SHARING OF PRESETS FOR VISUAL EFFECTS OR OTHER COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED EFFECTS

• US 20100274714A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artel Software Corporation
• Original Assignee: GenArts, Inc. (Boris FX, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oberbrunner, Gary C., Hays, Katherine, Sims, Karl P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• 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

Abstract

This application describes a system and associated methods for enabling users of video editing, compositing, motion graphics, and other applications to easily store and retrieve presets, have presets modified for compatibility with other applications, share presets with each other, and search for shared presets. The users may utilize different applications that store presets according to different application-specific schemas. The system can automatically translate or conform presets from one application-specific schema to a neutral schema and from the neutral schema to another application-specific schema. This allows a user of one application to share his or her presets with users of different applications. Among other things, this cross-application sharing of presets allows the system implementor to create one user community (e.g., of users of different applications), rather than several individual ones (e.g., an individual user community for each different application). Other features of the system and associated methods are also described.

Claims

1. A method of sharing presets usable by applications for generating visual effects for moving or still images, the method comprising:

receiving a preset usable by a first application for generating visual effects, wherein—

the preset includes first data that conform to a first schema, and

the first schema corresponds to the first application for generating visual effects;

in response to receiving the preset, automatically modifying, by a computing system having a processor and a memory, the first data to obtain second data that conform to a neutral schema, wherein the neutral schema is different from the first schema;

storing the preset in a collection of presets, wherein the collection of presets is accessible to multiple users;

receiving a request for the preset from a user, wherein—

the request indicates a second application for generating visual effects that is different from the first application for generating visual effects,

the second application for generating visual effects uses presets that include data that conform to a second schema,

the second schema corresponds to the second application for generating visual effects, and

the second schema is different from the first and neutral schemas;

modifying, by the computing system, the second data to obtain third data that conform to the second schema, wherein the second schema is different from the neutral schema; and

providing the preset to the user, wherein the preset includes the third data that conforms to the second schema.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the neutral schema does not correspond to an application for generating visual effects.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a video;

receiving a request to apply the preset to a portion of the video; and

applying, by the computing system, the preset to the portion of the video to obtain a modified video.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application for generating visual effects or the second application for generating visual effects includes a host application and a plug-in usable in combination with the host application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application for generating visual effects or the second application for generating visual effects is a stand-alone application for generating visual effects.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requiring payment from the user in order to allow the user to access the preset; and

receiving the required payment from the user prior to providing the preset to the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is a first user, the preset is provided by a second user, and wherein the first and second users are both associated with the same organization.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing system is a first computing system, each of the first and second applications for generating visual effects executes on a respective second computing system, each second computing system having a processor and memory, and wherein the first computing system and the second computing systems are communicably coupled to each other but are not communicably coupled to the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search query for presets from the user, wherein the search query specifies one or more criteria;

identifying presets having associated metadata that satisfy the one or more criteria, the associated metadata including tags or categories provided by users; and

providing an indication of the identified presets to the user, the identified presets including the preset,

such that the user may request the preset.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the preset includes descriptive metadata.

11. A computer-readable storage medium whose contents cause a computing system to perform a method for sharing presets, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a preset from a collection of presets stored in a data store, wherein—

at a time prior to the request, the preset was usable by a first application for modifying digital assets, and

the request indicates a second application for modifying digital assets;

retrieving the preset from the collection of presets;

modifying the retrieved preset to obtain a modified preset usable by the second application for modifying digital assets; and

providing the modified preset in response to the request.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the preset is not usable by the second application for modifying digital assets; and

in response to the determining, automatically modifying the retrieved preset to obtain a modified preset usable by the second application for modifying digital assets.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the preset, wherein the received preset conforms to a first data structure definition corresponding to the first application for modifying digital assets;

modifying the received preset to conform the preset to a second data structure definition; and

adding the modified preset to the collection of presets in the data store,

wherein modifying the retrieved preset includes modifying the retrieved preset to conform the retrieved preset to a third data structure definition corresponding to the second application for modifying digital assets.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving information describing a preset in the collection of presets; and

storing the information in association with the preset,

such that the information may be viewed in association with the preset.

15. A computing system for sharing presets for modifying digital assets, the computing system comprising:

a data store storing multiple presets, wherein—

a preset can be applied to a digital asset to modify a portion of the digital asset, and

the multiple presets include a first preset that conforms to a first schema; and

a computer having a processor and a storage medium including executable instructions that if executed by the processor cause the computer to—

access the first preset, and

conform the first preset to a second schema that is different from the first schema.

