Image tracking and substitution system and methodology for audio-visual presentations

• US 7,827,488 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alto Dynamics, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bassilic Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Sitrick, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAO H
• Application Number:
  US11/045,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 715716-723, 715726-728, 715/734, 715/853, 715/854, 715/738, 715/743, 715/771, 345/419, 345/424
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for processing a video input signal providing for tracking a selected portion in a predefined audiovisual presentation and integrating selected user images into the selected portion of the predefined audiovisual presentation.

Claims

1. A system for processing a video input signal having an associated original video image, the system comprising:

a processing subsystem;

addressable storage comprised of wire-frame memory providing storage of user image content utilized in generating a display of the original video image, a processor instruction memory, and a secondary image memory providing storage of program content utilized in generating a display of a predefined presentation;

wherein the processing subsystem is responsive to the processor instruction memory for generating orientation signals responsive to the predefined presentation;

wherein the processing subsystem is responsive to the processor instruction memory for generating a wire-frame geometry signal responsive to the orientation signals and to the wire-frame memory;

an encoder, responsive to the program content, for generating encoder signals;

wherein the processing subsystem is responsive to the processor instruction memory for selecting respective ones of the encoder signals as a masked area of selected encoder signals;

a wire-frame compositing apparatus responsive to the selected encoder signals and the wire-frame memory and the orientation signals to generate a composited wire-frame signal; and

a blender responsive to the video input signal and the composited wire-frame signal for generating a final composited video signal comprising the original video image with proper orientation mapped as a part of the display of the predefined presentation.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the wire-frame memory provides for output of the wire-frame signal by look-up in a stored data table of wire-frame data signals indexed by orientation.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the wire-frame signal is generated responsive to stored orientation data.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the encoder is a motion vector encoder and the encoder signals are motion vector signals.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the encoder is an MPEG encoder.

6. The system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a processor for generating motion vectors responsive to the processor instruction memory, and the buffered original video input signal.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the system is responsive to expression cues within the video input signal for selecting a portion of the original video image for tracking and substitution.

8. The system as in claim 1, wherein the original video image is further comprised of a target image for detection by the system for use in tracking.

9. A method for processing a user-selected signal having an associated display of a video image, the method comprising:

storing user image content in an addressable storage comprising wire-frame memory, wherein the user image content is utilized in generating a display of the video image;

storing program content in a secondary image memory, wherein the program content is utilized in generating a predefined presentation associated with one of a movie, a video game, a computer-generated display, and an audiovisual presentation;

tracking an image portion within the predefined presentation responsive to the processor instruction memory;

generating orientation signals responsive to the tracking;

generating a wire-frame geometry signal responsive to the processing of the user image content responsive to the processor instruction memory and to the orientation signals;

generating encoder signals responsive to the tracking;

selecting respective ones of the encoder signals as a masked area of selected encoder signals;

generating a composited wire-frame signal responsive to the selected encoder signals and the wire-frame geometry signal;

generating a composited wire-frame map signal responsive to the composited wire-frame signal; and

generating, responsive to the program content and the composited wire-frame map signal, a final composited video signal comprising the video image with proper orientation mapped as a part of the predefined presentation.

10. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

outputting from the wire-frame memory of the wire-frame signal by look-up in a stored data table of wire-frame data signals indexed by orientation.

11. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

generating the wire-frame data signal responsive to stored orientation data.

12. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

generating encoder signals comprising motion vectors utilizing an MPEG encoder.

13. The method as in claim 9, wherein the encoder signals are motion vector signals.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising:

generating the motion vector signals responsive to the processor instruction memory, and the buffered original video input signal.

15. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

selecting a portion of the predefined presentation for tracking and substitution responsive to expression cues within the predefined presentation.