JPH0644384B2 - Audio / image editing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Over the years, audio / video editing devices have been developed as complex and sophisticated devices for handling video and audio information recorded in a desired form therein. In a standard editing device, video or audio information selected from a plurality of different inputs is recorded on the recording audio / video tape recorder under the careful control of the operator. The information to be recorded is typically contained in one or more of the source tape recorders, but can come from other input sources such as microphones or video cameras. A switch coupled between the recording tape recorder and the source tape recorder and some other input device controls the precise information recorded by the recording tape recorder in response to the edit command. Maintain proper synchronization to the encoded reference track, which characterizes the standard editing process during the recording operation,
This reference track is provided for each symbol on the tape and identifies each frame of the recording. Usually such reference tracks use timecode (which is recorded either directly in the reference tracks of the video tracks during the vertical interval or in a combination of both), which is the Institute of Motion Picture and Television Science ( SMPTE) (Society Of Mo
tion Picture And Television Engineers) and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) (European Broadca-sting U)
nion).

In a standard editing operation, the operator operates the keyboard while looking at the video monitor, which provides a visual display of the video information recorded on the recording tape recorder. The keyboard is usually the designated keyboard, which means that it consists of various keys that represent particular editing functions. These keys may be arranged in ASCII format, or any other format convenient. ASCII-arranged keys are specified by letters arranged in a normal typewriter keyboard format, selecting a variety of different editing functions, mostly by feel, in the same way that experienced typists type. It can be done based on experience and memory.

Editing devices are becoming more sophisticated and complex, and the keyboards used for them are becoming larger and more complex. For example, it is not uncommon to have an editing keyboard with more than 100 keys, each representing a different editing function or type of function. As a result, a given machine requires considerable time and experience until the operator is able to perform editing functions quickly and efficiently. However, even when the operator gains experience and is fully accustomed to a given editing device, conventional editing devices mechanically consider such a fixed keyboard with so many functions. The inherent problem is that creative editorial activity is significantly hindered by the imposition of what must be done. The timecode display, which represents the entry and exit points of an edit, is usually more dependent on the image itself than on the edit.

A further limitation of many conventional editing devices is that they limit the intelligence of the system to one center. These systems, which use a central processing unit or other processing units with editing capabilities, are typically concentrated in one center into a limited number of processing units, which further increases the flexibility of a particular system. I have a limit.

Various efforts have been made to improve the human-machine interface in relation to editing. For example, one such solution is to use a light pen. The pen is used on the response member to select certain editing functions, thereby reducing the number of buttons required. At best, however, such systems replace the keyboard buttons with a light pen, requiring the operator to pick up and handle the light pen after each operation.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an editing apparatus having an improved human-machine interface and facilitating the technical work of video editing.

It is also desirable to provide an editing device that can display various menus of editing functions selected by the operator.

Further, it is desirable to provide an editing device that can vary the number and type of information inputs.

It is desirable to provide an editing device capable of performing intelligent operations not only in the center of a device but also in peripheral devices of such a device.

The above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing an editing device capable of displaying various menus of editing information and selections on a display screen. The display screen responds by the operator touching the selected area to change the menu while simultaneously performing the desired editing function. By displaying editing information and a limited menu of choices at any given time, the operator can focus on the particular type of editing operation being performed. But at the same time, the operator can choose the level at which he wants to work, modify each menu as he sees fit and combine each level to make virtually any custom design of the menu. It is extremely versatile in that it can

The versatility and characteristics of the operation of the editing device according to the invention are:
This can be enhanced by using a system configuration that gives intelligent capability not only to the center but also to peripheral devices. In this way, one central processing unit can communicate with various input devices substantially simultaneously. A suitable machine interface device translates the data into a machine use format suitable for the particular requirements of the I / O peripheral device.

In the preferred embodiment of the audio / video editing device according to the present invention, a data monitor consisting of a cathode ray tube or other display screen device is coupled to the editing control device from which it receives various information of editing information and selections. The display screen is provided with a device for blocking the display on the screen and sending blocking information to the network. When the operator points to a particular character or group of characters on the display screen, the beam in this area of the display screen is blocked and a corresponding signal is provided to the editing controller. The edit control unit consists of a central processing unit, a memory unit and a character generator, and responds by appropriately changing the menu provided to the visual display unit. A character generator coupled to the central processing unit generates various characters, which consists of various menus displayed on the data monitor. At the same time, the central processing unit, along with its corresponding storage device, sends data to other parts of the editing device to perform the indicated editing function when the operator touches a particular part of the displayed menu. In addition to the touch responsive data monitor, the editing device can be provided with one or more conventional keyboards, which can also provide editing information and selections to the editing control device.

The edit controller has a plurality of intelligent line controllers coupled to the central processing unit. One of the intelligent line controllers is coupled to the touch response device corresponding to the data monitor. Another one of the intelligent line control devices is connected to the recording tape recorder,
The information being edited is recorded in this. Another one of the intelligent line controllers is coupled to the switcher. The rest of the intelligent light controllers are coupled to different input information sources.
The input information source can include a video camera or audio microphone, etc., but typically consists of a source side tape record. The switcher is coupled between the recording tape recorder and various input sources such as a source tape recorder to control the coupling of the input source and the recording tape recorder. Although each intelligent line controller has its own processor and memory, it can perform intelligent functions remotely from the central processor. In addition to converting parallel data from the central processing unit to serial data format and vice versa, an intelligent line controller is a data buffer between the central processing unit and various tape recorders and other peripherals. To work as. The intelligent function performed by the intelligent line controller allows the central processing unit to communicate with various peripheral devices substantially simultaneously. The result is an open-ended editing device that can be coupled to various numbers and styles of input devices. The switcher and recording tape recorder, as well as various input devices such as source tape recorders, are coupled to various intelligent line controllers through the interface, which interfaces serial data from the intelligent line controllers. It has the ability to convert to a format that can be used by a particular recorder or other device coupled to it.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a video editing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The video editing apparatus 10 has a touch screen data monitor 14 and a video monitor 16 mounted on the desk 12 or housed in the desk 12 and disposed on the desk 12. A joystick 18 is also provided on the desk 12. Specified keyboard 20 or ASCI
A designated keyboard 22 with keys arranged in the I format is shown in FIG. 1 and can be used to provide selective human interface with the apparatus 10.

The video editing device 10 of FIG. 1 can have up to three different human interfaces, which include a touch screen data monitor 14 and a designated keyboard 20.
And an ASCII keyboard 22, each utilizing a joystick 18. The joystick 18 includes several control buttons in addition to the joystick. One of Human Interfaces 14, 20 and 22
If you want to control a particular tape feeder by
The joystick 18 may be used to control the operation of the feeder. The designated keyboard 20 may be of conventional design and includes all of the various keys and controls required to perform the various editing functions used in modern advanced editing devices. The ASCII keyboard 22 has various keys arranged in a conventional typewriter configuration to allow various editing functions to be typed into the device 10 by an operator. The touch screen video monitor 16 generates an image of video information recorded on the recording side tape recorder when the operator edits it.

In accordance with the present invention, the touch screen data monitor 14 provides the editing device 10 with an excellent and very convenient human interface. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the touch screen data monitor 14 includes a cathode ray tube 26.
Which has a display screen 28 on its front surface. A touch input device 30 is provided near the display screen 28.
Is provided. The touch input device 30 produces a stoppable beam pattern on the surface of the display screen 28 and uses light emitting diodes and photodetectors. In this example, the touch input device 30 is a Carroll Manyufu Actuating Company (Carroll) of Syanban, Illinois, USA.
Manufacturing Company), which is located on the left side and bottom side of the display screen 28, respectively.
It has two different numbers of light emitting diodes 32 and 34. The touch input device 30 also has a first plurality of photodetectors 36 to the right of the display screen 28 opposite the light emitting diodes 32 and a second plurality of photodetectors 36 on the opposite side of the display screen 28 from the light emitting diodes 34. It has a plurality of photodetectors 38. The light emitting diode 32 emits infrared light, which is incident on the photodetector 36 substantially parallel to the plane of the display screen 28. Each light emitting diode 32 corresponds to a specific one of the photodetectors 36, and infrared rays generated by the light emitting diodes are incident on the photodetector. Similarly, the light emitting diode 34 also emits infrared rays, which is generated by the display screen 2
Along the plane of No. 8 and as a whole, it extends upward in parallel and enters the photodetector 38.

Light emitting diodes 32 and 34 and photodetector 36
And 38 form a beam or ray XY coordinate system across the plane of the display screen 28. When an operator touches a particular location on the display screen 28 as shown in FIG. 1, one or more infrared rays are blocked from the light emitting diodes 32 and 34. Control logic 40 is coupled to photodetectors 36 and 38, which responds by producing a signal representative of the particular position of screen 28 touched by the operator. The control logic circuit 40 does this by determining the average Y position of the infrared light from the blocked light emitting diode 32 and the average X position of the infrared light from the blocked light emitting diode 34. Therefore, its output signal from the control logic 40 represents the average X and Y position of the area of the display screen 28 touched by the operator. The control logic circuit 40 is of conventional design and may be designed or purchased separately from or together with the light emitting diodes 32 and 34 and the photodetectors 36 and 38 as part of the overall touch input device 30. Good.

