JP2003309805A - Contents production method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents production method for editing multimedia contents comprising video, audio, and text data or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In the contents production method employing a server system 2 having an editing apparatus 26 for editing data and a client system 3 for utilizing the server system, which are connected to a communication network 1, the client system 3 transmits raw data to the server system 2, the server system 2 edits the raw data by selecting a prescribed menu item among edit selection menu items, which have been provided to the client system 3 from the server system 2 through the communication network 1, by means of the editing apparatus 26, uses a format section 22 to apply format processing to the edited final data and transmits the final data to the client system 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content production method for producing and editing multimedia content including data such as video, audio and text.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional content production system, editing or authoring software is installed in a computer system (PC, WS), and sometimes an expansion board for increasing the processing speed is added to configure the system. Was. In addition, as a system configuration, a method has been adopted in which one computer system performs all content creation work, or a plurality of computer systems are arranged on a local network.

[0003] A multimedia content providing system for performing processing via this network
No. 48993), and an example of this will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. FIG. 13 shows the configuration of this conventional multimedia content providing system. Further, FIG. 14 is a flow of a content processing operation of the multimedia content providing system of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is a flow of a content medium providing process of the multimedia content providing system of FIG. 13, and FIG. 16 is a content medium providing process of FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of content medium creation processing.

The multimedia content providing system shown in FIG. 13 includes a service provider 71 and a client 72, which are connected to each other by the Internet NET. The service provider 71 operates this multimedia content providing system to provide multimedia content in the form of a copy of a content recording medium such as a CD.

The client 72 is a general consumer or the like, uses this multimedia content providing system to order a recording medium on which desired multimedia content is recorded, and provides the recording medium on which the multimedia content is recorded. Is received from the service provider 71.
Internet NET builds WWW.

The service provider 71 uses the web server 8
1, an editing processing system 82, a medium creating system 83, and a delivery system 84. On the other hand, the client 72 includes a client terminal (PC) 91, a camera (still) 92, a video camera 93, a music recording medium 94, a video recording medium 95, and an information recording medium 96.

Web server 81 of service provider 71
Builds web pages accessible via WWW on the Internet NET. A web page constructed by the web server 81 can create and order multimedia contents by interacting with the client 72 via the Internet NET.

In this web page, the client 72 selects a content template and content material prepared by the web server 81 as desired by an interaction (target operation), and the client 72 as desired.
By uploading data such as content material owned by, and placing the selected or uploaded material at the desired position in the multimedia content,
Create multimedia content.

In this web page, the client 72
However, if the material cannot be selected and arranged by itself or is complicated, it is possible to select (set) only the required condition and let the service provider 71 select and arrange the material. Further, the web server 81 fetches the multimedia content information created and ordered by the web page.

The editing processing system 82 includes a web server 8
Based on the multimedia content information taken in by 1, the multimedia content according to the order and the incidental conditions of the client 72 is edited into a recording form on a recording medium.

The editing processing system 82 performs necessary editing when the given information form can be converted into a form suitable for recording on a recording medium or can be recorded in a more preferable form. This editing processing system 82
It may be operated by an operator who specializes in editing multimedia contents.

The medium creating system 83 stores the multimedia contents edited by the editing processing system 82.
For example, it is recorded on a predetermined recording medium such as a CD-R, and a copy of the CD or the like is manufactured and packaged as a multimedia content medium in a quantity and form according to the order of the client 72. The delivery system 84 delivers and delivers the multimedia content medium created by the medium creation system 83 to the number and the destination of the order of the client 72 by courier or the like.

The client terminal of the client 72 (P
C) 91 is a terminal that can access the WWW by connecting to the Internet NET, such as a PC. The camera (still) 92 is a digital camera or the like, and supplies a still picture as electronic information to the client terminal 91.

The video camera 93 is a digital video camera or the like, which supplies a moving image to the client terminal 91 as electronic information, and the music recording medium 94 is a CD or the like, and the music information is electronic information to the client terminal 91. Supply.

The video recording medium 95 is a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc (registered trademark)) or the like, and supplies video information such as a movie to the client terminal 91 as electronic information, and the information recording medium 96 includes character information and the like. Other information is supplied to the client terminal 91 as electronic information.

Further, in order to supply the image information as electronic information to the client terminal 91, an image scanner (not shown) or an OCR (optical character recognition) program for reading character information from the image information including a character image is also used. Good.

