"Midlink" virtual insertion system and methods
OwnerPierre Pleven, Pierre Bruno +1inventors
InventorsPierre Pleven, Pierre Bruno, Jean-Jacques Grimaud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improvements in systems and methods for replacement of a target region in successive video images transmitted via a digital data stream. In one aspect, the invention provides for replacing only those portions of the target region that are not overlaid with added graphics, such as text. In another aspect, the invention provides for personalizing the video images by selecting the object to replace the target region based on information regarding the viewer or user.
Claims22
A television system wherein a target region in successive video images is replaced with a matching pattern adapted to be inserted into said target region, said system comprising:
- at least one television camera for producing a sequence of video images of a scene (clean feed);
- a control room located on-site with said at least one camera and including broadcast image processing means for receiving said clean feed and for adding layers of graphics to said clean feed to produce corresponding video images (dirty feed) and means for outputting said dirty feed in digital form;
- and
- virtual insertion means, locate off-site from said at least one camera, for receiving said dirty feed and for modifying said dirty feed by replacing selected portions of said target region of said video images in said dirty feed with a replacement pattern adapted to be inserted into said target region, said selected portions being only those portions of said target region that are not modified with said added layers of graphics.
In a television system, a method for replacing a target region in successive video images with a matching pattern adapted to be inserted into said target region, said method comprising:
- producing a sequence of video images of a scene (clean feed) from at least one television camera;
- receiving said clean feed in a control room located on-site with said at least one camera;
- adding layers of graphics to said clean feed to produce corresponding video images (dirty feed);
- outputting said dirty feed in digital form;
- and
- receiving said dirty feed in a virtual insertion means, locate off-site from said at least one camera, and modifying said dirty feed by replacing selected portions of said target region of said video images in said dirty feed with a replacement pattern adapted to be inserted into said target region, said selected portions being only those portions of said target region that are not modified with said added layers of graphics.
A method for personalizing a digital video composition transmitted from a server to a user over a digital computer network, said digital video composition being transmitted via a digital video data stream and said user viewing said digital video composition through viewing software, said method comprising:
- determining data describing a target region in said digital video composition to be replaced;
- selecting an object to replace said target region based on information relating to the user;
- placing said data describing said target region into said digital video data stream with said digital video composition;
- and
- integrating said selected object into said digital video composition based upon said data describing said target region to personalize said digital video composition.
A system for personalizing a digital video composition transmitted to an end user over a digital computer network, comprising:
- a content owner for providing a digital video composition to be transmitted and data describing a target region in said digital video composition to be replaced;
- a server for receiving said digital video composition and said data describing a target region and for transmitting such composition over a digital computer network;
- an end user device for receiving said composition over said digital computer network, said end user device comprising a means for viewing said composition;
- means for selecting an object to replace said target region based on information relating to the end user;
- and
- means for integrating said selected object into said digital video composition based upon said data describing said target region and said means for selecting an object to personalize said digital video composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.