Adaptive overlay element placement in video
First Claim
1. A method for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) extracting a frame from the video, the frame defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area;
b) selecting an area in the image for placing an overlay element;
c) determining for the selected area what percentage the overlay element overlaps the at least one desirable viewing area;
d) selecting another area in the image for placing the overlay element if the percentage is above the maximum allowed predetermined percentage of overlapping and continuing on from step c).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for placing overlay elements in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the method includes extracting frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image which may have one or more desirable viewing areas. For each frame, an area is selected in the image for placing an overlay element and the percentage the overlay element overlaps the desirable viewing areas is determined for the selected area. The overlay element is placed in the selected area if the percentage is below a maximum allowed predetermined percentage of overlapping. If it is not, one or more other areas in the image are selected and/or the size, shape, aspect ratio of the overlay element is changed until a position and/or size, shape, aspect ratio is found which minimizes occlusion of the desirable viewing areas in the image. Further, a device, such as a video receiver or video transmitter, for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element. In such a device, a frame extractor extracts frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area. An image processor analyzes the images of the frames to identify desirable viewing areas in the images of the frames. An overlay element locator places the overlay element in the images of the frames in a manner which minimizes the occlusion of the desirable viewing areas.
59 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) extracting a frame from the video, the frame defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area;
b) selecting an area in the image for placing an overlay element;
c) determining for the selected area what percentage the overlay element overlaps the at least one desirable viewing area;
d) selecting another area in the image for placing the overlay element if the percentage is above the maximum allowed predetermined percentage of overlapping and continuing on from step c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the device comprising:
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a frame extractor for extracting frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area;
an image processor for analyzing the images of the frames to identify desirable viewing areas in the images of the frames; and
an overlay element locator for selecting an area in the image for placing the overlay and if the area occludes a threshold amount of desirable viewing areas then selecting another area of the image which minimizes the occlusion of the desirable viewing areas. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A receiver device for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the receiver device comprising:
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a signal isolator for isolating a video signal having a video portion and an overlay element portion from a received video signal transmission;
a frame extractor for extracting frames from the video portion of the isolated video signal, each of the frames defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area;
an image processor for analyzing the images of the frames to identify desirable viewing areas in the images of the frames; and
an overlay element locator for selecting an area in the image for placing the overlay and if the area occludes a threshold amount of desirable viewing areas then selecting another area of the image which minimizes the occlusion of the desirable viewing areas. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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25. The receiver device according to claim 17, wherein the receiver device comprises one of a television receiver and set-top box.
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26. A transmitter device for placing an overlay element in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the transmitter device comprising:
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a video generator for generating a digital video;
a frame extractor for extracting frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image having at least one desirable viewing area;
an image processor for analyzing the images of the frames to identify desirable viewing areas in the images of the frames;
an overlay element generator for generating an overlay element;
an overlay element locator for selecting an area in the image for placing the overlay and if the area occludes a threshold amount of desirable viewing areas then selecting another area of the image which minimizes the occlusion of the desirable viewing areas; and
a transmitter for transmitting a video signal of the video with the overlay element positioning information. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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34. The transmitter device according to claim 26, wherein the transmitter device comprises a television broadcast transmitter.
Specification