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

• US 7,124,366 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/674,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 715719-732, 715/777
• US Class Current: 715/719
• 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 enables 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 program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for a computer program that facilitates editing of a motion picture using motion video data on a computer, wherein the computer program, when executed by a computer provides a graphical user interface, comprising;

a viewer window on a display for the computer for viewing motion video data;

a timeline region on the display and nonoverlapping with the viewer window for displaying a timeline representing selections of the motion video data in a temporal order that specifies the motion picture;

a plurality of selectable, mutually exclusive, interfaces on the display, wherein each selectable interface is selected by user selection of one of a set of graphical elements associated with the selectable interfaces, wherein each of the selectable interfaces, when selected, displays information in a region that is nonoverlapping with the viewer window and with the timeline region, wherein the displayed information is hidden by information displayed when another of the selectable interfaces is selected, the selectable interfaces comprising;

an interface for allowing a user to select a clip corresponding to motion video data stored on the computer for placement on the timeline;

an effect interface for allowing a user to specify an effect for placement on the timeline, and

wherein playback of the motion picture represented by the timeline is viewed in the viewer window and is initiated by user selection of a graphical element indicative of a playback operation;

wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces; and

wherein size and position of the timeline region is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the selectable interfaces further comprises a title interface for allowing a user to specify a title for placement on the timeline.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further comprising:

an export graphical element selectable by a user, wherein an export of the motion picture into a selected one of a plurality of output formats is initiated by user selection of the export graphical element.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during export.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by user selection of the export graphical element.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

a capture graphical element selectable by a user, wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated by user selection of the capture graphical element.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during capture.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of the capture graphical element.

9. The computer program product of claim 2, further comprising:

a capture graphical element selectable by a user wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated by user selection of the capture graphical element.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during capture.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of the capture graphical element.

12. The computer program product of claim 3, further comprising:

a capture graphical element selectable by a user, wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated by user selection of the capture graphical element.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during capture.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of the capture graphical element.

15. The computer program product of claim 4, further comprising:

a capture graphical element selectable by a user, wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated by user selection of the capture graphical element.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during capture.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of the capture graphical element.

18. The computer program product of claim 5, further comprising:

a capture graphical element selectable by a user, wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated by user selection of the capture graphical element.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the motion picture is displayed in the viewer window during capture.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of the capture graphical element.

21. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the viewer window is displayed in the display vertically adjacent to the timeline.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is vertically adjacent to the timeline.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

24. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is vertically adjacent to the timeline.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

26. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

27. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the graphical elements associated with the selectable interfaces have an order in the display that directs the user through editing steps.

28. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the graphical elements associated with the selectable interfaces have an order in the display that directs the user through editing steps.

29. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the timeline includes representations of clips of video, wherein each clip has a duration on the timeline, and wherein the graphical user interface includes trim handles for the user to select an edge of a clip and to perform a trim operation by dragging the edge of the clip to a desired trim point.

30. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for a computer program that facilitates editing of a motion picture using motion video data on a computer, wherein the computer program, when executed by a computer provides a graphical user interface, comprising;

a viewer window on a display for the computer for viewing motion video data;

a timeline region on the display and nonoverlapping with the viewer window for displaying a timeline representing selections of the motion video data in a temporal order that specifies the motion picture;

a plurality of alternatively selectable interfaces for displaying information on the display, wherein each alternatively selectable interface is associated with a graphical element and wherein the graphical elements for the alternatively selectable elements are displayed simultaneously and adjacent to one another on the display, wherein each alternatively selectable interface is selected by user selection of the graphical element associated with the selectable interface, wherein each of the alternatively selected interfaces, when selected, displays information on the display that is hidden by information displayed when another of the alternatively selected interfaces is selected, the alternatively selectable interfaces comprising;

an interface for allowing a user to select a clip corresponding to motion video data stored on the computer for placement on the timeline;

an effect interface for allowing a user to specify an effect for placement on the timeline; and

wherein playback of the motion picture represented by the timeline is viewed in the viewer window and is initiated by user selection of a graphical element indicative of a playback operation;

wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces; and

wherein size and position of the timeline region is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the selectable interfaces further comprises a title interface for allowing a user to specify a title for placement on the timeline.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the set of graphical elements associated with the alternatively selectable interfaces has an order in the display that directs the user through editing steps.

33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the set of graphical elements associated with the alternatively selectable interfaces has an order in the display that directs the user through editing steps.

34. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the viewer window is displayed in the display vertically adjacent to the timeline.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is vertically adjacent to the timeline.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

37. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is vertically adjacent to the timeline.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

39. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the region for displaying information in the alternatively selectable interfaces in the display is horizontally adjacent to the viewer window.

40. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the timeline includes representations of clips of video, wherein each clip has a duration on the timeline, and wherein the graphical user interface includes trim handles for the user to select an edge of a clip and to perform a trim operation by dragging the edge of the clip to a desired trim point.

41. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for a computer program that facilitates editing of a motion picture using motion video data on a computer, wherein the computer program, when executed by a computer provides a graphical user interface, comprising;

a viewer window on a display for the computer for viewing motion video data;

a timeline region on the display and nonoverlapping with the viewer window for displaying a timeline representing selections of the motion video data in a temporal order that specifies the motion picture;

a first selectable interface, activated by selection by a user of a record graphical element on the display, wherein saving of the motion picture into a selected one of a plurality of output formats is initiated;

a second selectable interface, activated by selection by a user of a capture graphical element on the display, wherein capture of motion video information into data files for use in editing the motion picture is initiated;

a third selectable interface, activated by selection by a user of an editing graphical element on the display, wherein the third selectable interface includes a plurality of selectable, mutually exclusive, editing interfaces on the display, wherein each of the selectable editing interfaces is selected by user selection of one of a set of graphical elements associated with the selectable editing interfaces, wherein each of the selectable editing interfaces, when selected, displays information in a region that is non-overlapping with the viewer window and with the timeline region, wherein the displayed information is hidden by information displayed when another of the selectable interfaces is selected, and wherein each of the selectable editing interfaces permits a user to perform different editing functions with respect to the motion picture being edited;

wherein size and position of the viewer window is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces;

wherein size and position of the timeline region is substantially unchanged by selection of one of the selectable interfaces; and

wherein the capture graphical element, the editing graphical element and the record graphical element associated with the first, second and third selectable interfaces and the set of graphical elements associated with the selectable editing interfaces are presented in an order in the display that directs the user through creation of the motion picture.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an interface for enabling a user to select a clip corresponding to motion video data stored on the computer for placement on the timeline.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an effect interface for enabling a user to specify an effect for placement on the timeline.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes a title interface for enabling a user to specify a title for placement on the timeline.

45. The computer program product of claim 44, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an audio interface for enabling a user to specify audio operations on audio data on the timeline.

46. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an effect interface for enabling a user to specify an effect for placement on the timeline.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes a title interface for enabling a user to specify a title for placement on the timeline.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an audio interface for enabling a user to specify audio operations on audio data on the timeline.

49. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes a title interface for enabling a user to specify a title for placement on the timeline.

50. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an audio interface for enabling a user to specify audio operations on audio data on the timeline.

51. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the selectable editing interfaces includes an audio interface for enabling a user to specify audio operations on audio data on the timeline.