US RE38,079 E1Granted

Multi-format audio/video production system

AssigneeMuti-Format, Inc.

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 interrelated family of aspect ratios, resolutions, and frame rates, yet remain compatible with currently available and planned graphics and television formats.

Claims37

Dependent claims

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

means to receive an input a signal representative of an audio/video input program having audio and video components, and wherein the video component is received in one of a plurality of display formats without redundant frames or fields;
a graphics processor connected to receive the audio/video program audio and video components and convert the display format of the input program into an intermediate production format, the graphics processor including:
having a frame rate of 24 or 25 frames per second (fps);
a standard/widescreen an 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;
an output format;
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 the input program into the production format,
(b) storage of a program in the production format in the high-capacity video storage means, and
(c) the conversion of a program in the production format into a standard/widescreen program in the output format, 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 .

11 more elements

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

receiving an input video program having an audio component and a video component without any added redundant frames or fields;
converting the input video component of the input program into a an internal production format having a predetermined frame rate of substantially 24 frames per second (fps) and an image dimension in pixels, when the program is not received in such a format;
providing a high-capacity digital audio/video storage means storing the program in the production format in the high-capacity storage means medium, and storing the program in the production format;
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 medium;
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. greater than or equal to the frame rate of the production format.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.