Abstract:
A video generation system and method is disclosed. The system includes a network, a camera device and a server. The camera device is for capturing an original video. The original video is transmitted by the network to the server. The server has a feature recognition unit, a medium object modification unit and a video synthesis unit. The feature recognition unit is for recognizing and positioning feature information of the original video. The medium object modification unit is for modifying a medium object based on the feature information to generate a modified medium object. The video synthesis unit is for synthesizing the original video and the modified medium object to generate a synthesized video based on the feature information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to a video generation system and method, and more particularly, to one that executes synthesis of an original video and a medium object at a remote server. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    As digital cameras, network videos, and camera on cell phones are getting more popular, consumers demand more on video multi-media. Consumers are no longer satisfying with taking photos and recording images with a portable image device, they further expect to incorporate those images or videos with special effects as seen on TV or video games to promote entertaining interest. However, data process speed of the portable video device is slower than that of a desktop or a notebook, and thus requires longer time to process video and audio data. A user may run into serious problem if he/she attempts to process information containing massive multimedia operation with the portable video device. 
         [0005]    With comprehensive application of Internet and wireless local area network (WLAN) today, the portable video device is usually provided with the function of data transmission through the network that gives the user to take advantage of a remote server with more powerful operation capability to perform complicated data process and then transmit the processed data back to the portable video device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a video generation system and method by having a remote server to execute synthesis of an original video and a medium object to solve the problem of poor multimedia data process capability by the portable video device. 
         [0007]    To achieve the purpose, the video generation system of the present invention includes a network, a camera device, and a server. The camera device captures an original video and then transmits it to the server through the network. The server is provided with a feature recognition unit, a medium object modification unit, and a video synthesis unit. The feature recognition unit recognizes and positions feature information of the original video; the medium object modification unit modifies a medium object based on the feature information to generate a modified medium object; and the video synthesis unit synthesizes the original video and the modified medium object to generate a synthesized video based on the feature information. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the present invention discloses a method to generate video involving the following steps. Firstly, an original video is provided and transmitted to a remote server through a network for the remote server to recognize and position a feature information of the original video; based on the feature information, the remote server modifies a medium object to generate a modified medium object; and finally the remote server synthesizes the original video and the modified to produce a synthesized video based on the feature information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a video generation system of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the video generation system of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a process flow chart of a video generation method of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the video generation method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1  for a schematic view of a video generation system of the present invention, the video generation system  1  includes a network  10 , a camera device  11 , and a server  13 . The camera device  11  captures an original video  12  and transmits the original video  12  to the server  13  via the network  10 . The server  13  includes a feature recognition unit  14 , a medium object modification unit  15 , and a video synthesis unit  19 . The feature recognition unit  14  recognizes and positions feature information  16  of the original video  12 ; the medium object modification unit  15  modifies a medium object  17  based on the feature information  16  to generate a modified medium object  18 ; and the video synthesis unit  19  synthesizes the original video  12  and the modified medium object  18  based on the feature information  16  to produce a synthesized video  191 . The synthesized video  191  is then stored in a storage device of the server  13  or transmitted through the network back to an electronic device adapted with the camera device  11  to replay, or stored through the network in a preset remote storage device. 
         [0014]    The original video  12  may be related to AV (audio and video) data or a still image. The original video  12  is preferred containing portrait image data. The feature information  16  is related to any combination of features of positions of a facial feature, features and locations of hairs, features and locations of fingers, and postures of trunk and extremities of the image information of the portrait. The medium object  17  is preferred a 2D (dimensional) model, a 3D model, audio data or any combination among them, e.g., virtual portrait, virtual idol of god, cartoon figure or situation music, etc. Each medium object may contain multiple modification parameters, e.g., any combination of 2D and 3D models provided with parameters of facial expressions, parameters of ratios of facial features, parameters of hair ratios, parameters of figure motions, parameters of finger ratios, parameters of motions of human trunk and extremities, and parameters of ratios of human trunk and extremities while the audio information contains parameters of human expressions responding to a situation music. Accordingly, the medium-object modification unit  15  changes motions of the portrait or the situation music depending on the human face or body features in the original video  12 . While transmitting the original video  12  to the server  13 , a user may manually preset a topic, e.g., happy birthday, wedding ceremony or graduation ceremony for the medium object  17  to utilize virtual portrait model and music readily available in the database. 
