Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reissue Patent
1999-04-14
2001-05-01
Huynh, Ba (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S473000, C345S215000, C713S400000, C713S500000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037156
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to time-based programming and more particularly to the implementation of time-based sequences for controlling interactive media in an object oriented programming environment.
Authors of computer-based multimedia presentations (titles) need to create time-based sequences of events, such as displaying text, graphics, sounds, animations and video, as well as user interface elements for controlling their titles. Authors need to build these time-based sequences using convenient tools without having to learn complex programming techniques. At the same time, authors want the flexibility to write scripts, using a powerful time-based programming (scripting) language, to maintain precise control over the functionality of these sequences.
An exemplary prior art scripting language incorporating time-based sequences can be found in MacroMind Director published by MacroMedia. It allows authors to create time-based displays of text, graphics, sounds, animations, and video with user interface elements. It uses a time-based “score” metaphor with 24 channels of animation over time. It also includes a cast window for storing the artwork and sounds that are used in the course of the presentation.
MacroMind Director has a powerful set of functions, but is limited in what can be animated over time. Only those characteristics of objects that are controllable from the score can be changed over time. For example, if a bitmap object is in one of the channels, only certain predetermined aspects of the bitmap can be changed, such as its position on the screen, its size (scaling), its transfer or “ink” mode (e.g., matte, copy, xor, etc.), its colorization, the script which executes when a user clicks on it, and which bitmap from the cast is being displayed. Even though these are powerful capabilities, it is desirable not to be limited by these predetermined functions.
MacroMind Director also has the ability to execute a certain user script in each frame. However, this ability is outside of the score metaphor and is not sufficiently flexible or powerful to enable authors to control events across frames, much less arbitrary events. For example, it does not maintain the cumulative effects of previous frame scripts.
Another product which facilitates the creation of time-based sequences is Apple's Quicktime system software, utilized by authoring tools such as Adobe's Premier. Quicktime allows an author to edit and play back time-based video and sound, but does not provide a mechanism to precisely control the playback of other media or the execution of arbitrary sequences of code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a system that synchronizes the execution of arbitrary sequences of code to units of time. The system is implemented at least partially within a scripting language for controlling interactive media in an object-oriented programming environment. The system contains means for playing media, such as displaying full-motion video or animation sequences on a computer monitor or playing a sequence of audio through a speaker connected to the computer. The system is capable of executing a script sequence, such as a sequence of commands in a scripting language. The system also contains means for generating a sequence player object for keeping track of time during the execution of the script sequence. The system also contains means for generating at least one tagged object which has a tag for associating the tagged object with the sequence player object. The system can then, for example, display the tagged object at the predetermined time specified in the script sequence.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the system provides means for jumping to an arbitrary point in time during execution of the script sequence (while maintaining the cumulative effects of commands executed prior to that time), as well as delaying execution until an arbitrary number of units of time has elapsed. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system contains means for removing all tagged objects in the environment. After removing all the tagged objects, the system can then return to the starting point of the script sequence immediately and skip ahead the script sequence to a time earlier than the time when the tagged objects are removed. As a result, a rewind operation can be performed. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the system contains means for generating a key frame script that replicates the current state of the environment. This key frame script can be invoked at any time to replicate the environment without having to execute a long string of commands in the script sequence.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet powerful programming environment to multimedia authors.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible time-based programming language to multimedia authors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a time-based programming language including conditional statements.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for jumping to an arbitrary point in a time-based script sequence.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a rewind feature to a time-based script sequence.
It is a further object of the present invention to include a key frame script in a time-based programming environment.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Robin, Laura, “Temporal Adaptation of Multimedia Scripts”, SPIE vol. 1460, pp103-113, Feb. 1991.*
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Fenton Albert James
Neumann Eric R.
Huynh Ba
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Object Technology Licensing Corporation
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