Method of automatic production of image presentations

An apparatus for producing, using a multi-slot presentation skeleton, an image presentation from a set of source images, the apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing locations of key slots and non-key slots in the skeleton;
• means for generating candidate groups of sub-image sets from the set of source images;
• means for inserting, into each said key slot, one sub-image set from the candidate groups;
• means for placing, into each said non-key slot, one sub-image set from the candidate groups;
• and
• means for processing the sub-image sets in the skeleton slots using effect and transition rules, to thereby form the image presentation.

A computer program for directing a processor to execute a procedure for producing an image presentation, said program comprising:

• code for establishing locations of key slots and non-key slots in the skeleton;
• code for generating candidate groups of sub-image sets from the set of source images;
• code for inserting, into each said key slot, one sub-image set from the candidate groups;
• code for placing, into each said non-key slot, one sub-image set from the candidate groups;
• and
• code for processing the sub-image sets in the skeleton slots using effect and transition rules, to thereby form the image presentation.

A method of composing an image presentation from a set of source images, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) building a population of candidate presentations each comprising a sequence of sub-image sets derived from the set of source images;
• (ii) determining a presentation fitness of each said candidate presentation in the population according to a presentation fitness function;
• (iii) if a stop condition is met, identifying the fittest candidate presentation from the population, as determined in accordance with the presentation fitness function, to thereby identify the image presentation;
• and
• (iv) if the stop condition is not met, (a) applying a genetic optimisation process to the population to thereby build a new population of candidate presentations, and (b) repeating steps (ii) and (iv) in respect of the new population.

An apparatus for composing an image presentation from a set of source images, the apparatus comprising:

• (i) means for building a population of candidate presentations each comprising a sequence of sub-image sets derived from the set of source images;
• (ii) means for determining a presentation fitness for each said candidate presentation in the population according to a presentation fitness function;
• (iii) means for identifying, if a stop condition is met, the fittest candidate presentation from the population, according to the presentation fitness function, to thereby identify the image presentation;
• and
• (iv) means, if the stop condition is not met, (a) for applying a genetic optimisation process to the population to thereby build a new population of candidate presentations, and (b) for repeating steps (ii) and (iv) in respect of the new population.

A computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program to instruct a computer to implement a method of composing an image presentation, said program comprising:

• (i) code for building a population of candidate presentations each comprising a sequence of sub-image sets derived from the set of source images;
• (ii) code for determining a presentation fitness for each said candidate presentation in the population according to a presentation fitness function;
• (iii) code for identifying, if a stop condition is met, the fittest candidate presentation from the population, according to the presentation fitness function, to thereby identify the image presentation;
• and
• (iv) code, if the stop condition is not met, (a) for applying a genetic optimisation process to the population to thereby build a new population of candidate presentations, and (b) for repeating steps (ii) and (iv) in respect of the new population.

A computer program for instructing a computer to implement a method of composing an image presentation, said program comprising:

• (i) code for building a population of candidate presentations each comprising a sequence of sub-image sets derived from the set of source images;
• (ii) code for determining a presentation fitness for each said candidate presentation in the population according to a presentation fitness function;
• (iii) code for identifying, if a stop condition is met, the fittest candidate presentation from the population, according to the presentation fitness function, to thereby identify the image presentation;
• and
• (iv) code, if the stop condition is not met, (a) for applying a genetic optimisation process to the population to thereby build a new population of candidate presentations, and (b) for repeating steps (ii) and (iv) in respect of the new population.

A method of composing a media presentation for a predetermined presentation style from a set of media sources, the method comprising the steps of:

• (i) building a population of candidate presentations each comprising a sequence of media sets derived from said media sources, each said media set being one of a possible group being generated from a media source and having members which represent key points of an artistic effect in the said candidate presentation, said key points including endpoints of the said effect;
• (ii) determining a presentation fitness for each said candidate presentation in the population, said presentation fitness being a measure of how well the said adjacent endpoints of the said adjacent media sets connect for the said predetermined style.
• (iii) if a stop condition is met, identifying the candidate presentation having a best presentation fitness from the population, said identified candidate presentation being the resultant media presentation of the process;
• and
• (iv) if the stop condition is not met, (a) applying a genetic optimisation process to the population to thereby build a new population of candidate presentations, and (b) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) in respect of the new population.