable in real time.

12. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, where a programmable key loaded with a control function appears back-lit with a first color indicating to an operator that the key is ready for operation.

13. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 12, where keys which have yet to be loaded and which are therefore available for programming appear backlit with a second color.

14. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 12, where keys which are in operation appear backlit with a third color.

15. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a display module programmable to store a plurality of screen layout configurations.

16. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 15, where the configuration of all the visual data from respective visual sources on the touch screen display panel is resizable depending on the number of visual sources operating at any one time.

17. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 15, where a plurality of screen configurations are programmable into one or more of the programmable keys.

18. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 16, where each area of the screen configuration associated with a visual source is further configurable with a personalized symbol or descriptor identifier to identify the source.

19. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where a transition between visual data from a first visual source and visual data from a second visual source is effected by applying finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel that represents the first source and dragging that source to a different portion of the touch screen display panel associated with the second source.

20. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second touch screen display panel operable to receive and display further visual data or to view selected visual data for output.

21. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 1, where visual sources comprise one or more of video cameras, videotape recorders, disk servers, computer generated sources, remote feeds, or the like.

22. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 4, where the apparatus is operational in a set up mode and an operational mode.

23. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 22, where pre-programming of digital video effects occurs in the set up mode.

24. The broadcast control apparatus according to claim 19, where the apparatus is operational in a set up mode and an operational mode and where in the operation mode selection of sources and transitions between sources are performed.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, where the, or each touch screen display panel is mounted on a motorized arm to enable the distance between the or each display panel and an operator to be varied.

26. A broadcast control apparatus for the recording and replay of visual data, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen display panel operable to simultaneously playback more than one stream of visual data from a storage unit, the visual data sourced from a plurality of visual sources;

a touch screen graphical panel for the retrieval of control functions from a control function register; and

a control panel in communication with the touch screen panels, the control panel including a plurality of programmable keys, each one of which is able to be programmed to retrieve a control function;

whereby playback of visual data from the storage unit is able to be modified in accordance with a retrieved control function.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, where the retrieved control function is able to be effected by finger pressure on an associated portion of the touch screen display panel that is associated with the control function.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, where respective streams of visual data from the storage unit are configurable on the touch screen display panel and are resizable depending on the number of streams of visual data displayed.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, where at least one key is programmable with a plurality of different screen configurations.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26, where at least one key is programmable to create a clip from a stream of replayed visual data.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein at least one key is programmable to text tag the clip of visual data.

32. The apparatus according to claim 26, where the touch screen graphical panel is operable to build playlists and sequences.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, where a sequence is built by effecting a transition between visual data from a first visual source and visual data from a second visual source, whereby finger pressure is applied on that associated portion of the touch screen display panel that represents the first source and dragging that source to a different portion of the touch screen display panel associated with the second source.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, where the transition includes activating a key programmed with a text tag and associating the text tag with the data from the second source.

35. The apparatus according to claim 26, where at least one key is programmable for rewinding all of the visual source data simultaneously.

36. The apparatus according to claim 26, where the control panel further includes one or more of a speed control section for at least controlling the rate of play of a stream of visual data, a timecode section for displaying the duration of a stream of visual data, a cueing section for the marking of, and searching for cues and for the navigation within the storage unit, and a slow-motion section.

37. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a second touch screen display panel to view visual data for output.

38. The apparatus according to claim 26, where the, or each touch screen display panel is mounted on a motorised arm to enable the distance between the or each display panel and an operator to be varied.

39. A system for broadcast control comprising:

a first apparatus comprising a touch screen display panel operable to receive and display visual data simultaneously in real-time from the plurality of visual sources; and

a touch screen graphical panel for the retrieval of control functions from a control function register;

whereby visual data from at least one of the visual sources is selectable for use by finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel and the selected data is modifiable in accordance with a retrieved control function;

a storage unit for storing visual data from the plurality of visual sources;

a second apparatus comprising a touch screen display panel operable to simultaneously playback more than one stream of visual data from the storage unit and to produce an output;

a touch screen graphical panel for the retrieval of control functions from a control function register; and

a control panel in communication with the touch screen panels, the control panel including a plurality of programmable keys, each one of which is able to be programmed with a retrieved digital video effect;

whereby playback of visual data from the storage unit is able to be modified in accordance with a retrieved control function;

whereby the first apparatus is operable to edit selected modified data with output from the second apparatus for transmission.

