Abstract:
A video compilation greeting system which allows a number of collaborators to provide video segments for use in a combined video greeting or presentation. The video is submitted by the individual invitee collaborators and is automatically reformatted by the system into the desired format. The original organizer, who may optionally also be a collaborator, has several options for further customizing the final video product, such as adding credits or personalized messages at the end of the main feature, or titles and graphics to the beginning of the video. The final result is a video greeting to a recipient comprising multiple video submissions into a single video output.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/842,510, filed Jul. 3, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a system and method for creating a video compilation, and more specifically to a system for compiling a number of separate digital video recordings into a single video presentation of a digital video greeting. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The history of sending loved ones personalized greetings is at least as old as the postage stamp. As technology has advanced, so has the way greetings are sent. What was once a paper card is now an electronic “e-card” which is sent through email or as a link in a text message. 
         [0006]    Personalized greetings in the digital age allow a sender to contact a recipient with any sort of message imaginable. The ability to send other elements, such as hyperlinks to videos or photographs is also highly possible. It is also possible to produce a collaborative message by emailing or contacting a number of individuals who sign off on one greeting for one recipient (e.g., all of the grandkids sending a letter to their grandfather for his 80th birthday). However, there are currently limitations in such technology. 
         [0007]    Present technology makes it very difficult to produce a collaborative video greeting or collaborative video presentation from a group of people. Either each individual would have to self-record their portion of the video and send it to a single editor, or the editor would have to provide the same device to each of the collaborators in turn. This may require the editor to travel to places around the world, or to pay for shipping of the recording device to several places far away at great costs. 
         [0008]    Once the video data is assembled, the editor has to have knowledge of video editing software and spent countless hours patching the final product together. In the case where video data comes from several digital sources, the video data may not even be compatible. 
         [0009]    Other similar examples in the application market include multiple video messaging applications, with Google Hangout being the most popular. Google Hangout allows the user to video conference up to ten people on various mobile and computer platforms. This is a live platform and all ten people must be in front of their computer at the same time. Coordinating that many people across many different times zones would be difficult. 
         [0010]    What is needed is a one-stop source for recording a number of videos by a number of collaborators which will then instantly be transformed into a collaborative greeting or presentation from the entire group of collaborators to a single recipient. 
         [0011]    Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for creating a video compilation with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention generally provides a video compilation greeting system which allows a number of collaborators to provide video segments for use in a combined video greeting or presentation. The video is submitted by the individual collaborators and is automatically reformatted by the system into the desired format. The original organizer, who may optionally also be a collaborator, has several options for further customizing the final video product, such as adding credits or personalized messages at the end of the main feature, or titles and graphics to the beginning of the video. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship between components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship between components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship between components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship between components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a flowchart diagramming the steps taken when performing an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a continuation of the flowchart thereof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship between components of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart diagramming the steps taken when performing a portion of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a user interface associated with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8B  is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a user interface associated with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8C  is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a user interface associated with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8D  is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a user interface associated with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic representation of an alternative embodiment video greeting system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0027]    As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0028]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Other terminology relating to mobile smart devices including a display device for viewing a typical web browser or user interface will be commonly referred to throughout the following description. The type of device, computer, display, or user interface may vary when practicing an embodiment of the present invention. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
         [0029]    The premise behind the present invention is to combine video recorded by a number of individuals (e.g., six) using their personal mobile devices (e.g., smart devices such as smart phones) into a single collaborative video greeting where video from each participant plays back simultaneously, creating a collaborative greeting or presentation. The videos are combined into a single video image instead of taxing the processing power of the play-back device by playing six separate video images simultaneously. This also ensures that the quality across each separate video portion is equivalent or nearly equivalent. 
       II. Preferred Embodiment Collaborative Video Greeting System  2   
       [0030]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a mobile device application, a video recording element, and a back-end server with software capable of splicing video segments together into a single video greeting or video presentation. 
