Video editing system having virtual memory

• US 4,754,342 A
• Filed: 04/11/1986
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ChyronHego Corp. (Vector CH Holdings (Cayman) LP)
• Original Assignee: CMX Corp. (Vector CH Holdings (Cayman) LP)
• Inventors: Duffy, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WON TAE C
• Application Number:
  US06/851,079
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 360/14.1, 360/14.2, 360/14.3, 360/33.1, 360/72.2, 358/342, 358/311, 358/903, 358/335, 369/111, 369/32
• US Class Current: 386/281
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/022 Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/06 Cutting and rejoining; Notching, or perforating record carriers otherwise than by recording styli record carriers with provision for splicing G11B23/20
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/13 the information being derived from movement of the record carrier, e.g. using tachometer

Abstract

A virtual memory system for a video editor is disclosed which permits edited material from discrete takes to be electronically spliced in real time to form edited scenes. Typically, a plurality of cameras take film of originally acted scenes, either simultaneously from different angles or sequentially of differing takes of the same scene material replayed by skilled film actors. The film material is thereafter recorded from all uncut takes to a random access memory, preferably a DRAW laser video disk. An intelligent interface--preferably a microprocessor--connects at least two and preferably three laser disk heads for reading the video frames of the same uncut takes. Each disk head is provided with and reads the identical disk material containing identical unedited takes. An intelligent interface addresses a video disk head to randomly access the uncut takes and cause playing at controlled speeds forwardly, backwardly or still frame. A controlling computer addresses the intelligent interface and maintains and immediately updates a frame address list of edited takes including the first frame address of each take, and the last frame address of each take. All takes are maintained in the specified serial order of the edited scene. For immediate review at any time of an edited scene, the controlling computer commands the intellignet interface to play the current edited take and positions one player on the first frame of the next sequential take--this frame being the first frame of the next take in forward motion or the last frame of the previous take for reverse motion.

Claims

1. A process of editing uncut takes of an acted scene to a series of edited takes arranged in serial order to comprise an edited scene, said process comprising the steps of:

recording said acted scene from a plurality of views into discrete frames having discrete frame addresses;

placing said plurality of views on media for random access, said views on each said media all including identical discrete frame addresses for each frame of said views on said media;

reading and editing takes on said random access media by recording the beginning address of each edited take and the ending address of each edited take;

placing said beginning and ending addresses of each said edited take in serial order in a memory to compile a list of addresses of an edited scene;

playing said edited scene on one of a plurality of reading means with one reading means playing an edited take;

positioning for play on the other of said reading means;

said positioning step including placing the other of said reading means at the beginning address of the following adjacent take when said scene is in forward motion or the ending address of the previously adjacent take when said take is played in the reverse direction; and

,

reviewing said edited scene forward motion and backward motion whereby said reading means plays an electrical analog of said edited scene in respective forward and backward motion.

2. The process of claim 1 and wherein said recording step includes recording the same acted scenes from a plurality of views.

3. The process of claim 1 and wherein said recording step includes recording said acted scene from different takes of the same scene acted again.

4. The process of claim 1 and wherein said placing step includes placing said plurality of views on disk media for random access and said reading and editing step includes recording the beginning address of each edited take and the ending address of each edited take on random access disk media.

5. The process of claim 1 and wherein playing said edited scene includes utilizing at least one random access disk drive having at least one reading means and said positioning step includes positioning a second reading means.

6. The process of claim 5 and wherein said positioning step includes positioning reading means on another random access disk drive.

7. The process of claim 1 and wherein said reviewing includes reviewing in forward motion and reverse motion at variable speed.

8. The process of claim 1 and wherein said reviewing step includes still framing said motion.

9. Apparatus for editing uncut takes of an acted scene to a series of edited takes arranged in serial order to comprise an edited scene, said apparatus comprising:

first and second random access reading means for reading first and second random access memories having pictorial frame information and address information for said frames thereon;

at least one random access memory, each said memory including uncut takes of an acted scene in frame format, said uncut takes of said acted scene on each random access media all including discrete identical frame addresses for each frame of said uncut takes;

means for reading and recording the beginning address of edited takes on said random access memory media and the ending address of edited takes on said random access memory media;

memory means for maintaining a list of said edited takes in serial order, said list indicating the beginning address and ending address of each said take with said addresses placed in serial order to compile addresses of an edited scene;

monitor means for playing and displaying an edited scene at an edited take from one of said reading means;

means for positioning the other of said reading means either at the beginning address of the following adjacent take when said scene is played in the forward direction or at the ending address of the previous adjacent take when said scene is played in the reverse direction;

means for reversing the direction of said reading means for forward motion and reverse motion; and

switching means operatively connected to said memory means for displaying first reading means at said monitor between said respective beginning and ending address of a played, edited take and said second reading means beginning at a respective beginning address of a following edited take for forward scene motion and at an ending address of a previous edited take for reverse scene motion, whereby an electrical analog of spliced film is emulated.

10. The invention of claim 9, and where said first and second random access reading means includes first and second random access disk drives.

11. The invention of claim 9 and including two random access memories, each said random access memories including acted scenes in frame format in identical location.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 and including means connected to said monitor means for displaying said list of edited takes.

13. The invention of claim 9 and wherein said reversing means includes a control having a continuum of speeds between forward and reverse with stop motion therebetween.