It will be appreciated that the particular touch input device 30 described herein is for purposes of illustration only, and that other touch schemes capable of producing output signals representative of the area touched by the display screen 28 may be used. . Other touch methods that can be used include a variety of different products, such as those using conductive glass and plastic laminates, those using acoustic waves, those with conductive patterns etched on the display screen, etc. is there.

As will become more apparent from the description below, the data monitor 14 with the touch input device 30 provides the editing device 10 with a very versatile and convenient human interface. The editing device 10 can display on the data monitor 14 any one of a plurality of different menus of editing information and selection. The operator can then select one or more editing functions by touching the letters on the display screen indicating such selection. Each time the operator touches the display screen 28, an output signal from the control logic circuit 40 is provided to a portion of the editing device 10 which compares that information with the characters displayed on the screen to identify the particular operator selected. Determine the function. The device 10 then performs any necessary editing functions and, at the same time, changes the information displayed on the screen 28. This change is made by displaying a blink of new information and a menu of choices on the monitor 14 or by simply modifying the original menu displayed. This allows the operator to focus on editing in terms of different levels or different types of functionality. Also,
Since the configuration of the particular displayed menu is virtually unlimited, the editing device 10 introduces tremendous versatility and flexibility.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the editing device 10. Editing device 1
0 indicates that the human interface 42 of FIG. 4 is the joystick 18 and the designated keyboard 20, AS
The CII keyboard 22 and the human interface 42, including the touch input device 30, are coupled to an edit control device 44, such as the touch screen data monitor 14. Each time the joystick 18 or the keys of the keyboards 20 and 22 or one of the other operating devices is operated, or the touch input device 30 detects that an area of the display screen of the data monitor 14 has been touched. A signal to perform is given to the editing control device 44. In addition to providing edit information and a menu of choices to the data monitor 14, the edit controller 44 controls all other parts of the edit device 10, which are three different source side audio / video tape recorders 46,48. And 50, a recording-side audio / video tape recorder 52, and a switcher effect generator 54. Each of the source side audio / video tape recorders 46, 48 and 50 provides different audio and video inputs to switcher 54. Switcher 54
Couples one or more audio and video signal inputs to the recording audio / video tape recorder 52 in response to commands from the edit controller 44. The video information recorded on the recording side audio / video tape recorder is also added to the pre-view switcher 56 controlled by the editing control device 44. Then, the preview switcher 56 generates video information and displays it on the video monitor 16. The pre-view switcher 56 is necessary for a tape recorder of a system which may be used as a recording side audio / video tape recorder. Another type of tape recorder is a pre-use kit 56.
Is not necessary. The editing controller 44 is also coupled to control the printer paper tape unit 58.

The floppy disk device 60 is coupled to the editing control device 44 and inputs / outputs data to / from the editing control device 44. Floppy disk drive 60 is, for example, one type of mass storage medium that can be used for this purpose, and various other types of mass storage media can also be used for this purpose. First, various menus to be displayed on the data monitor 14 and various editing function commands recorded on the floppy disk are loaded from the floppy disk device 60 into the editing control device 44. After that, when the editing function is executed, the position and nature of various editing functions executed along a certain length of tape in the recording side audio / video tape recorder 52 are output by the editing control device 44, and the floppy disk device. Accumulate at 60. An alternative mass storage device onboards this information
May be stored in PROM or CCD storage.

After the menus and other information are loaded from floppy disk drive 60 into edit controller 44, edit controller 44 provides data monitor 14 with initial information and a menu of choices. When the operator responds by manipulating one of the keyboards 20 and 22 or touching the display screen 28 of the data monitor 14, a signal is sent from the human interface 42 to the editing controller 44. The edit controller 44 identifies the edit function represented by this signal, and then modifies the current menu or provides the data monitor 14 with a new menu as needed to modify the data monitor 1.
Change the display of 4. At the same time, under the control of the editing control device 44, some editing function to be executed in the device 10 is executed. For example, one or more source side recorders 46,
When recording the video information from 48 and 50 on the recording recorder 52, the editing control device 44 controls the associated source recorders 46, 48 and 50, the recording recorder 52 and the switcher 54. The processing of the various video information is carefully synchronized by the use of time codes or control tracks recorded on tapes of various lengths, which identifies the recording operation on a frame-by-frame basis. The edit controller 44 responds to the input from the human interface 42 by continuing to change the menu of the data monitor 14 and performing edit operations accordingly until all edit operations are complete. As described above, the editing control device 4
Reference numeral 4 controls the source side recorders 46, 48 and 50, the recording side recorder 52, and the switcher 54. The edit controller 44 has a selection of cuts, keys, dissolves (gradual swapping of two images) and special effects.
Manually select the cue point to control tape speed and direction. The edit start point and edit end point are manually marked in this mode of operation. If desired, the queuing point can also be selected by including the time code value at the start and end points. Include pre-roll and post-roll values, as well as dissolve and special effect durations.