The operator of the client 72 operates the client terminal 91 to access the web page constructed by the web server 81 of the service provider 71 and select the multimedia content template and material as desired, Information is uploaded by the camera (still) 92, the video camera 93, the music recording medium 94, the video recording medium 95, the information recording medium 96, and the like.

Further, the operator arranges the material on the web page and operates the form through the client terminal 91 to create desired multimedia contents, and further, the provision form, the number and the destination etc. Set desired conditions as needed and order.

Next, the operation of the multimedia content providing system of FIG. 13 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 14 to 16. The order registration operation of the content on the web page is performed according to the content processing shown in FIG.

When content processing is started by a content creation request on a web page, the service provider 71 specifies on the web page whether or not to use a ready-made template prepared in advance (step S111), and the ready-made template is used. In this case, the template is selected / modified (step S112).

Next, the service provider 71 designates on the web page whether or not to use the ready-made material prepared in advance (step S113). When using the ready-made material, the ready-made material is selected / placed ( Step S114). And
It is determined whether the content is completed (step S11
5) If the content is not completed, step S1
Return to 13.

In step S113, when the original material owned by the client 72 is used without using the ready-made material, the material is input and uploaded, and then it is arranged at a desired position in the content. (Step S116), the process proceeds to step S115.

If the content is completed in step S115, the completed content is registered as an order on the web page (step S11).
7), the process ends. If no ready-made template is used in step S111, step S112 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S113.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the flow of the content medium providing process in the service provider 71. When the content is registered and ordered according to the flow of processing in FIG. 15, the web server 81 determines whether the registered content is normal (step S12).
1) If it is normal, the content editing process is executed by the editing processing system 82 (step S122).

In the content editing process, based on the multimedia content information fetched by the web server 81, the multimedia content according to the order and incidental conditions of the client 72 is edited into a recording form on a recording medium.

In this content editing process, the given information form is converted into a form suitable for recording on a recording medium,
If it is considered possible to record in a more preferable form, make necessary edits.

This content editing process may be operated by a designer or operator who specializes in editing multimedia contents. When the content editing process is completed,
The content medium creating process is executed by the medium creating system 83 (step S123).

In the content medium creation processing, the multimedia content edited by the editing processing system 82 is recorded on a predetermined recording medium such as a CD-R, and a copy of the CD or the like is placed on the order of the client 72. It is manufactured and packaged as a multimedia content medium in a quantity and form according to it.

When the content medium production process is completed, the completed system delivery process is executed by the delivery system 84 (step S124), and the process is terminated. In the completed medium delivery process, the multimedia content medium produced by the medium producing system 83 is delivered (delivered) by courier or the like at the number and destination according to the order of the client 72.

If it is determined in step S121 that the content is not normal, the web server 81 sends an abnormality notice to the client 72 to prompt re-execution of the order operation (step S125).
The process ends.

FIG. 16 shows a detailed flowchart of the content medium production processing by the medium production system 83. When the content medium creation processing is started, first, required recording information preprocessing is performed on the content information to be recorded (step S131), and the information is written to a recording medium such as a CD-R as a master disc. (Step S132).

The information writing in step S132 is continued until the writing is completed (step S133), and when the writing is completed, the content medium based on the obtained master is created and the required number of copies are made (step S13).
4).

Then, it is checked whether or not the medium shape is designated (step S135), and if it is designated, the shape is molded (step S136), and the completed content medium is packaged (step S137) and processed. To finish.

When it is determined in step S135 that the shape is not designated, step S136 is skipped and the process jumps to step S137. In this way, with a simple operation, it is possible to order, create, and deliver a medium in which multimedia contents that meet the desired conditions of the client 2 are recorded.

[0035]

However, in the conventional content production system, the content data cannot be edited in accordance with the client's intention with respect to the content data, and the requested material data becomes what kind of edited data. Since it is not possible to confirm whether or not it is, the final confirmation will be after the item arrives, and the intermediate confirmation cannot be done, so there is a problem that even if it is not working well it can not be corrected.

Since the edited data is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R and delivered to the number and the destination according to the order by courier or the like, the data is edited and then sent to the client by courier or the like. There is a problem that it takes time to arrive and you cannot receive it immediately.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in particular, the latest technology, equipment, and software are always used without the content creator performing complicated maintenance of software and hardware. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a content production method that enables content production.

