Techniques for positioning audio and video clips

• US 20080044155A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuspa, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/52
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• 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: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8211 the additional signal being a sound signal H04N9/835 takes precedence

Abstract

Techniques and systems for positioning video and audio clips in timeline sequences. In some embodiments, a computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, is operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations that include, in response to selection of a first clip in a first track, moving the selected first clip in a timeline sequence. The timeline sequence includes multiple matched audio and video tracks configured to serve as containers for clips, and the first clip is linked with a second clip. In response to selection of the second clip, the operations include moving the selected second clip into a track that is a non-matching track in the timeline sequence, in which the non-matching track includes a track that is not associated with a track where the first clip is located. The drag-and-drop techniques can allow independent placement of linked audio and video clips into non-matching tracks.

Claims

1. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

in response to selection of a first clip in a first track, moving the selected first clip in a timeline sequence, wherein the timeline sequence comprises a plurality of matched audio and video tracks configured to serve as containers for clips, wherein the first clip is linked with a second clip; and

in response to selection of the second clip, moving the selected second clip into a track that is a non-matching track in the timeline sequence, wherein the non-matching track comprises a track that is not associated with a track where the first clip is located.

2. The computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first clip or the second clip comprises embedded timeline sequences.

3. The computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first clip comprises a first video clip, the first track comprises a first video track, the second clip comprises a first audio clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first audio track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the second and first tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second audio track.

4. The computer program product in accordance with claim 2, wherein the selection of the first clip in the first track comprises a detection of a selector selection.

5. The computer program product in accordance with claim 4, wherein, after the selection of the first clip in the first track, the selection of the second clip comprises selecting the second clip when a selector cursor moves to a track compatible with the second clip, wherein audio tracks are compatible with audio clips, and wherein video tracks are compatible with video clips.

6. The computer program product in accordance with claim 5, wherein a position of the first clip is locked in the timeline sequence when the selector cursor is moved to a track that is incompatible with the first clip, wherein the first clip is locked to a lowest compatible track.

7. The computer program product in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

in response to deselection of either the first or second clips, dropping the first clip into the timeline sequence, and dropping the second clip into the position in the timeline sequence.

8. The computer program product in accordance with claim 7, wherein the dropping of the first clip and the second clip comprises overwriting portions of clips existing in the timeline sequence at locations where the first and second clips are dropped.

9. The computer program product in accordance with claim 5, wherein a position of the first clip is locked onto a compatible track in response to a selection of a locking key, wherein the locking key comprises any of the selector or another selector.

10. The computer program product in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

in response to deselection of either the first or second clips, dropping the first clip into the timeline sequence, and dropping the second clip into the position.

11. The computer program product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the dropping of the first clip and the second clip comprises overwriting portions of clips existing in the timeline sequence at locations where the first and second clips are dropped.

12. The computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first clip comprises a first audio clip, the first track comprises a first audio track, the second clip comprises a first video clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first video track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the first and second tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second video track.

13. A system comprising:

a user interface device; and

one or more computers operable to interact with the user interface device and to;

in response to selection of a first clip, drag the first clip in a timeline sequence, wherein the timeline sequence comprises a plurality of matched audio and video tracks, wherein the plurality of matched audio and video tracks in the timeline sequence are configured to serve as containers for clips, wherein the first clip is linked with a second clip;

in response to selection of the second clip, drag the second clip into a non-matching track in the timeline sequence before the first clip is dropped into a first track in the timeline sequence, wherein the non-matching track comprises a track that is not matched with a track at a position of the first clip; and

in response to deselection of the first clip or second clip, drop the first clip in the first track and drop the second clip in the non-matching track.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first clip comprises a first video clip, the first track comprises a first video track, the second clip comprises a first audio clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first audio track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the second and first tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second audio track.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

before dropping the first clip in the first track, detect movement of a selector cursor from tracks compatible with the first clip to tracks incompatible with the first clip, wherein audio tracks are compatible with audio clips, and wherein video tracks are compatible with video clips; and

trigger the selection of the second clip when the selector cursor is detected to have moved to tracks incompatible with the first clip.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

lock a position of the first clip on a lowest compatible track when the selector cursor is moved to tracks incompatible with the first clip.

17. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

lock the first clip onto a position in a compatible track in response to a selection of a locking key, wherein the locking key comprises any of the selector or another selector.

18. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first clip comprises a first audio clip, the first track comprises a first audio track, the second clip comprises a first video clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first video track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the first and second tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second video track.

19. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

before dropping the first clip in the first track, detect movement of a selector cursor from tracks compatible with the first clip to tracks incompatible with the first clip, wherein audio tracks are compatible with audio clips, and wherein video tracks are compatible with video clips; and

trigger the selection of the second clip when the selector cursor is detected to have moved to tracks incompatible with the first clip.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

lock a position of the first clip on a lowest compatible track when the selector cursor is moved to tracks incompatible with the first clip.

21. The system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the one or more computers are further operable to:

lock the first clip onto a position in a compatible track in response to a selection of a locking key, wherein the locking key comprises any of the selector or another selector.

22. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second clips comprises embedded timeline sequences.

23. A method for editing video and audio clips comprising:

in response to selection of a first clip, dragging the first clip in a timeline sequence, wherein the timeline sequence comprises a plurality of matched audio and video tracks, wherein the plurality of matched audio and video tracks in the timeline sequence are configured to serve as containers for clips, wherein the first clip is linked with a second clip;

in response to selection of the second clip, dragging the second clip into a non-matching track in the timeline sequence before the first clip is dropped in a first track in the timeline sequence, wherein the non-matching track comprises a track that is not matched with a track at a position of the first clip; and

in response to deselection of the first clip or second clip, dropping the first clip in the first track and dropping the second clip in the non-matching track.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first clip comprises a first video clip, the first track comprises a first video track, the second clip comprises a first audio clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first audio track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the second and first tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second audio track.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising locking the first clip into a lowest compatible track when the first clip is detected to be dragged to a track that is incompatible with the first clip.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising locking the first clip onto a position in a compatible track in response to a selection of a locking key, wherein the locking key comprises any of the selector or another selector.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first clip comprises a first audio clip, the first track comprises a first audio track, the second clip comprises a first video clip, and wherein the timeline sequence further comprises a second track comprising a first video track, wherein the matched audio and video tracks comprise the first and second tracks, and wherein the non-matching track comprises a second video track.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising locking the first clip into a lowest compatible track when the first clip is detected to be dragged to a track that is incompatible with the first clip.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising locking the first clip onto a position in a compatible track in response to a selection of a locking key, wherein the locking key comprises any of the selector or another selector.

30. The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein at least one of the first or second clips comprises embedded timeline sequences.