40. The system according to claim 39, where the first apparatus of the system further comprises a programmable panel having a plurality of programmable keys, each one of which is able to be programmed to retrieve a control function.

41. The system according to claim 40, where the programmable panel is positionable proximate the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus.

42. The system according to claim 40, where the programmable panel is incorporated into the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus.

43. The system according to claim 39, where the first apparatus further comprises a control panel to enable switching between visual sources, the panel having a plurality of programmable keys.

44. The system according to any one of claim 43, where the touch screen graphical panel of the second apparatus has control over one or more of the plurality of programmable keys on the control panel of the first apparatus for the execution of control functions or for defining video clips and playlists.

45. The system according to claim 39, where the output is modified or unmodified visual data.

46. The system according to claim 39, where the selected data is modifiable by finger pressure on a portion of the touch screen graphical panel that is associated with the control function.

47. The system according to claim 39, where the first and second apparatus further comprise a display module programmable to store a plurality of touch screen configurations.

48. The system according to claim 47, where the configuration of all the visual data from respective visual sources on the respective touch screen display panels are resizable depending on the number of visual sources operating at any one time.

49. The system according to claim 47, when dependent on any one of claims 40 to 44, where a plurality of screen configurations are programmable into one or more of the programmable keys.

50. The system according to claim 47, where each area of the screen configuration associated with a visual source is further configurable with a personalised symbol or descriptor identifier to identify the source.

51. The system according to claim 39, where a transition between visual data from a first visual source and visual data from a second visual source are effected by applying finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus that represents the first source and dragging that source to a different portion of the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus associated with the second source.

52. The system according to any one of the preceding claims claim 39, where the first apparatus further comprises second touch screen display panel operable to receive and display further visual data or to view selected visual data for transmission.

53. The system according to claim 39, further comprising an audio mixing panel to combine an audio source with selected modified data edited with output from the second apparatus for transmission.

54. The system according to claim 39, where the second apparatus is further operable to edit its output with selected modified data from the first apparatus to create a sequence for transmission.

55. The system according to claim 54, where the sequence is made available to the operator of the first apparatus.

56. A method for broadcast control comprising the steps of storing control functions in a control function register;

displaying on a touch screen display panel of a first apparatus visual data simultaneously in real-time from a plurality of visual sources;

a first operator

selecting visual data from at least one of the visual sources by finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus;

the first operator

retrieving a control function from the control function register; and

the first operator

modifying the selected visual data with the retrieved control function to produce a first output and cueing the first output for transmission.

57. The method according to claim 56, further comprising a second set of steps including:

storing visual data from at least a portion of the plurality of visual sources;

replaying streams of stored visual data simultaneously on a touch screen display panel of a second apparatus;

a second operator

selecting a stream of visual data by finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel of this second apparatus;

the second operator

retrieving a control function from a control function register;

the second operator

modifying the selected visual data with the control function to produce a second output; and

the second operator

cueing the second output relative to the first output to create a sequence for transmission.

58. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the step of the first operator instructing the second operator to source a stored piece of visual data and to modify it with a particular control function such that the first operator is able to create a sequence of visual data for broadcast transmission.

59. The method according to claim 57, further comprising the step of programming programmable keys with selected control functions.

60. The method according to claim 59, whereby the programmable keys are pre-programmed.

61. The method according to claim 59, whereby the step of the first operator retrieving a control function comprises the first operator activating an area of the touch screen graphical panel associated with the control function, or activating a key programmed or pre-programmed with the control function, or activating an area of the touch screen display panel associated with the control function.

62. The method according to claim 59, further including the step of personalizing a programmable key by associating a symbol or a descriptor.

63. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the step of storing a plurality of touch screen configurations for the touch screen display panels of the first apparatus and the second apparatus for displaying the plurality of visual sources.

64. The method according to claim 63, further comprising the step of re-configuring the touch screen display panel of the first apparatus or the second apparatus.

65. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the step of effecting a transition between visual data from a first visual source and visual data from a second visual source by applying finger pressure on the associated portion of the touch screen display panel representative of the first source and dragging that source to another portion of the touch screen display panel representative of the second source.

66. The method according to claim 56, whereby the first operator and second operator access the same control function register.

67. The method according to claim 56, whereby created sequences are transmitted live or stored for broadcast at a later date.