Non-timeline, non-linear digital multimedia composition method and system

A system for non-timeline, non-linear digital multimedia composition, the system comprising:

• means for representing multimedia materials stored in memory as objects;
• means for retrieving one or more of said multimedia materials from said memory for display on a composition console;
• means for dynamically viewing and editing said one or more multimedia materials on said composition console;
• means for placing the objects representing said one or more multimedia materials on a non-frame based storyline strip of said composition console to create a storyline that is viewable on said composition console, said storyline strip including object viewing and object transition positions;
• and
• means for producing a multimedia output file from objects and transitions on said storyline.

A computer readable media encoded with a computer program for creating non-timeline, non-linear digital multimedia compositions from multimedia materials stored in memory and represented by objects comprising:

• means for retrieving one or more of said multimedia materials from said memory for display on a composition console;
• means for dynamically viewing and editing said one or more multimedia materials on said composition console;
• means for placing the objects representing said one or more multimedia materials on a non-frame based storyline strip of said composition console to create a storyline that is viewable on said composition console, said storyline strip including object viewing and object transition positions;
• and
• means for producing a multimedia output file from objects and transitions on said storyline.

A method for producing a multimedia composition comprising:

• providing a user interface having a source material object window and a non-frame based storyline strip, said storyline strip having object viewing and object transition positions;
• associating individual identifiers in said window with time varying dynamic multimedia source material objects;
• choosing one of said identifiers in said window to retrieve a selected source material object;
• dragging said chosen identifier across said interface to one of said object viewing positions on said storyline strip;
• repeating said choosing and dragging to organize a multi-object multimedia composition in a desired order;
• and
• generating a multimedia output file based on chosen identifiers and transitions organized on said storyline strip.

A system for creating a multimedia composition from multimedia source material objects, the system comprising:

• a user interface comprising:
• a tool bar for accessing system functions;
• a source library window for accessing multimedia source material objects;
• a console for previewing and editing said multimedia source material objects to create output objects;
• and
• a non-frame based storyline strip for assembling said output objects and transitions therebetween to form a multimedia output file, said storyline strip including object viewing and object transition positions;
• a processor for editing said source material objects and creating said multimedia output file in response to user input entered via said user interface;
• and
• a display for displaying said multimedia output file on said console.

A system for producing a multimedia composition, the system comprising:

• means for generating a user interface having a source material object window and a non-frame based storyline strip, said storyline strip having object viewing and object transition positions;
• means for associating individual identifiers in said window with time varying dynamic multimedia source material objects;
• means for choosing one of said identifiers in said window to retrieve a selected object;
• means for placing said chosen identifier at one of said object viewing positions on said storyline strip to organize a multi-object, multimedia composition in a desired order;
• and
• means for generating a multimedia output file based on chosen identifiers and transitions organized on said storyline strip.

A computer readable media encoded with a computer program for producing a multimedia composition from multimedia materials stored in memory as source material objects comprising:

• means for generating a user interface having a source material object window and a non-frame based storyline strip, said storyline strip having object viewing and object transition positions;
• means for associating individual identifiers in said window with time varying dynamic multimedia source material objects;
• means for choosing one of said identifiers in said window to retrieve a selected source material object from memory;
• means for placement of one or more chosen identifiers at selected positions on said storyline strip to organize a multi-object, multimedia composition in a desired order;
• and
• means for generating a multimedia output file based on chosen identifiers and transitions organized on said storyline strip.

A method for digital multimedia composition comprising:

• selecting multimedia data segments;
• arranging the selected multimedia data segments on a single non-frame based storyline strip;
• inserting transitions between adjacent multimedia data segments on the storyline strip;
• and
• combining the selected multimedia data segments based on their arrangement on the storyline strip and based on the inserted transitions, to produce a multimedia output file from the storyline strip.