Abstract: A system, method and product are provided for resolution-independent image translation. Such system, method and product convey, through the use of a resolution-independent coordinate system, a description of location, shape, color, spline, and other distinguishing characteristics of images, including edited effects, rendered on a low-resolution image. The low-resolution images upon which the effects are imposed may be user-selected without converting high-resolution, non-digital, images into high-resolution, digital, images. Such resolution-independent information based on low-resolution images may be applied automatically, ie., without human intervention, to reproduce the special effects on a corresponding high-resolution image. In a typical application, the user-selected, low-resolution, images upon which the effects are imposed are analog or digital video images. Also typically, the corresponding high-resolution images upon which the effects are automatically reproduced are film images.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring data among clients of a time division multiplexed network is provided. In one aspect of the preset invention the apparatus includes clock circuits that allow for a variable number of time slots and a variable bus cycle of the network. In another aspect of the present invention a network interface module includes an indirection register that contains relationships between memory storage locations and channels of a time domain multiplexed network. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a network interface module is provided that comprises a memory, and first and second registers. In one mode of operation of the network interface module, data from the memory for a client is pre-fetched from the memory, prior to the start of a bus cycle and is stored in the registers to minimize memory access delays in the system.

Abstract: A digital multimedia newsroom production system allows users of the system to create, browse and catalog multimedia assets. The system includes a multimedia capture and encoding system that captures multimedia data, and substantially simultaneously provides a first compressed version of the multimedia data having a first resolution, and a second compressed version of the multimedia data having a second resolution that is different than the first resolution; a multimedia storage system, coupled to the multimedia capture and encoding system, that stores multimedia information including the first and second compressed versions of the multimedia data; and a video editing and playback system coupled to the multimedia storage system.

Abstract: A system is provided for displaying an animated character. The system identifies a character for display and identifies at least one skill associated with the identified character. The system also determines at least one behavior associated with the identified character. The identified character is then animated based on the skill and the behavior associated with the identified character. Animation of the character can also be based on an environment in which the identified character is displayed. The skill associated with the identified character can be used to generate animation in multiple environments. The behavior associated with the animated character is environment-independent and is used to determine the manner in which the identified character responds to an event. A hierarchical finite state machine can be used to represent the behavior associated with the identified character.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism and process for changing a color of an image. In this process, a source frame that includes the image is received. An alpha matte that covers an object in the source frame is created. An original color of a pixel in the source frame is changed when the pixel is covered by the alpha matte, and when a color distance between the original color of the pixel and a target color is below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An architecture for performing real-time image processing on multiple image data streams using compressed or uncompressed image data includes a switch for forwarding data from multiple input sources to multiple destinations on a video processing device. The video processing device includes two independent processing pipelines for processing two different data streams. The switch may couple one or both input data stream to be multiple different destinations. Multiple video processing devices may be coupled via the switch to increase the number of data streams capable of being processed at any given time. Mixers are coupled in a cascaded fashion using the switch, thereby providing selective keying capability and allowing for multiple keying events to be entered during one phase of processing. Each of the processing pipelines on the video processing device includes dedicated processing logic, compression logic and frame buffer storage. Logic is provided with each frame buffer to support motion effects.

Abstract: A complex computational task is processed by a plurality of computers coupled to a network. A plurality of different computers (64-74) are each assigned a different portion of a distributed processing task by a problem dispatcher (88). Each computer determines if a local operator has not used a keyboard (43) or a mouse (40) for a predefined period of time. If not, a screen saving program is initiated and the computer begins monitoring the network to determine if a request for participation in a distributed processing task has been transmitted. Upon receiving such a request, the screen saver program responds, indicating that the computer is available to participate in the task. Each computer also sends characteristics to the problem dispatcher, which selects assistant computers to participate in the task. The problem dispatcher assigns specific portions of the task to each of the assistant computers until the task is completed.

Abstract: A quick-connect connector adaptor for use between male and female portions of a BNC connector includes a body having mating male and female portions. The male portion of the adaptor may be inserted into the female portion of the BNC connector without locking thereto, thereby allowing quick connection thereto. A plurality of these adaptors may be mounted to a panel for simultaneous quick-connection to a plurality of connector portions of BNC connectors disposed on an electrical instrument. In this manner, a plurality of connections may be quickly and accurately made.

Abstract: A reader (10) capable of efficiently reading tags (12) of differing protocols in a radio frequency identification system. The tag may be either a full-duplex tag or a half-duplex tag. The reader includes a display (16), a power switch (18) and a read switch (20) for enabling operation of the reader by a user. The reader further includes a coil (60); a driver circuit (32) coupled to the coil; and a signal analyzing circuit (82, 84, 90) coupled to the coil. The signal analyzing circuit analyzes tag identification signals sensed by the coil by detecting an initial data sequence of the tag identification signals and selecting from at least two different protocols the correct protocol of the tag identification signal.

Abstract: Random access to arbitrary fields of a video segment compressed using both interframe and intraframe techniques is enhanced by adding state information to the bitstream prior to each intraframe compressed image to allow each intraframe compressed image to be randomly accessed by generating a field index that maps each temporal field to the offset in the compressed bitstream of the data used to decode the field, and by playing back segments using two or more alternatingly used decoders. The cut density may be improved by eliminating from the bitstream applied to each decoder any data corresponding to bidirectionally compressed images that would otherwise be used by the decoder to generate fields prior to the desired field.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multimedia presentation computer program that includes method and apparatus for sharing presentation functions between portions of the program by means of an interface that is implemented as one or more dynamically linked custom programs that perform one or more functions as the multimedia presentation computer program executes. A number of interface methods in the multimedia presentation computer program are declared and are implemented in the custom program The interface methods of the custom program are made accessible to the multimedia presentation computer program by means of an identifier. A host program within the multimedia presentation computer program communicates with the custom program by means of custom program parameters that at least in part define operation of the custom program. The custom program executes and thereby implements its one or more functions for use by the multimedia presentation computer program.

