Video processing system

• US 5,384,667 A
• Filed: 06/01/1993
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quantel Limited (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quantel Limited (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckwith, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Psilos, Aristotelis
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPADIA, VARSHA A
• Application Number:
  US08/070,507
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 360/14.1, 360/14.2, 360/14.3, 358/22, 358/311, 358/80, 358/351, 358/346, 352/87, 340/750, 340/725, 364/192, 364/193, 364/191, 364/578, 364/521, 395/152, 395/154, 395/155, 345/189, 345/190, 345/200
• US Class Current: 386/282
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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 5/262 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

Abstract

A video processing system comprises a processing unit, a VDU, and a look-up table. A user defined profile is displayable on the VDU and can be adjusted interactively by way of a stylus and touch tablet. Data representing the profile is stored in the look-up table. An input video clip is stored in digital form in a disc store and output video clip frames are generated in accordance with the user defined profile data. The system can be used for example to stretch or compress a video clip in time.

Claims

1. A video processing apparatus for producing from an input video sequence comprising a multiplicity of video images which together depict a moving scene, an output video sequence comprising a multiplicity of video images which together depict the moving scene at a different speed, with images of the output sequence having respective positions which correspond with positions in the input sequence and each image being defined by digital data representing a multiplicity of pixels which together form the scene in each image, the apparatus comprising:

a video source for providing digital data defining each image in the input sequence;

a look up table comprising a multiplicity of table locations each identified by a unique address representing a respective position in the output sequence of images, the look up table containing at each said location position data identifying a position in the input sequence of images, said position in said output sequence of images represented by said addresses having a predetermined relationship with corresponding positions in the input sequence of images represented by the position data at said addresses;

a processor operable for each image in the output sequence to identify from said position data in said look up table one or more images in the input sequence that contribute to the output image and to calculate from said position data contribution data defining the contribution made to the output image by said one or more identified input images, the processor obtaining the data for said one or more images from the video source and weighting the obtained data in accordance with the contribution data to produce digital data defining the output image.

2. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output image data is produced from two identified input images by combining on a pixel-by-pixel basis the data representing the two input images weighted in accordance with the contribution data.

6. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the images of the input and output image sequences comprises a video frame.

7. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said video source comprises a disc store for storing said input video images and for storing output video images produced by said processor.

8. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to identify a start image and an end image in said input video images thereby defining an input video clip from which an output video clip is generated.

9. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a monitor connected with said video source and said processor for displaying either of or both said input sequence of video images and said output sequence of video images.

10. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said corresponding locations in the input sequence of images are equally spaced.

11. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locations in the output sequences of images represented by said addresses are equally spaced.

12. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a user operable input device for generating control data in response to manipulation thereof by a user; and

a display device for displaying a graphical representation of a relationship between said input sequence and said output sequence, and wherein said processor is operable to effect modifications to the displayed graphical representation in response to said control data and to calculate said position data for said look up table corresponding to the relationship as represented by said modified graphical representation.

13. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said manually operable device comprises a touch tablet and stylus combination arranged to generate as said control data co-ordinate data relating to the position of the stylus on the touch tablet which data is identified by said processor as relating to input and corresponding output images.

14. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said display device is arranged to display substantially orthogonal axes representing input image numbers and output image numbers and to display a graph plotted against said axes representing said predetermined relationship.

15. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said look up table comprises a random access memory device.

3. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim further comprising:

a user operable input device for generating control data in response to manipulation thereof by a user; and

a display device for displaying a graphical representation of a relationship between said input sequence and said output sequence, and wherein said processor is operable to effect modifications to the displayed graphical representation in response to said control data and to calculate said position data for said look up table corresponding to the relationship as represented by said modified graphical representation.

4. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manually operable device comprises a touch tablet and stylus combination arranged to generate as said control data co-ordinate data relating to the position of the stylus on the touch tablet which data is identified by said processor as relating to input and corresponding output images.

5. A video processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said display device is arranged to display substantially orthogonal axes representing input image numbers and output image numbers and to display a graph plotted against said axes representing said predetermined relationship.

16. A video processing method for producing from an input video sequence comprising a multiplicity of video images which together depict a moving scene, an output video sequence comprising a multiplicity of video images which together depict the moving scene at a different speed, with images of the output sequence having respective positions which correspond with positions in the input sequence and each image being defined by digital data representing a multiplicity of pixels which together form the scene in each image, comprising:

providing digital data from a video source defining each image in the input sequence;

utilizing a look up table having a multiplicity of look up table locations each identified by a unique address representing a respective position in the output sequence of images, each of said locations containing position data identifying a position in the input sequence of images, said position in said output sequence of images represented by said addresses having a predetermined relationship with corresponding positions in the input sequence of images represented by the position data at said addresses;

carrying out data processing to identify for each image in the output sequence, from said position data in said look up table, one or more images in the input sequence that contribute to the output image and to calculate from said position data contribution data defining the contribution made to the output image by said one or more identified input images, said processing obtaining the data for said one or more images from the video source and weighting the obtained data in accordance with the contribution data to produce digital data defining the output image.

17. A video processing method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of carrying out data processing comprises producing the digital data defining at least one of said output images from two identified input images by combining on a pixel-by-pixel basis the data representing the two input images weighted in accordance with the contribution data.

18. A video processing method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

generating control data in response to manipulation by a user of a user-controlled entry device; and

displaying a graphical representation of a relationship between said input sequence and said output sequence, and wherein said processing comprises effecting modifications to the displayed graphical representation in response to said control data and calculating said position data for said look up table corresponding to the relationship as represented by said modified graphical representation.

19. A video processing method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said processing comprises identifying a start image and an end image in said input video images thereby defining an input video clip from which an output video clip is generated.

20. A video processing method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising displaying either of or both said input sequence of video images and said output sequence of video images.

21. A video processing method as claimed in claim 20, wherein each of the images of the input and output image sequences comprises a video frame.

22. A video processing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said locations in the output sequence of images represented by said addresses are equally spaced.

23. A video processing method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said corresponding locations in the input sequence of images are equally spaced.

24. A video processing method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said displaying comprises displaying substantially orthogonal axes representing input image numbers and output image numbers and displaying a graph plotted against said axes representing said predetermined relationship.

25. A video processing method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said processing comprises using a random access memory device to store said look up table.

26. A video processing method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the images of the input and output image sequences comprises a video frame.

27. A video processing method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying either of or both said input sequence of video images and said output sequence of video images.

28. A video processing method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said displaying step comprises displaying substantially orthogonal axes representing input image numbers and output image numbers and displaying a graph plotted against said axes representing said predetermined relationship.

29. A video processing method comprising machine-implemented steps of:

providing input images in a selected input sequence, each input image being represented by an array of pixels in digital form;

generating output images in a selected output sequence, each output image being represented by an array of pixels in digital form and each output image being derived from contributions from at least two respective input images;

said generating comprising a step of establishing a non-linear relationship between the positions of output images in said output sequence and the positions of respective images in the input sequence from which the output images are derived; and

said step of establishing comprising a step of utilizing an interface device by an user to create a curve representing said non-linear relationship.

30. A method as in claim 29 in which said generating step comprises selecting the respective contributions from at least two input images for deriving an output image according to a positional relationship between said input sequence and said output sequence defined by a location on said curve.

31. A method as in claim 30 in which said providing step comprises providing an input sequence which depicts a moving scene and said generating step comprises generating an output sequence which depicts the moving scene at a playing speed which differs from that of the input sequence.

32. A method as in claim 31 in which said providing step comprises providing input images in the form of video frames and said generating step comprises generating output images in the form of video frames.

33. A method as in claim 29 in which said providing step comprises providing input images in the form of video frames and said generating step comprises generating output images in the form of video frames.