Method and system of composite broadcast control

• US 9,318,149 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Griggs, David Robert, Sabine, David Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Mishawn
• Application Number:
  US13/843,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 386/223, 386/230, 386/239, 715/202, 715/719, 715/721, 715/723, 345/474
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/80 Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se arrangements for generating broadcast information H04H60/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2625 for obtaining an image which is composed of images from a temporal image sequence, e.g. for a stroboscopic effect sequence generated by event triggered capturing H04N7/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2627 for providing spin image effect, 3D stop motion effect or temporal freeze effect 2D image animation in general G06T13/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for composite broadcast control are provided. The apparatus or system presents broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip. The apparatus/system receives a selection from a user of fundamental production elements, and thereafter builds a composited scene by layering the selected production elements. The apparatus may display a preview of the composited scene prior to selection of the composited scene for output.

Claims

1. A method of composite broadcast control, comprising:

presenting, at a user interface on a display, broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, each fundamental production element displayed as an icon on the user interface, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background, an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip;

presenting a first portion of the user interface, wherein the first portion is static and presents a plurality of production element type icons, one for each of the fundamental production elements available at the user interface;

presenting a second portion of the user interface, wherein the second portion changes depending upon which of the plurality of production element type icons is selected, the second portion presents a plurality of production element icons corresponding to the selected production element type;

receiving a selection of fundamental production elements via selection of the corresponding icons; and

building, via a processor, a composited scene for broadcast output by layering the selected production elements, wherein a layer corresponding to a fundamental production element can be applied or removed from the composited scene by selection of the corresponding icon, wherein a specific production element is applied to the composited scene by selection of its corresponding icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composited scene is built via graphics processing unit having a software based architecture.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the software based architecture provides a single path that receives all video input for broadcast control and outputs a single video output for broadcast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the method further comprising:

displaying a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a second user selection modifying the composited scene; and

displaying the modified preview of the modified composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a selection to output the composited scene for which a preview is displayed; and

outputting the composited scene for broadcast.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selection to output the composited scene comprises a single user selection.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the preview is displayed at a multi-previewer display that further displays a visual representation of at least one available production element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the displayed visual representation comprises at least one of a live video source and a video source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast control options are presented to the user as manual buttons, wherein the manual buttons are configured to be user programmable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the manual buttons comprise a display that indicates the broadcast control option by the user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising a third portion of the user interface, wherein the third portion is static and presents an icon for a broadcast output and an icon for a preview, wherein a selected production element is applied to a broadcast output composited scene or a preview composited scene depending on whether the broadcast output icon is selected or the preview icon is selected.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the composited scene is generated for preview when the preview icon is selected, the method further comprising:

automatically outputting the composited scene when the broadcast output icon is selected.

14. An apparatus for composite broadcast control, comprising:

means for presenting broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, each fundamental production element displayed as an icon on a user interface, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip, including presenting a first portion of the user interface, wherein the first portion is static and presents a plurality of production element type icons, one for each of the fundamental production elements available at the user interface, and presenting a second portion of the user interface, wherein the second portion changes depending upon which of the plurality of production element type icons is selected, the second portion presents a plurality of production element icons corresponding to the selected production element type;

means for receiving a selection of fundamental production elements via selection of the corresponding icons; and

means for building a composited scene by layering the selected production elements, wherein a layer corresponding to a fundamental production element can be applied or removed from the composited scene by selection of the corresponding icon, wherein a specific production element is applied to the composited scene by selection of its corresponding icon.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the method further comprising:

means for displaying a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user interface further comprises a third portion, wherein the third portion is static and presents an icon for a broadcast output and an icon for a preview, wherein a selected production element is applied to a broadcast output composited scene or a preview composited scene depending on whether the broadcast output icon is selected or the preview icon is selected.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for building a composited scene comprises a graphics processing unit having a software based architecture.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the software based architecture provides a single path that receives all video input for broadcast control and outputs a single video output for broadcast.

19. An apparatus for composite broadcast control, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

present broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, each fundamental production element displayed as an icon on a user interface, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip;

present a first portion of the user interface, wherein the first portion is static and presents a plurality of production element type icons, one for each of the fundamental production elements available at the user interface;

present a second portion of the user interface, wherein the second portion changes depending upon which of the plurality of production element type icons is selected, the second portion presents a plurality of production element icons corresponding to the selected production element type;

receive a selection of fundamental production elements via selection of the corresponding icons; and

build a composited scene by layering the selected production elements, wherein a layer corresponding to a fundamental production element can be applied or removed from the composited scene by selection of the corresponding icon, wherein a specific production element is applied to the composite scene by selection of its corresponding icon.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the processing system being further configured to:

display a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, the processing system being further configured to:

receive a second user selection modifying the composited scene; and

display the modified preview of the modified composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, the processing system being further configured to:

receive a selection to output the composited scene for which a preview is displayed; and

output the composited scene for broadcast.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user interface further comprises a third portion, wherein the third portion is static and presents an icon for a broadcast output and an icon for a preview, wherein a selected production element is applied to a broadcast output composited scene or a preview composited scene depending on whether the broadcast output icon is selected or the preview icon is selected.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus comprises a composited scene comprises a graphics processing unit configured to build the composited scene, the graphics processing unit having a software based architecture.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the software based architecture provides a single path that receives all video input for broadcast control and outputs a single video output for broadcast.

26. A non-transitory computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

present broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, each fundamental production element displayed as an icon on a user interface, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip;

present a first portion of the user interface, wherein the first portion is static and presents a plurality of production element type icons, one for each of the fundamental production elements available at the user interface;

present a second portion of the user interface, wherein the second portion changes depending upon which of the plurality of production element type icons is selected, the second portion presents a plurality of production element icons corresponding to the selected production element type;

receive a selection of fundamental production elements via selection of the corresponding icons; and

build a composited scene by layering the selected production elements, wherein a layer corresponding to a fundamental production element can be applied or removed from the composited scene by selection of the corresponding icon, wherein a specific production element is applied to the composited scene by selection of its corresponding icon.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to:

display a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the user interface further comprises a third portion, wherein the third portion is static and presents an icon for a broadcast output and an icon for a preview, wherein a selected production element is applied to a broadcast output composited scene or a preview composited scene depending on whether the broadcast output icon is selected or the preview icon is selected.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the composited scene is built via graphics processing unit having a software based architecture.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the software based architecture provides a single path that receives all video input for broadcast control and outputs a single video output for broadcast.