Source side audio / video tape recorders 46, 48 and 5
0 is machine interface 62, 64 and 6 respectively
6 is connected to the editing control device 44. The recording audio / video tape recorder 52 is coupled to the editing control device 44 by a machine interface 68. The printer paper tape device 58 is coupled to the editing control device 44 by an interface 70. The switcher 54 uses the switcher interface 72 to control the editing control device 44.
Is bound to. Various interfaces 62,6
4, 66, 68, 70 and 72 are edit control devices 44.
The data transferred between the editing control device 44 and
Has the ability to convert between the serial format as it appears at the output of the output and the format usable by the particular recorder or other device to which the interface is coupled. For example, one particular type of tape recorder requires a DC voltage ranging from 0V to + 10V to control forward and reverse tape operation, while another type of tape recorder uses a frequency to control tape operation. Need a changing signal of. The various interfaces are the editing control device 4
Convert the data from 4 into such a format appropriately.

FIG. 5 shows the basic functions executed by the editing control device 44, and FIG. 6 shows the control device 44 in detail. Referring first to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the edit control unit 44 has a central processing unit 74 and a corresponding storage unit 76. The storage device 76 has a read-only storage device (ROM) unit and a random access memory (RAM) unit. The central processing unit 74 is coupled to the floppy disk unit 60 through the disk controller 78. Central processing unit 7
4 is also coupled to the human interface 42 through a character generator 80, which sends character information to the data monitor 14, which character is displayed on the data monitor 14. When information from the floppy disk in floppy disk device 60 is loaded into edit control device 44, such information is stored in storage device 76. The central processing unit 74 responds to signals from the human interface 42 provided thereto through the intelligent line controller 82 and the data bus 84. Based on the signal sent from the human interface 42, the central processing unit 74 performs some editing function in the device 10 dictated by the signal. At the same time, the central processing unit 74 changes the menu currently displayed on the data monitor 14 or provides a new menu, if necessary. This is done by determining from storage device 76 the desired character to be displayed on data monitor 14 and applying that character to character generator 80. The character generator 80 stores various characters in a dot matrix format, but responds to the characters output from the storage device 76 by causing the monitor 14 to display the desired character.

The data stored in the storage device 76 from the floppy disk device 60 includes the entire command called the operating system 86 in FIG. The operator day system 86 controls four independent processes called a command generator 88, a display generator 90, an input / output control 92 and a machine control 94. Four different processing 88, 90, 92
And 94 are executed in parallel under the control of operating system 86. The command generator 88 responds to the signal from the human interface 42 by determining what to do. As a result, data input to the common database 96 is generated. The display generator process 90 includes an evaluation of the data input to the common database 96 to determine what to display on the data monitor 14. Display generator 90
Provides the character generator 80 with any data needed in connection with the change in display. The input / output control process 92
It controls not only the printer paper tape device 58 and the file system, but also all other peripheral devices other than the various tape recorders and switchers. The machine control process 94 is performed by the source side tape recorder 46, 48.
And 50, the recording tape recorder 52, and the switch to determine what action should be taken to respond to the data entered in the common database 96. This causes the edit controller 44 to provide the appropriate commands to the tape recorder and switcher.

As the editing process has become so sophisticated, it has become highly desirable to make efficient use of expensive online editing time. On the other hand, inexpensive off-line composition and preview edits must be recorded for future reference, playback, or transfer to online devices of those parameters. To do this,
Store a list of such edit instructions along with all the parameters needed to do this. Such information can be stored in the floppy disk device 60, the storage device 76 or the printer paper tape device 58 shown in FIG. If the editing operation is interrupted, the editing instructions and parameters can be temporarily stored in one of such storage devices for later reloading and completion. Once the compilation of edits is complete, such information can be used to preview the edits or forward such edits to an online device.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the central processing unit 74 may be, for example, a digital equipment corporation (Digi
tal Equipment Corporation), and may be constituted by any suitable central processing unit such as a single port central processing unit sold under designation of LSI-11. The storage device 76 preferably has a RAM capacity of 64 Kbytes or more. The timing generator 98 generates a system timing signal for the editing controller 44. As mentioned above, the touch input device 30 works with the touch screen data monitor 14 to perform various functions in response to operator contact. These functions are system operation,
Includes changes to data entry and edit instructions. The joystick 18 is used with the touch input device 30 for manual feed control and selection of edit start / end points. The joystick 18 can also be used with a designated keyboard 20 or ASCII keyboard 22. The keyboard 20 or 22 and panel 18 also allow the operator to enter system edit data, selection menus, trim edit points, and control feed operations. The designated keyboard 20 has special keys for special system operations. All system operating features, such as preview, edit, search,
Controlled by dedicated keys such as cue, rewind, play mark entry / mark exit, key dissolve, and set / trim entry / exit. It is also possible to define a function that allows the editor to change the soft key of the designated keyboard 20 for each editing. The soft keys can be used to control the editing control device 44 in the same manner as the operation of the touch input device 30 to change the menu items displayed by the data monitor 14 or change the menu. .

