Method and system of composite broadcast control

Abstract

A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for composite broadcast control are provided. The apparatus or system presents broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip. The apparatus/system receives a selection from a user of fundamental production elements, and thereafter builds a composited scene by layering the selected production elements. The apparatus may display a preview of the composited scene prior to selection of the composited scene for output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of composite broadcast control, comprising:
 presenting broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip;   receiving a selection of fundamental production elements; and   building a composited scene by layering the selected production elements.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composited scene is built via graphics processing unit having a software based architecture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the software based architecture provides a single path that receives all video input for broadcast control and outputs a single video output for broadcast. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the method further comprising:
 displaying a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving a second user selection modifying the composited scene; and   displaying the modified preview of the modified composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection to output the composited scene for which a preview is displayed; and   outputting the composited scene for broadcast.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the selection to output the composited scene comprises a single user selection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the preview is displayed at a multi-previewer display that further displays a visual representation of at least one available production element. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the displayed visual representation comprises at least one of a live video source and a video source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast control options are visually presented to the user as icons on a touch screen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the broadcast control options are presented to the user as manual buttons, wherein the manual buttons are configured to be user programmable. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the manual buttons comprise a display that indicates the broadcast control option by the user. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for composite broadcast control, comprising:
 means for presenting broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip;   means for receiving a selection of fundamental production elements; and   means for building a composited scene by layering the selected production elements.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the method further comprising:
 means for displaying a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for composite broadcast control, comprising:
 a processing system configured to:
 present broadcast control options to a user as a plurality of fundamental production elements, the plurality of fundamental production elements comprising at least one of a background an effect, a transition, and a stored clip, wherein the background can be combined with any of the effect, the transition, and the stored clip; 
 receive a selection of fundamental production elements; and 
 build a composited scene by layering the selected production elements. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the composited scene is built within a previewer, the processing system being further configured to:
 display a preview of the composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the processing system being further configured to:
 receive a second user selection modifying the composited scene; and   display the modified preview of the modified composited scene prior to broadcasting the composited scene.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the processing system being further configured to:
 receive a selection to output the composited scene for which a preview is displayed; and   output the composited scene for broadcast.   
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled)