System and method for portrayal of object or character target features in an at least partially computer-generated video

• US 8,452,160 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daybreak Game Company, LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Original Assignee: Sony Online Entertainment LLC (Enad Global 7 AB)
• Inventors: George, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, BRANDON S
• Application Number:
  US12/134,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20080317432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 386/287
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

Consumers may appear to be featured in videos by being appropriately photographed and their image mapped onto a character in a video. A pre-existing video file has a computer-generated (“CG”) actor rendered throughout, except in, e.g., a head region, where a consumer'"'"'s image data will be mapped. The consumer'"'"'s image data is mapped onto the CG actor, and the CG actor'"'"'s animation track is mixed with the remainder of the video, completing the same. The consumer may choose from among several videos, depending on the genre they prefer. The system and method may also apply to marketing and advertising methods, especially with regard to targeted advertising and product placement.

Claims

1. A method of making a video employing a target visual image, comprising:

a. receiving a target visual image;

b. receiving a source video, the source video including a track in which a computer-generated object is defined, the computer-generated object including a pre-defined mesh and being defined in a particular region where the source video is unrendered, and choosing a size or shape or both of the computer-generated object or target visual image to match the other;

c. mapping data corresponding to the target visual image onto the pre-defined mesh constituting the computer-generated object to generate image textures thereon;

d. rendering at least the computer-generated object into a video format; and

e. combining the rendered computer-generated object and the source video to form a final video.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a target visual image includes capturing an image of a face of the consumer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the capturing an image includes photographing a head of the consumer from multiple angles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the source video is pre-rendered except in the region of the computer-generated object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a source video includes:

a. receiving a video including raw object data; and

b. replacing the raw object data with a computer-generated object to produce a source video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target visual image is of a subject selected from a media library.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a target visual image includes receiving a data file including visual information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a medium with the final video thereon, posting the final video to a file-sharing site, or emailing the final video to an email address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the target visual image is selected from the group consisting of:

a consumer'"'"'s body, a consumer'"'"'s head, a consumer'"'"'s face, and a product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a source video includes selecting a source video in which the size or shape of a computer-generated object within the source video corresponds to the size or shape of the target visual image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selecting is performed by an operator or by a software application.

12. A system for making a video employing a target visual image from a consumer, comprising:

a. a target visual image acquisition module to receive target visual image data;

b. a database to store one or more source videos, each source video including a track in which a computer-generated object is defined, the computer-generated object including a pre-defined mesh and being defined in a particular region where the source video is unrendered;

c. a mapping module to map the target visual image data onto at least a portion of the pre-defined mesh corresponding to the computer-generated object to generate image textures thereon, the mapping module further choosing a size or shape or both of the computer-generated object or target visual image to match the other;

d. a rendering module to render the computer-generated object into a video format; and

e. a combining module to combine the rendered portion of the computer-generated object with the source video to produce a final video.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a post-production module which creates a DVD with the final video stored thereon, posts the final video to a file-sharing site, or emails the final video to an email address.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-generated object is a computer-generated character, and wherein the target visual image reception module receives head image data, and wherein the mapping module maps the head image data onto a head area of a mesh corresponding to the computer-generated character.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the target visual image reception module includes a camera or a data carrier receiver.

16. A method for creating a short film in which a consumer is displayed as an actor therein, comprising:

a. photographing a consumer from at least two angles, and storing the photographic data obtained thereby;

b. receiving a video choice from a consumer, the choice corresponding to a selection of a source video from an assortment of at least two source videos, each source video having at least one track for a computer-generated actor, and wherein the video is pre-rendered except for a head area of the computer-generated actor;

c. choosing a size or shape or both of the photographic data of the consumer or head area to match the other, the choosing resulting in a selection for use of a computer-generated actor including a pre-defined mesh;

d. mapping the photographic data of the consumer onto the pre-defined mesh of the head area of the computer-generated actor to generate image textures thereon;

e. rendering at least the computer-generated actor with the mapped photographic data into a video format;

f. combining the results of the rendering with the source video to result in a final video; and

g. recording data corresponding to the final video onto a DVD.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

a. photographing another consumer from at least two angles, and storing the photographic data obtained thereby;

b. mapping the photographic data onto the head area of another computer-generated actor; and

c. rendering the computer-generated actor and the another computer-generated actor into a video format.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the photographing, receiving, mapping, rendering, combining, and manufacturing are performed in a kiosk.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a user interface wherein the consumer can select the source video and control the photographing step.

20. A method of advertising within videos employing targeted visual images, comprising:

a. receiving a target visual image from a library of target visual images;

b. receiving a source video, the source video including a track in which a computer-generated object is defined, the computer-generated object being defined in a particular region where the source video is unrendered, and choosing a size or shape or both of the computer-generated object or target visual image to match the other, the choosing resulting in a selection of a computer-generated object including a pre-defined mesh;

c. mapping data from the target visual image onto at least a portion of the computer-generated object to generate image textures thereon;

d. rendering at least the computer-generated object into a video format; and

e. combining the rendered computer-generated object and the source video to form a final video.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving demographic information about a target audience of the final video, and wherein the receiving a target visual image step includes choosing a target visual image from a library based on the demographic information.