Displaying control points over a timeline

• US 7,062,713 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Schriever, Michiel, Roberts, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US10/118,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 345/972, 345/716, 345/726, 345/719, 345/823, 345/730, 345/974, 345/475, 715/716, 715/972, 715/722, 715/723, 715/726, 386/52
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/415 Redundant array of inexpensive disks [RAID] systems
• 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

Abstract

On a display monitor (102) the first region is displayed representing a first timeline (601) showing transitions between a first set of image clips. A second region is displayed representing a second timeline (602) showing transitions between a second set of image clips. Control points (621,622) are displayed over said first timeline (601) and over second timeline (602). The location of the control points controls an effect upon a first clip (601) and upon a second clip (602).

Claims

1. Image data processing apparatus, comprising frame storage means, processing means, manually operable input means and display means, wherein said display means is configured to display:

(a) a first region representing a first timeline showing transitions between a first set of clips;

(b) a second region representing a second timeline showing transitions between a second set of clips; and

(c) a first control point overlaying said first time line and a second control point overlaying said second timeline, wherein

(i) an output sequence is defined comprising a first portion of said first set of clips, and a second portion of said second set of clips, wherein said first portion and said second portion are based on said first control point and said second control point;

(ii) an effect in said output sequence between said first portion off said first set of clips and said second portion of said second set of clips is controlled by a location of said first control point and said second control point on said first timeline and second timeline respectively;

and

(iii) said first control point and said second control point are connected by a displayed line.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said effect relates to the priority layering of said first set of clips and said second set of clips.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said effect relates to the location of clip images spatially within a whole image frame.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame storage means includes a plurality of disk drives configured as a redundant array, wherein image frames are striped across a group of said disk drives.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control points are located in response to manual operations performed upon a touch tablet.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third region represents a third time line and a third control point and a fourth control point are displayed.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein other effects are detailed by attachment of icons to said displayed line.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said other effects include a warp or a colour collection.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output sequence is generated with reference to said control points.

10. A method of displaying control points on a timeline comprising:

displaying a first region on a display device representing a first time line showing transitions between a first set of image clips;

displaying a second region on said display device representing a second time line showing transitions between a second set of image clips; and

displaying a first control point over said first time line and a second control point over said second time line;

defining an output sequence comprising a first portion of said first set of image clips and a second portion of said second set of clips, wherein said first portion and said second portion an based on said first control point and said second control point;

defining an effect in said output sequence between said first portion of said first set of clips and said second portion of said second set of clips, wherein the effect is controlled by a location of said first control point and said second control point on said first timeline and said second timeline respectively, and wherein said first control point and said second control point are connected by a displayed line.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said effect relates to the priority layering of said first set of clips and said second set of clips.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said effect relates to the location of clip images spatially within a whole image frame.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein image frames are striped across a plurality of discs.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein control points are located in response to manual operations performed upon a touch tablet.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein a third region represents a third time line and a third control point and a fourth control point are displayed.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein other effects are detailed by attachment of icons to said displayed line.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said other effects include a warp or colour correction.

18. A method according to claim 10, wherein an output sequence is generated with reference to said control points.

19. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions executable by a computer to display control points on a timeline such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will perform the steps of:

displaying a first region on a display device representing the first timeline showing transitions between a first set of image clips;

displaying a second region on said display device representing a second timeline showing transitions between a second set of image clips; and

displaying a first control point over said first timeline and a second control point over said second timeline;

defining an output sequence comprising a first portion of said first set of image clips and a second portion of said second set of clips, wherein said first portion and said second portion are based on said first control point and said second control point;

defining an effect in said output sequence between said first portion of said first set of clips and said second portion of said second set of clips, wherein said effect is controlled by a location of said first control point and said second control point on said first timeline and said second timeline respectively, and wherein said first control point and second control point are connected by a displayed line.

20. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 19 such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will also perform the step of relocating said control points in response to manual operations performed upon a touch tablet.

22. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 19 such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will also perform the step of generating an output sequence with reference to said control points.

21. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 21 such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will also perform the step of representing a third time line and generating a third control point and a fourth control point.

23. Image data processing apparatus configured to display control points on a timeline, comprising frame storage means, processing means, manually operable input means and display means, wherein said display means is configured to display:

(a) a first region representing a first timeline showing transitions between a first set of clips;

(b) a second region representing a second timeline showing transitions between a second set of dips; and

(c) a first control point displayed over said first time line and a second control point displayed over said second timeline, wherein;

(i) an output sequence is defined comprising a first portion of said first set of clips, and a second portion of said second set of clips, wherein said first portion and said second portion are based on said first control point and said second control point; and

(ii) an effect in said output sequence between said first portion of said first set of clips and said second portion of said second set of clips is controlled by a location of said first control point and said second control point on said first timeline and second timeline respectively, and said control points are connected by a displayed line.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said effect relates to the priority layering of said first set of clips and said second set of clips.