Abstract: Multiple applications request data from multiple storage units over a computer network. The data is divided into segments and each segment is distributed randomly on one of several storage units, independent of the storage units on which other segments of the media data are stored. At least one additional copy of each segment also is distributed randomly over the storage units, such that each segment is stored on at least two storage units. This random distribution of multiple copies of segments of data improves both scalability and reliability. When an application requests a selected segment of data, the request is processed by the storage unit with the shortest queue of requests. Random fluctuations in the load applied by multiple applications on multiple storage units are balanced nearly equally over all of the storage units.

Abstract: Two images are analyzed to compute a set of motion vectors that describes motion between the first and second images. A motion vector is computed for each pixel in an image at a time between the first and second images. This set of motion vectors may be defined at any time between the first and second images, such as the midpoint. The motion vectors may be computed using any of several techniques. An example technique is based on the constant brightness constraint, also referred to as optical flow. Each vector is specified at a pixel center in an image defined at the time between the first and second images. The vectors may point to points in the first and second images that are not on pixel centers. The motion vectors are used to warp the first and second images to a point in time of an output image between the first and second images using a factor that represents the time between the first and second image at which the output image occurs.

Abstract: A graphical user interface facilitates color modification of a sequence of segments of moving images on a display of a general purpose computer. The graphical user interface may include a three-image display. The three image display may include a first region on the display for displaying an image from a current segment in the sequence to which a color modification is to be applied, a second region on the display and adjacent to the first region for displaying an image from a previous segment in the sequence before the current segment, and a third region on the display and adjacent to the first region for displaying an image from a next segment in the sequence after the current segment. A function screen allows a user to select a color modification to be performed to the current image. The function screen may include an interface that simultaneously displays a plurality of user modifiable graphs.

Abstract: Methods and system are disclosed for archiving and forwarding multimedia data. A server can receive multimedia data for a project from any number of users. The server can archive or store the multimedia data in a database for later access. The server can distribute the received multimedia data to users associated with the project. The server can also distribute the multimedia data in the database to individual users associated with the project at different instances in time.

Abstract: A rotary encoder of a control surface has a display. The display includes a ring of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), in the control surface around the shaft and knob of the rotary encoder. The rotary encoder has a shaft that rotates about an axis under control of an operator. The rotary encode has an output providing a signal indicative of the rotational movement of the shaft. A knob engages the shaft and is used by the operator to rotate the shaft. The knob, in general, has a narrow stem that engages the shaft of the rotary encoder and extends away from the control surface, and a top portion which the operator manipulates to turn the knob. The stem has a substantially circular cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the rotary encoder, with a narrow diameter.

Abstract: A non-linear editor is connected to video processing equipment through a serial digital video interface to edit high definition (HD) television video data. The non-linear editor includes a randomly accessible, computer-readable and re-writeable storage medium that stores a plurality of sequences of HD digital images representing a frame or field of HD motion video data. The non-linear editor provides a configuration control signal to identify processing to be performed on the HD video data and defines a video program to be rendered using the stored HD digital images. An input serial digital interface and an output serial digital interface in the non-linear editor provide the HD video data to be edited. A multiformat video router controls the HD video data sent between the non-linear editor and the video processing equipment. The router is video interconnected to the video processing equipment and to the serial digital interfaces of the non-linear editor.

Abstract: Visibie artifacts in images created using image processing based on motion vector maps may be reduced by providing one or more mechanisms for correcting the vector map. In general, the set of motion vectors is changed by selecting one or more portions of the image. The vectors corresponding to the selected one or more portions are modified. Various image processing operations, such as motion compensated interpolation, may be performed using the changed set of motion vectors.

Abstract: A portable moving picture recording device includes switching control to enable multiple data flow configurations. Two output encoders receive either composite or component digital video signals. The component video signals can come from one of three sources: decoded composite video, component video, and a random-access storage device. Inputs to a composite video analog-to-digital converter and a genlock decoder may be switched between at least two outputs, including a camera video and external video sources. The digital component signal may also be recorded onto the random access recording medium. These data paths are provided in a portable moving picture recording device, in combination with some editing capability.

Abstract: Command data may be embedded in the data transmitted over an interconnect between video devices to specify memory addresses in a destination device. Using an embedded address allows address-dependent data to be transmitted over the interconnect without losing these attributes. For example, compressed video may be transferred from a disk controller to a memory device using this interconnection protocol without losing address attributes of the bus architecture. The address information may be used either to read data from or to write data to a device over the interconnect into randomly-accessible memory locations.

Abstract: A nonlinear editing system for audio, video and/or other source materials comprises a system to define at least one time line representing the edit, the time line being represented in the editing system as an operator graph. The operator graph includes operators, representing sources and time-based effects, and time varying connections therebetween. For each period of the defined time line wherein the connections do not change, a expression tree comprising a simplified representation of the operators and the connections required to render that portion of the time line is extracted. Each expression tree can be examined to ensure that all of the required sources and/or connections are available to render that portion of the time line in real time and, if this is not the case, a determination can be made of which portions of the expression tree can be pre-rendered to an intermediate result, the intermediate result being substituted into expression tree to provide real time rendering.