Many different wipes using the switcher 54 (screen switching method that wipes out the previous scene like a car wiper and the next screen appears) Pattern gut (cutout), dissolve, key (character input) Etc. can be selected. Wipe patterns occur from one source to another, with hard or soft edge choices. All effects can reverse direction. The key mode is capable of fading up (gradually brightening) or fading down (gradually darkening) a specific range of the foreground with respect to the background. The keyboard can effectively puncture the background in the form of a specified image, such as a title or graphics. This identified foreground fills the background with holes. The fade (gradation of light and dark) time is selectable.
Audio can be dissolved from one source to another for all effects except keys.

In order to understand the nature of the various menus displayed on the data monitor 14, it is helpful to consider a particular example of an editing device 10 that has both a primary menu and a secondary menu. Perform a more commonly performed editing task by specifying the primary menu. It typically displays a moderate amount of information, allowing the editor to track many steps without changing the menu, while at the same time limiting the overall information displayed in any one menu. Avoid confusion. There are the following primary menus.

1. System Parameters This is the first menu that appears on the data monitor 14 after powering on the editing device. It is mainly used as a reference point, or dispatcher, from which to select other menus for editing. Normally the entire system set-up control is located in this menu. For example, FIG. 11 shows an example of the system parameter screen.

2. Edit command list--This menu displays a part of the current edit instruction and controls to modify it. In addition, a control for previewing the edit by the switcher 54 is also displayed. For example, FIG. 12 shows an example of the edit command list screen.

3. Edit instruction list configuration --- Use this menu to select edit instruction parameters. This menu tabulates the headings of the edit instruction list and all the parameters available for its current configuration. This menu has various headings of the edit instruction list and controls the insertion, deletion, or rearrangement of parameters in the edit instruction table.

4. Editing Configuration-This menu displays the status of a particular edit in the configuration. It directs the operator to select and select edit start and edit end points, feeds, reels, and effects. This menu can be combined with many secondary menus to add more specific editing conditions.

5. Feeding Configuration-This menu selects and displays the status of the feeding parameters such as, for example, logic instructions, intelligent line controller channels, interface method, reel number and feeding status.

The secondary menu in this example is designed for separate special editing functions and is not included in the primary menu. All secondary menus except the numeric keypad appear as additions to the lower half of the primary menu. This keypad allows the operator to enter numeric data such as preroll and postroll durations. The feeding control of the video tape recorder is the forward operation,
Provides rewind, fast forward, search and shuttle functions. Special effects are achieved by various variable controls.
Audio and video split edit modes can be selected from various points on the source side videotape.
Not only roll control, but also pre-view edit, cut, dissolve, wipe, for black mode and key mode.
Controls such as fade (gradual change of light and dark) are included, and the duration can be set by a program.

FIG. 7 shows details of standard ones of the interfaces such as machine interfaces 62, 64, 66 and 68. As previously described, such an interface provides bidirectional communication between the controller 44 and the controlled recorder. The interface input has a pair of serial data lines 100 and 102. Line 100 provides serial data from serial data processor 104 to edit controller 44. Conversely, line 102 provides serial data from edit controller 44 to serial data processor 104. The serial data processor 104 has a universal asynchronous transceiver which converts the input serial data into parallel form before adding it to the CPU and storage 105. The personality module 106 is specific to the particular peripheral that interfaces with the tape recorder 108 or the like. The personality module 106 translates parallel data from the CPU and storage 105 into transfer commands in a form suitable for use with the audio / video tape recorder 108. As explained previously, different peripherals require different types of signals. For example, some tape recorders require a DC voltage to control the speed of the capstan, while other tape recorders require an AC signal whose frequency determines the tape speed.

The audio / video tape recorder 108 can be accessed through the personality module 106 and the time code reading / processing unit 110.
Coupled to CPU and storage 105. Audio / video tape recorder 108 to time code reading processor 110
To the time code track processor 110 for transfer of time code tracks. Typically, the timecode track is read from the audio / video tape recorder 108 tape and transferred to the timecode reader / processor 110 where it is decoded from the serial bitstream into parallel data.