         [0031]    The preferred embodiment features a number of users to record up to six individual video recordings. Each user is invited to submit their individual video by a lead collaborator, who will also be the final editor. The lead collaborator may or may not be one of the users submitting video to the collaborative final product. 
         [0032]    The lead collaborator sends an invitation to the various users using a software application loaded onto a mobile smart device, a personal computer, or some other device having computer processing and software storage means. The invitation would have constraints for the video, such as length of the video and the requested content. The invitation may also have a time constraint, requesting that all users submit their video by a certain day and time, or else the video collaboration will be sent without the input of a user who failed to meet the deadline. 
         [0033]    Once all video submissions have been received, or the deadline has been reached, software located on a remote server will automatically combine the individual video submissions into a collaborative final result which may be electronically sent to a recipient. 
         [0034]    Individual users and/or the lead collaborator may also be given the option to create a personalized message which would be tacked onto the end of the featured collaborative work. These personalized messages would be limited in time or scope, and would not necessarily have to follow the scope of the featured collaborative work. The lead collaborator may also opt to put graphics or a title in front of the collaborative work, and/or a list of participants or credits after the collaborative work. 
         [0035]    Referring to the figures in more detail,  FIG. 1  represents the relationship between the basic components of a video greeting system  2 . The system includes at least a participant mobile computing device  4 , a compiler computing device  8 , a centralized server  6 , a recipient computing device  10 , and a wireless computer network  12 .  FIG. 1  shows a plurality of participant mobile computing devices  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3  . . .  4 . n , but the system  2  could be performed with any number of participant mobile computing devices. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  breaks the relationships between the components illustrated in  FIG. 1  into more detail. The participant mobile computing device  4  includes a microphone  26  for recording audio inputs, and a video camera  24  for recording live video inputs. The audio and video inputs are compiled into a recorded video input  22 , which is uploaded to a software application  20  associated with the video greeting system  2 . The software application  20  is stored within data storage  18  within the mobile computer  4 . A CPU  16  accesses stored data and the software application and generally controls the functions associated with the participant mobile computing device  4  as they pertain to the present invention. An antenna  14  allows the mobile computing device to communicate wirelessly through the wireless network  12 , and to upload the recorded video input  22  to the central server  6  and/or to the compiler computer  8 . Alternatively, the participant mobile computing device  4  could be hard-wired to a network which is capable of delivering the recorded video input  22 . The mobile computing device  4  should also include a graphical user interface (GUI) (not shown). 
         [0037]    The central server  8  includes at least a CPU  28 , which accesses data stored within data storage  30 , and application software  32  associated with the video greeting system  2 . The central server&#39;s primary function is to allow users to download the software applications and to facilitate communications between the participants, the compilers, and the recipients. 
         [0038]    The compiler computer  8  creates an invite request input  34  through a software application  36  stored on data storage  38  and accessed and controlled via a CPU  40 . The compiler computer must also include some connection to the wireless network, either via an antenna (not shown) or a hardwired connection. Similarly, the compiler computer should include a GUI (not shown) suitable for reviewing and editing video. The compiler computer sends out the request input  34  through the wireless network  12  to the various participant mobile computing devices  4 , and receives recorded video inputs  22  from the participants prior to having the final compiled video sent to the recipient. 