16. The computing system of claim 15 wherein—

the first schema corresponds to a first application for modifying digital assets,

the second schema corresponds to a second application for modifying digital assets,

the second application is different from the first application,

presets conforming to the first schema are not usable by the second application, and

presets conforming to the second schema are not usable by the first application.

17. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the computer conforms the first preset to the second schema by performing one or more of the following:

modifying an attribute of a parameter of the first preset;

modifying a value of a parameter of the first preset;

reordering data of the preset; and

adding data to or removing data from the preset.

18. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the storage medium further includes executable instructions that if executed by the processor cause the computer to:

receive the first preset, wherein the first preset conforms to an original schema at a time of receipt of the first preset;

conform the first preset to the first schema; and

store the first preset in the data store.

19. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the storage medium further includes executable instructions that if executed by the processor cause the computer to:

receive a request for the first preset; and

determine an application indicated by the request,

wherein the second schema corresponds to the application, and the first preset is conformed to the second schema in response to the request.

20. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the data store further stores multiple effects, wherein an effect is obtained by applying one or more of the multiple presets to a digital asset, and wherein the storage medium further includes executable instructions that if executed by the processor cause the computer to:

receive a digital asset;

receive a selection of an effect stored in the data store;

determine one or more presets corresponding to the effect;

apply the one or more presets to a portion of the digital asset to obtain a modified digital asset; and

provide the modified digital asset.

21. A computing system for enabling sharing of presets, the computing system comprising:

a memory;

means for storing multiple presets, wherein—

a preset can be applied to a digital asset to modify a portion of the digital asset, and

the multiple presets include a first preset that conforms to a first data structure definition; and

means for conforming the first preset to a second data structure definition that is different from the first data structure definition.

22. The computing system of claim 21 wherein—

the first data structure definition corresponds to a first application for modifying digital assets,

the second data structure definition corresponds to a second application for modifying digital assets,

the second application is different from the first application,

presets conforming to the first data structure definition are not usable by the second application, and

presets conforming to the second data structure definition are not usable by the first application.

23. The computing system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving the first preset, wherein the first preset conforms to an original data structure definition at a time of receipt of the first preset; and

means for modifying the first preset to conform the first preset to the first data structure definition.

24. A method of sharing presets for generating effects, the method comprising:

providing an indication of one or more presets, wherein the one or more presets are included in a collection of multiple presets accessible to multiple users of presets, wherein a preset can be applied by an application to generate an effect, and wherein a preset stored in the collection of multiple presets conforms to a schema;

receiving a selection of a preset from the indicated one or more presets;

providing a request for the selected preset to the collection of multiple presets, wherein the request includes an indication of an application with which the preset is to be used; and

receiving the preset from the collection of multiple presets, wherein the preset is modified to conform to a schema other than the schema to which the preset stored in the collection of multiple presets conforms,

wherein the preset is modified prior to the receiving by a first computing system having a processor and memory.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein—

the first computing system further has a storage device storing the collection of multiple presets,

the preset is received at a second computing system that is distinct from the first computing system, and

the second computing system includes the application with which the preset is to be used.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the first computing system includes the application with which the preset is to be used.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a preset authored by a user to be added to the collection of multiple presets;

receiving metadata to associate with the authored preset; and

adding the authored preset and the metadata to the collection of multiple presets.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a first preset authored by a user to be added to the collection of multiple presets;

adding the first authored preset to the collection of multiple presets;

receiving a selection of a second preset authored by the user or by another user to be added to the collection of multiple presets; and

adding the second authored preset to the collection of multiple presets;

wherein the first and second authored presets are usable together and are grouped together in the collection of presets.

29. A method for sharing presets usable by applications for generating effects, the method comprising:

providing an indication of one or more presets, wherein the one or more presets are included in a set of multiple presets accessible to multiple users of presets, wherein one or more of the multiple presets are authored by one or more users, and wherein a preset can be applied by an application to generate an effect;

receiving a request from a first user for a preset from the set of multiple presets, the preset authored by a second user;

receiving a payment from the first user required to access the requested preset;

providing the requested preset to the first user; and

providing a portion of the payment to the second user.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein, at a time prior to inclusion of the requested preset in the set of multiple presets, the requested preset conformed to a first data structure definition corresponding to a first application for generating effects, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication from the first user of a second application for generating effects; and

prior to providing the requested preset to the first user, modifying the requested preset to conform the requested preset to a second data structure definition corresponding to the second application for generating effects.