Template-based multimedia capturing

• US 7,610,554 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hua, Xian-Sheng, Li, Shipeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Joshua D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALVESTEFFER, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/263,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 715/721, 715/731, 382/305
• US Class Current: 715/731
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data

Abstract

Systems and methods for template-based multimedia capturing are described. In one aspect, a capturing template is selected to facilitate capturing a particular quantity and type(s) of media content. Media content is captured based on a temporal structure provided by the capturing template. These quantities and types of media content captured with respect to the temporal structure facilitate media content browsing, indexing, authoring, and sharing activities.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

selecting a capturing template at a first media content capturing device to facilitate capturing a particular quantity and type(s) of media content, wherein the capturing template is a spatial capturing template, a temporal capturing template, or a combination of the spatial and temporal capturing template, the spatial capturing template being used to capture still image media content, the temporal capturing template being used to capture video media content, the combination being used to capture a combination of a still image and a video sequence;

displaying the capturing template onto a display device of the first media content capturing device, the capturing template being displayed in a semi-transparent manner such that a user can match a real scene with the capturing template while capturing media content, and the capturing template displayed as a plurality of windows, wherein each of a number of the plurality of windows are related to a corresponding media segment of the capturing template and at least one of the number of windows includes media content captured by the first media content capturing device, and wherein an additional window corresponds to a selected media segment of the capturing template and the additional window shows a particular real scene of first visual media content;

capturing the first visual media content via the first media content capturing device based on a temporal structure provided by the capturing template, wherein the first visual media content is associated with a first set of timestamps;

importing second visual media content at the first media content capturing device from a second media content capturing device, wherein the second visual media content is associated with a second set of timestamps and the second visual media content is captured coincident with the first visual media content;

synchronizing the first visual media content and the second visual media content utilizing the first set of timestamps and the second set of timestamps; and

placing the second visual media content into one or more slots of the capturing template after synchronizing the first visual media content and the second visual media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing template provides a particular context within which a user is to capture the first visual media content, the context being selected from one or more of an event, a scene, a guided tour of a geographical location, and a posing framework.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing template is represented in an Extensible Markup Language data format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporal structure comprises at least one chapter, scene, or shot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising editing one or more of temporal aspects and parameters associated with the capturing template to generate a new capturing template to direct a user to capture a particular quantity and types of media content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising post-processing the particular quantity and type(s) of media content to facilitate one or more of media content indexing, browsing, authoring, and sharing operations.

7. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-program instructions executable by a processor to perform acts comprising:

selecting a capturing template to facilitate capturing a particular quantity and type(s) of media content;

displaying the capturing template onto a display device, the capturing template being displayed in a semi-transparent manner such that a user can match a real scene with the capturing template while capturing media content;

capturing first visual media content based on a temporal structure provided by the capturing template and displayed on the display device, wherein the first visual media content is associated with a first set of timestamps;

importing second visual media content after capturing the first visual media content, wherein the second visual media content is associated with a second set of timestamps and the second visual media content is captured coincident with the first visual media content; and

synchronizing the first visual media content and the second visual media content utilizing the first set of timestamps and the second set of timestamps such that metadata associated with the first visual media content is associated with the second visual media content, wherein the metadata associated with the first visual media content is utilized to search the first visual media content, browse the first visual media content, index the first visual media content, or a combination thereof.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the capturing template is displayed on a first device and wherein the media content can be captured on a second device.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the capturing template is a spatial capturing template, a temporal capturing template, or a combination of the spatial and temporal capturing template, the spatial capturing template being used to capture still image media content, the temporal capturing template being used to capture video media content, the combination being used to capture a combination of a still image and a video sequence.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the capturing template provides a particular context within which a user is to capture the media content, the context being selected from one or more of an event, a scene, a guided tour of a geographical location, and a posing framework.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the computer-program instructions further comprise instructions for editing one or more of temporal aspects and parameters associated with the capturing template to generate a new capturing template to direct a user to capture a particular quantity and types of media content.

12. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor to;

select a capturing template to facilitate capturing a particular quantity and type(s) of media content, the capturing template comprising at least one chapter, the at least one chapter, scene, or shot;

display the capturing template onto a display device, the capturing template being displayed in a semi-transparent manner such that a user can match a real scene with the capturing template while capturing media content;

capture first visual media content based on a temporal structure provided by the capturing template and displayed on the display device, wherein the first visual media content is associated with a first set of timestamps;

store the first visual media content in a file in response to capturing the first visual media content, the file having a structure including file elements corresponding to elements of the capturing template, wherein a first file element includes a text description of the first visual media content, a second file element includes a speech description of the first visual media content, and an additional file element is added to the structure specifying links to the first visual media content;

import second visual media content from a second computing device, wherein the second visual media content is associated with a second set of timestamps and the second visual media content is captured coincident with the first visual media content; and

synchronize the first visual media content and the second visual media content utilizing the first set of timestamps and the second set of timestamps.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the capturing template is a spatial capturing template, a temporal capturing template, or a combination of the spatial and temporal capturing template, the spatial capturing template being used to capture still image media content, the temporal capturing template being used to capture video media content, the combination being used to capture a combination of a still image and a video sequence.