Unified capture and process interface

• US 7,478,327 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Reid, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong; Truc T
• Application Number:
  US09/680,105
• Time in Patent Office: 3,023 Days
• Field of Search: 345/723, 345/720, 345/629, 345/473, 345/769, 345/724, 715719-726, 348/169, 348/333.05, 348/425.4, 348/584
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera

Abstract

The method of collecting a time based stream of information to generate a presentation is provided for in which a processing system is employed. In one exemplary method, the processing system communicates with an information source that contains a time based stream of information. This communication may be through an automatic detection procedure that may trigger a capture mode and the gathering of the time based stream of information. A user interface may present controls for toggling between capture mode and edit mode within a single window of the user interface. A capture output, which is often a substantially true representation of the quality of information being acquired, may be provided on a portion of the display, e.g. viewing portion, during the capture mode. An edit output that represents the edited version of clips may be provided on the same viewing portion of the display during the edit mode. The use of an interrupt procedure allows for controls to be enabled during capture such that the user may perform various tasks while the system is loading the time based stream of information. Other aspect of the present invention relating to the processing system for collecting a time based stream of information for use in authoring a presentation are also described.

Claims

1. A method for collecting a time based stream of information in a processing system for generating a presentation, the method comprising:

A) communicating with an information source having a time based stream of information;

B) presenting capture information from the time based stream of information on a portion of a first interface on a display while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source;

and

C) presenting on the first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further including capturing the time based stream of information from the information source and presenting process information associated with the time based stream of information that is capable of being edited for constructing an edited presentation on the first interface on the display, wherein the process information presents an edit output.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the capturing is by an interrupt procedure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interrupt procedure iterates at the same rate or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate of the time based stream of information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the enabled control elements is to perform side operations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the enabled control elements is an output control.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture information includes a capture output presented at the same rate or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate for the time based stream of information.

8. The method of claim 1, further including presenting an in the first interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting of capture information is automatic in response to the communicating with the information source.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input on the at least one enabled edit control element to perform the editing of the time based stream of information, wherein the receiving of the input is performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is being concurrently imported into the system on the first interface.

11. A processing system for generating a presentation of a time based stream of information, the system comprising:

A) a capture port for acquiring the time based stream of information;

B) a display device; and

C) a processor coupled to the capture port and to the display device, the processor configured to;

i) communicate with an information source having a time based stream of information through the capture port;

ii) present capture information from the time based stream of information on a portion of a first interface on the display device while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

iii) present on the first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further to capture the time based stream of information from the information source and present process information associated with the time based stream of information that is capable of being edited for constructing an edited presentation on the first interface on the display device, wherein the process information presents an edit output.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the capturing is by the processor executing an interrupt procedure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the interrupt procedure iterates at the same rate or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate of the time based stream of information.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the enabled control elements is to perform side operations.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the capture information includes a capture output presented the same rate or at substantially the same rate as the transfer rate for the time based stream of information.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further to present an edited output in the first interface.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the presenting of capture information is automatic in response to the communicating with the information source.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an input on the at least one enabled edit control element to perform the editing of the time based stream of information, wherein the receiving of the input is performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is being concurrently imported into the system on the first interface.

20. A processing system for collecting a time based stream of information to generate a presentation comprising:

(i) means for communicating with an information source having a time based stream of information;

(ii) means for presenting capture information from the time based stream of information on a portion of a first interface on the display device while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

(iii) means for presenting on the first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

21. The system of claim 20, further including a means for capturing the time based stream of information from the information source and presenting process information associated with the time based stream of information that is capable of being edited for constructing an edited presentation on the first interface on the display, wherein the process information presents an edit output.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for capturing is by executing an interrupt procedure.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the interrupt procedure iterates at the same or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate of the time based stream of information from the information source.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the enabled control elements is to perform side operations.

25. The system of claim 20, further including a means for presenting an edited output in the first interface.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the presenting of capture information is automatic in response to the communicating with the information source.

27. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving an input on the at least one enabled edit control element to perform the editing of the time based stream of information, wherein the receiving of the input is performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is being concurrently imported into the system on the first interface.