[0038]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a communication network 1
A server system 2 having an editing device 26 for editing data and a server data storage unit 25, a display device 32, a client data storage unit 33, and a storage device 36.
In a content production method using a content production system in which the client system 3 having the above is arranged, a work operation step for displaying a work operation screen for instructing a work operation of the server system on the display device 32 and selecting the work operation. S2, a material transfer processing step S4 for fetching material data from the client data storage section 33 into the server data storage section 25, an edit processing step S6 for editing the material data into edit data by the editing device 26, and The format processing step S10 of converting the format of the edit data by the format unit 22 of the server system so as to match the format of the recording medium in the storage device 36 selected on the work operation screen, and the format-processed edit data. Said And a transfer processing step S12 for transferring to the client data storage unit 33. The invention according to claim 2 provides the content creating method according to claim 1, A content production method comprising a confirmation processing step S8 for transferring data in the middle of editing and / or editing completed data in the server system to the client system to confirm the processing performance of the data. Is provided.

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the content production method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic system configuration of a content production system to which the content production method of the present invention is applied.

A server system 2 having an editing / authoring environment and a client system 3 which is a working environment of a user who uses the server system 2 have a common communication network 1
It is connected to the. When a user creates content, the communication line 4 and the communication line 5 are used to exchange data with the server system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed block configuration of the server system 2 for providing the editing / authoring environment shown in FIG. The server system 2 includes a computer system 2A including a communication control unit 21, a formatting unit 22, a UI control unit 23, and an edit processing unit 24,
It is composed of a server data storage unit 25 and a peripheral device 2B including an editing device (editing device) 26.

The communication control unit 21 is connected to the communication network 1 via the communication line 4 and exchanges material data, content data, device control signals with the client system 3 and performs personal authentication.

The UI control unit 23 includes editing equipment 26 such as an editing device and an authoring device in the server system 2.
The client system 3 is provided with a GUI that allows the user to select and control.

The edit processing unit 24 stores the material in the server data storage unit 25 based on the control signal from the user, edits the material in the server data storage unit 25 using the editing equipment 26, and edits the data. Processing such as compression / expansion of the.

The format unit 22 is supplied from the edit processing unit 24 with the created edit data and converts it into a recording format specific to the recording medium designated by the user so as to match the recording medium of the user's storage device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed block configuration of the client system 3 on the user side shown in FIG. The client system 3 includes a computer system 3A including a communication control unit 31, a display device (display) 32, a client data storage unit 33, a reproduction processing unit 34, and a speaker 37, a material loading device 35, and an external storage device 36. It is composed of the peripheral device 3B.

The communication control unit 31 is connected to the communication network 1 via the communication line 5 and exchanges material data, content data, device control signals and personal authentication with the server system 2.

The client data storage unit 33 temporarily fetches the material data to be sent to the server system 2 from the material fetching device 35 and stores it, or stores the content created by the server system 2 in the external storage device 36. To be stored temporarily.

The reproduction processing unit 34 performs a reproduction process for reproducing the data stored in the client data storage unit 33 and displays an image of the processed data.
32 or to the speaker 37 that outputs the sound of the processed data. On the display device 32, contents and materials are displayed, or an operation screen of a computer, a work operation screen of editing equipment, and the like are displayed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an embodiment of a processing procedure in the case of creating general contents by the contents creating method of the present invention. Figure 4
A general content production work operation will be sequentially described. First, the user attempts a connection from his client system 3 to use the server system 2.

In the personal authentication step S1, authentication is performed using the user name and password by the communication means arranged between the content production environment provider and the user (personal authentication step S1). Thereafter, the work operation screen is transferred from the UI control unit 23 of the server system 2 through the communication network 1, and the work operation screen is displayed on the display device 32 of the client system 3.

The user selects which work operation is to be performed from the contents of the work operation screen shown on this display screen (work selection step S2). The work that can be selected includes material transfer S3 for material transfer, edit S5 for editing, confirmation S7 for confirmation, format S9, transfer S11 for transferring edit data, and external recording S13 for external recording.

The previously used material data already exists in the server data storage unit 25 of the server system 2 and unless the content is produced by reusing it, the material is used when a new content is produced. Data transfer processing is performed (material transfer processing step S4).