The output signal from the interface of FIG. 7 to the editing control device 44 comprises a transfer coincidence signal, a status signal and time code data. The match and status signals are buffered and then sent to the data bus 84 in the edit controller 44. The serial time code data is converted into parallel data by the time code reading / processing device 110 as described above. This data is then transferred to the edit controller 44.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the human interface 42 is coupled to the central processing unit 74 by the intelligent line controller 82, as previously described.
In this example, the edit controller 44 has an intelligent line controller 82, as well as three additional intelligent line controllers 112, 114 and 116. The intelligent line controller 112 is the central processing unit 74.
To the machine interface 62. The intelligent line controller 114 couples the central processing unit 74 to the switcher interface 74. The intelligent line controller 116 couples the central processing unit 74 to the machine interface 68. Each intelligent line controller 82, 112, 114 and 116 constitutes an intelligent communication interface between the edit controller 44 and external peripheral devices such as the audio / video tape recorder and the human interface 42. The data from the central processing unit 74 transferred on the data bus 84 is in parallel format. Each controller 82, 112, 114 and 116 converts this data to serial form before presenting this data to the peripherals. Conversely, the data transferred from the peripherals to the central processing unit 74 is converted from serial format to parallel format by various intelligent controllers 82, 112, 114 and 116.
In addition to data format conversion, various intelligent controllers 82, 112, 114 and 116 act as buffers between peripherals and central processing unit 74. The intelligent line controller also detects the data input format, converts the data format, and performs some basic control functions such as automatic time code and status request. Central processing unit 74 cannot simultaneously communicate with more than one peripheral device. However, due to the variety of controllers, substantially simultaneous communication is possible by receiving and holding data until the central processing unit is ready to receive such data.

Various intelligent line control devices 82, 11
2, 114 and 116 have the same structure as that shown in FIG. The intelligent line controller shown in FIG. 8 has a first bus transceiver 118, which is coupled to the central processing unit 74 and transfers addresses and data between the intensive line control unit and the central processing unit 74. To do. Bus transceiver 118 is coupled to processor (ILC CPU) 120 by address bus 122 and data bus 124. Address bus 122 is 4K RAM 126 and
It is also combined with 1K ROM 128. 4 for data bus 124
It is also combined with K RAM 126 and 1K ROM 128.
The second bus transceiver 130 is coupled to the processor 120 through the control bus 132 and to the central processing unit 74 and operates to handle timing and control requests transferred between the intelligent line control unit and the central processing unit 74. To do.

Address comparator 134 has two different inputs, one from bus transceiver 118 and the other from board address select switch group 136. The address comparator 134 compares the contents of the address received from the central processing unit 74 with the set state of the board address selection switch group 136. When a valid comparison is made, comparator 134
Data bus 122 and address bus from ILC CPU 120
Requests control of 124. When the intelligent line controller stops such control, data is transferred from the central processing unit 74 to the intelligent line controller RAM 126. The ILC CPU 120 then sends that data to RAM 12
Write to 6 and then transfer it to this interface through universal asynchronous transceiver 138 as shown in FIG. The input serial data from the interface is converted to parallel form by a universal asynchronous transceiver 138, which generates and sends an interrupt signal to the ILC CPU 120. When the ILC CPU 120 receives this interrupt signal, the input data is written to the RAM 126.

The new data in RAM 126 is then read from central processing unit 74 by requesting bus control from ILC CPU 120 and reading this data. The frequency at which the serial signal from the universal asynchronous transceiver 138 is sent to this interface is determined by the baud rate generator 140 along with the baud rate selection switch group 142.

The switcher 54 is shown in detail in FIG. Intelligent line control device corresponding to the switcher 54 1
14 is coupled to switcher 54 through switcher interface 72. Switcher interface 72
May have the same configuration as shown in FIG. 7, but are coupled to receive the composite sync signal and the composite retrace signal.
The switcher interface 72 has an address bus 144 and a data bus 146 at its output. Bus 144 and
146 is an output of the switcher 54 to the image processing device / mixer 148, which is an image crosspoint circuit 150 or a waveform generator 152.
And image processing device 154. bus
144 and 146 are also coupled to the voice crosspoint circuit 156.

The switcher 54 is mainly used for mixing and wiping operations. For mixing operations, one input of the audio / crosspoint circuit 156 and one input of the video crosspoint circuit 150 are the video processor / mixer 148.
Given to. Video processor 154 is also used for such operations. The wiping operation is performed using the waveform generator 152 and the image processing device 154.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method in which the editing device 10 uses the data monitor 14 together with the touch input device 30 to convert an operator's instruction into an editing operation.