Abstract: A clock signal and data is recovered from a variable rate signal including biphase mark encoded digital audio data. Such recovery involves regularly determining a minimum or maximum pulse width in the biphase mark encoded digital audio data using a high frequency clock. This pulse width is used to define a window in which a transition in the biphase mark encoded digital audio data may be detected. If a transition occurs in the defined window, a data one is output; if a transition does not occur in the defined window, a data zero is output. The recovered clock has a period of twice the minimum pulse width. A minimum or maximum pulse width can be tracked with an accumulator with decay. In particular, if the data rate of the input signal becomes faster, the shortest pulse will become shorter and a minimum value stored by the accumulator will become shorter. If the data rate of the input signal becomes slower, the longest pulse will become longer and any maximum value stored by the accumulator will become longer.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a multi-tone representation of a digital image by applying a plurality of functions of luma to the digital image. The functions of luma comprise at least a first function and a second function, where each function has a value for each luma value in a range of luma values. Each function also has an associated display value. The digital image includes a plurality of pixels, where for each pixel, it is determined which of the first and second functions has a maximum value for a luma value of the pixel. Each pixel is represented using the display value associated with the determined function.

Abstract: An ellipsoid chroma region of a chroma plane may be defined to specify a range of chromas for which a secondary chroma modification is to be applied, and to determine an output chroma for each chroma of the chroma plane based on the ellipsoid chroma region. Further, two or more different-shaped chroma regions of a chroma plane may be defined and manipulated, each chroma region specifying a range of chroma for which a secondary chroma modification is to be applied, and to determine an output chroma for each chroma of the chroma plane based on the two or more different-shaped chroma regions. Also, chroma-matching techniques may be used to define and manipulate the chroma region of a chroma plane that specifies a range of chroma for which a secondary chroma modification is to be applied, and an output chroma may be determined for each chroma of the chroma plane based on the chroma region.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a media recorder for recording live and prerecorded analog audio and/or video information. It is capable of receiving, digitizing, and storing analog audio and/or video information in real time. The invention detects discontinuities in the reception of the analog information and automatically terminates the storage of the information, so the previously received audio and/or video information is stored as a self-contained clip of digitized information. The invention is also capable of receiving and storing digital audio and/or video information from other sources, so that the system can play both the digital audio and/or video information digitized by it and that received from the other sources. This allows both the newly recorded and previously recorded media segments to be evaluated both individually and in context with other segments.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a media recorder for recording live and prerecorded analog audio and/or video information. It is capable of receiving, digitizing, and storing analog audio and/or video information in real time. The invention detects discontinuities in the reception of the analog information and automatically terminates the storage of the information, so the previously received audio and/or video information is stored as a self-contained clip of digitized information. The invention is also capable of receiving and storing digital audio and/or video information from other sources, so that the system can play both the digital audio and/or video information digitized by it and that received from the other sources. This allows both the newly recorded and previously recorded media segments to be evaluated both individually and in context with other segments.

Abstract: The invention provides an editing system for editing and combining media material into a resulting media composition. The media may be film or video based material, and also may include audio material. The video may adhere to either NTSC or PAL timing. In response to editing instructions, an Edit Decision List (EDL) is produced that specifies the material that makes up the edited composition, and the order of presentation of this material in the output composition. The EDL specifies the input clips that are taken from the source material using source timecode and similarly defines the output order again according to a new time code, the record time code. The editing system produces an extended EDL that facilitates the downstream processing (after the editing has been completed) for post production tasks requiring the need to know accurately where edit points occur.

Abstract: Performance of a set of video processing devices in a flexible architecture can be predicted by analyzing and storing information about the performance of individual video processing devices. A combination of operations to be performed is associated with a set of video processing devices. Performance characteristics of individual video processing devices in the set are accessed. For each frame, a total performance characteristic of the set of video processing devices is determined by combining the performance characteristics of the individual video processing devices according to a combination of operations performed by the set of video processing devices to produce data for each frame. The performance characteristic may include latency, processing time and/or memory bandwidth. The total performance characteristic may be compared to a threshold. According to this comparison, it can be determined whether the set of video processing devices can produce each frame in real time.

Abstract: Colors in an image that are selected as a source color can be matched to a selected destination color such that the modification to the image appears natural. Components of a selected destination color having a first luminance and components of a source color having a second luminance are received. A ratio of the second luminance to the first luminance is determined. The product of this ratio and the components of the selected destination color are determined. Values of components of pixels in the image are adjusted according to this determined product. From one perspective, the pixels take on the hue of the destination color, the luminance of the source color and a saturation that depends on the relationship between the source color and destination colors.

Abstract: Displaying visual information from a motion picture in a visual field within a designated extent of a related aural field supports editing of a spatial audio effect for the motion picture. The extent of a related aural field also is displayed. Information specifying a point of origin of a sound used in the spatial audio effect with respect to the visual field is received for each of a number of frames of a portion of the motion picture. This information may be received from a pointing device that indicates a point in the displayed extent of the aural field, or from a tracker that indicates a position of an object in the displayed visual information, or from a three-dimensional model of an object that indicates a position of an object in the displayed visual field. Using the specified point of origin and the relationship of the visual and aural fields, parameters of the spatial audio effect may be determined, from which a soundtrack may be generated.