# US 5,703,995 A · Method and system for producing a personalized video recording > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,995 A - Document ID: US5703995A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/649,223 - Filed: 1996-05-17 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-05-17 - Inventors: George M. Willbanks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703995A ## CPC - G11B 27/036: Insert-editing - G11B 27/029: Insert-editing - H04N 5/765: Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus - G11B 27/024: on tapes (G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence) - G11B 27/032: on tapes (G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence) - G11B 2220/41: Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title - G11B 2220/90: Tape-like record carriers - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A system for mass-producing customized video recordings is provided with a plurality of video recording devices under the control of a central controller having access to a database of information pertaining to individuals for whom the recordings are to be made. The customized recordings are made by inserting personalized information within videotapes having pre-recorded information common to all of the customized recordings. The insert locations are signified by a predetermined video signal, such as a monochromatic or black video signal. During customization, a playback signal from each pre-recorded videotape is monitored to detect the presence of the predetermined video signal to locate successive insert locations. When an insert location is detected, the tape is cued to the first video frame of the insert location and the customization information is retrieved and recorded on the tape to replace the predetermined signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for locating an insert location within a video prerecording and inserting personalized information therein, comprising: a personal data storage device for storing personal data pertaining to each of a plurality of individuals; a custom information storage device for storing a plurality of different images; a master controller connected with the personal data storage device for selecting one of said stored images to be recorded at an insert location on a video recording, said image being selected with reference to personal data pertaining to one of said plurality of individuals; an edit deck for receiving the video prerecording, said edit deck having a control terminal for receiving operation control signals, a video output terminal for providing a video output signal, and a video input terminal for receiving a video input signal; and a process controller connected with the control terminal for providing operation control signals to the edit deck, said process controller including a video digitizer for digitizing successive prerecorded images on the video prerecording and for detecting an insert location by comparing successive digitized video images with a predetermined statistical criterion that is indicative of an insert location, said process controller being responsive to the master controller for retrieving the stored images and for providing the retrieved image to the video input terminal when an insert location has been detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the process controller is connected for receiving a control track signal from the edit deck and wherein the process controller is configured for responding to the digitizer when the control track signal corresponds to a specified value indicating the proximity to a predetermined insert location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the process controller is configured for signalling the edit deck to reverse operation of the edit deck for a predetermined interval after the insert location is detected, and for signalling the edit deck to resume forward operation so as to advance the preduplicated recording toward the insert location prior to providing the selected image to the video input terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the preduplicated video recording is a video tape and the edit deck is a video tape editing deck. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the custom information storage device is configured for storing a plurality of audio tracks, full motion video sequences, and still video images to be recorded at an insert location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the process controller is configured for retrieving one or more of said audio tracks, full motion video sequences, and still video images, and for combining selected ones of said audio tracks, video sequences and still video images for simultaneous recording by the edit deck at the insert location of the preduplicated recording. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said digitizer is configured for establishing said criterion as a predetermined proportion of a video image exceeding a selected threshold monochromatic content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a robotic loader for loading the preduplicated recording into the edit deck and for retrieving the preduplicated recording from the edit deck after the personalized information has been recorded thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the master controller comprises labeling means for labeling the personalized recording with personal data identifying the individual for whom the recording has been personalized, and said robotic loader is configured to deliver the personalized recording to the labeling means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the process controller comprises a video controller having a video driver connected to the video input terminal of the edit deck for providing a desired scene transition effect between the selected image and a prerecorded scene on the preduplicated recording. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said detecting step comprises: receiving a video signal from the preduplicated recording; digitizing an image portion of the video signal; and determining whether the digitized image portion has a monochromatic content in excess of a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising the steps of: receiving a control track signal during said playing step; and, prior to performing said detecting step; comparing the control track signal with a predetermined signal corresponding approximately to an insert location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising: storing an image of one of said common scenes prior to said playing step; and generating a scene transition effect between said common scene and the inserted custom image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising the steps of conducting said playing, detecting, and recording steps simultaneously on a plurality of preduplicated recordings. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 comprising a robotic loader responsive to the master controller for loading a preduplicated tape into one of the edit decks prior to the recording of the custom information and for removing said preduplicated tape from the edit deck after the custom information has been recorded thereon. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, comprising the steps of: rewinding the video recording by a predetermined amount when the insertion location has been determined, and then replaying the video recording for said predetermined amount prior to said recording step. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 comprising the steps of receiving a control track signal during said playing step, and then prior to said determining step comparing the control track signal with a predetermined signal indicating the approximate location of an insert location whereby the location of the insert location is more readily determined.