         [0039]    The recipient computer  10  must include at least a CPU  42  for processing information received by the computer and a GUI  44  for viewing the compiled video greeting. The recipient computer  10  should not need any special software for viewing the video greeting other than video player software. Alternatively, the recipient may be invited to download a software application for free which allows viewing of the video greeting. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is another diagram showing the relationship between the participant mobile computers  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 , . . .  4 . n , the central server  6 , and the compiler computer  8  through the wireless network  12 . The compiler computer generates an invitation  34  which is sent to each mobile computer. Notifications are sent back to the compiler computer whether the participants accept or decline the invitation  34 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  similarly shows the flow of recorded video inputs  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3  . . .  22 . n  through the wireless network  12 . The inputs flow from the mobile computing devices through the network and to the central server  6 , where they may be stored or simply forwarded on to the compiler computer  8 . The video inputs may be compiled using the central server CPU  28  or the computer CPU  40 , but requires input from the compiler computer  8  either way. The compiled video  23  is completed through this process and through inputs at the compiler computer, is sent back through the wireless network where it is handled by the central server  6 , and forwarded on to the recipient computing device  10  where it is viewable as a compiled video greeting. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  demonstrate the steps taken by users when generating and sending a compiled video greeting to a recipient. The process starts at  100  and the compiler obtains the software application at  102 . This requires the compiler to use the compiler computer to access the central server and download the relevant software application, where it is then downloaded and stored to the compiler computer data storage. 
         [0043]    The software application  36  stored on the compiler computer is launched at  104  using the compiler computer CPU  40 . The compiler will select any number of recipients at  106  from a database of recipients stored within the compiler computer data storage  38 . 
         [0044]    A message type is selected at  108 . This may include any event such as “birthday greeting,” “holiday greeting,” or may not have any specific event tied to the greeting. The types of events that may be chosen from are limitless and could encompass any conceivable event. 
         [0045]    Depending on what type of message is selected at  108 , the event associated with that message may be date specific. A query is asked at  110  whether the event is date specific. If yes, a date for the event is selected at  112 . An option to send the video greeting early if the participants have all uploaded their respective video segments at  114 . If yes, then the “send when complete” option is set at  116 . Otherwise, if the “send early” option is not set, or if the event is not date specific, the participants are added from a database of participants at  118 . The database of participants is located and stored on the compiler computer data storage  38 . Any number of participants may be selected to receive invitations. 
         [0046]    The invitations to the participants are sent at  120 . The participants then receive the option to accept or decline the invitation at  122 . If the participants select to decline the invitation at  122 , then the decline result is sent to the compiler computer at  124  and the process ends for that particular participant at  126 . 
         [0047]    Otherwise all participants who select to accept the invitation at  122  will then have their mobile computing device checked for whether the application software is installed at  128 . If the software is not installed, the software is downloaded at  130 . Once the software is installed, the participant records their respective recorded video input at  132  and the recorded video input is sent to the central server and/or the compiler computer at  134 . 
         [0048]    A check is performed at  136  either at the compiler computer or the central server to determine whether all videos had been received by the compiler computer and/or the central server. If no, then the remaining participants must record their video inputs at  132  and send those video inputs at  134 . Optionally periodic alerts may be sent to participants to remind them to record and send their recorded video inputs. 
         [0049]    Once all videos have been received and verified at  136 , a compiled video greeting is generated at  138 . The compiled video greeting may be edited by the compiler using the compiler computing device at  140 . 
         [0050]    A check is performed at  144  whether the “send early” setting was set at  116 . If it had been set, the compiled video greeting is sent to the recipient at  150  and the process ends at  152 . 
         [0051]    If the “send early” setting was not set and that result is determined at  144 , the system then checks to determine if the specific date associated with the event has arrived at  146 . This includes a check of whether a date is necessary. If the date has arrived or if no date was needed or set at  146 , the video is sent to the participant at  150  and the process ends at  152 . 
         [0052]    If the date has not arrived at  146 , the compiler may be given the option to manually send the compiled video greeting at  148 . The compiler may select this at any time up until the set date arrives. If the compiler chooses to manually send the video greeting at  148 , the compiled video greeting is sent to the recipient at  150  and the process ends at  152 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart diagramming the video compilation process performed once the recorded video inputs  22  are received from the participants. 
         [0054]    The process is rather linear, though checks may need to be performed via the various CPUs involved during the process. The process starts at  200  and all video submissions are received  202  at the central server  6  (or, alternatively, at the compiler computer  8 ). The compiler chooses which video submissions to merge together at  204 . Note that this is an optional step that could involve choices performed by the CPU to weed out poor quality submissions. The merge api request is sent to the appropriate computer at  206 , most likely the server. 
         [0055]    The compiler then activates the software application to merge the video submissions at  208 . At this point, the relevant CPU (e.g. central server CPU  28  or the compiler computer CPU  40 ) will determine the appropriate output template at  210 . For example, if six video submissions were received, the output template may appear as the six-tiled format shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, if only three video submissions are received, the output template would have larger video portions aligned linearly down the GUI of the recipient&#39;s device. 
         [0056]    A frame grid associated with the output template is generated at  212 . This is based on the above discussion regarding the number of submissions received. 
         [0057]    The CPU must determine at  214  whether the scale of the video submissions will fit within the frame grid selected in the previous step. Most often this will be necessary, and the videos are scaled to fit the grid at  216  while maintaining their original aspect ratio. Otherwise (e.g. when only one video is sent) the videos are layered into the grid at  218 . Here, a white canvas frame is created via FFmpeg, and each of the selected videos is layered upon their respective grid. 
         [0058]    The various audio samples associated with each respective video submission must be filtered and mixed at  220 . FFmpeg advanced filtering is capable of filtering the audio to similar volume and quality levels, and mixing that audio to a single track to correspond to the single video production. A final video greeting is generated at  222  from the layered video and the mixed audio, and a thumbnail is generated at  224  to identify that video greeting. The greeting is sent at  226 , is viewed by the recipient, and the process ends at  228 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic representation of how a number of participant mobile computing devices  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 , and  4 . 6  would upload respective recorded video inputs  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 ,  22 . 4 ,  22 . 5 , and  22 . 6  through the wireless network  12 , central server  6 , and compiler computer  8 . A compiled video greeting  23  is created and sent to a recipient computing device  10 . The compiled video greeting  23  includes each of the recorded video inputs  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 ,  22 . 4 ,  22 . 5 , and  22 . 6 . The various recorded video inputs are synched together such that recorded audio and video are shown simultaneously via the video greeting  23 . 
         [0060]    As summation, the present invention works as so: Person “A” initiates a video greeting for Recipient “B,” and invites Invitees “C” and “D” to participate. “C” and “D” receive the invitation digitally via their mobile computers (e.g. smartphones) and choose to accept or decline the invitation. Upon accepting the invitation, “C,” “D,” and optionally “A” will record their video submissions (including audio) and upload those submissions to the centralized server  6 . There, the videos are transcoded (e.g. into mp4 format), a new video entry is created, and the submissions are stitched together into the new video entry. It should be noted that any party may optionally be invited or decide to include multiple video entries. Once the final video entry is created from the independently submitted videos, the video is sent to the recipient “B.” 
         [0061]    Recipient “B” receives an email once the greeting is sent out which contains a link to a micro site. The micro site is hosted by the central server  6  and includes the completed video greeting message for the recipient. Alternatively, the actual video file may be sent electronically to the recipient. The Recipient may then choose to view each video submission separately, to more clearly understand and respond to each individual participant. 
         [0062]    FFmpeg is chosen as the preferred framework for handling the audio and video data because it allows a single video production, including audio, to be produced quickly from multiple video and/or audio sources, while maintaining the original or near-original video and audio quality levels in the final product, without requiring additional processing resources from the recipient CPU when multiple videos are requested to be played simultaneously. 
         [0063]      FIG. 8A  is a diagrammatic representation of a user interface  19  associated with a participant mobile computing device  4 . The user interface includes a selectable “go back” button  50  which changes the user interface  19  to a previous screen associated with a previous step in the process of generating a video greeting using a video greeting system  2 . It should be noted that this view could also be seen on the compiler computing device  8 . 
         [0064]    A selectable “upload” button  52  allows the participant to upload recorded video. A “recent upload” window  54  is displayed which allows a user to select between multiple icons representing recently uploaded video recordings  22  or video greetings  23 . A list of participants  58  to the selected recent upload  56  is displayed beneath the recent uploads, and each participant is indicated via a summary  60  including an icon representing each respective participant. 
         [0065]      FIG. 8B  is another diagrammatic representation of the user interface  19  associated with a participant mobile computing device  4  or a compiler computing device  8 . The interface shown is similar to that of  FIG. 8A , except that it is the screen received by a user who has received an invitation or by the compiler. The participants  58  are listed with icons  60 , but also feature statuses  66 , such as “recorded,” “declined,” or “reminder.” These statuses let other participants and the compiler know how close the video greeting is to completion. 
         [0066]    The type of greeting or “salutation” type is shown in the box labeled  64 , and includes thumbnail images  62  associated with the participants. 
         [0067]      FIG. 8C  is yet another diagrammatic representation of the user interface  19  associated with a participant mobile computing device  4  or a compiler computing device  8 . This display features a scrolling lyric bar  70  across the top of the interface, along with a lyric indicator  68  identifying where the selected song is at in its progress. The recording person can view an image of their live recording  72  in the middle of the user interface, and may stop at any time by selecting the “stop” button  74  integrated into the user interface. 
         [0068]    The scrolling lyric bar  70  is used to keep all participants at the same speed while singing a greeting, such as the “Happy Birthday” song diagrammed Otherwise it would be difficult for the software and hardware to synch the video and audio of the participants without distorting the sound. 
         [0069]    Once the user selects the stop button, they will be asked whether to review or save the recorded video, or will be provided an option to “start over” and re-record the greeting. This is useful in the instance where a mistake is made in singing the lyrics, for example. 
         [0070]      FIG. 8D  is yet another diagrammatic representation of a user interface (not labeled) associated with a compiler computing device  8 . Here, an invitation screen is shown, including back button  50  and start button  88 , which starts the event and sends the invites. The “To” line selects a recipient by selecting the arrow  76  and choosing a recipient from a database of persons located on or accessible by the compiler computing device  8  or, alternatively, manually entering the information. Similarly, the delivery date is selected by selecting the arrow  78  and picking a date from a calendar (not shown) or, alternatively, manually entering the date. The type of greeting is selected by selecting the arrow  80  and choosing from a list of greeting types, or generating one&#39;s own greeting type title. 
         [0071]    As referenced in the flowchart shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the “send early” option  82  may be toggled on or off. 
         [0072]    The list of participants is shown at  84 . The compiler (“You”) is added to the list automatically. The option to “invite more” participants is accessed via the associated button  86 , and choosing a participant from a database of persons located on or accessible by the compiler computing device  8  or, alternatively, manually entering the information. 
       III. Alternative Embodiment Video Greeting System  302   
       [0073]      FIG. 9  represents features of an alternative embodiment video greeting system  302 . The previous embodiment works well with a limited number of videos which can be viewed and arranged in a grid format on a GUI. However, when dealing with a large number of videos (e.g. more than six), it is difficult to include all videos on a single display and still be able to make out who the participants are in each individual submission. 
         [0074]    In  FIG. 9 , multiple recorded video inputs  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ,  22 . 3 , . . .  22 . n  are indicated by V1, V2, V3 . . . Vn, where “n” represents any real integer. These videos are stitched together into a single video compilation as described in the method steps outlined above. However, these video inputs are arranged in a final video greeting  323  in a carousel-like arrangement. This allows the recipient to use his or her computing device  10  to scroll through the video inputs individually on the computing device&#39;s GUI  44 . The arrow shown on the display of the computing device  10  shows that the videos can be flipped through either forwards or backwards. Multiple videos may be played on the screen at a time, as long as the resolution remains high enough to support the videos. The recipient may optionally be able to choose how many videos he can view at once. 
         [0075]    The recipient this way will be able to view multiple video submissions in a single video greeting compilation, while also being able to see each individual submission in greater detail. 
         [0076]    It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.