Smart profiles for capturing and publishing audio and video streams

• US 7,409,145 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Colle, Olivier, Howell, Gareth Alan, Antoun, Tony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/335,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 386/125, 386/124, 386/46, 386/117, 386/107, 386/45, 386/104, 386/105
• US Class Current: 386/248
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A method and system for capturing video and/or audio streams and for publishing consolidated video and/or consolidated audio streams. A capture profile specifying parameters for capturing the video stream and/or audio stream is selected from a list of predefined profiles as a function of data contained in the video and/or audio stream. A publish profile specifying parameters for publishing the video stream and/or audio stream is selected from a list of predefined profiles as a function of data contained in the consolidated video and/or consolidated audio stream. Moreover, the publish profile is selected to provide the best quality video and/or audio during playback, or to provide the best fir for a maximum file size designated by the user.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for capturing a video stream comprising:

format instructions for determining a format of the video stream;

property instructions for determining a property of the of the video stream;

selecting instructions for selecting a profile corresponding to the determined format and the determined property of the video stream; and

capturing instructions for capturing the video stream according to the selected profile.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the selecting instructions select from a list of pre-defined profiles, each specifying a plurality of parameters for capturing a stream of video.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the format instructions includes instructions for determining one or more following formats:

an aspect ratio of the video stream;

a frame rate of the video stream;

a resolution of the video stream;

or

a frame display mode (e.g., interlaced or progressive scan) of the video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined format.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 3 wherein the property instructions includes instructions for determining a bit rate of the video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined resolution and/or bit rate.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 4 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the list of profiles specifying a resolution approximately equal to or less than the determined resolution of the video stream and specifying a frame rate approximately equal to or less than the determined frame rate of the video stream.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the format and property of the video stream is defined by a video source which generates the video stream, or wherein the format and property of the video stream is defined by a capture tool which captures the video stream.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions, designate the determined format according to a format specified in a default setting, and which, in the event that the property of the video stream cannot be determined by the property instructions, designate the determined property according to a property specified in a default setting.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the default setting is defined by a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting or a REGION setting within an operating system stored on the computer readable medium.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising a profile database for storing the list of profiles.

10. A method for capturing a video stream according to one of a list of profiles, each profile specifying a plurality of parameters for capturing a stream of video;

determining a format of the video stream;

determining a property of the video stream;

selecting one of the profiles of list of profiles corresponding to the determined format and the determined property of the video stream; and

capturing the video stream according to the selected profile.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining a format includes determining one or more of the following:

an aspect ratio of the video stream

a frame rate of the video stream;

a resolution of the video stream;

or

a frame display mode (e.g., interlaced or progressive scan) of the video stream, and wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting the profile as a function of the determined format.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the determining the property includes determining a bit rate of the video stream, and wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting the profile as a function of the determined resolution and/or bit rate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting one of the list of profiles specifying a resolution approximately equal to or less than the determined resolution of the video stream and specifying a frame rate approximately equal to or less than the determined frame rate of the video stream.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising designating the determined format according to a format specified based a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting or based on a REGION setting in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions.

15. A method for publishing a video stream according to one of a list of profiles, each profile specifying a plurality of parameters for publishing a stream of video;

determining a format of the video stream;

determining a property of the video stream;

selecting one of the profiles of list of profiles corresponding to the determined format and the determined property of the video stream; and

publishing the video stream according to the selected profile.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the determining a format includes determining one or more of the following:

an aspect ratio of the video stream

a frame rate of the video stream;

a resolution of the video stream;

or

a frame display mode (e.g., interlaced or progressive scan) of the video stream, and wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting the profile as a function of the determined format.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the determining the property includes determining a bit rate of the video stream, and wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting the profile as a function of the determined resolution and/or bit rate.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting one of the profiles that will produce a best quality video during playback, or wherein the selecting one of the profiles includes selecting one of the profiles that will best fit a file size designated by a user.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising designating the determined format according to a format specified based a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting or based on a REGION setting in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions.

20. A computer readable medium comprising:

a capture routine executing capturing instructions for capturing a video stream corresponding to a capture profile selected from a list of profiles, wherein the capture profile defines a video format and a video property of the video stream; and

a publishing routine executing publishing instructions for publishing a consolidated video stream corresponding to a publish profile selected from the list of profiles, wherein the publish profile defines a video format and a video property of the consolidated video stream.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein the capturing instructions include retrieving the capture profile from a profile database storing a list of profiles, wherein the retrieved capture profile specifies parameters for capturing the video stream, and wherein each parameter specifies a desired format value (e.g., resolution, frame rate, etc.) and/or a desired property value (e.g., bit rate) for capturing the video stream.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein the publishing instructions include retrieving the publish profile from a profile database storing a list of profiles, wherein the retrieved publish profile specifies parameters for publishing the video, and wherein each parameter specifies a desired format value (e.g., resolution, frame rate, etc.) and/or a desired property value (e.g., bit rate) for publishing the video stream.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the publishing instructions include publishing the consolidated video stream according to parameters specified in one of the list of profiles that will produce the best quality video during playback.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the publishing instructions include publishing the consolidated video stream according to parameters specified in one of the list of profiles and a maximum file size defined by the user.

25. A computer readable medium comprising:

a capture routine executing capturing instructions for capturing an audio stream corresponding to a capture profile, wherein the capture profile defines an audio property of the audio stream; and

a publishing routine executing publishing instructions for publishing a consolidated audio stream corresponding to a publish profile, wherein the publish profile defines an audio property of the consolidated audio stream, and

wherein the publishing instructions include retrieving the publish profile from a profile database storing a list of profiles, wherein the retrieved publish profile specifies a parameter for publishing the audio stream, wherein the parameter specifies a desired property value (e.g., bit rate, output mode, etc.) for publishing the audio stream, and

wherein the publishing instructions include publishing the consolidated audio stream according to parameters specified in one of the list of profiles that will produce the best quality audio during playback.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the capturing instructions include retrieving the capture profile from a profile database storing a list of profiles, wherein the retrieved capture profile specifies a parameter for capturing the audio stream, and wherein the parameter specifies a desired property value (e.g., bit rate, output mode etc.) for capturing the audio stream.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the publishing instructions include publishing the consolidated audio stream according to parameters specified in one of the list of profiles and a maximum file size defined by the user.

28. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for publishing a consolidated video stream from a timeline comprising a plurality of individual video streams, said computer readable medium comprising:

format instructions for determining a format of the consolidated video stream;

property instructions for determining a property of the consolidated video stream;

identifying instructions for identifying a list of profiles corresponding to the determined format and the determined property of the consolidated video stream;

selecting instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles corresponding to the determined format and the determined property of the consolidated video stream; and

publishing instructions for publishing the consolidated video stream according to the selected profile.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein the identifying instructions identify the list of profiles from a list of pre-defined profiles, each profile specifying a plurality of parameters for publishing a stream of video.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein the format instructions includes instructions for determining one or more of the following:

an aspect ratio of the consolidated video stream;

a frame rate of the consolidated video stream;

a resolution of the consolidated video stream;

or

a frame display mode (e.g., interlaced or progressive scan) of the consolidated video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined format.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the property instructions includes instructions for determining a bit rate of the video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined resolution and/or bit rate.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the resolution and bit rate are determined by determining a maximum resolution of the plurality of individual video streams from the timeline and a maximum bit rate of the plurality of individual video streams from the timeline, respectively.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the identifying instructions includes instructions for identifying a set of profiles from the list of profiles corresponding to the determined resolution of the consolidated video stream, wherein the identified set of profiles comprises at least two of the list of profiles each specifying a resolution equal to the determined resolution of the consolidated video stream, or wherein, in the event at least two of the list of profiles do not specify a resolution equal to the determined resolution, the identified set of profiles comprise a first list of profiles each specifying a same resolution which is less than the determined resolution of the consolidated video stream and a second list of profiles each specifying a same resolution which is greater than the determined resolution of the consolidated video stream.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33 wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the greatest resolution when the determined resolutions is greater than the greatest resolution in the list of profiles, and wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the lowest resolution when the determined resolution is less than the lowest resolution in the list of profiles.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 33 further comprising identifying instructions for identifying from the identified set of profiles a first profile specifying a bit rate less than the determined bit rate of the consolidated video stream and identifying instructions for identifying a second profile specifying a bit rate greater than the determined resolution of the consolidated video stream.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles corresponding to the identified set of profiles as a function of a determined resolution of the consolidated video stream.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles from the identified set of profiles include the following:

If TR<

=LR+0.1*(HR−

LR), select list of profiles with the lower resolution or

If TR>

LR+0.1*(HR−

LR), select list of profiles with the higher resolution;

where TR is the maximum resolution determined from the timeline, LR is the second resolution specified by the second list of profiles, and HR is the first resolution specified by the first list of profiles.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles as function of the difference between the bit rate specified in the first profile and the bit rate specified in the second profile.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles from the identified list of profiles include the following:

If TBR<

=LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select video profile with the lower bit rate or

If TBR>

LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select video profile with the higher bit rate;

where TBR is the maximum bit rate determined from the timeline, LBR is the bite rate specified by the second profile, and HBR is the bite rate specified by the first profile.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions, designate the determined format according to a format specified in a default setting, and which, in the event that the property of the video stream cannot be determined by the property instructions, designate the determined property according to a property specified in a default setting.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions, designate the determined format according to a format specified based a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting or based on a REGION setting.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein the publication instruction includes instructions for publishing the consolidated video stream to a destination computer readable medium and/or to a host computer readable medium in response to an input received from a user via a user interface.

