Automatic editing of recorded video elements sychronized with a script text read or displayed

Claim 2

A text based video editing system, comprising: (a) an editing system computer including an editing system display including a text window and a video window; (b) a script editor computer program including word processor means for adding and deleting timed text characters to make changes to a script displayed in the text window of the editing system display; (c) video clip selection means for selecting video clips from a source of video clips and for playing the video clips in the video window of the editing system display; (d) means for linking the selected video clips and the script text including means for embedding computer readable link control sequence characters into the script text at locations in the text where the video clip is to be located and means for generating a computer readable edit decision list including edits wherein each edit defines a video clip linked to an embedded control sequence in the script text, a starting time for the video clip based on an automatically determined estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the location of the embedded control sequence in the script text, and a play time duration of the linked video clip; and (e) means for automatically updating the edit decision list in response to a change in the timed text characters of the script text to maintain synchronization between the video clips defined by the edit decision list edits and the script text, including means for adjusting the starting time of clips defined by edits linked to embedded link control sequences after the change to the text such that the starting times for the video clips defined by the edits are still based on an estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the locations of the embedded control sequences in the script text after the chance in the script text.

Claim 3

The editing system of claim 1 comprising additionally means for playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list in the video window of the editing system display while simultaneously indicating a point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clips being played.

Claim 4

The editing system of claim 1 wherein the editing system computer is connected to a source of video clips including an editing server connected to at least one video source.

Claim 5

The editing system of claim 1 wherein the editing system computer is connected to a computer network including a network computer for playing back the video clips defined by the edit decision list to an on-air channel.

Claim 6

The editing system of claim 1 wherein the video clip selection means includes a database of video clip descriptions and source locations of the video clips described.

Claim 7

The editing system of claim 1 wherein the means for updating the edit decision list in response to a change in the script text includes a computer program scanning routine for scanning the timed text characters and embedded control link sequence characters in the script text by reading characters from the beginning of the script text to the end of the script text, including: (a) means for incrementing a count of timed characters each time a timed text character is read and means for updating a current time from the beginning of the script based on the count of timed characters and a specified reading rate; (b) means for determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated whenever a control link sequence is read including means for comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with a previous calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and means for adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previous calculated time if the current time and previous calculated time are different.

Claim 8

The editing system of claim 6 wherein the means for updating the current time includes means for changing the specified reading rate in response to a reading rate control sequence embedded in the script text.

Claim 9

The editing system of claim 6 wherein each embedded computer readable link control sequence defines an entry in an edit link table, wherein each entry in the edit link table contains a reference to an edit in the edit decision list and the previously calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and wherein the means for determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated includes means for comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with the previously calculated time contained in the edit link table entry defined by the control link sequence and means for adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previously calculated time and for setting the previously calculated time in the edit link table to the current time if the current time and previously calculated time are different.

Claim 10

The editing system of claim 1 wherein the starting time and play time durations for the video clips defined by the edit decision list edits are measured in frames.

Claim 11

The video editing system of claim 9 comprising additionally means for automatically adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including means for automatically adjusting the number of frames of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 12

The video editing system of claim 1 wherein each edit additionally defines a play speed of a video clip linked to an embedded control sequence in the script text and comprising additionally means for automatically adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including means for automatically adjusting the play speed of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 13

The video editing system of claim 1 comprising additionally means for playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list in the video window of the editing system display while simultaneously indicating a point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clips being played including means for scrolling the script text through a marquee window on the editing system display while playing the video clips in the video window such that a location in the marquee window indicates the point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clip being played.

