Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically identifying defective pixels captured by a motion picture camera within a sequence of frames is disclosed. The method comprises applying a spatio-temporal metric for each pixel in each frame. The metrics are analyzed to determine which pixels have values exceeding a threshold. The operator is provided a graphical display allowing the operator to select either to repair and store the repaired frame with the sequence of motion picture frames of pixel data or just store the sequence of motion picture frames of pixel data.

Abstract: A metadata editor processes the metadata track of a multimedia composition to synchronize the metadata track with a video track and identify any errors in the metadata track internally or relative to the video track. The metadata editor effectively divides the metadata track into segments, displays breaks on the video and metadata tracks to show the metadata segments relative to the video track, characterizes each segment as being either erroneous (e.g., warranting attention by the user) or consistent (e.g., not warranting attention by the user), and highlights erroneous metadata segments, e.g., by displaying erroneous metadata segments using a different color, pattern, or other visual indicator than consistent metadata segments. The metadata editor provides various mechanisms to allow the user to manipulate the metadata track in order to correct erroneous metadata segments.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically identifying defective pixels captured by a motion picture camera within a sequence of frames is disclosed. The method comprises applying a spatio-temporal metric for each pixel in each frame wherein the spatio-temporal metric weights the spatial severity of error in the pixel by a degree of motion at the pixel to produce a weighted spatio-temporal metric value. The weighted spatio-temporal metric values for each pixel are compared to a threshold to automatically identify defective pixels within the sequence of frames.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting color parameters during a film-to-digital transfer. An operator uses standard telecine equipment to preview scenes in order to determine a natural clustering of fields or scenes. Each cluster is processed separately. All the fields in a cluster are treated as one unit in the sense that color adjustments for the cluster are based on the cluster color histogram, which is computed by aggregating the colors from all pixels in the cluster. Constraints are specified for the cluster. Variables of a constraint may be automatically specified or determined by an operator based on observing sample frames from the cluster. In addition, the operator can nullify a constraint if desired. Within each cluster, the system adjusts red, green and blue intensities of the digitizing device, gains for each of these color channels, and other parameters. The system first determines which settings respect the constraints and then optimizes the solution.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for color conforming video material at a given resolution is provided. The given video material is first converted to a lower resolution version of the same material. Then a color corrected version of the lower resolution version of the video material is obtained. A computer then analyzes the lower resolution version and the color corrected version of the lower resolution version in the same three dimensional color space to determine suitable color values for a color conforming version of the video material at the given resolution.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting color parameters during a film-to-digital transfer. An operator uses standard telecine equipment to preview scenes in order to determine a natural clustering of fields or scenes. Each cluster is processed separately. All the fields in a cluster are treated as one unit in the sense that color adjustments for the cluster are based on the cluster color histogram, which is computed by aggregating the colors from all pixels in the cluster. Constraints are specified for the cluster. Variables of a constraint may be automatically specified or determined by an operator based on observing sample frames from the cluster. In addition, the operator can nullify a constraint if desired. Within each cluster, the system adjusts red, green and blue intensities of the digitizing device, gains for each of these color channels, and other parameters. The system first determines which settings respect the constraints and then optimizes the solution.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for reformatting at least a portion of a digital source image. The digital source image has a number of pixels defining an original format which is to be converted to a destination image in a new format having a number of pixels. The number of pixels of the new format is greater than the number of pixels in the original format. A gradient is estimated at a point within a window which encompasses a plurality of intensity values from the source image. A polynomial is then used to determine a value for the point in the new format within the window. The polynomial is based in part upon the gradient. Values are then determined for additional points in the destination image by selecting a new window and repeating the acts of estimating a gradient and using a polynomial to determine a value.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for reformatting at least a portion of a digital source image. The digital source image has a number of pixels defining an original format which is to be converted to a destination image in a new format having a number of pixels. The number of pixels of the new format is greater than the number of pixels in the original format. A gradient is estimated at a point within a window which encompasses a plurality of intensity values from the source image. A polynomial is then used to determine a value for the point in the new format within the window. The polynomial is based in part upon the gradient. Values are then determined for additional points in the destination image by selecting a new window and repeating the acts of estimating a gradient and using a polynomial to determine a value.

Abstract: A system for checking the consistency between a digital video master and a duplicate video. Both the digital video master and the duplicate digital video have digital data, the digital data composed of a plurality of data segments. A loader module receives the digital data of the digital video master and the duplicate digital video. A comparison module then retrieves the digital data of the digital video master and the duplicate digital video and performs a data segment by data segment comparison between the digital data of the digital video master and the digital data of the duplicate digital video. The comparison module indicates any discrepancies between the digital video master and the duplicate digital video.

Abstract: A method for determining labels for video fields by identifying the state of the field is disclosed. Some examples of a video field's state include the origin of the field as film or video, its relative location with respect to edit points, and in the case of film-originating material, the location within the standard sequential pattern which results from converting film to video. To determine the label of a video field, the conditional probability distribution for a particular sequence of states given the entire video sequence is calculated. This may be optimized by using dynamic programing to maximize the conditional probability function and thus the labels. To determine the conditional probability, first the joint probability distribution is determined for the observed video fields and the states. This joint probability is calculated by creating a data model and a structure model for the video sequence.

Abstract: A method for reordering an edited digital video sequence composed of digital video fields from multiple sources is disclosed. When the digital video sequence is reordered temporal cadence is provided which will allow for the conversion to a digital film format through a reverse 3:2 pulldown. Let Fold=(F1old,F2old, . . . ,FNold) be the given edited sequence of video fields. In one embodiment, the method calculates an instruction set which is then used to transform Fold into a new sequence of video fields, denoted Fnew, where most of the fields in Fnew come from Fold and the remaining fields are “upconverted” fields from Fold. This reconstitution of Fold is obtained by optimizing a set of instructions based on various constraints which express the characteristics of the pattern AaBbBcCdDd. By assigning a cost to each violation of the constraints, and to each disruption of the natural flow of time, and to other undesirable properties, a real-valued function is constructed.