In step 160 shown in FIG. 10, the device 10 generates a list of valid choices through the edit control device 44 for display to the operator. Different sets of operator requests are considered valid at various points in the editing process. The edit controller 44 first determines at step 160 this set of alternatives. Usually this is a function of the action type currently being performed. Also, the edit controller 44 must examine not only the information received from other transfer devices or sources, but also the information previously stored in the storage device 76.

In the next step 162, each valid selection is displayed on the screen 28 of the data monitor 14. There is some important information for each choice in the set of valid choices. One of these is the screen 28
Defines the place where the operator should display the selection branch. Another piece of information is what label is displayed on the screen 28 to allow the operator to identify and understand the options. Once a valid set of options has been assembled, each label is displayed at the corresponding location on screen 28. The operator can then know what constitutes the current set of choices and which of them is currently being selected.

In the next step 64, the screen 28 of the data monitor 14 is scanned to determine if it has blocked the beam.
Do 166. When the operator determines which of the labels displayed on the screen 28 corresponds to the action the operator is trying to perform with the editing device 10, the finger (or other) is placed over the label on the screen 28. Put on. Place on screen 28 over its label, as described above. As previously mentioned, the light emitting diodes 32 and 34, which are located in close proximity to the screen 28, produce an infrared beam which is directed to the corresponding one of the photodetectors 36 and 38. When the operator places his or her finger on a specific location on the screen 28, one or more photodetectors 36 detect the blockage of the normally received infrared beam. By periodically detecting the outputs of photodetectors 36 and 38, the editing device detects the presence of a finger. By assigning numbers to the various photodetectors 36 and 38, the editing device can calculate numbers that represent the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the finger on the screen 28. If the determination 166 indicates that one or more infrared beams have been blocked by periodically examining the outputs of the photodetectors 36 and 38, then in step 168 the fingers are displayed on the screen 28. Calculate the distance to each choice. As I mentioned before,
Each selection displayed on the screen 28 corresponds to the display of the position on the screen where it is displayed. Each element is examined in the set of selection branches, and the distance between the position corresponding to the selection branch and the finger is calculated. The selection branch with the shortest distance from the finger position is interpreted as the selection branch intended by the operator. No action is taken if the finger is too far away from the nearest branch. These operations are judged in FIG. 1 1
It is represented by 70.

If a finger is placed within at least the nominal distance of one of the choices, and the decision "YES" occurs at decision 170, indicating that the choice was intended by the operator, the choice is made. The value corresponding to the branch is calculated in the next step 172. There is one value for each choice in the set of determined choices. At step 172, the value corresponding to the selection branch selected by the operator is determined. Using this value, the processor 10 performs the desired operation, which is shown in the next step 174 of FIG. Step
The value determined in 172 is the specified keyboard 30 or
Corresponds to the type of signal that occurs when using the ASCII keyboard 22.

The various operations shown in the flow chart of FIG. 10 can be better understood by considering an example. Considering the case where the operator tries to input one number between 0 and 9 at a certain point of the editing work, there are 10 options in such a state. One position on the screen 28 of the data monitor 14 corresponds to each of these selection branches. One label is displayed on the screen 28 for each selection branch, and numbers "1", "2", "3", etc. are displayed on the screen. When the operator attempts to select the number "7", he places his finger on the screen 28 where the label "7" is displayed. The infrared beam corresponding to this position is blocked and the editing device determines the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the finger. Each of the 10 possible branches is examined and the distance between that position on the screen 28 and the finger position on the screen 28 is calculated. In this example, the number "7"
The selected branch corresponding to is determined to be the closest. One value corresponds to each selection branch. In this example,
The value of "7" may be an ASCII code corresponding to "7".
This is the value used by most computers and communication devices to represent the key labeled "7". Here, the editing device 10 uses this value as if it came from a normal keyboard or communication device such as the designated keyboard 20 or ASCII keyboard 22.

Although the present invention has been particularly described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In summary, the audio / video editing device displays various menus of editing functions on the display screen, and the operator not only changes the menus by touching a selected area of the display screen, but also performs various editing functions. To do. A light emitting diode and a photodetector are arranged to form a network of beams on the surface of the display screen.
When the operator places their finger on a particular character displayed on the screen, the selected beam is blocked. The displayed menus and editing functions are controlled by the editing device, which has a central processing unit with storage loaded with data from the computer file system, and a character generator which provides various menus on the display screen.
A plurality of intelligent line control devices, the line control device is coupled to a plurality of source side tape recorders, recording side tape recorders and switchers, and the switcher couples different ones of the source side recorders to the recording side recorders. be able to. Each intelligent line controller has its own processor and memory, controls the flow of data between the central processor and the various recorders and switchers, and further distributes these data in parallel and serial formats. Convert between A separate interface, coupled between each intelligent line controller and the corresponding recorder or switcher, has a processor for converting this data into a form usable by the recorder or switcher.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view of an audio / video editing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a data monitor of the editing apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a touch response device used in the first editing apparatus, FIG. Is a block diagram of the editing apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the human interface section of the editing apparatus of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is executed by the editing control apparatus of the editing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of various basic functions, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of the editing device of FIG. 3 showing the editing control device in more detail, and FIG. 7 is a video machine interface 1 of the device of FIG.
8 is a block diagram showing one of the intelligent line control devices of the device of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a switcher of the device of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is an editing device. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a method of converting a user's command into an editing operation using a data monitor and a touch response device. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the system parameter screen. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the edit command list screen. 14 ... Data monitor 16 ... Video monitor 42 ... Human interface 44 ... Editing control device 46 ... Source side audio / video tape recorder 52 ... Recording side audio / video tape recorder 54 ... Switcher 62 ... Machine Interface 72 ... Switcher interface

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Robert Bruce Staill Frimont Blissow Terrace 1951, Calif., USA (56) References JP-A-55-10639 (JP, A) JP-A-55 -20528 (JP, A) JP-A-55-110330 (JP, A)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. At least one providing audio / visual information source
One source side recording / reproducing apparatus, a recording side recording apparatus for selecting and recording audio / image information from the at least one source side recording / reproducing apparatus, at least one source side recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording side recording apparatus A switcher for selectively connecting the switch, a data monitor for displaying an edit message, and an operator selecting and displaying a display on the data monitor for operating the source side recording / reproducing device, the recording side recording device and the switcher. Input means for providing an editing message, a central processing unit for giving an editing message, and a first intelligent connected to the input device for serial-parallel or parallel-serial conversion of the editing message in response to the editing message from the central processing unit and temporarily storing the edited message. Line control device,
An edit control device comprising: the first intelligent line control device and a plurality of second intelligent line control devices connected to the central processing unit for serial-parallel or parallel-serial conversion of edit messages and temporarily storing the edit messages; Of the intelligent line control device and each of the source side recording / reproducing device, the recording side recording device and the switcher, between which a plurality of edit messages are converted into a message format adapted to the request of each device. An audio / image editing device comprising a machine interface. 2. The voice / image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input means is a touch for instructing the central processing unit to issue an edit message corresponding to a contact position of the operator on the display screen. An audio / image editing apparatus comprising: an input unit. 3. The audio / image editing device according to claim 1, wherein the editing control device is configured to exchange serial data and parallel data between the source side recording / reproducing device and the recording side recording device. An audio / image editing apparatus, which performs conversion and controls so that a source side recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording side recording apparatus are selectively switched by a switcher according to an operator input from an input device. 4. The audio / image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device controlled by the operator further has at least one function for performing an editing function by a plurality of keys.
An audio / image editing device comprising two keyboards. 5. An audio / visual editing device according to claim 1, wherein the input device input by the operator further comprises at least one joystick for providing an additional editing function message. Characteristic voice /
Image editing device. 6. The audio / image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of machine interfaces is a first machine interface connected to at least one of the source side recording / reproducing apparatus. An audio / image editing device comprising: a second machine interface connected to the recording side recording device; and a third machine interface connected to the switcher. 7. The audio / image editing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the machine interfaces is a serial data processing device and edit data is requested from each device in serial format in accordance with the processing device. And a personality module for converting into a data format adapted to, the serial data processing device being connected to each of the second intelligent line signaling devices and the time code processing device, wherein the partnership module further includes the serial data processing device. An audio / image editing apparatus, which is connected to a source side recording / reproducing apparatus, a recording side recording apparatus, and a switcher. 8. The audio / image editing device according to claim 1, wherein the editing control device includes the first, second and third machine interfaces as a first intelligent line control device and the first intelligent line control device. A second intelligent line controller connected to the central processing unit, wherein the second intelligent line controller converts the editing data from serial to parallel or vice versa and stores the parallel data according to an instruction from the computer. An audio / image editing device characterized in that it operates as follows. 9. The audio / image editing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second intelligent line control devices includes a processor, a bus transceiver connected to the processor, and a bus transceiver. An audio / image editing device, comprising: a storage device connected to the processor and the bus transceiver; and an address comparator connected between the processor and the bus transceiver. 10. The audio / image editing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a transceiver that connects the processor to each of the machine interfaces and performs mutual conversion of edit data between serial format and parallel format. An audio / image editing device comprising: