US 5,537,157 AGranted

Multi-format audio/video production system

AssigneeKinya Washino

InventorsKinya Washino, Barry H. Schwab

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Abstract

An audio/video production system facilitates professional quality image manipulation and editing using an enhanced general-purpose hardware. A program input may be translated into any of a variety of graphics or television formats, including NTSC, PAL, SECAM and HDTV, and stored as data-compressed images, using any of several commercially available methods such as Motion JPEG, MPEG, etc. While being processed, the images may be re-sized to produce a desired aspect ratio or dimensions using conventional techniques such as pixel interpolation. Frame rate conversion to and from conventional formats is performed by using the techniques employed for film-to-NTSC and film-to-PAL transfers, or by inter-frame interpolation, all well known in the art. By judicious selection of the optimal digitizing parameters, the system allows a user to establish an inter-related family of aspect ratios, resolutions, and frame rates, yet remain compatible with currently available and planned graphics and television formats.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A multi-format audio/video production system adapted for use with a display device comprising:

means to receive an input signal representative of an audio/video program in one of a plurality of display formats;
a graphics processor connected to receive the audio/video program and convert the display format of the program into an intermediate production format, the graphics processor including:
a standard/widescreen interface unit operative to convert the video program in the production format into an output signal representative of a standard/widescreen formatted program, and
a high-definition television (HDTV) interface unit operative to convert the video program in the production format into an output signal representative of an HDTV-formatted program;
high-capacity video storage means;
an operator interface;
and
a controller in operative communication with the means to receive the input signal, the graphics processor, the high-capacity video storage means and the operator interface, whereby commands entered by an operator through the interface cause the following functions to be performed:
(a) the conversions of an audio/video program into the production format,
(b) storage of a program in the production format in the high-capacity video storage means,
(c) the conversion of a program in the production format into a standard/widescreen program, either directly from the means to receive the input signal or from the high-capacity video storage means, and
(d) the conversion of a program in the production format into an HDTV program, either directly from the means to receive an input signal or from the high-capacity video storage means.

9 more elements

In an enhanced personal computer having a color monitor, the method of producing a video program, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input video program;
converting the input video program into a production format having a predetermined frame rate and image dimension in pixels;
providing high capacity video storage means storing the program in the production format in the high capacity storage means;
displaying the video program on the color monitor using the predetermined frame rate and image dimensions in pixels, including cropped versions of the program, with the extent of the cropping being visually evident on the monitor;
accessing the program in the production format from the high capacity storage means and manipulating the program to create a desired edited version of the program in an output format, including an output format having a frame rate and image dimensions in pixels different from that of the production format;
and
outputting the desired edited version of the program in the output format.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/298,104Filed 30 Aug 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 21 Apr 1993
Granted: 16 Jul 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification45 codes

H04N 9/8042
Involving pulse code modulation of the colour picture signal components: involving data reduction
G06F 3/14
Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for…: digital…
G06T 9/007
Image coding: transform coding, e.g. discrete cosine transform
G11B 27/031
Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers: electronic editing of digitised analogue…