JPH07114457A - Scenario generating system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a function of grouping and icon-processing plural objects and an environment of extracting/operating and confirming a scenario structure in a scenario generating system. CONSTITUTION:A group processing circuit 1d registers plural objects in scenario data as the group. An icon processing circuit 1e displays the group as icons onto a registration and edit screen. A structure extract circuit extracts the structure of scenario data as extracted data of a kind of objects and kinds of link destination objects. Remark information such as remarks in generating a scenario is added to data. When the operation is confirmed, discrepancy or undefinition of a scenario definition and medium data allocation is detected and pseudo data are outputted. Thus, a scenario is generated easily at a high speed through grouping and icon-processing and the method of scenario generation such as re-use of know-how of scenario generation is conducted efficiently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scenario editing method for describing a series of operations of media information in multimedia information processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Multimedia processing technology for processing and outputting various media such as voices, still images, moving images, and texts has attracted attention. Here, a scenario that defines the operation of each medium, for example, when and how to output each medium, has been described in the related art “JP-A-3-7117”.
It was created as in "9".

A conventional method for creating a scenario will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional scenario creating system. 2 is a multimedia information storage device, 3 is a display device, 4 is a mouse, 5 is a keyboard, 6 is a microphone, and 7 is a speaker. . A scenario creation device 8 directly inputs and outputs scenario data to create and change a scenario. Here, 10 indicates the scenario data displayed on the display device 3.

The scenario data 10 is an object 10
It is a set of a and indicates a screen and a motion (image, sound, moving image, etc.) or a group of screen / motion (a scene, chapter, etc.). The object 10a includes object data 10a1 indicating addresses such as images and sounds, and object link data 10L indicating a connection relationship between the objects. By the object link definition circuit 8b, the previous object name 10a of the object link data 10L
2. Next object name 10a3, branch 1 object name 10a4 to branch n object name 10an are defined. Next, the object definition circuit 8a retrieves the address of the image / sound stored in the multimedia information storage device 2 and defines it as the object data 10a1.

Next, the operation will be described. In the case of “create a new scenario” or “add an object”, first, a new object is created by menu selection or the like. Next, the above-mentioned object link data 10
The object name of the link destination is defined in L, and the address of the media data is defined in the object data 10a1. In the case of "changing the scenario", the object link data 10L and the object data 10a1 of the object corresponding to the changed portion are redefined.

In the above editing work, the object data 10a1 and the object link data 10L are displayed on the display device 3 through the graphic input / output circuit 8c, and the scenario data creator interactively uses the mouse 4 and the keyboard 5 to perform necessary items. Enter.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] Conventional scenario creation
Since the editing device is configured as described above, for example,
If you want to move or copy a scene that consists of multiple objects or a chapter that is a group of multiple scenes in a scenario,
It was necessary to repeat operations such as moving, copying, and redefining each object. Further, when editing a large-scale scenario, the editing screen may not be able to display the entire scenario data as shown in FIG. 3, and it is difficult to proceed with editing while understanding the entire scenario.

Further, it is necessary to confirm the operation of the created scenario after defining the link data and the object data corresponding to all the defined objects. Therefore, it was difficult to create a scenario by trial and error while leaving the undefined part. Further, when a new scenario is created, it is necessary to determine in advance what kind of object data should be created at a link destination of a certain object. Therefore, similarly to the above, it is difficult to create a scenario by trial and error while leaving the undefined portion.

It is an object of the present invention to efficiently and easily edit a scenario of a multimedia title.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a fragment of a scenario, that is, a "group" composed of a plurality of objects,
For example, it is defined by grouping by scenes, chapters, etc. Further, the grouped objects are displayed as one icon.

In addition, object data and object link data of each object, concrete definitions such as "image file 3" and "audio object 1", and data or object types such as "image" and "audio object" are shown. It is converted to abstract data and stored in the storage device as a scenario structure. Here, an area for describing remark information such as a memo or the like is added to each data of the object. Then, the structure of the stored scenario is edited by copying, moving, deleting, combining, etc. to create a new scenario structure. Also, when confirming the scenario operation,
The undefined portion is detected by user selection and pseudo data is output.

[0013]

According to the present invention, since a "group" composed of a plurality of objects is defined by grouping, it is possible to move or
Editing work such as copying can be performed efficiently. Also, by displaying the grouped objects as one icon, it is possible to display and edit large-scale scenario data. Moreover, since the structure of the scenario is extracted, the know-how of existing multimedia title creation can be extracted and saved.

Further, since the structure of the scenario is edited at the time of creating the scenario, it is possible to partially save the structure (partition), and by connecting them, a new scenario structure can be efficiently obtained. In addition, since the inconsistency of the attributes of objects and links is detected and pseudo data is output, it is possible to create a scenario from an arbitrary location by trial and error without considering the structure of the scenario and the order in which the data is created. Become.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a "lump" consisting of multiple objects
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a scenario creating system of the present invention, in which 1 is a scenario creating device, 2 is a multimedia information storage device, 3 is a display device, 4 is a mouse, 5 is a keyboard, 6 is a microphone, and 7 is a device. Is a speaker. FIG. 3 is an example of the scenario edit screen, and the scenario data 10 is the object 10
a is a set of screens and actions (images, sounds,
Indicates a group of screens / motions (scenes, chapters, etc.). The object 10a includes object data 10a1 indicating addresses such as images and sounds, and object link data 10 indicating a connection relationship between objects.
It consists of L. The object link data 10L includes the previous object name 10a2, the next object name 10a3, and the branch 1 defined by the object link definition circuit 1b.
Object name 10a4 to branch n object name 10a
It consists of n.

FIG. 5 shows a result screen of grouping by this function, 20 is scenario data, and group 21 is a grouped object group. The grouping procedure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, "Group" by the editing operation menu screen
Item is selected (101). Therefore, the main display screen is switched to the scenario edit screen and the scenario data 10 is displayed. Then, the objects to be grouped are selected with the mouse 4 or the like (102). Here, the selected object can be visually identified as being in the selected state (eg, changing the background color of the object display part).
Is displayed. It is also possible to specify a group already defined as a grouping target. As a result of the grouping performed by the grouping circuit 1d, "grouped" like the group 21 is displayed in a visually recognizable format. Also, here, the group 21 is stored in the multimedia information storage device 2 with a name (group name) added by user selection (103, 10).
4). Further, decomposition of a group into objects or groups as constituent elements, editing of a group, and the like are realized by menu selection and the like as in the case of “grouping”.

By using this function, a plurality of objects can be grouped, editing operations such as moving and copying can be efficiently performed at one time, and partial reuse of existing scenarios can be easily performed.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the procedure for iconizing a group.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Here, FIG. 7 shows an iconized result screen by this function, 30 is scenario data, and 31 is an iconized group 21. First, the item "iconified" is selected on the edit operation menu screen (201). Therefore, the main display screen is switched to the scenario edit screen and the scenario data 20 is displayed. Then, the grouping to be iconified is selected with the mouse 4 or the like (202). Here, the selected group is in a format in which it can be visually identified that it is in the selected state (eg, changing the background color of the group display portion).
Is displayed. Then, an icon to be displayed as a substitute for the group is designated (203). Here, for example, a character string / image or the like is used as the icon, which is selected from the icon character string input screen and the icon image selection screen, respectively. As a result, the group 21 in the scenario data 20
Is converted and displayed as an icon 31 in the scenario data 30 by the iconizing circuit 1e. Further, the display of the iconic group constituent elements is realized by a combination of menu selection and designation with the mouse 4. Furthermore, when an object group that is not grouped is selected as an iconification target, the grouping operation is automatically performed and the iconification operation is performed.

