Computer-based, audio/visual creation and presentation system and method

• US 5,274,758 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Kenneth B., Walling, Lonnie S., Burns, Nancy A., Gordon, Robert D., Bishop, Mark S., Yanker, Peter C., Wilkes, Michael D., Beitel, Bradley J., Haug, Charles L., Deacon, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US07/834,922
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 395/154, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/161, 434/307, 434/308, 434/317, 434/318, 434/309, 434/176, 434/323, 434/429, 360/14.3, 358/903
• US Class Current: 715/203
• 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: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• 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

Abstract

A user/PC interface system is described which enables the creation and performance of a synchronized audio/visual story on the PC. The interface enables the initial storage of a plurality of visual images. Then, it enables the creation of an audio presentation which includes labels and time indications, certain of which are employed for synchronization purposes. The system is responsive to a label to execute a predetermined command upon the appearance of the label in the audio presentation. The PC is then operated to perform the audio presentation, that performance automatically causing the display of visual images upon the occurrence of labels and time indications.

An improved, table-based authoring system is also described for preparation of both the above noted audio and visual presentations. The system relies upon columnar presentations of a tabular form, each column indicating a separate control function (or comment) relating to the audio/visual presentation.

Claims

1. In a computer/software system including a display for enabling a user to create an audio/visual story, a story editor program segment which provides a story editor tabular screen for said display, means in said computer enabling user inputs to said screen and for storing an audio presentation that includes labels and time indications, a method for compiling said story comprising:

(a) entering a series of story command statements in said tabular screen to show images and play audio;

(b) entering in said tabular screen adjacent command statements, labels from said audio presentation;

(c) playing said audio presentation and causing a manifestation of said labels; and

(d) performing story command statements upon occurrence of said manifested labels in said audio presentation, whereby synchronization between said audio presentation and story command statements is retained in the event of editing of the audio presentation that results in an alteration of said time indications.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(e) entering in said tabular screen adjacent user selected command statements, display alteration indications; and

(f) performing a said display alteration indication when said command statement is executed.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said tabular screen has columns which function as inputs for both audio and screen functions, said software having screen related commands and audio related commands, the method further comprising:

(g) entering control inputs into a line in certain of said column; and

(h) recognizing said control inputs as audio control inputs if an audio related command is present on said line, or as a screen control input if a screen command is present on said line.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the step of:

(i) inserting a command in said tabular screen to delay further processing until a user response is received.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

(j) inserting a command to perform an arithmetic/calculation function and to await its completion until proceeding with further commands.

6. In a computer/software system including a display for creating and performing an audio/visual story, comprising:

means for displaying a tabular presentation of said story, said tabular presentation including a column for command statements to control presentation of said audio/visual story, columns for visual presentation function indications for control of visual aspects of said audio/visual story, and columns for synchronization labels and time indications to enable synchronization of audio and visual aspects of said audio/visual story;

means for enabling a user insert in said tabular presentation said command statements, synchronization labels and time indications and to select and insert said visual presentation function indications;

means for performing a stored video presentation, said stored audio presentation including said synchronization labels and time indications; and

means responsive to said tabular presentation inserts and said stored audio presentation to present said visual images in accordance with the said function indications, and under control of synchronization labels and time indications manifested by said audio presentation.

7. A computer/software system including a display for enabling a user to create an audio/visual story, comprising:

a story editor program segment which provides a story editor tabular screen for said display, said screen including a series of command statements to show images and play audio and enabling the presentation of said audio/visual story;

means for storing an audio presentation that includes audio, time indications and visual presentation command statements associated with selected ones of said time indications;

means for playing said audio presentation and causing said visual presentation command statements to be manifest; and

means for performing visual presentation command statements present in said story editor tabular screen upon manifestation of said visual presentation command statements during said audio presentation.