Claim 14

A text based video editing system, comprising: (a) an editing system computer including an editing system display including a text window and a video window; (b) a script editor computer program including word processor means for adding and deleting timed text characters to make changes to a script displayed in the text window of the editing system display; (c) video clip selection means for selecting video clips from a source of video clips and for playing the video clips in the video window of the editing system display; (d) means for linking the selected video clips and the script text including means for embedding computer readable link control sequence characters into the script text at locations in the text where the video clip is to be located and means for generating a computer readable edit decision list including edits wherein each edit defines a video clip linked to an embedded control sequence in the script text, a starting time for the video clip based on an estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the location of the embedded control sequence in the script text, and a play time duration of the linked video clip; and (e) means for updating the edit decision list in response to a change in the script text to maintain synchronization between the video clips defined by the edit decision list edits and the script text, including a computer program scanning routine for scanning the timed text characters and embedded control link sequence characters in the script text by reading characters from the beginning of the script text to the end of the script text, including means for incrementing a count of timed characters each time a timed text character is read and means for updating a current time from the beginning of the script based on the count of timed characters and a specified reading rate and means for determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated whenever a control link sequence is read including means for comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with a previously calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and means for adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previous calculated time if the current time and previously calculated time are different thereby adjusting the starting time of clips defined by edits linked to embedded link control sequences after the change to the text such that the starting times for the video clips defined by the edits are still based on an estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the locations of the embedded control sequences in the script text after the change in the script text.

Claim 15

A text based video editing system, comprising: (a) an editing system computer including an editing system display including a text window and a video window; (b) a script editor computer program including word processor means for adding and deleting timed text characters to make changes to a script displayed in the text window of the editing system display; (c) video clip selection means for selecting video clips from a source of video clips and for playing the video clips in the video window of the editing system display; (d) means for linking the selected video clips and the script text including means for embedding computer readable link control sequence characters into the script text at locations in the text where the video clip is to be located and means for generating a computer readable edit decision list including edits wherein each edit defines a video clip linked to an embedded control sequence in the script text, a starting time for the video clip based on an estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the location of the embedded control sequence in the script text, and a play time duration of the linked video clip; and (e) means for updating the edit decision list in response to a change in the script text to maintain synchronization between the video clips defined by the edit decision list edits and the script text, including a computer program scanning routine for scanning the timed text characters and embedded control link sequence characters in the script text by reading characters from the beginning of the script text to the end of the script text, including means for incrementing a count of timed characters each time a timed text character is read and means for updating a current time from the beginning of the script based on the count of timed characters and a specified reading rate and means for determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated whenever a control link sequence is read including means for comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with a previously calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and means for adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previous calculated time if the current time and previously calculated time are different thereby adjusting the starting time of clips defined by edits linked to embedded link control sequences after the change to the text such that the starting times for the video clips defined by the edits are still based on an estimated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the locations of the embedded control sequences in the script text after the change in the script text.

Claim 16

The editing system of claim 13 including additionally means for playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list in the video window of the editing system display while simultaneously indicating a point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clips being played.

Claim 17

The video editing system of claim 14 wherein the means for playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list in the video window of the editing system display while simultaneously indicating a point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clips being played includes means for scrolling the script text through a marquee window on the editing system display while playing the video clips in the video window such that a location in the marquee window indicates the point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clip being played.

Claim 18

The editing system of claim 13 wherein the editing system computer is connected to a source of video clips including an editing server connected to at least one video source.

Claim 19

The editing system of claim 13 wherein the editing system computer is connected to a computer network including a network computer for playing back the video clips defined by the edit decision list to an on-air channel.

Claim 20

The editing system of claim 13 wherein the video clip selection means includes a database of video clip descriptions and source locations of the video clips described.

Claim 21

The editing system of claim 13 wherein the means for updating the current time includes means for changing the specified reading rate in response to a reading rate control sequence embedded in the script text.

Claim 22

The editing system of claim 13 wherein each embedded computer readable link control sequence defines an entry in an edit link table, wherein each entry in the edit link table contains a reference to an edit in the edit decision list and the previously calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and wherein the means for determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated includes means for comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with the previously calculated time contained in the edit link table entry defined by the control link sequence and means for adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previously calculated time and for setting the previously calculated time in the edit link table to the current time if the current time and previously calculated time are different.

