Abstract:
Disclosed are systems and methods for scoring presentations comprising capturing data forming at least a part of a particular presentation of the presentations, electronically analyzing the captured data to determine variations from accepted criteria, and scoring the captured data based on deviations from the accepted criteria.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     There is a desire among electronic presentation creators, such as video camcorder users, digital camera users, electronic slide show creators, etcetera, to store their recorded presentations onto a more permanent and/or convenient medium, such as a recordable digital versatile disk (DVD), or hard drive of a personal computer (PC). Such media has the benefit of longevity and is durable, randomly accessible, and searchable.  
         [0002]     In some instances, it is desirable to edit the recorded data to further improve the viewing experience. Unfortunately, some users may have limited experience with editing audio and/or video, and the resulting presentation is often unsatisfying, especially when compared to professional grade creations. Some of the common user mistakes are: the use of too many transitions; video segments that are too long; mismatched or missing audio; and video transitions that are not in synchronization with music or other audio features.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     In one embodiment, a method is provided for scoring presentations comprising capturing data forming at least a part of a particular presentation of the presentations, electronically analyzing the captured data to determine variations from accepted criteria, and scoring the captured data based on deviations from the accepted criteria. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of an embodiment illustrating the provision of advice to a user;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a summary analysis module;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a change mode module; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a system in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to advantage. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  shows flowchart  10 , which is an embodiment illustrating the provision of advice to a user with respect to a presentation, such as may comprise an audio/video composition (e.g., camcorder video stream), a multimedia project (e.g., combination of images and sounds), and/or other electronic or digital content. Process  101  could start, for example, when a user is transferring video from one medium to another. Process  101  could also, for example, start when the user is creating a multimedia project starting from an analog or digital video recording or other data input. After data is input, as shown in process  101 , the user is (optionally) prompted in process  102  to select a genre. The genre may be selected from categories, such as drama, action, comedy, family movies, or user-defined categories, to name only a few examples. The genre selection identifies parameters, such as an acceptable or optimal number of transitions or acceptable segment lengths (e.g., a maximum number of scene transitions per minute, as average scene length, etcetera), as appropriate for that genre. The genre selection may also identify and/or suggest possible sound effects and background music selections that have previously been used or that are available in a library database or other resource. The genre selection enables more precise advice for the user, and enables such advice to be based on the type of presentation the user wishes to create. The genre selection of parameters can be, for example, from a file library, database, or contained on a disk, or entered using a keypad or voice-controlled device.  
         [0009]     Process  103  queries whether the user wishes to use concurrent or summary analysis. Concurrent analysis of the illustrated embodiment enables an interactive session wherein changes may be made to the presentation as the analysis occurs. Summary analysis of the illustrated embodiment enables a batch session wherein a complete analysis of all parameters is made first and a report is provided to the user. The report would contain advice that the user could use to make subsequent changes to the presentation.  
         [0010]     If the user selects summary analysis at process  103 , summary module  20  is entered, an embodiment of which is further described with respect to  FIG. 2 . After the application of the summary analysis, process  104  queries whether the user would like to initiate the change mode to make changes based on an advice report from the summary analysis. If the user selects change mode at process  104 , change mode module  30  is entered, an embodiment of which is further described with respect to  FIG. 3 . However, if the user does not select change mode at process  104 , a final score and/or advice report is provided by process  105 .  
         [0011]     If the user selects concurrent analysis at process  103  or change mode at process  104 , change mode module  30  is entered. After application of the change mode, process  106  prepares the presentation data, as changed, for storage and a final score and/or advice report is provided by process  105 .  
         [0012]     Process  105  of one embodiment provides a score and comparison of previously stored scores of that user (or scores between and among other users) to the user. A score report may also be provided to indicate to the user the level of proficiency that has been achieved. The report, if desired, can provide suggestions for future improvement and praise for increased levels of proficiency, praise for accepting suggestions, and the like. Whether or not the change mode is used, the score report can be confined, if desired, to comparisons within multimedia projects of the same genre.  
         [0013]     Storage of the presentation, such as by transfer of the data to a selected medium, provided by process  106  may be a more permanent storage medium than had been used for the original input data or could be the same storage medium as originally used. Process  106 , if desired, could control recording on several storage media concurrently and one or more of these media could be remotely located and accessible, for example, via network  413 ,  FIG. 4 . Also note that the corrected presentation can be streamed to the permanent storage medium as changes are made, rather than in a batch transfer.  
         [0014]     Directing attention to  FIG. 2 , flow diagram  20  provides a summary analysis and/or advice report for a presentation according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process  201  is the interface from decision point  103  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0015]     At process  202 , the number of transitions is checked against a pre-set range for the selected genre. Such analysis may, if desired, depend upon the overall length of the video because a shorter presentation will usually have a lower number of acceptable transitions compared to a longer presentation. One technique for detecting transitions is by using a video editor program to count the number of transitions in the subject presentation. If the transition analysis occurs after the project has been rendered into a video file/stream, then the transition detection becomes more difficult. In such a situation, the video stream may be analyzed frame by frame, looking for frames that look like transitions, such as fades or where a large percentage (e.g., 85%) of pixel values change between frames.  
         [0016]     Additionally or alternatively, transitions may be checked using other criteria, such criteria as the speed or duration of the transitions, the types of transitions, the types of presentation segments being transitioned between, and/or the like. If the transitions are outside of a predetermined range or threshold of one or more of the criteria, process  209  reduces the user&#39;s score and advice is logged regarding transitions.  
         [0017]     Advice logged at process  209  may, for example, include adding or removing transitions, reducing or increasing the duration of the transitions, using more or less of a particular type of transition or reducing or increasing the variety of transition types used, avoiding transitions between particular types of presentation segments, etcetera. The advice may, additionally or alternatively, provide more general advice on transitions, such as what they are and how to avoid them.  
         [0018]     If the number of transitions is acceptable, or within the range provided by the genre (or after the score is decreased and the advice is logged at process  209 ), process  203  checks the segment lengths against the parameters for the selected genre. If the segment lengths are found to be unacceptable, such as being outside the predetermined ranges, process  210  reduces the user&#39;s score and logs advice appropriate to correct the segment lengths. The advice, for example, may include suggestions to lengthen or shorten the segments.  
         [0019]     After process  210 , or if the segment length is found to be acceptable at process  203 , process  204  checks the audio portion of the presentation (if the selected genre provides for audio). The audio check may include, for example, detecting the types of audio that are used in the presentation or checking for too many audio clips within segments as compared to parameters pre-stored for that genre. If the audio check returns an unacceptable response, process  211  reduces the user&#39;s score and logs appropriate advice.  
         [0020]     After process  211 , or if the audio check of process  204  returns an acceptable response, process  205  checks the beat of the audio. This beat check may include, for example, making sure that the video transitions match the beat of music. If the beat check of process  205  returns an unacceptable response, process  212  reduces the user&#39;s score and logs appropriate advice. The advice may include, for example, suggesting that the user match the appropriate beat in the transition and explaining how that can be accomplished. If the beat check returns an unacceptable response, an option is to enable a user to observe the beat on a visual display, or to hear the beat through a speaker or headphones.  
         [0021]     After process  212 , or if process  205  returns an acceptable response from the beat check, process  206  checks for still images. Process  206  compares the use of still images in the multimedia project with acceptable parameters for the selected genre. For example, criteria such as the number of still images present, the duration of display of still images, and the transition between still images (e.g., the duration, the type, the variety, and/or the number of transitions) may be utilized in analyzing the use of still images in a presentation. If the use of still images is unacceptable, the user&#39;s score is reduced and the appropriate advice is logged at process  213 . The advice may include, for example, suggestions with respect to: adding or subtracting a number of still images, freezing frames of visual input to serve as a transition, casting the presentation in a different genre, or adding other parameters.  
         [0022]     After process  213 , or if process  206  returns an acceptable response, process  207  checks for sound effects as acceptable for the selected genre. For example, the use of sound effects with respect to a particular genre may be determined to be unacceptable. Additionally or alternatively, criteria such as the volume, the tenor or type, the spacing, and/or the number of sound effects, may be utilized in analyzing the sound effects in a presentation. If the use of sound effects is acceptable, process  208  provides the user&#39;s score and any other pertinent advice pertaining to the presentation. If the use of sound effects is not acceptable, process  214  reduces the user&#39;s score and logs the appropriate advice for a more proper use of sound effects for that genre.  
         [0023]     After process  214 , process  208  generates a report to the user. The report, for example, would include the user&#39;s score and advice for generating a higher quality presentation as may be compiled from the scoring and advice logging of processes  209 - 214  discussed above.  
         [0024]     Process  215  returns the user to process  104  in  FIG. 1  where the user may implement the changes suggested in summary mode, or may go to change mode  30 , as further described with respect to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0025]     Directing attention to  FIG. 3 , flow diagram  30  provides concurrent analysis, for a presentation according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process  301  is the interface from decision point  103 , or from decision point  104  ( FIG. 1 ). Process  302  queries whether the user would like the changes to be made automatically or individually implemented under control of the user. Note that decision point  302  is optional and the system can be designed for either automatic correction or user controlled correction, or both, as shown.  
         [0026]     If the user selects the automatic correct mode at decision point  302 , process  303  adjusts transitions, process  304  adds music and other audio effects from choices allocated to the selected genre, and process  305  matches the beat of audio selections with the transitions and other major events in the presentation, such as presentation beginning and ending, changes in types or formats of content presented, etcetera. These adjustments are made according to the analysis discussed above with respect to summary module  20 , except that the changes would be made according to one embodiment without first generating a report to the user.  
         [0027]     Other steps may also be implemented in the automatic change mode, such as, for example, adjusting audio volume levels and freezing shots of the visual input to act as still images.  