This is because the material data is fetched from the material fetching device 35 to the client data storage unit 33, the fetched material is processed by the reproduction processing unit 34 if necessary, and confirmed by the display device 32 such as a video monitor or the speaker 37. Then, the process of transferring to the server data storage unit 25 of the server system 2 via the communication control unit 31 is performed.

In this way, all the materials necessary for content production are stored in the server data storage unit 2 of the server system 2.
Store in 5. At this time, it is also possible to select the material that the user wants to use from the materials prepared in advance on the server system 2 side and store it in the server data storage unit 25.

Next, edit processing step S6 for performing edit processing
(Editing step S6). The material data stored in the server data storage unit 25 of the server system 2 is edited as necessary.

At this time, the work operation screen of the editing equipment 26 sent from the UI control unit 23 of the server system 2 is displayed on the display device 32 of the client system 3, and the operation screen of the editing equipment 26 is separated by the user's operation on the work operation screen. It is possible to remotely operate the editing equipment 26 such as the editing device and the authoring device of the server system 2 located in a different place. The edited data is stored in the server data storage unit 25 of the server system 2.

Next, a specific work operation on the work operation screen will be described with reference to FIGS. An example of the edit selection menu screen, which is the work operation screen, is shown in FIG. On the edit selection menu screen 10, a video editing menu 101, a still image editing menu 102, and an audio editing menu 10
From 3 and the text edit menu 104, which work operation is selected.

For example, when the video editing menu 101 is selected, the screen of the video editing menu 101 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Which of the video rearrangement menu 101A, the video effect menu 101B, the encode menu 101C, and the format conversion menu 101D shown in this screen is to be selected is selected.

Here, for example, when the encode menu 101C is selected, the encode menu screen 101C as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. M shown on this screen
PEG1 Menu 101C1, MPEG2 Menu 101C
2, MPEG4 menu 101C3, and DV menu 10
In 1C4, which menu format is used to perform compression encoding work is selected.

For example, when the MPEG2 menu 101C2 is selected, the MPEG2 encode menu screen 101C2 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. As described above, various parameters (compression rate, picture configuration, and video size) are set on this screen, and then MP
When "encoding start" of the EG2 menu 101C2 is selected, the encoding is started in the server system 2.

Next, for example, when the voice edit menu 103 is selected on the edit selection menu screen 10 of FIG.
The voice editing menu screen 103 is displayed. On this screen, one of the audio rearranging menu 103A, the switching effect menu 103B, the encoding menu 103C, and the format conversion menu 103D is selected.

Here, for example, when the encode encode menu 103C is selected, the encode menu screen 103C shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. On this screen, AA
C menu 103C1, AC-3 menu 103C2, MP
From among the three menus 103C3 and the MPEG1-Layer2 menu 103C4, which format is used for compression encoding work is selected.

Here, for example, when the AAC menu 103C1 is selected, the AAC encode menu screen 103C1 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. As described above, various parameters are set on this screen, and then AAC
When "Start Encoding" in the menu 103C1 is selected, the server system 2 starts encoding. In this way, a hierarchical screen is displayed on the user side, and the user can operate it to perform editing work.

The data which is being edited or the data which has been completely edited can be reproduced by the client system 3 to check the quality. This work is performed in the confirmation processing step S8.

The data stored in the server data storage unit 25 of the server system 2 is transferred to the data storage unit 33 of the client system 3, and is reproduced and confirmed by the display device 32 or the speaker 37 while being processed by the reproduction processing unit 34.

In this case, in order to check the quality after editing, the data in the server data storage unit 25 must be sent to the client system 3 unprocessed. However, if it is a simple operation check, the quality is sacrificed and the amount of data is sacrificed. A small amount of data may be transferred and confirmed using a compression method that reduces

After the final confirmation is completed, the edit data is formatted. In order to store in the recording medium in the external storage device 36, it is necessary to perform format conversion so as to match the format peculiar to the recording medium.

For that purpose, it is displayed on the display device 32,
From the format processing screen 20 shown in FIG. 12,
Select a format that matches the recording medium. For example, in the format processing screen 20, the VideoCD (2
01), DVD (202), D-VHS (203), and other standard A (204) formats, a desired DVD format 202 that matches the recording medium is selected. The part that performs this processing is the format processing step S10 (format processing step S10).

The contents after the formatting process are transferred to the client system 3 in the work transfer process (transfer process) S12.
The data is transferred to the data storage unit 33, and the final reproduction confirmation is performed using the reproduction processing unit 34, the display device 32, and the speaker 37.
If there is no problem in the final confirmation, the external storage device 3 is used as necessary.
It is recorded and stored in the recording medium in 6.

That is, the content production method of the present invention comprises a server system for constructing an editing and authoring environment on a communication network and providing it to the user, and a client system on the user side for producing content using this server system. A user creates content by arranging it and exchanging data between this server system and client system.

In this method, the user uses the server system by using the personal authentication means according to the contract between the provider of the server system having the editing and authoring environment and the user who actually creates the content.
The provider who operates the server system maintains the equipment and software in the server system and provides the latest content production environment.

[0073]

As described above, according to the content production method of the present invention, the content producer is placed on the communication network without purchasing expensive software or peripheral equipment or performing complicated maintenance. By using the latest software and editing equipment on the client side, editing, processing, and intermediate checks are performed remotely.
It is possible to create multimedia contents that have been edited and processed as desired.

According to the content production method of the present invention, the client side is allowed to edit the material data, and the edited data is formatted so as to match the format of the recording medium in the external storage device. The edited data can be obtained immediately after being edited and formatted via the communication network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic block configuration of a content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal block configuration of a server system which is one of the elements constituting the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal block configuration of a client system which is one of the elements constituting the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an example of a processing procedure in the case of creating general content by the content creation method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an edit selection screen for remotely operating editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a video editing screen in an editing selection screen for remotely controlling editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an encode screen in an edit selection screen for remotely operating editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an MPEG in an edit selection screen for remotely operating the editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.
It is the figure which showed one Example of the 2 encoding screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a voice edit screen in an edit selection menu screen for remotely operating the editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an encode screen in an edit selection menu screen for remotely operating the editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an AAC encode screen in an edit selection menu screen for remotely operating the editing equipment used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a format processing menu screen for remotely operating a server system used in the content production method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional multimedia content providing system.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a flow of content processing operation in a conventional multimedia content providing system.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a content medium providing process in a conventional multimedia content providing system.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a content medium creating process in a conventional content medium providing process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication network 2 server system 2A, 3A computer system 2B, 3B peripheral equipment 3 client system 4,5 communication lines 10 Edit selection menu 20 Format processing menu 21 Communication control unit 22 Format section 23 UI control unit 24 Editing processor 25 Server data storage (data storage) 26 Editing Equipment (Editing Equipment) 31 Communication control unit 32 Display (Display) 33 Client data storage unit (data storage unit) 34 Reproduction processing unit 35 Material loading device 36 External storage device (storage device) 101 Video Editing Menu 101A Video sorting menu 101B Video Effect Menu 101C Encoding selection menu 101C1 AAC Menu 101C2 AC-3 Menu 101C3 MP3 menu 101C4 MPEG1-Layer2 menu 101D format conversion menu 102 Still image editing menu 103 Voice editing menu 103A Voice sorting menu 103B Switching effect menu 103C encode menu 103D format conversion menu 103C1 AAC menu 103C2 AC-3 menu 103C3 MP3 menu 103C4 MPEG1-Layer2 menu 104 Text editing menu 201 Video CD menu 202 DVD menu 203 D-VHS Menu 204 Other Standard A Menu

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/173 610 H04N 5/91 N 640 L

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A content production system in which an editing device for editing data and a server system having a server data storage unit, and a client system having a display device, a client data storage unit, and a storage device are arranged on a communication network. In the content production method using, a work operation step of displaying a work operation screen for instructing a work operation of the server system on the display device and selecting the work operation, the client data storage unit to the server data storage unit A material transfer processing step of fetching the material data into the recording medium, an editing processing step of editing the material data into editing data by the editing device, and a format of the recording medium in the storage device selected on the work operation screen The edited data on the server system. A content production method, comprising: a format processing step of converting a format in a system format section; and a transfer processing step of transferring the format-processed edited data to the client data storage section. 2. The content production method according to claim 1, wherein data being edited in the server system and / or
Alternatively, there is provided a content production method comprising a confirmation processing step of transmitting the data of editing completion to the client system and confirming the processing performance of the data.