         [0015]    The user may decide a topic for the medium object  17  based on the feature information  16 . For example, if the facial image of the original video  12  is determined as a sad expression (with dropping corners of mouth) according to the feature information  16 , the virtual portrait is modified to look sad while the situation music is change to a sad one; alternatively, when the trunk and extremities of the figure in the original video  12  is determined as that imitating the Superman according to the feature information  16 , the music is changed to a background music of the Superman; or if the fingers in the image is determined as making a sign of victory according to the feature information  16 , V, then the music is changed to one that exclaims joy. 
         [0016]    Wherein, the camera device  11  is adapted to a portable electronic device, e.g., a cell phone, notebook, PDA (personal digital assistant) or a digital camera. The network  10  is preferably an Internet or Wireless LAN. The original video  12  may be transmitted in a file format or a streaming format. The medium object  17  is stored in a database built in the server  13  or a remote database. 
         [0017]    Now referring to  FIG. 2  for a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the video generation system of the present invention, a video generation system  2  includes a cell phone  20 , a network server  21 , and a wireless network  22 . The cell phone  20  is provided with a camera module  201 , a wireless data transmission module  202 , and a display model  203 . The user records a section of a human face video  204  using the camera module  201  of the cell phone  20  and transmits the video  204  with the wireless data transmission module  202  to the network server  21  through the wireless network  22 . The network server  21  is provided with a microprocessor  24 , a memory  25 , and a medium object database  26 . The microprocessor  24  reads from the memory  25  and executes a feature recognition program  251  to recognize and position locations of facial features of the human face video  204 ; the microprocessor  24  reads from the memory  25  and executes a medium object modification program  252  to modify the situation music and parameters of ratios of facial features of a cartoon figure according to those locations of the facial features; the microprocessor  24  follows to read from the memory  25  and executes a video synthesis program  253  to substitute the human face in the human face video  204  with the modified cartoon figure to synthesize residual portions of the human face video  204 , the modified cartoon figure, and the situation music into a synthetic video  27 ; finally, the synthetic video  27  is transmitted back to the cell phone  20  for the user to view the synthetic video  27  through the display module  203 . 
         [0018]    Furthermore, the synthetic video  27  may be stored in the network server  21 . If the network server  21  when turned on is also related to a cell phone server, and a friend of the user makes a call to the user&#39;s cell phone for online operation with the user&#39;s cell phone through its server, the cell phone server may transmit the synthetic video  27  to the calling cell phone for displaying to achieve the purpose of prompting a video of the caller. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3  for a process flow chart of a video generation method of the present invention, the method includes the following steps: 
         [0020]    Step  31 : an original video is provided; 
         [0021]    Step  32 : the original video is transmitted through a network to a remote server; 
         [0022]    Step  33 : feature information of the original video is recognized and positioned at the remote server; 
         [0023]    Step  34 : based on the feature information, a medium object is modified at the remote server to generate a modified medium object; and 
         [0024]    Step  35 : at the remote server, the original video and the modified medium object are synthesized based on the feature information to generate a synthetic video. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment of the video generation method of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the method includes the following steps: 
         [0026]    Step  41 : a human face video is recorded using a camera module of a cell phone; 
         [0027]    Step  42 : the human face video is transmitted using a streaming format to a network server through a wireless network and a medium object to be synthesized is preset; 
         [0028]    Step  43 : Locations of facial features on the human face video are recognized at the network server; 
         [0029]    Step  44 : at the network server, the preset medium object is modified to generate a modified medium object according to those locations of facial features recognized; and 
         [0030]    Step  45 : at the network server, the human face video and the modified medium object are synthesized to produce a synthesized video according to the feature information. 
         [0031]    It is to be noted that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention.