Template based text and graphics with dynamic duration

Abstract

An automated animated title sequence mechanism including a system and methods for template based text and graphics that can render the animated title sequence where the duration of the sequence dynamically fits an arbitrary or predetermined timeline. The automated animated title sequence includes a title template document to store a complete description of an animated title sequence. The title template document is composed of a timeline, animated text and graphics, data and instructions for playback of the animated text and graphics over the course of the timeline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory component; and   an animated title sequence engine for generating and managing an animated title sequence, wherein the animated title sequence engine causes the processor to:
 store a title template in the memory component, wherein the title template includes a timeline, a plurality of text and graphical elements sequentially place over the timeline, and a plurality of variables; 
 define one or more segments in the timeline, wherein each segment plays in response to a trigger; 
 generate a plurality of render instance objects for each segment, wherein each render instance object is stored in a render instance list; 
 schedule each segment to play, wherein each render instance object is queued in the memory component to play at an appropriate time in a sequence of queued render instances; 
 assemble the plurality of render instance objects in a sequence to dynamically build and adjust a rendered animated title sequence based on a timing requirement, wherein the sequence includes a list of sequence items referencing one or more render instance objects defined in the render instance list; and 
 transmit the rendered animated title sequence to a video destination output for playback. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the timing requirement represents an arbitrary duration associated with a real-time video or a predetermined duration associated with a pre-recorded video. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the timeline is partitioned into a plurality of time bounded sections defined by the one or more segments. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of variables includes a trigger variable initiating a first segment playback action and a duration variable initiating a second segment playback action, wherein the first playback action is based at least in part on a plurality of live cue points or live triggers associated with the real-time video and the second segment playback action is based at least in part on a fixed duration associated with the pre-recorded video. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each segment further comprises at least a name addressing each segment, a start time associated with a starting point on the timeline of each segment, a runtime duration representing an exact length in the timeline associated with each segment, a variable activity representing one or more active variables associated with each segment, and a next segment parameter representing any subsequent segments defined in the timeline. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each render instance object represents a unique rendered state for each segment. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the list of sequence item is assembled by a sequence builder. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sequence builder determines a change of state of each variable at an instance of time during playback, wherein the sequence builder also determines a total duration requirement for the one or more segments in the timeline. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the sequence builder includes a plurality of segment handling functions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of segment handling functions includes a get next function, a get variable function, a get duration function, and time verification function. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the get next segment function determines an order of the one or more segments to play next and combines the one or more segments in sequential order in the timeline. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the get variable function retrieves a value of each variable associated with the title template. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the get duration function determines a duration of the one or more segments. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the time verification function determines if there is sufficient time remaining to play the one or more segments. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at a time of creation, each render instance object receives a plurality of rendered frames prior to playback. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a render state is indicated by an “Empty” vs “Ready” indicator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each render instance object includes a plurality of assigned variables, a buffer, a duration, the “Empty” vs “Ready” indicator, and a link to the plurality of rendered frames and rendered frame buffer.