28. A computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by a processing system for collecting a time based stream of information and generating a presentation, cause the processing system to:

A) communicate with an information source having a time based stream of information;

B) provide capture information from the time based stream of information on a portion of a first interface on a display while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

D) provide on the first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including additional sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to capture the time based stream of information from the information source and to present process information associated with the time based stream of information that is capable of being edited for constructing an edited presentation on the first interface on the display, wherein the process information presents an edit output.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions that cause the processing system to receive an input on the at least one enabled edit control element to perform the editing of the time based stream of information, wherein the receiving of the input is performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is being concurrently imported into the system on the first interface.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the capturing is by an interrupt procedure.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the interrupt procedure iterates at the same or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate of the time based stream of information.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the enabled control elements is to perform side operations.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the capture information includes a capture output provided at the same rate or substantially the same rate as the transfer rate for the time based stream of information.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 28, further including additional sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide an edited output in the first interface.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the presenting of capture information is automatic in response to the communicating with the information source.

37. A method for collecting a time based stream of information in a processing system for generating a presentation, the method comprising:

A) detecting a coupling with an information source having a time based stream of information in communication with the processing system,

B) automatically presenting capture information from the time based stream of information on a display in response to the detecting while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

C) presenting on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

38. The method of claim 37, further including automatically checking for the information source in communication with the processing system.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the detecting is by receiving a signal from the information source through a capture port on the processing system, and wherein the automatically presenting comprises opening a window on the display.

40. The method of claim 37, further including capturing the time based stream of information from the information source.

41. A processing system for generating a presentation of a time based stream of information, the system comprising:

A) a capture port for acquiring the time based stream of information;

B) a display device; and

C) a processor coupled to the capture port and to the display device, the processor configured to;

i) detect a coupling with an information source having a time based stream of information in communication with the processing system,

ii) automatically present capture information from the time based stream of information on a display in response to the detecting while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

iii) present on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the processor is further to automatically check for the information source in communication with the processing system.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the detecting is by receiving a signal from the information source through a capture port on the processing system, and wherein the automatically presenting comprises opening a window on the display device.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the processor is further to capture the time based stream of information from the information source.

45. A processing system for collecting a time based stream of information to generate a presentation comprising:

A) means for detecting a coupling with an information source having a time based stream of information in communication with the processing system, and

B) means for automatically presenting capture information from the time based stream of information on a display in response to detecting while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

(iii) means for presenting on the first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

46. The system of claim 45, further including a means for automatically checking for the information source in communication with the processing system.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the detecting is by receiving a signal from the information source through a capture port on the processing system, and wherein the means for automatically presenting comprises a means for opening a window on the display.

48. The system of claim 45, further including a means for capturing the time based stream of information from the information source.

49. A computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by a processing system for collecting a time based stream of information and generating a presentation, cause the processing system to:

A) detect a coupling with an information source having a time based stream of information in communication with the processing system,

B) automatically present capture information from the time based stream of information on a display in response to the detecting while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source; and

C) provide on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 49, further including additional sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to automatically check for the information source in communication with the processing system.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the detecting is by receiving a signal from the information source through a capture port on the processing system, and wherein the automatically presenting comprises opening a window on the display.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 49, further including additional sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to capture the time based stream of information from the information source.

53. A method for generating a presentation of a time based stream of information in a processing system, the method comprising:

A) capturing the time based stream of information from an information source into the processing system during a capture mode;

B) presenting a capture output on a viewing portion of a display during the capture mode, wherein the presenting of the capture output is performed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second of the time based stream of information;

C) presenting an edit output on the viewing portion of the display during an edit mode; and

D) presenting on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

54. The method of claim 53, further including providing at least one enabled control element during the capture mode and edit mode.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein at least one of the enabled control element includes a control element perform side operations.

56. A processing system for generating a presentation of a time based stream of information, the system comprising:

A) a capture port for acquiring the time based stream of information;

B) a display device; and

C) a processor coupled to the capture port and coupled to the display device, the processor configured to;

i) capture the time based stream of information from an information source into the processing system during a capture mode;

ii) present a capture output on a viewing portion of a display during the capture mode, wherein the presenting of the capture output is performed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second of the time based stream of information;

iii) present an edit output on the viewing portion of the display during an edit mode; and

iiii) present on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit-control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the processor is further to provide at least one enabled control element during the capture mode and edit mode.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein at least one of the enabled control element is to perform side operations.

