Graphical user interface for a motion video planning and editing system for a computer

• US 6,628,303 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1996
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Darrell N., Granger, Brett D., Cavero-Belaunde, Iván M., Foreman, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/687,926
• Time in Patent Office: 2,619 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 345/328, 345/762, 345/806, 345/807, 345/302, 345/329, 345/330, 345/716, 345/717, 345/719, 345/720, 345/721, 345/723, 345/724, 345/725, 345/726
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/42 characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation H04N19/635 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/85 using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a computer-assisted motion video editing system directs a user through the process of editing a video program. The graphical user interface may also enable a user to plan a video program. Alternatively selectable interfaces within a single window interface, each of which provide a group of planning, capturing, editing, and recording functions can provide such an interface for producing a video program. Other simplifications to the user interface can be provided to assist in editing, such as by maintaining a video display window for displaying the edited video program at a fixed position for all available editing operations. Additionally, video information can be captured directly into a timeline representation of a video program, rather than a bin. Using a storyboard tied to the capturing process, a user is directed through the process of collecting and capturing the video clips to be used in the video program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for computer-assisted planning and editing of a motion picture, comprising:

A. prior to production of at least one source of motion video information to be used in the motion picture;

a. storing in a computer system a representation of a plan for the motion picture, wherein the plan specifies a sequence of shots, wherein each shot is specified by a shot description including a reference to a textual description of the shot and a duration of the shot, wherein at least one shot lacks a reference to a source of motion video information for the shot;

b. displaying to a user a storyboard on a display for the computer system according to the sequence of shots specified by the plan; and

c. allowing the user to modify the representation of the plan in the computer system;

B. automatically generating in the computer system a sequence of clips representing the motion picture from the stored representation of the plan, wherein each clip corresponds to a shot in the sequence of shots and has a duration that corresponds at least initially to the duration of the corresponding shot;

C. after production of at least one source of motion video information to be used in the motion picture;

a. storing motion video information from the sources in data files on the computer system;

b. associating motion video information stored in the data files on the computer system with each clip in the representation of the motion picture and storing for each clip a reference to the associated data file and a range within the data file, such that the duration of each clip corresponds to the associated motion video information;

c. displaying to the user the sequence of clips as a timeline and in a video window on a display for the computer system according using the associated motion video information; and

d. allowing the user to modify the sequence of clips in the computer system.

2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein associating motion video information with each clip comprises allowing the user to specify motion video information to be associated with a selected clip.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 2, further comprising displaying to the user an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 2, wherein allowing the user to specify motion video information comprises:

allowing a user to select the selected clip;

receiving an instruction from the user to capture motion video information into a data file on the computer while the selected clip is selected; and

associating the data file with the selected clip.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 4, further comprising displaying to the user an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1, wherein the shot description further includes a reference to a still image.

7. The computer implemented process of claim 6, wherein the shot description further is assigned a number.

8. The computer implemented process of claim 7, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.

9. The computer implemented process of claim 6, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.

10. A process for computer-assisted planning and editing of a motion picture, comprising:

generating in a computer system a representation of a plan for the motion picture, wherein the plan specifies a sequence of shots, wherein each shot is specified by a shot description including a reference to a textual description of the shot and a duration of the shot, and wherein at least one shot lacks a reference to a source of motion video information for the shot;

viewing on a display for the computer system a storyboard according to the sequence of shots;

modifying the representation of the plan in the computer system;

producing sources of motion video information corresponding to the shot descriptions;

instructing a computer system to automatically generate a sequence of clips representing the motion picture from the stored representation of the plan, wherein each clip corresponds to a shot in the sequence of shots and has a duration that corresponds at least initially to the duration of the corresponding shot;

storing motion video information from the sources in data files on the computer system;

associating motion video information stored in the data files on the computer system with each clip in the representation of the motion picture and storing for each clip a reference to the associated data file and a range within the data file, such that the duration of each clip corresponds to the associated motion video information;

viewing on a display for the computer system the sequence of clips as a timeline and in a video window according to the associated motion video information; and

modifying the sequence of clips in the computer system.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein associating motion video information with each clip comprises specifying motion video information to be associated with a selected clip.

12. The process of claim 11, further comprising viewing on a displaying an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein specifying motion video information comprises:

selecting the selected clip; and

providing an instruction to capture motion video information into a data file on the computer while the selected clip is selected, wherein the computer automatically associates the data file with the selected clip.

14. The process of claim 13, further comprising viewing on a display an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

15. The process of claim 10, wherein the shot description further includes a reference to a still image.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the shot description further is assigned a number.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.

19. A computer system for computer-assisted planning and editing of a motion picture, comprising:

A. a planning tool for use prior to production of at least one source of motion video information to be used in the motion picture, and comprising;

a. means for storing in a computer system a representation of a plan for the motion picture, wherein the plan specifies a sequence of shots, wherein each shot is specified by a shot description including a reference to a textual description of the shot and a duration of the shot, wherein at least one shot lacks a reference to a source of motion video information for the shot;

b. means for displaying to a user a storyboard on a display for the computer system according to the sequence of shots specified by the plan; and

c. means for allowing the user to modify the representation of the plan in the computer system; and

B. an editing tool for use after production of at least one source of motion video information to be used in the motion picture, and comprising;

a. means for automatically generating in the computer system a sequence of clips representing the motion picture from the stored representation of the plan, wherein each clip corresponds to a shot in the sequence of shots and has a duration that corresponds at least initially to the duration of the corresponding shot;

b. means for storing motion video information from the sources in data files on the computer system;

c. means for associating motion video information stored in the data files on the computer system with each clip in the representation of the motion picture and storing for each clip a reference to the associated data file and a range within the data file, such that the duration of each clip corresponds to the associated motion video information;

d. means for displaying to the user the sequence of clips as a timeline and in a video window on a display for the computer system according using the associated motion video information; and

e. means for allowing the user to modify the sequence of clips in the computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the means for associating motion video information with each clip comprises means for allowing the user to specify motion video information to be associated with a selected clip.

21. The computer system of claim 20, further comprising means for displaying to the user an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the means for allowing the user to specify motion video information comprises:

means for allowing a user to select the selected clip;

means for receiving an instruction from the user to capture motion video information into a data file on the computer while the selected clip is selected; and

means for associating the data file with the selected clip.

23. The computer system of claim 22, further comprising means for displaying to the user an indication of each clip to which motion video information has not been associated.

24. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the shot description further includes a reference to a still image.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the shot description further is assigned a number.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.

27. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the shot description further includes a tip for filming a shot during production of a source of motion video information.