Abstract: A media editing system that includes storage for a machine-readable composition made up of scenes separated by transitions. The system can identify to an effect generator a scene in the composition and receive a modified version back from the effect generator. It can read machine-readable information associated with the modified version, and automatically reinsert the modified version into the machine-readable composition in synchronism with the position in the composition that the scene occupied, based on the machine-readable information. The system can also associate versions of the scene with the scene and display to a user a list of identifiers of the versions in response to user command that references a portion of a timeline, and respond to a selection command from the user to select one of the versions to be a default version for the composition.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for managing the storage and use of digital information. The digital information can comprise both time-based information, such as digital video and digital audio, and static information such as 3D geometric models and/or still images. The invention employs data source records, information consumers, digital source information files, quality factor objects and other constructs with an information manager to manage storage and use of the information. All storage and/or use of the information is effected by making an appropriate request to the information manager which returns an appropriate result.

Abstract: A method of and system for editing a parametric function curve initializes tangent handles at selected keys, up-dates the parametric function curve responsive to the dragging of one of the tangent handles, verifies whether the up-dated parametric function curve is monotonic, and if not monotonic, repeatedly modifies the tangent handles until the parametric function curve is monotonic.

Abstract: An interface enables asynchronous data processing elements to be interconnected using an interconnection protocol that controls the flow of data between the processing elements. The flow control allows the processing elements to be data independent, i.e., the processing elements need not be designed for a fixed sample rate or resolution, sample format, or other data dependent factors. When used with digital motion video data, the processing elements may process motion video data at various temporal and spatial resolutions and color formats and precisions. Flow of data between processing elements may be controlled by handshake signals indicating whether the data output by the sender is valid and whether the receiver can receive data. The sender transmits data and asserts a valid signal along with the data in response to a request signal from the receiver. The request signal may be asserted by the receiver and responded to asynchronously by the sender with the transmission of the data by the sender.

Abstract: A newsroom computer graphical user interface and method for displaying a workspace including non-overlapping, cooperating panels. A first of the panels displays a queue of news stories from a selected data file. A second panel displays the text of a news story selected from the queue. The workspace is displayed in a main application window on a display screen of a computer system that is coupled to a network. The first and second panels may share a common moveable border. A third panel may also be displayed that includes a directory tree of data files from which the selected data file is selected. The second panel may include sub-panels such as one that displays the text of the selected news story; a second that displays information about the news story; and a third that displays machine code for manipulating machines, such as a video playback device, during a broadcast. The machine code may be anchored to a predetermined point in the text displayed in the first sub-panel.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism and process for feathering a first image and a second image in a composite frame. In this process an original matte image is defined according to the first and second images. A portion of the original matte image is box filtered horizontally and vertically to generate an intermediate matte image. At least a portion of the intermediate matte image is box filtered horizontally and vertically to generate a processed matte image. A composite image including the first image and the second image is then generated according to the box-filtered processed matte image.

Abstract: A memory is used as a data buffer and switch between devices producing and consuming data in combination with a separate control channel which conveys flow control information between the devices connected through the memory. The control channel includes a signal sent from a sender to a receiver granting the receiver permission to read data from the memory. The receiver replies with a signal indicating that data has been read from the memory, permitting the sender to write data to the memory. The memory is considered a circular buffer by the sender. The sender writes data into the memory at sequential locations until the end of the circular buffer is reached. This end of the buffer may be represented by a limit pointer. When data is written to the memory, the sender indicates the amount of valid data in the memory in a signal to the receiver over the control channel. The receiver receives this signal and reads data from the memory up to and limited by the amount indicated by the sender.

Abstract: An audio-visual editing system includes a universal slave driver (USD) coupled between a timecode-producing device, such as a video tape deck, and a digital audio workstation (DAW). The USD includes a sample counter for counting the audio samples for each timecode frame, and a timecode reader to interpret the tape's location. An audio board of the digital audio workstation includes an identical sample counter. Both counters are driven from a common clock. A serial interface connection couples the digital audio workstation to the universal slave driver. One of the handshaking pins of the serial interface connection is used as a dedicated reset pin. When the dedicated reset pin is pulsed, the running sample counters in both the USD and DAW are set to a common value, typically zero. Resetting the sample counters at precisely the same time ensures that the DAW and the USD are operating in synchronization.

Abstract: A layer based paint system permits painting of an image raster of a composite image while viewing subsequent processing on the image raster. The composite image is mapped to an image processing tree. Each of the elements in the image processing tree are defined by an associated data structure that identifies their parent and children elements in the tree. Each of the elements may be, for example, an image element or a process element. Associated with each image element is an image raster and a transform. Viewing and painting of an image element may be done at any level in the image processing tree. Painting of the element directly modifies the pixels in the image raster. The pixel coordinates of brush strokes in the viewed image are transformed into pixel coordinates of the image raster material by applying the inverse transform of the viewed layer, the image element layer and all of the intermediate layers to the pixel coordinates of the brush strokes.