Abstract: Method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event preferably provides linked information for the object in any one of a plurality of succeeding video frames based only on the color value of the object. Preferably, at least one computer is coupled to a GUI and to a pointing structure, and is configured to: (i) identify coordinates of the object in a first video frame where the pointing structure has pointed; (ii) determine the color values of the identified object; (iii) store the color values of the identified object; (iv) detect an action of the object being selected in any one of the plurality of succeeding video frames; (v) determine the color values of the selected object; (vi) determine whether the selected object color values correspond to the stored color values; and (vii) automatically provide the linked information to the GUI only when the color values correspond.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event preferably provides linked information for the object in any one of a plurality of succeeding video frames based only on the color value of the object. Preferably, at least one computer is coupled to a GUI and to a pointing structure, and is configured to: (i) identify coordinates of the object in a first video frame where the pointing structure has pointed; (ii) determine the color values of the identified object; (iii) store the color values of the identified object; (iv) detect an action of the object being selected in any one of the plurality of succeeding video frames; (v) determine the color values of the selected object; (vi) determine whether the selected object color values correspond to the stored color values; and (vii) automatically provide the linked information to the GUI only when the color values correspond.

Abstract: An image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a development graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event. In one or more embodiments, the invention takes a streaming or static media and associates an active, dynamic, or static object with an event by its given color. The event may be, for instance the retrieval of a document at a specified URL in a web browser or the retrieval of other information in non-web browser implementations. In one embodiment, the invention defines the color by its mathematical properties. For instance, one embodiment uses the RGB standard which separates the red, green, and blue properties of the color as numerical values. Another embodiment also uses the HSV characteristics of the color, which define hue, saturation, and value as components of color. Another embodiment uses both RGB and HSV characteristics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event preferably provides linked information for the object in any one of a plurality of succeeding video frames based only on the color value of the object. Preferably, at least one computer is coupled to a GUI and to a pointing structure, and is configured to: (i) identify coordinates of the object in a first video frame where the pointing structure has pointed; (ii) determine the color values of the identified object; (iii) store the color values of the identified object; (iv) detect an action of the object being selected in any one of the plurality of succeeding video frames; (v) determine the color values of the selected object; (vi) determine whether the selected object color values correspond to the stored color values; and (vii) automatically provide the linked information to the GUI only when the color values correspond.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event. In one or more embodiments, the invention takes a streaming or static media and associates an active, dynamic, or static object with an event by its given color. The event may be, for instance the retrieval of a document at a specified URL in a web browser or the retrieval of other information in non-web browser implementations. In one embodiment, the invention defines the color by its mathematical properties. For instance, one embodiment uses the RGB standard which separates the red, green, and blue properties of the color as numerical values. Another embodiment also uses the HSV characteristics of the color, which define hue, saturation, and value as components of color. Another embodiment uses both RGB and HSV characteristics.

Abstract: An image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a developmental graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation.

Abstract: An image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a developmental graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation.

Abstract: A real time interactive video system for use in real time broadcasts as well as video on demand systems which requires no modification of a television set. In a real time broadcast application, the video content is broadcast for playback on a conventional television or monitor. Frames are extracted from the video content in predetermined time intervals, such as one second intervals, and stored in a directory on an Internet server. For example, for a 30 frame per second video source, one frame of every 30 is extracted and stored as a still image along with linked video files which link pixel objects with the stored frames to data objects, or other resource platforms. In order to synchronize the stored frames and linked video files with the real time video content broadcast, each frame is either numbered sequentially, or referenced by the time code of the frame from which it was extracted.

Abstract: An image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a developmental graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation.