Multimedia program editing system and method

• US 5,729,252 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Fraser, Alexander Gibson
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US08/807,945
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 395/806, 395/807, 395/792, 395/762, 395/327, 395/328, 348/7, 348/461, 382/306, 345/156, 345/179, 235/470, 235/471, 235/462, 358/474, 358/479
• US Class Current: 715/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for interposing stored images to moving video within multimedia computer programs, wherein the system recognizes specific identifiers upon an object or image that identify that the object or image is a visual aid to be incorporated into the multimedia program. In response to this recognition, a previously stored image associated with the identified object/image is retrieved and inserted into the multimedia computer program.

Claims

1. A method for editing a multimedia program, comprising the steps:

presenting individual ones of a plurality of presented images with each of the presented images being associated with a particular identifier code;

storing within a memory a plurality of high-resolution images corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of presented images and the particular identifier code associated therewith;

monitoring a video signal to detect a signal corresponding to a pattern representing one of said particular identifier codes;

retrieving from said memory, in response to detection of a signal corresponding to a pattern representing a particular identifier code, one or more high-resolution images associated with said particular identifier code;

interposing the one or more high-resolution images associated with said particular identifier code into the multimedia program; and

recording the multimedia program with the one or more interposed high-resolution images while excluding the one or more corresponding presented images in the recorded multimedia program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said image represents moving images.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said pattern representing one of said particular identifier codes is a bar code image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said pattern representing one of said particular identifier codes is text.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said pattern representing one of said particular identifier codes is a particular geometric shape.

6. A system for editing a multimedia program, comprising:

a plurality of presented images, each presented image being associated with a particular identifier code;

an image memory containing a plurality of high-resolution images, each of said high-resolution images corresponding to each of the presented images and being associated with respective ones of the particular identifier codes of the presented images;

an image processor adapted to detect at least one of said particular identifier codes of the presented images;

a processor adapted to retrieve from said image memory, in response to the detection by said image processor of said particular identifier code, one or more high-resolution images associated with a corresponding one of said particular identifier codes represented by said detected particular identifier code and to interpose one or more high-resolution images into the multimedia program; and

a recorder for recording the multimedia program with one or more high-resolution images interposed therein in lieu of one or more corresponding presented images.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is a bar code image.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is text.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is a particular geometric shape.

10. A system for editing a multimedia program, comprising:

a video camera adapted to produce signals indicative of captured image, including particular images representing particular identifier codes;

an image memory containing a plurality of high-resolution images, each of said high-resolution images being associated with a particular identifier code;

an image processor adapted to receive said indicative signals from said video camera and detect signals indicative of the particular image associated with one of said particular identifier codes;

a processor adapted to retrieve from said image memory, in response to the detection by said image processor of signals indicative of the particular image having a pattern representing a particular code, one or more high-resolution images associated with said particular identifier code represented by said detected image; and

a recorder for recording the multimedia program with one or more high-resolution images interposed in the recorded multimedia program.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said images captured by said video camera are moving images.

12. The invention of claim 10 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is a bar code image.

13. The invention of claim 10 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is text.

14. The invention of claim 10 wherein said image representing one of said particular identifier codes is a particular geometric shape.

15. A method of editing an audiovisual transmission, comprising the steps of:

presenting a plurality of presented images including at least one coded presented image and a plurality of non-coded presented images, the at least one coded presented image being associated with a particular identifier code;

storing at least one high-resolution image in a computer memory;

associating the at least one high-resolution image with the particular identifier code;

monitoring the presentation of the plurality of presented images to detect a signal corresponding to the particular identifier code;

retrieving from the computer memory, when detecting the signal corresponding to the particular identifier code, the at least one high-resolution image associated with the particular identifier code;

interposing the at least one high-resolution image into the audiovisual transmission when the signal corresponding to the particular identifier code is detected while simultaneously excluding the coded presented image from the audiovisual transmission; and

broadcasting the audiovisual transmission comprising the plurality of non-coded presented images and the at least one high-resolution image.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of retaining the interposed high resolution image into the audiovisual transmission for a fixed interval of time.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of retaining the interposed high resolution image into the audiovisual transmission for as long as the signal corresponding to the particular identifier code is detected.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one high resolution image is one of a still image and a sequence of moving video images.