43. A computer readable medium having executable instructions for publishing a consolidated video stream from a timeline comprising a plurality of individual video streams having a total length of time, said program comprising:

format instructions for determining a format of the consolidated video stream;

property instructions for determining a property of the consolidated video stream;

determining instructions for determining a target file size of the consolidated video stream to be published;

calculating instructions for calculating a total target bit rate based on the determined target file size and the total length of time of the consolidated video stream;

identifying instructions for identifying a list of profiles corresponding to the calculated target bit rate;

profile selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles of the identified list of profiles corresponding to the calculated target bit rate; and

publishing instructions for publishing the consolidated video stream according to the selected profile.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the identifying instructions identify the list of profiles from a list of pre-defined profiles, each specifying a plurality of parameters for publishing a stream of video.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein determining the format includes determining one or more following:

an aspect ratio of the consolidated video stream;

a frame rate of the consolidated video stream;

a resolution of the consolidated video stream;

or

a frame display mode (e.g., interlaced or progressive scan) of the consolidated video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined format.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45 wherein the format instructions includes instructions for determining a resolution of the consolidated video stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined resolution.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 46 wherein the resolution is determined by determining a maximum resolution of the plurality of individual video streams from the timeline.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the identifying instructions includes instructions for identifying a set of profiles from the list of profiles corresponding to the calculated total target bit rate for the consolidated video stream, wherein the identified set of profiles comprise a first list of profiles each specifying a same bit rate which is less than the calculated total target bit rate for the consolidated video stream and a second list of profiles each specifying a same bit rate which is greater than the calculated total target bit rate for the consolidated video stream.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the greatest bit rate when the calculated bit rate is greater than the greatest bit rate in the list of profiles, and wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the lowest bit rate when the calculated bit rate is less than the lowest bit rate in the list of profiles.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the identifying instructions includes instructions for identifying a set of profiles from the list of profiles corresponding to the calculated total target bit rate for the consolidated video stream, wherein the identified set of profiles comprises a first profile specifying a bit rate which is less than the calculated total target bit rate and a second profile specifying a bit rate which is greater than the calculated total target bit rate.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 50 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles corresponding to the identified set of profiles as a function of the calculated total target bit rate for the consolidated video stream.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 50, wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the identified list of profiles from the identified set of profiles include the following:

If TTBR<

=LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select list of profiles with the lower bit rate or

If TTBR>

LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select list of profiles with the higher bit rate;

where TTBR is the calculated total target bit rate, LBR is the bite rate specified by the second profile, and HBR is the bite rate specified by the first profile.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 50 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the profiles from identified list of profiles as a function of the difference between the resolution specified in the first profile and the resolution specified in second profile.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 51 wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles from the identified list of profiles include the following:

If TR<

=LR+0.1*(HR−

LR), select profile with the lower resolution or

If TR>

LR+0.1*(HR−

LR), select of profile with the higher resolution;

where TR is the maximum resolution determined from the timeline, LR is the second resolution specified by the second list of profiles, and HR is the first resolution specified by the first list of profiles.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 51 wherein the identifying instructions further includes instructions for identifying a best quality bit rate, wherein the best quality bit rate corresponds to a bit rate producing the best quality during play back of the consolidated video stream, and wherein the selection instructions include comparing the best quality bit rate to the bit rate specified in the selected profile, and wherein the selection instructions replace the specified bit rate with the best quality bit rate when the specified bit is greater than the best quality bit rate.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 43 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions, designate the determined format according to a format specified in a default setting, and which, in the event that the property of the video stream cannot be determined by the property instructions, designate the determined property according to a property specified in a default setting.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 43 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the format of the video stream cannot be determined by the format instructions, designate the determined format according to a format specified based on a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting or based on a REGION setting.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the target file size is determined from an input received from a user via a user interface.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 43 wherein the publication instruction includes instructions for publishing the consolidated video stream to a destination computer readable medium and/or to a host computer readable medium in response to an input received from a user via a user interface.

60. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for capturing an audio stream comprising:

a list of profiles, each specifying a plurality of parameters for capturing a stream of audio;

property instructions for determining a bit rate of the audio stream;

selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles of the list of profiles corresponding to the determined bit rate of the audio stream wherein the selected profile specifies a bit rate approximately equal to or less than the determined bit rate of the audio stream; and

capturing instructions for capturing the audio stream according to the selected profile.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 60 wherein the property of the audio stream is defined by an audio source which generates the audio stream, or wherein the property of the audio stream is defined by a capture tool which captures the audio stream.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 60 further comprising default instructions which, in the event that the property of the audio stream cannot be determined by the property instructions, designate the determined property according to a property specified in a default setting.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 62 wherein the default setting is defined by a TOOLS/OPTIONS setting.

64. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for publishing a consolidated audio stream from a timeline comprising a plurality of individual audio streams, said computer readable medium comprising:

a list of profiles, each specifying a plurality of parameters for publishing a stream of audio;

property instructions for determining a property of the consolidated audio stream;

identifying instructions for identifying profiles from the list which correspond to the determined bit rate of the consolidated audio stream;

selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles of the identified list of profiles corresponding to the determined bit rate of the consolidated audio stream; and

publishing instructions for publishing the consolidated audio stream according to the selected profile.

65. The computer readable medium of claim 64 wherein the property instructions include determining a bit rate of the consolidated audio stream, and wherein the selecting instructions select the profile as a function of the determined bit rate.

66. The computer readable medium of claim 65 wherein the bit rate is determined by determining a maximum bit rate of the plurality of individual audio streams from the timeline.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 65 wherein the identifying instructions includes instructions for identifying a set of profiles from the list of profiles corresponding to the determined bit rate of the consolidated audio stream, wherein the identified set of profiles comprise a first profile each specifying a bit rate which is less than the determined bit rate of the consolidated audio stream and a second profile specifying a bit rate which is greater than the determined bit rate of the consolidated audio stream.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 64 wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the greatest bit rate when the determined bit rate is greater than the greatest bit rate in the list of profiles, and wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the lowest bit rate when the determined bit rate is less than the lowest bit rate in the list of profiles.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 67 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the list of profiles from the identified set of profiles as function of the difference between the bit rate specified in the first profile and the bit rate specified in the second profile.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 67 wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles from the identified list of profiles include the following:

If TBR<

=LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select audio profile with the lower bit rate or

If TBR>

LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select audio profile with the higher bit rate;

where TBR is the maximum bit rate determined from the timeline, LBR is the bite rate specified by the second profile, and HBR is the bite rate specified by the first profile.

71. The computer readable medium of claim 64 further comprising default instructions

which, in the event that the bit rate of the audio stream cannot be determined by the property instructions, designate the determined bit rate according to a bit rate specified in a default setting.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 64 wherein the publication instruction includes instructions for publishing the consolidated audio stream to a destination computer readable medium and/or to a host computer readable medium in response to an input received from a user via a user interface.

73. A computer readable medium having executable instructions for publishing a consolidated audio stream from a timeline comprising a plurality of individual audio streams having a total length of time, said program comprising:

a list of profiles, each specifying a plurality of parameters for publishing a stream of audio;

determining instructions for determining a target file size of the consolidated audio stream to be published;

calculating instructions for calculating a target bit rate based on the determined target file size and the total length of time of the consolidated audio stream;

identifying instructions for identifying profiles from the list which correspond to the calculated target bit rate;

profile selecting instructions for selecting one of the list of profiles corresponding to the calculated target bit rate; and

publishing instructions for publishing the consolidated audio stream according to the selected profile.

74. The computer readable medium of claim 73 wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the greatest bit rate when the calculated bit rate is greater than the greatest bit rate in the list of profiles, and wherein the selecting instructions include selecting the profile from the list of profiles having the lowest bit rate when the calculated bit rate is less than the lowest bit rate in the list of profiles.

75. The computer readable medium of claim 73 wherein the identifying instructions includes instructions for identifying a set of profiles from the list of profiles corresponding to the target bit rate of the consolidated audio stream, wherein the identified set of profiles comprise a first profile each specifying a bit rate which is less than the target bit rate of the consolidated audio stream and a second profile specifying a bit rate which is greater than the target bit rate of the consolidated audio stream.

76. The computer readable medium of claim 75 wherein the selecting instructions includes instructions for selecting one of the list of profiles from the identified set of profiles as function of the difference between the bit rate specified in the first profile and the bit rate specified in the second profile.

77. The computer readable medium of claim 75 wherein the selecting instructions for selecting one of the profiles from the identified list of profiles include the following:

If TTBR<

=LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select audio profile with the lower bit rate or

If TTBR>

LBR+0.1*(HBR−

LBR), select audio profile with the higher bit rate;

where TTBR is the calculated total target bit rate, LBR is the bite rate specified by the second profile, and HBR is the bite rate specified by the first profile.

78. The computer readable medium of claim 73 wherein the target file size is determined from an input received from a user received from a user via a user interface.

79. The computer readable medium of claim 73 wherein the publication instruction includes instructions for publishing the consolidated audio stream to a destination computer readable medium and/or to a host computer readable medium in response to an input received from a user via a user interface.