Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Sony Corporation of America

Robert J Berger

Robert W Duffy

Michael T MacKay

Ted E Langford

Darin Fong

Nancy Craighill

A computer controlled video re-editing system with a 'Domino' re-edit function. An edited video comprises a set of ordered video segments. In a video re-editing system a user can re-edit an edited video by adjusting the duration of each video segment. When a user adjusts the length of a video segment, the Domino re-edit function examines how the re-edit to the edited video work affects nearby video segments in the edited video work. The Domino re-edit function then propagates the effects of a re-edit by moving the nearby video segments forward or backward along a time line to accommodate the re-edit made. The Domino re-edit function utilizes any empty spaces that exist in an edited video work such that the empty spaces are filled before the effects of a re-edit are propagated to another video segment. If there is sufficient empty space between video segments, the effects of the re-edit cease propagating. To prevent a video segment from being moved by the Domino re-edit function, a user can 'lock' the video segment to a reference time line. To preserve a relative relationship between two video segments, a user can lock the two video segments together.

Block resizing function for multi-media editing which moves other blocks

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for a multi-dimensional user interface for use in audio visual production. A display system including a central processing unit (CPU) is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad and/or track ball as well as a display device. The CPU is further coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and is also coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of system resource devices such as editors, music synthesizers, graphics generators, scheduling resources, audio enhancement resources, etc. A user viewing the interface on the display may utilize one of the input devices, such as by way of example, the keyboard, to select, incorporate or otherwise integrate the various system resources to develop a unified multi-media production. The user interface of the present invention includes a control frame which in practice substantially fills all of the display screen of the display and is consistent for all user applications. The control frame is comprised of control panels which surround a variety of subwindows and acts as a consistent control area for all users of the interface. Once defined, elements may be selectively placed on an event horizon bar in the control frame. The placement of an element on the event horizon results in the display of timing data for the element, relative to other elements on the event horizon.

Multi-dimensional user interface

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Robert J Berger