Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for representing a video sequence, having a plurality of video frames, visually and spatially while minimizing local memory requirements, the method comprising the steps of: sampling each video frame of the video sequence to produce a frame sample for each video frame; storing the frame samples for the video frames in a local memory; and displaying the frame samples as a pictorial timeline representing an edge view of the video sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for representing a video sequence, having a plurality of video frames, visually and spatially while minimizing local memory requirements, the method comprising the steps of: sampling each video frame of the video sequence to produce a frame sample for each video frame; storing the frame samples for the video frames in a local memory; and displaying the frame samples as a pictorial timeline representing an edge view of the video sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein frame samples are displayed side by side and the sampling step comprises the step of producing for each video frame a plurality of pixels that each represent an average video value within a corresponding region along a vertical axis of the video frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the producing step comprises the step of emphasizing a dramatic video feature within each region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the sampling step comprises the step of selecting a plurality of pixels along a vertical axis of each video frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the vertical axis is taken through a center of each video frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing a corresponding video sequence in a mass storage medium; providing with each frame sample a pointer to the video frame from which the frame sample is produced; selecting a location within the video sequence by indicating a frame sample from the pictorial timeline; and using the pointer from the indicated frame sample to access the video sequence at the selected location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: responding to operator instructions by rearranging an order in which the frame samples are displayed; and outputting an edited video sequence according to the operator rearranged order of frame samples using the pointers to the video frames.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing a view into the stored video sequence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: sampling an audio signal to produce a plurality of audio samples which represent an envelope of the audio signal; storing the audio samples in the local memory; and displaying the audio samples together with the pictorial timeline as a visual representation of the envelope over time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of: storing the audio signal in a mass storage medium; providing with each audio sample a pointer to a corresponding portion of the audio signal in the mass storage medium; responding to operator instructions by rearranging an order in which the audio samples are displayed; and outputting an edited audio sequence according to the operator rearranged order of audio samples using the pointers to the audio signals.