Claim 23

The editing system of claim 13 wherein the starting time and play time durations for the video clips defined by the edit decision list edits are measured in frames.

Claim 24

The video editing system of claim 21 comprising additionally means for adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including means for adjusting the number of frames of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 25

The video editing system of claim 13 wherein each edit additionally defines a play speed of a video clip linked to an embedded control sequence in the script text and comprising additionally means for adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including means for adjusting the play speed of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 comprising additionally the steps of playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list while simultaneously indicating a point in the script text corresponding to the synchronized video clips being played.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein the step of selecting video clips includes the step of selecting video clips from a database of video clip descriptions and source locations of the video clips described.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 wherein the step of updating the current time from the beginning of the script includes the step of changing the specified reading rate in response to a reading rate control sequence embedded in the script text.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24 wherein each embedded computer readable link control sequence defines an entry in an edit link table, wherein each entry in the edit link table contains a reference to an edit in the edit decision list and the previously calculated time from the beginning of the script text to the embedded control link sequence and wherein the step of determining if an edit decision list edit needs to be updated includes the steps of comparing the current time from the beginning of the script with previously calculated time contained in the edit link table entry defined by the control link sequence and adjusting the starting time of the video clip as defined by the edit by the difference between the current time and the previously calculated time and for setting the previously calculated time in the edit link table to the current time if the current time and previously calculated time are different.

Claim 32

The method of claim 24 comprising additionally the step of adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including the step of adjusting a number of frames of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 33

The method of claim 24 comprising additionally the step of adjusting the play time duration of a video clip defined by an edit linked to an embedded link control sequence immediately preceding the change to the text including the step of adjusting the play speed of the video clip defined by the edit.

Claim 34

The method of claim 24 comprising additionally the step of playing the video clips defined by the edit decision list on an on-air channel.

Claim 37

The method of claim 32 wherein the steps of calculating the first, second, and third reading times include the steps of: (a) reading characters from the beginning of the script text to the text block starting location, the designated location, and the text block ending location; (b) incrementing a count of timed characters each time a timed text character is read; (c) updating a current time from the beginning of the script based on the count of timed characters and a specified reading rate; and (d) setting the first reading time to the current time at the text block starting location, setting the second reading time to the current time at the designated location, and setting the third reading time to the current time at the text block ending location.

Claim 38

The method of claim 33 wherein the step of updating the current time from the beginning of the script includes the step of changing the specified reading rate in response to a reading rate control sequence embedded in the script text.

Claim 39

The method of claim 32 comprising additionally the step of creating an entry in an edit link table, the entry in the edit link table being linked to the control link sequence and containing a reference to the edit in the edit decision list and a value corresponding to the second calculated reading time from the beginning of the text to the designated location.

Claim 40

The method of claim 35 comprising additionally the step of updating the edit decision list in response to a change in the script text before the designated location to maintain synchronization between the video clip defined by the edit decision list edit and the script text, including the steps of: (a) scanning the timed text characters and embedded control link sequence characters in the script text by reading characters from the beginning of the script text to the end of the script text; (b) incrementing a count of timed characters each time a timed text character is read; (c) updating a current time from the beginning of the script based on the count of timed characters and a specified reading rate; (d) comparing the current time from the beginning of the script text to the designated location of the control link sequence after the change in the script text with the value in the edit link table entry linked to the control link sequence corresponding to the previously calculated reading time from the beginning of the script text to the designated location; (e) adjusting the starting time value in the edit referenced by the edit link table entry by the difference between the current time and the previously calculated reading time such that the starting time for the video clip is still based on a calculated reading time from the beginning of the script to the designated location of the control link sequence; and (f) setting the value in the edit link table entry corresponding to the previously calculated reading time to the current time.

Claim 41

The method of claim 36 wherein the step of updating the current time from the beginning of the script includes the step of changing the specified reading rate in response to a reading rate control sequence embedded in the script text.