By using this function, the display of scenario data can be easily simplified, and when editing a large-scale scenario data, the editing work can be performed while grasping the entire scenario data. it can.

Next, the procedure of scenario structure extraction will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, FIG. 9 shows the scenario structure and the scenario edit screen extracted by this function. First, the item "scenario structure extraction" is selected on the editing operation menu screen (301). Therefore, the main display screen is switched to the scenario edit screen, and the scenario data 10, 20, or 30 is displayed. And
The target (object, group, icon, scenario data, etc.) for extracting the structure is designated by the mouse 4 or the like (30
2). Here, the selected target is displayed in a format in which the selected state can be visually identified (such as changing the background color of the display portion). Then, the type of the object data (image, sound, chapter, scene) is extracted by the data type extraction unit 1f1 in the structure extraction circuit 1f and displayed as the object structure 41 (303). Further, the type of object link data (type of link destination object) is extracted by the link data extraction unit 1f2 and displayed as the link structure 42, 43 or 44 (30
4). In addition, the remark information adding unit 1f3 memo-remarks the object information and the link structure with the remark information 45, 4.
Add 6, 47 or 48 (305). Here, the remark information can be input by the user, and can be used as a guideline when editing the scenario such as description of notes, and the scenario can be efficiently created.

By using this function, the scenario creator can extract a highly reusable scenario structure that is independent of the media data handled in the existing scenario but retains the know-how of the scenario configuration. . Further, a new scenario can be efficiently created by partially storing the scenario structure, combining a plurality of scenario structures, and the like.

Next, the undefined detection / pseudo data addition function at the time of confirming the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, FIG. 11 shows a display screen on which an undefined portion of object data or object link data is detected by this function, and pseudo data is added at the time of operation confirmation. First, from the editing operation menu screen,
The item of "operation check" is selected (401). Here, the scenario currently displayed on the screen is targeted for operation confirmation. Then, the undefined detection unit 1g1 detects an undefined portion of the object data or the object link data, or a contradiction between the object link data and the object data, that is, a contradiction between the type of data pointed to by the link source and the type of link destination data (402). ). Here, when each data is undefined or has a contradiction, the user is inquired as to whether or not the pseudo data should be supplemented during operation (403). If "add pseudo data" is selected, the pseudo data addition unit 1g2 adds pseudo data corresponding to the type of data of the undefined portion as object data (404) and confirms the operation (40).
5). As for the inconsistent portion, the user is asked which of the object link data and the object data to select, and when the object data becomes undefined as a result, pseudo data is added to confirm the operation. Here, instead of adding pseudo data, scenario data can be debugged by allocating data while detecting an undefined or inconsistent portion.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to display and display scenario data by grouping and defining objects constituting a scenario and displaying them as icons.
Make editing efficient.

Further, by extracting and editing the structure of the scenario, the know-how of scenario creation is extracted and saved, and the labor required for creating a new scenario is reduced. Also, when checking the operation, it detects the inconsistency of the attributes of objects and links and outputs pseudo data, so you can create a scenario from any place by trial and error without considering the structure of the scenario and the order of creating the data. It becomes possible to do.

[0025]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a scenario creating system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a scenario creating system in a conventional method.

FIG. 3 is an example of a scenario edit screen.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for grouping a plurality of objects in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a result screen of grouping.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for converting a group into an icon.

FIG. 7 is an example of a result screen of iconization.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of scenario structure extraction.

FIG. 9 is an example of a result screen of scenario structure extraction.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a function of outputting pseudo data when confirming an operation.

