Methods and systems for processing media content

• US 7,571,385 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rudolph, Eric H., Miller, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Ba
• Application Number:
  US10/822,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 715719-726, 715730-732
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing media content are described and in at least some embodiments utilize a composite or composition, which can be considered as a representation of an editing project as a single track. Editing projects can have one or more tracks, and each track can be associated with one or more data stream sources that can have effects or transitions applied on them. Compositions can be nested inside one another and provide an economical way for complex editing manipulations to take place.

Claims

1. A multi-media processing method comprising:

providing multiple tracks each of which is capable of being associated with one or more digital data streams;

providing a resize filter to receive the one or more digital data streams from multiple sources, the one or more digital data streams are defined to a user-defined level or set to a large size provided by a media source;

selectively representing the multiple tracks as a single track;

processing the digital data associated with the single track using a programmable software-implemented matrix switch in which multiple inputs can be routed to multiple outputs, the quantity of multiple inputs and the quantity of multiple outputs being scalable;

coupling one or more of a scalable plurality of input pins to a scalable plurality of output pins by the matrix switch in order to pass the one or more digital data streams;

in response to the passing, reducing filter graph complexity, wherein computational and memory resources are reduced to improve performance;

identifying a transition point in the one or more digital data streams and dumping at least a subset of an intervening digital data stream by the matrix switch, the digital data stream continues to be processed from a seeked point in the one or more digital data streams, the transition point allows the one or more digital data streams to occur without any lags in processing;

processing overlapping tracks based on a source of a track if the multiple tracks have not been represented as a single track; and

implementing core features of the matrix switch improves processing the one or more digital data streams as presented to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of representing comprises representing at least one transition between at least two of the multiple tracks.

3. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 2.

4. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 3.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of representing comprises representing at least one effect applied to at least one of the multiple tracks.

6. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 5.

7. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 6.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of representing comprises representing at least one transition between at least two of the multiple tracks and at least one effect applied to at least one of the multiple tracks.

9. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 8.

10. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 9.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating upon said single track by applying at least one transition between at least two of the multiple tracks.

12. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 11.

13. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 12.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating upon said single track by applying at least one effect to at least one of the multiple tracks.

15. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 14.

16. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 15.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating upon said single track by applying at least one transition between at least two of the multiple tracks, and at least one effect to at least one of the multiple tracks.

18. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 17.

19. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 18.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 1.

21. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 20.

22. A method having computer-executable instructions being executed by a computer, the method comprising:

providing multiple tracks each of which is capable of being associated with one or more digital data streams;

providing a resize filter to receive the one or more digital data streams from multiple sources, the one or more digital data streams are defined to a user-defined level or set to a large size provided by a media source;

processing overlapping tracks based on a source of a track if the multiple tracks have not been represented as a single track;

grouping a particular set of operations on the tracks to provide a group upon which operations can be performed that do not affect tracks that are not in the group;

wherein the grouping comprises defining a first hierarchical tree structure that represents a media project of which the tracks comprise a part;

using the hierarchical tree structure to program a software-implemented matrix switch configured to process content of the tracks, the matrix switch being configured to route a scalable number of inputs to a scalable number of outputs;

coupling one or more of a scalable plurality of input pins to a scalable plurality of output pins by the matrix switch in order to pass the one or more digital data streams;

in response to the passing. reducing filter graph complexity, wherein computational and memory resources are reduced to improve performance;

identifying a transition point in the one or more digital data streams and dumping at least a subset of an intervening digital data stream by the matrix switch, the digital data stream continues to be processed from a seeked point in the one or more digital data streams, the transition point allows the one or more digital data streams to occur without any lags in processing; and

implementing core features of the matrix switch improves processing the one or more digital data streams as presented to a user.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising operating on said tracks using said particular set of operations.

24. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 23.

25. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 24.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising operating on said tracks using said particular set of operations, wherein said particular set of operations comprise at least an effect.

27. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 26.

28. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 27.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising operating on said tracks using said particular set of operations, wherein said particular set of operations comprise at least a transition.

30. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 29.

31. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 30.

32. The method of claim 22 further comprising operating on said tracks using said particular set of operations, wherein said particular set of operations comprise at least an effect and a transition.

33. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 32.

34. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 33.

35. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement the method of claim 22.

36. A computer system embodying the computer-readable storage medium of claim 35.