Method and system for producing a personalized video recording

A method for producing customized video recordings, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of preduplicated recordings, each preduplicated recording having a sequence of common scenes separated by an insert location having an identifying image that is replaceable with a custom image;
• storing a plurality of custom images in an image storage device;
• collecting personal data pertaining to each of a plurality of individuals;
• correlating the personal data with the custom images to associate one of said custom images with one of said individuals and with one of the insert locations;
• playing one of the preduplicated recordings;
• detecting said identifying image during said playing step, whereby said insert location is located;
• and
• recording said one of said custom images onto the insert location of the preduplicated recording in response to the detection of said identifying image.

A system for personalizing a plurality of preduplicated video recordings wherein each video recording comprises a plurality of common scenes separated by insert locations for insertion of custom information, the system comprising:

• a master controller for storing personal data pertaining to a plurality of individuals and for correlating the personal data with custom information to associate selected custom information with each of said individuals and with each of the insert locations;
• a plurality of video edit decks for playing and recording video recordings;
• and
• a plurality of process controllers, each process controller operatively connected with the master controller and with an associated edit deck, and each process controller comprising:
• detector means connected for receiving a video signal, comprising an image signal, from the edit deck and for comparing the image signal with a predetermined criterion characteristic of an insert location;
• digital storage means for storing the selected custom information to be recorded at the insert location;
• retrieval means for retrieving the selected custom information in response to the detector means;
• and
• signal generation means responsive to the retrieval means for generating a video signal for recording by the edit deck.

In a process for producing customized video recordings, a method for synchronizing the playback of custom information for recording at insertion locations of a preduplicated video recording, comprising the steps of:

• playing the preduplicated video recording to produce a video signal;
• digitizing the video signal;
• determining whether an image portion of the video signal contains an identifying predetermined image pattern indicating the beginning of an insertion location;
• generating a custom information video signal when an insertion location has been determined;
• and
• recording the custom information video signal onto the preduplicated video recording at the insertion location.