FIG. 11 is an example of an operation confirmation result screen when pseudo data is output.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Scenario creation device, 1a ... Object definition circuit, 1b ... Object link definition circuit, 1c ... Graphic input / output circuit, 1d ... Grouping circuit, 1e ... Iconization circuit, 1f ...
Structure extraction circuit, 1f1, data type extraction unit, 1f2, link data extraction unit, 1f
3. Remark information addition unit, 1g ... Pseudo data addition circuit,
1g1 / undefined detection unit, 1g2 / pseudo data addition unit, 2 ... multimedia information storage device, 3 ... display device, 4 ... mouse, 5 ... keyboard, 6 ...
・ Microphone, 7 ... speaker, 8
... Conventional scenario creating device, 8a ... Object definition circuit, 8b ... Object link definition circuit, 8c ... Graphic input / output circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A scenario creating system in which a scenario creating device for creating a scenario describing a series of operations of multimedia information is combined with a multimedia information storage device, a display device, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a speaker. A scenario creating apparatus having object data indicating a file name or address of a medium and object link data indicating an object linked from the object definition circuit, an object defining circuit defining the object data, and an object defining the object link data. Multiple objects that compose a scenario with a graphic input / output circuit that transmits the data input by the link definition circuit, mouse or keyboard, etc. to each circuit and outputs the result as a graphic to the display device. Registered as a new editing unit, and stored, the scenario creation system, comprising a grouping circuit for displaying a group by said graphic input-output circuit. 2. When displaying a group registered by the grouping circuit according to claim 1 on a display device, a graphic corresponding to the group is registered and displayed by the graphic input / output circuit on the display device. Claim 1 having an icon circuit
Scenario creation system described in section. 3. A scenario creating system in which a scenario creating device for creating a scenario describing a series of operations of multimedia information is combined with a multimedia information storage device, a display device, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a speaker. A scenario creating apparatus having object data indicating a file name or address of a medium and object link data indicating an object linked from the object definition circuit, an object defining circuit defining the object data, and an object defining the object link data. It has a link definition circuit, a graphic input / output circuit that transmits data input by a mouse or keyboard, etc. to each circuit and outputs the result as a graphic to a display device. A scenario including an object composed of data (object link data), and the scenario structure has the attributes of media data, the attributes of the media data extracted by the data type extraction unit, and the media data of the link destination extracted by the link data extraction unit. And a structure extraction circuit having an extraction function, which is composed of an abstract object composed of 4. A scenario creating system in which a scenario creating device for creating a scenario describing a series of operations of multimedia information is combined with a multimedia information storage device, a display device, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a speaker. A scenario creating apparatus having object data indicating a file name or address of a medium and object link data indicating an object linked from the object definition circuit, an object defining circuit defining the object data, and an object defining the object link data. Object data that composes a scenario that has a graphic input / output circuit that transmits the data input by the link definition circuit, mouse or keyboard, etc. to each circuit and outputs the result as a graphic to the display device. Scenario creating system wherein the others have Remark information adding unit for adding the remarks information annotation such as object link data. 5. A scenario creating system in which a scenario creating device for creating a scenario describing a series of operations of multimedia information is combined with a multimedia information storage device, a display device, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a speaker. A scenario creating apparatus having object data indicating a file name or address of a medium and object link data indicating an object linked from the object definition circuit, an object defining circuit defining the object data, and an object defining the object link data. Object data that composes a scenario that has a graphic input / output circuit that transmits the data input by the link definition circuit, mouse or keyboard, etc. to each circuit and outputs the result as a graphic to the display device. A scenario characterized by having a pseudo data addition circuit including an undefined detection unit for detecting contradiction or undefinition of object link data and a pseudo data addition unit for outputting pseudo data for correcting the contradiction or undefinition during operation. Creation system. 6. A scenario extracting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a structure extracting circuit for extracting a structure of a scenario according to claim 3 or claim 4 is used. A scenario creating system comprising at least one of the remark information adding unit described above and the pseudo data adding circuit according to claim 5. 7. In the scenario creating system according to claim 3, at least the remark information adding section according to claim 4 or the pseudo data adding circuit according to claim 5. A scenario creation system characterized by having one. 8. A scenario creating system according to claim 4, wherein the scenario creating system has a pseudo data adding circuit according to claim 5.