Multimedia program editing and presenting system with flexible layout capability by simplified input operations

• US 6,330,004 B1
• Filed: 11/27/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Security Video Camera Systems Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Makoto, Oka, Toshio, Matsuzawa, Tomoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/200,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 345/302, 345/327-328, 345/333-334, 345/339-340, 345/348, 386/52, 386/55
• US Class Current: 715/723
• 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: G06F 16/489 using time information
• 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 multimedia program editing method enables a layout with a higher degree of freedom by simplified input operations. Available media materials and a plurality of predetermined frames are displayed. The user sets a current scenario time to a desired time by clicking on a desired one of a plurality of time control icons, and associates a desired material with one of the predetermined frames at the desired time by mouse operations. In response to the association of the desired material, information on the association is registered to a scenario to prepare for an instruction to present the desired material in one of said predetermined frames. Any attribute of one of the predetermined frames can be changed. If the user terminates the association by specifying the desired material and clicking on a predetermined icon, then the attribute of the one of the predetermined frames is restored to a state before the desired material was attached to the frame.

Claims

1. A multimedia program editing method that enables a layout with a higher degree of freedom by simplified input operations, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying available media materials;

displaying a plurality of predetermined frames

permitting a user to set a current scenario time to a desired time by clicking on a desired one of a plurality of time control icons;

permitting the user to associate a desired material with one of said predetermined frames at said desired time by mouse operations;

in response to said associating said desired material, registering information on said association to a scenario to prepare for an instruction to present said desired material in said one of said predetermined frames;

permitting the user to change an attribute of said one of said predetermined frames;

permitting the user to terminate said association by specifying said desired material and clicking on a predetermined icon; and

in response to said terminating said association, restoring said attribute of said one of said predetermined frames to a state before said desired material was attached to the frame.

2. A multimedia program editing method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to delete said information from said scenario by specifying said desired material and clicking on a predetermined icon; and

in response to said deletion of said information, restoring said attribute of said one of said predetermined frames to a state before said desired material was attached to the frame.

3. A multimedia program editing method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

permitting the user to change any attribute of a vacant (or not attached) frame; and

restoring said any attribute of said vacant frame to an original state after playing an attached material.

4. A multimedia program editing system that enables a layout with a higher degree of freedom by simplified input operations, the system comprising:

means for displaying available media materials;

means for displaying a plurality of predetermined frames;

means for setting a current scenario time to a desired time by clicking on a desired one of a plurality of time control icons;

means for associating a desired material with one of said predetermined frames at said desired time by mouse operations;

means, responsive to said associating said desired material, for registering information on said association to a scenario to prepare for an instruction to present said desired material in said one of said predetermined frames;

means for changing an attribute of said one of said predetermined frames;

means for terminating said association by specifying said desired material and clicking on a predetermined icon; and

means, responsive to said terminating said association, for restoring said attribute of said one of said predetermined frames to a state before said desired material was attached to the frame.

5. A multimedia program editing system as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

means for deleting said information from said scenario by specifying said desired material and clicking on a predetermined icon; and

means, response to said deletion of said information, for restoring said attribute of said one of said predetermined frames to a state before said desired material was attached to the frame.

6. A multimedia program editing system as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

means for changing any attribute of a vacant (or not attached) frame; and

means for restoring said any attribute of said vacant frame to an original state after playing an attached material.