Video editing method and device for editing a video project

A video editing method for editing a video project is for user to edit video clips and transition effects. The method firstly provides a timeline and multiple tracks along the timeline. Then the video clips and transition effects are inserted into the corresponding tracks. Next, the timeline is cut into multiple segments so that each of the segments corresponds to distinguishable combination of the video clips and the transition effects. And for each of the segments, the invention displays each of the tracks with a limited number of thumbnails derived from the corresponding video clips, or with an icon indicating the corresponding transition effect. This method enables users to edit video projects on multi-tracks without the need to change the unit of timeline often.

This application incorporates by reference of Taiwan application Serial No. 90115858, Filed Jun. 28, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device and a method of editing video projects, and more particularly, to a video editing device and method for editing video projects concerned with the character of editing methods of timeline and storyboard.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past, film-clip persons must use many projectors and clipping facilities to edit several tapes into a video program. Due to the improvement of modern technology, film-clip persons are able to record tape into a memory device of a computer. And by directly using a digital camcorder to record digital film, they can make a video program via a computer video editing software. Thus, it is more convenient and can achieve better effect of film by using computers instead of hardware facilities to edit video programs

Among the present editing software, there is a method of storyboard to edit video programs. Please refer toFIG. 1. An editing user arranges order of a video clip101, a video clip103, a video clip105and a video clip107. Moreover, the user inserts a transition effect111between the video clip101and the video clip103, and inserts a transition effect113between the video clip105and the video clip107separately. And the transition effect is for showing special transition effect when there happens transition between two video clips. The effect, for example, is achieved by using the method of overlapping two video clips, changing films from top to down and so on.

However, there is a disadvantage to edit video programs by the method of storyboard: only two tracks of video clip and one transition effect can be edited. There is no multi-track editing. The system of editing video program, the method of displaying timeline, can ameliorate the above problem. Please refer toFIG. 2. It shows the illustration of editing scenes of video programs by the method of timeline. A screen201inFIG. 2consists of a timeline203and includes multiple tracks: a video track VA, a transition track F/X, a video track VB, an overlay track V1, an overlay track V2, and so on. These tacks are for performing video clips, transition effects, and video clips with an overlay option (such as title information, footnotes, and so on). And the direction of these tracks is along the direction of timeline203. General speaking, the transition effect of video clips is edited on the transition track F/X. AtFIG. 2, it is known that users add a video clip205, a video clip208, a video clip with an overlay option209, a video clip with an overlay option211, a video clip with an overlay option213, and a transition effect207, into the above mentioned tracks and proceed to edit these clips.

As the above mention, multi-track editing can be achieved by editing video programs with the method of timeline. And that causes video program full of more variable effects. However, there is a disadvantage within this method. Please refer toFIG. 3. AtFIG. 3, since the length of a video clip305is 40 minutes, a transition effect303, and a video clip with an overlay option309will be shrunk and users cannot easily select and edit them by a mouse when displaying all videos in a full screen. At this moment, users have to decrease the unit of the timeline203in order to proceed clicking and selecting editing shorter length of video clips, transition effects, or video clips with an overlay option. Therefore, it is known that a user needs to often change the unit of a timeline203to edit video programs when there is a long-time video clip in a video program. It is very inconvenient for a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a video editing device and method for editing a video project for users to proceed multi-track video program editing. When the length of video clips or transition effect differs widely, users can edit the shorter transition effects or video clips without the need to change the unit of timeline often.

It is an object of the invention to provide a video editing method and device for editing a video project. The video project includes a plurality of video clips and transition effects allocated between adjacent video clips. The invention firstly provides a timeline and multiple tracks along the timeline. Then video clips and transition effects are inserted into the corresponding tracks. Next, the timeline is cut into a plurality of segments so that each of the segments corresponds to a distinguishable combination of the video clips and the transition effects. Next, for each of the segments, the invention displays each of the tracks with a limited number of thumbnails derived from the corresponding video clips, or with an icon indicating the corresponding transition effect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A video editing device and method disclosed in the invention are for editing a video project. The video project includes several video clips and transition effects allocated between clips. And the transition effect can be the special video effect between adjacent clips when transmitting. Wherein, at least one of the video clips of the video project includes an overlay attribute, a moving path attribute, or a filter attribute. The overlay attribute is defined for superimposing a video clip over a background clip. The moving path attribute is defined a route of a corresponding clip. And the filter attribute is for enhancing or improving a corresponding clip.

Next please refer toFIG. 4. It illustrates a block diagram of a video editing device for editing a video project according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. AsFIG. 4shows, the video editing device includes a display unit401, a storage unit402, and a processing unit403. The display unit401is for displaying video clips and transition effects in a video project. And the storage unit402is for storing all video clips and transition effects.

The processing unit403, which connects in pair with the display unit401and the storage unit402, is for executing the video editing method for editing a video project of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 6.FIG. 5illustrates a flowchart of the video editing method for editing a video project according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 6is an illustration of editing a video project on a screen of the display unit401by the method of this invention. The method of this invention firstly starts at Step501inFIG. 5. The method provides a timeline603and a plurality of tracks along the timeline603on the screen601of the display unit401. And the tracks include a video track VA, a video track, F/X, a transition track VB, an overlay track V1, an overlay track V2, and so on. These tracks are for storing video clips and transition effects in order to proceed editing, and their direction is along the direction of the timeline603. Next, the method proceeds to Step503.

At Step503, the processing unit403is for users to insert video clips and transition effects into the corresponding tracks on the screen601. The video clip605, video clip607, video clip609, and transition effects611are separately inserted into the video track VA, the video track VB, the overlay track V1, and the transition track F/X.

Next, at step505, according to the starting time and ending time of the video clips and transition effects, the timeline603is cut into multiple segments so that each of the segments corresponds to a distinguishable combination of the video clips and the transition effect. Please refer toFIG. 6at the same time. According to the starting time and ending time of the video clips and transition effect611, the timeline603is split into five segments: Segment621, Segment622, Segment623, Segment624, and Segment625. And when the video project starts to be played, within the interval of Segment621, the processing unit403only plays the video clip605. And within the interval of Segment622, the processing unit403simultaneously plays the video clip605, the transition effect611, and the video clip607. Then within the interval of Segment623, the processing unit403only plays the video clip607, and within the interval of Segment624, the processing unit403simultaneously plays the video clip607, and the video clip609. Finally, the processing unit403plays the video clip609within the interval of Segment625.

Next, at Step507, for each of the segments, a limited number of thumbnails are derived from the corresponding video clip to symbolize the part of the video clip on the corresponding track and the transition effect611is displayed with an icon. And the limited number of thumbnails could be the limited number of frames selected from the corresponding video clip. AsFIG. 6illustrates, one thumbnail derived from a video clip is used to symbolize part of the corresponding video clip in each segment. In addition, multiple thumbnails could be used to symbolize part of video clips in each segment. For example, three thumbnails are used to symbolize but the invention is not limited thereto. Please refer toFIG. 7.FIG. 7illustrates another illustration of editing a video project according to the method of the invention. InFIG. 7, the clipping part of the video clip605is represented as three thumbnails in Segment621. After Step507, if the user does not proceed editing, the processing unit403will finish the method; otherwise the method proceeds to Step509.

At Step509, the video clips and transition effects on the screen601could be modified; and then the method goes back to Step505. At Step509, users can add, delete, or edit a video clip or transition effect. Wherein, the editing of video clips or transition effects means to change the track or location of video clips or transition effects on the Screen601. That is to change the playing sequence or time of video clips or transition effects.

The invention, which is a video editing device and method for editing a video project revealed by the above embodiments, includes the following advantages:

1. Users can edit multi-track video projects to achieve various vision effects.

2. When there is a longer video clip, users do not need to change the unit of a timeline and can click to select and edit the shorter video clips or transition effects. It is very convenient for users to edit.