Web-based system for video editing

Abstract

Disclosed are web-based systems and methods for editing digital videos. A graphical editing interface allows designating one or more videos to assemble into a video compilation. The graphical editing interface further allows specifying the portion of a constituent video of the video compilation that will be displayed when the video compilation is played. The graphical editing interface additionally allows the association of annotations—specifying, for example, slides, people, and highlights—with portions of the video. The associated annotations alter the appearance of the video compilation when it is played, such as by displaying slides, or text associated with the annotations, along with the video at times associated with the annotations. The associated annotations also enhance the interactivity of the video compilation, such as by allowing playback to begin at points of interest, such as portions of the video for which there is an associated annotation. The associated annotations can be created by selection of annotation tools of the graphical editing interface, where at least one of the annotation tools is created responsive to a user providing information associated with the tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for annotating a compilation of digital videos, the method comprising:
 displaying in a graphical user interface indicia of each of a plurality of videos included in a compilation, and a video segment bar divided into portions, each of the portions reflecting a relative length of one of the plurality of videos, a first portion and a second portion of the video segment bar reflecting a first relative length of a first video of the videos and second relative length of a second video of the videos, respectively;   receiving a selection of the first video from the plurality of videos in the compilation;   displaying in the graphical user interface a timeline reflecting a total length of the first video, the timeline visually distinct from the video segment bar;   receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of an annotation to include in the compilation at a position within the compilation associated with a first portion of the first video, the first portion of the first video corresponding to a currently displayed portion of the first video, wherein the annotation includes a slide;   displaying an iconic representation of the selected annotation at a location on the timeline corresponding to the first portion of the first video; and   displaying, on the video segment bar in the graphical user interface, an indicator that indicates start and end times of the first portion of the first video to which the annotation applies.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the annotation includes information describing a person. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the annotation includes textual information describing a portion of the first video. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a selection of the iconic representation of the selected annotation at the   location on the timeline, causing playback of the compilation starting at the first portion of the first video.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the timeline comprises:
 a start drag bar corresponding to a start time of a display portion of the first video; and   an end drag bar corresponding to an end time of the display portion of the first video.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising responsive to a change of position of the start drag bar or the end drag bar on the timeline, modifying the start time or the end time of the display portion of the first video within the compilation. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying in the graphical user interface a scene seek control;   wherein selection of the scene seek control causes playback of the first video starting at a next portion of the first video, the next portion of the first video being after the currently displayed portion of the first video.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating the annotation with a second portion of the first video responsive to a movement of the iconic representation of the annotation to a location on the timeline corresponding to the second portion of the first video. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system for annotating a digital video, the system comprising:
 an editing database storing user editing actions applied to a compilation; and   a processor configured to execute instructions performing actions comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface to a client, the graphical user interface including:
 indicia of each of a set of videos to include in the compilation, a video segment bar divided into portions, each of the portions reflecting relative length of one of the set of videos, a first portion and a second portion of the video segment bar reflecting a first relative length of a first video of the set of videos and a second relative length of a second video of the set of videos, respectively; and 
 a timeline reflecting a total length of the first video, the timeline being visually distinct from the video segment bar; 
 
 receiving using the graphical user interface a selection of an annotation to include in the compilation at a position within the compilation associated with a first portion of the first video, the first portion of the first video corresponding to a currently displayed portion of the first video, wherein the annotation includes a slide; 
 displaying an iconic representation of the selected annotation at a location on the timeline corresponding to the first portion of the first video; and 
 displaying, on the video segment bar in the graphical user interface, an indicator that indicates start and end times of the first portion of the first video to which the annotation applies. 
   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the annotation includes information describing a person. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the annotation includes textual information describing a portion of the first video. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 10 , the actions performed by the instructions further comprising:
 responsive to a selection of the iconic representation of the selected annotation at the location on the timeline, causing playback of the compilation starting at the first portion of the first video.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the timeline comprises:
 a start drag bar corresponding to a start time of a display portion of the first video; and   an end drag bar corresponding to an end time of the display portion of the first video.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , the actions performed by the instructions further comprising responsive to a change of position of the start drag bar or the end drag bar on the timeline, modifying the start time or the end time of the display portion of the first video within the compilation. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 10 , the actions performed by the instructions further comprising:
 providing, within the graphical user interface, a scene seek control;   wherein client selection of the scene seek control causes playback of the selected video starting at a next portion of the first video, the next portion of the first video being after the currently displayed portion of the first video.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 10 , the actions performed by the instructions further comprising:
 storing the annotation in association with a second portion of the first video responsive to receiving a notice indicating movement of the iconic representation of the annotation to a location on the timeline corresponding to the second portion of the first video.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor for annotating a digital video, actions of the computer program comprising:
 displaying in a graphical user interface indicia of each of a plurality of videos included in a compilation, and a video segment bar divided into portions, each of the portions reflecting a relative length of one of the plurality of videos, a first portion and a second portion of the video segment bar reflecting a first relative length of a first video of the set of videos and a second relative length of a second video of the set of videos, respectively;   receiving a selection of the first video from the plurality of videos;   displaying in the graphical user interface a timeline reflecting a total length of the first video, the timeline being visually distinct from the video segment bar;   receiving using the graphical user interface a selection of an annotation to include in the compilation at a position within the compilation associated with a first portion of the first video, the first portion of the first video corresponding to a currently displayed portion of the first video, wherein the annotation includes a slide;   displaying an iconic representation of the selected annotation at a location on the timeline corresponding to the first portion of the first video; and   displaying, on the video segment bar in the graphical user interface, an indicator that indicates start and end times of the first portion of the first video to which the annotation applies.