59. A processing system for collecting a time based stream of information to generate a presentation comprising:

A) means for capturing the time based stream of information from an information source into the processing system during a capture mode;

B) means for presenting a capture output on a viewing portion of a display during the capture mode, wherein the means for presenting the capture output is for presenting at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second of the time based stream of information; and

C) means for presenting an edit output on the viewing portion of the display during an edit mode; and

D) means for presenting on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, wherein the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

60. The system of claim 59, further including a means for providing at least one enabled control element during the capture mode and edit mode.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein at least one of the enabled control element is to perform side operations.

62. A computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by a processing system for collecting a time based stream of information and generating a presentation, cause the processing system to:

A) capture the time based stream of information from an information source into the processing system during a capture mode;

B) present a capture output on a viewing portion of a display during the capture mode, wherein the presenting of the capture output is performed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second of the time based stream of information;

C) present an edit output on the viewing portion of the display during an edit mode; and

D) present on a first interface on the display at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing of the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being imported into the system on the first interface.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 62, further including additional sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide at least one enabled control element during the capture mode and edit mode.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 63, wherein at least one of the enabled control element is to perform side operations.

65. A method of collecting a time based stream of information from an editing window in a processing system, the method comprising:

A) detecting the coupling of an information source to the processing system;

B) automatically engaging a capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system in response to the detecting; and

C) presenting a captured time based stream of information in the editing window that includes at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enable control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being acquired from the information source in the capture mode in the editing window;

wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the editing window includes a toggle control element to switch between capture and edit mode within the editing window.

67. A processing system for collecting a time based stream of information from an editing window, the system comprising:

A) a capture port for acquiring the time based stream of information;

B) a display device; and

C) a processor coupled to the capture port and coupled to the display device, the processor configured to;

i) detect the coupling of an information source to the processing system,

ii) automatically engage a capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system in response to the detecting, and

iii) present a captured time based stream of information in the editing window that includes at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing the time based stream of information, the at least one enabled edit control element being presented concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being acquired from the information source in the capture mode in the editing window, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the editing window includes a toggle control element to switch between capture and edit mode within the editing window.

69. A processing system for collecting a time based stream of information from an editing window comprising:

A) a means for detecting the coupling of an information source to the processing system;

B) a means for automatically engaging a capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system in response to the detecting; and

C) a means for presenting a captured time based stream of information in the editing window that includes at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being acquired from the information source in the capture mode in the editing window, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the editing window includes a toggle control element to switch between capture and edit mode within the editing window.

71. A computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of sequences of executable instructions, which, when executed by a processing system for collecting a time based stream of information and generating a presentation, cause the processing system to:

A) detect the coupling of an information source to the processing system;

B) automatically engage a capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system in response to the detecting; and

C) present a captured time based stream of information in the editing window that includes at least one enabled edit control element, which directly causes editing the time based stream of information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while presenting the capture information from the time based stream of information that is concurrently being acquired from the information source in the capture mode in the editing window, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 71, wherein the automatically engage is in response to the detect.

73. The computer readable medium of claim 71, wherein the editing window includes a toggle control element to switch between capture and edit mode within the editing window.

74. A method for collecting a time based stream of information in a processing system for generating a presentation, the method comprising:

A) communicating with an information source having a time based stream of information;

B) presenting a capture information from the time based stream of information on a portion of a display while the capture information is acquired from the information source in a capture mode, the capture mode to import the time based stream of information into the system, wherein the capture information is displayed at a first rate that is substantially the same as a transfer rate at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source by an automatic interrupt procedure that includes copying the time based information that arrives from the information source to a proxy, wherein the interrupt procedure repeats at a second rate that is not less than the transfer rate of 30 frames per second at which the time based stream of information arrives from the information source;

C) presenting a process information associated with the time based information that is to be edited for constructing the presentation on the display; and

D) presenting at least one enabled edit-control element on the display that directly causes editing of the information, the presenting of the at least one enabled edit control element being performed concurrently while the time based stream of information is imported into the system and displayed as the capture information, wherein the capture information, the process information, and the at least one enabled edit control element are displayed concurrently in a single interface window.