System for producing personalized video recordings

Abstract

A system for the production of video signals includes a playback device for playing back prerecorded video and audio signals from a prerecorded storage medium, a source of user supplied video and audio signals, a video and audio mixer for combining the prerecorded and user supplied signals to provide combined video and audio outputs, a production monitor connected to the mixer to display to the user the mixed signals, and a storage or reproduction device receiving a mixed video signal output from the mixer. The prerecorded storage medium, wherein the prerecorded storage medium stores, as well as a video channel and at least one audio channel, at least one prompting channel, the video signals stored on the prerecorded medium being prekeyed to indicate areas to be overlaid in the mixer by the user supplied video signals, and the mixer being operative to convert signals from the prompting channel into production control signals.

1. A system for video production, comprising a source of prerecorded video and audio signals from a prerecorded storage medium, a source of user supplied video and audio signals, a video and audio mixer for combining the prerecorded and user supplied signals to provide combined video and audio outputs, a production monitor connected to the mixer to display to the user the mixed signals, and a storage or reproduction device receiving a mixed video signal output from the mixer, wherein the prerecorded video signals from the prerecorded storage medium have a video signal content prekeyed with a keying signal to indicate areas within the prerecorded video signal to be replaced by the user supplied video signals, the mixer being operative to recognize the keying signal and substitute the user supplied video signal for those portions of said prerecorded video including said keying signal, and the mixer being operative to convert signals from the prompting channel into production control signals. 
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control signals include user prompts displayed on the production monitor but absent from the combined video output. 
     
     
       3. A recording medium carrying a prerecorded video signal, prekeyed to define background of images defined by said video signal, which video signal, on playback by a user of the recording medium in apparatus configured to recognize the prekeyed background areas, will generate a signal into which may be inserted, at least in those background areas, a local signal provided by the user. 
     
     
       4. A recording medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the video signal prerecorded on the medium is predistorted by enhancing the brightness of at least the lowlights of the prerecorded signal outside said background areas while maintaining the background areas at or below black level. 
     
     
       5. A recording medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the recording medium further carries at least one audio channel, and at least one prompting channel including data translatable into instructions for control of the user provided video signal. 
     
     
       6. A recording medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the data in the prompting channel is translatable into video data optionally overlayable on video data from said video channel. 
     
     
       7. A system for generating video signals comprising prerecorded video signals overlaid on user provided video signals, comprising a recording medium carrying a prerecorded video signal, prekeyed to define background of images defined by said video signal, which video signal, on playback by a user of the recording medium in apparatus configured to recognize the prekeyed background areas, will generate a signal into which may be inserted, at least in those background areas, a local signal provided by the user, the video signal prerecorded on the medium being predistorted by enhancing the brightness of at least the lowlights of the prerecorded signal outside said background areas while maintaining the background areas at or below black level, and a mixer receiving video signals generated by playback of video signals from said recording medium and video signals from a user provided source, the mixer including means for enhancing the brightness of at least the lowlights of the user provided signal to a similar degree as the lowlight enhancement of the prerecorded signal, and a luminance keyer receiving said prerecorded signal and said lowlight enhanced user provided signal to produce an overlaid video signal in which the user signal is overlaid on the keyed portions of the prerecorded signal, and means for restoring the lowlights of the overlaid video signal to their original levels to provide an output signal. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus configured to combine video signals from a plurality of video sources, comprising:
   an input configured to receive a first video signal from a pre - recorded video source and configured to receive a second video signal from a second video source, the first video signal defining a foreground and including pre - keyed background portions;        a mixer coupled with the input and configured to replace the identified pre - keyed background portions of the first video source with the second video signal to generate a synchronized video signal; and        an output coupled with the mixer and configured to provide the synchronized video signal to an output device.     
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second video source comprises a camera for capturing video images. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second video signal is a live video signal from the camera for capturing video images. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mixer further comprises a switcher configured to detect the pre- keyed background portions of the first video signal and configured to generate a combined video signal from non - keyed portions of the first video signal and the second video signal.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the mixer further comprises a time base control unit configured to receive the first video signal and the second video signal and configured to synchronize the first video signal and the second video signal. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mixer further comprises a brightness enhancement circuit configured to enhance a brightness level of lowlights in the second video signal. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first video signal comprises a prompting channel. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the prompting channel includes prompting signals. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the mixer further comprises a closed caption decoder configured to extract text from the prompting signal for display on the output device. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the mixer extracts the control signals from the prompting channel for controlling an external device coupled with the mixer. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the external device is the second video source. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the output device comprises one from a group consisting of a television and a video monitor. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pre- keyed portions comprise one from a group consisting of chroma - keyed portions and luminance key portions.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mixer is further configured to identify the pre- keyed background portions of the first video signal prior to replacement of the pre - keyed background portions.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first video source comprises a pre- recorded storage medium.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first video source comprises a tape for storing video. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the tape comprises a video tape. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first video source comprises a disk for storing video. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the disk comprises a video disc. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the output devices comprise a device for recording video. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the device comprises a recorder. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first video signal comprises one of a composite signal and an s- video signal.   
     
