Abstract:
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for frame-transition effects, frame-specific access and reverse play in digitally compressed motion video, such video complying with the MPEG-1 standard. Transitions between two frames of video are effectuated by selecting a FROM frame and a TO frame, generating a stream of bidirectionally dependent duplicator frames which vary in their motion vector references to the FROM frame and the TO frame according to a predefined pattern, placing the FROM frame in the past buffer of a decoder, placing the TO frame in the future frame of a decoder, feeding the stream of duplicator frames to the decoder, causing the duplicator frames to be displayed, and beginning normal playback of the video stream containing the TO frame at the TO frame position. Frame-specific access is accomplished by determining the location of the target frame, determining the type of the target frame, identifying the reference frames to which the target frame directly and indirectly refers, parsing the reference frames with a decoder while the decorder's video display is suppressed, enabling the video display, and beginning normal decoder playback at the target frame location in said video bitstream. Reverse play is accomplished by employing this process for successive target frames where each target frame chosen immediately precedes the previous target frame in display order.
Abstract:
A navigable multimedia system displaying a navigable motion video (16) based representation of an environment having paths, wherein at least one clip is associated with each path, and allowing for spontaneous navigation of the paths in response to user input. The system provides for seamless transition from a video clip of one path to one of an intersecting path and from one field of view along a path to another field of view on that path. The system provides for hotspots associated with features in the environment and bitmap representations of objects to be placed in receptacles associated with certain portions of the environment wherein said hotspots and receptacles remain associated with environmental features and wherein said objects appear in proper perspective regardless of viewer position. A method for creating a navigable motion video environment comprising the steps of capturing (13) in video clips having optical properties an environment field of view along natural paths through the environment, capturing M-view sprites and other elements and correlating with map clips, adding and editing hotspots, receptacles, and other multimedia production components and binding into final production.