         [0028]     If the user selects the user control mode at decision point  302  to implement suggested changes, process  306  gives advice on segment length and the number of transitions. Process  307  adjusts the user&#39;s score and enables the user to direct which changes are to be made. The score reflects the user&#39;s implementation of suggestions, and points may be subtracted based on poor implementation or added based on good or improved usage of the multimedia tools. Thus, if a user makes changes to the presentation that are different from the changes that were suggested, the actual changes are graded and points added or subtracted from the user&#39;s score as appropriate. Alternatively, the user may opt to make different changes, or not to make any changes.  
         [0029]     Process  308  advises on the audio portion of the presentation, such as the audio quality, the amount of audio used, and the variety of the audio used. Acting on the advice offered in process  308 , process  309  adjusts the user&#39;s score and allows for implementation of the changes in the same manner as discussed with respect to process  307  above.  
         [0030]     Process  310  offers advice on matching the beat of the music to the transitions, to the genre, etcetera. The user&#39;s score is adjusted and changes may be implemented by the user at process  311 .  
         [0031]     Process  312  provides advice on the use of still images. According to the genre selected, many or few stills are suggested as appropriate. Process  313  adjusts the score and implements the user&#39;s changes.  
         [0032]     Process  314  analyzes the presentation and provides advice on the use of sound effects. Advice on sound effects may include the use of more or less sound effects, depending upon the genre selected, as well as advice about which sound effects might be appropriate for the selected genre. Process  315  adjusts the user&#39;s score and implements the user&#39;s changes. Process  316  returns back to flowchart  10  at process  105  and  106  of  FIG. 1 , where, in process  105 , the final score and report are provided to the user and in process  106 , the changed data is transferred for storage.  
         [0033]     Note that other analysis for  FIGS. 1, 2 , or  3  may be implemented with the addition or substitution of different modifications and add-ons as decided upon by a user. These additional or alternative analyses, or implementation arrangements may be included in the original program and simply selected when desired or they may be added from time to time. For example, different software modules, or programs, can be added to computer system  408  ( FIG. 4 ) from time to time, as desired. These modules might contain, for example, different parameters for each genre, or new or different genres and may contain new audio or audio parameters as guidelines change.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  depicts system  40  representing one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System  40  shows video camcorder  401 , video cassette recorder (VCR)  402 , television  403  (containing audio speaker  411 ), computer  406 , such as may comprise a central processing unit, memory, input/output interfaces, and central algorithms, digital versatile disk (DVD) writer  407 , computer monitor  405 , computer speaker/microphone (or an external speaker/microphone depending upon the particular computer model)  410 , computer mouse  412 , and computer keyboard  404 . DVD writer  407  is shown disposed within computer  406  although DVD writer  407  may be completely external as a stand alone device. Computer  406 , DVD writer  407 , monitor  405 , and keyboard  404  are referred to herein as computer system  408 , which in other embodiments may not have all of these components or may have other components. Television  403  and VCR  402  are referred to herein as television system  409 .  
         [0035]     In one embodiment, camcorder  401  is connected to television system  409  to allow the user to view the presentation as it is being edited, if desired. Camcorder  401  is also connected to computer system  408  to provide access to editing tools as well as to provide storage for the video and/or audio portions of the presentation. DVD writer  407  enables the presentation to be stored on DVD media (not shown) under control of the system and methods discussed above. Note that the storage of the presentation can be on any medium, including a hard drive of computer  406 . Software or programs for controlling and/or monitoring embodiments of the present invention can be stored on the hard drive of computer  406 , or on a portable memory, such as a disk, or on a combination thereof. Note also that although a camcorder is shown, any device for producing a series of images can be used. For example, web cams or still cameras that store short video clips can be used, as well as slide projectors or slide readers for ‘still’ pictures.  
         [0036]     Computer software containing the control program including, if desired, the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , may be loaded onto computer system  408  in order to implement and evaluate a user&#39;s changes to a presentation. Each stage of a project, including the final product, may be viewed using computer system  408  via computer monitor  405 . As discussed, the multimedia project data may be recorded onto DVD media via DVD writer  407 , or stored on computer  406  to make editing and access of the presentation easier. Computer system  408  may be interfaced with television system  409  to enable viewing on television  403  through direct use or use in conjunction with VCR  402  during and after editing on computer system  408 .  
         [0037]     The advice provided to the user may be given visually, or textually, through computer monitor  405 , or via television monitor  403 , using symbols or words respectively. The advice may also be provided audibly through speakers  410  on computer system  408 , or via speakers on television  411 . User interface may occur through the use of touch screen buttons on accommodating computer models, or through keyboard  404 , mouse  412 , or any other input device, such as a joystick, or voice-to-data conversion applications using, for example, speaker/microphone  410 . Computer system  408  may also be connected with other computer systems, or a server via network  413 , in order to provide control for computer system  408 . Some or all of the control logic could be via network  413  to enable access from servers located at multiple locations.