     
       30. A method for producing a combined video signal from a plurality of video signals from a plurality of video sources, comprising:
   receiving a first video signal from a pre - recorded video source, the first video signal including a keying signal;        receiving a second video signal from second video source; and        replacing the keying signal with the second video signal to generate a video signal comprising portions of the first video signal and the second video signal.     
     
     
       31. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , wherein the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal. 
     
     
       32. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 31 , wherein the prompting signal includes at least one from a group consisting of text, dimension indicators, and camera control signals. 
     
     
       33. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of generating screen prompts from the prompting signal. 
     
     
       34. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of extracting a control signal from the first video signal. 
     
     
       35. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 34 , wherein the control signal is adapted to control the second video source. 
     
     
       36. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , wherein the keying signal comprises one from a group consisting of a chrominance signal, a luminance signal, and a color signal. 
     
     
       37. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , wherein the step of replacing further comprises:
   reading a luminance signal from the first video signal; and        blocking at least a portion of the first video signal and passing at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the luminance signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined value.     
     
     
       38. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 37 , wherein the luminance signal of the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal and the method further comprising:
   passing at least a portion of the luminance signal of the first video signal to a closed caption decoder; and        decoding the prompting signal to recover data therein.     
     
     
       39. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 38 , further comprising:
   passing the data to a processing system; and        generating control signals from the data.     
     
     
       40. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , wherein the step of replacing further comprises:
   reading a luminance signal from the first video signal; and        passing at least a portion of the first video signal and passing at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the luminance signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined value.     
     
     
       41. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , further comprising:
   reading a chrominance signal from the first video signal; and        blocking at least a portion of the first video signal and passing at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the chrominance signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined value.     
     
     
       42. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , further comprising:
   reading a chrominance signal from the first video signal; and        passing at least a portion of the first video signal and blocking at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the chrominance signal being less than or equal to the predetermined value.     
     
     
       43. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 42 , wherein the chrominance signal of the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal and the method further comprising:
   passing at least a portion of the chrominance signal of the first video signal to a closed caption decoder; and        decoding the prompting signal to recover data therein.     
     
     
       44. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 43 , further comprising:
   passing the data to a processing system; and        generating control signals from the data.     
     
     
       45. The method for producing the combined video signal of  claim 30 , further comprising identifying the keying signal in the first video signal prior to replacing the keying signal. 
     
     
       46. A method of producing a video recording having a first video signal for use with mixing with another video signal, the method comprising:
   capturing on a storage medium the first video signal from a first video source;        identifying a portion of the first video signal for later overlay by a portion of an unkeyed second video signal from a second video source;        keying the identified portion of the first video signal; and        recording the captured and keyed first video signal on a recording medium.     
     
     
       47. The method for producing the video recording of  claim 46 , wherein the video signal includes a prompting channel. 
     
     
       48. The method of producing the video recording of  claim 47 , further comprising providing a prompting signal in the prompting channel for providing one from a group comprising on- screen text prompts and control signals.   
     
     
       49. The method for producing the video recording of  claim 41 , wherein the second video source is a camera configured to capture video signals. 
     
     
       50. The method for producing the video recording of  claim 49 , wherein the camera configured to capture video signals captures live video signals. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the recording medium comprises a recorder. 
     
     
       52. The method of producing the video recording of  claim 46 , wherein the first video signal comprises entertainment related video content. 
     
     
       53. A video playback device configured to provide video signals comprising a portion of a first video signal and a portion of a second video signal, the video playback device comprising:
   a playback mechanism configured to play a pre - recorded video medium, the pre - recorded medium further comprising a pre - recorded video signal including a pre - keyed portion; and        a mixer coupled with the playback mechanism and configured to identify the pre - keyed portion of the pre - recorded video signal and configured to receive a second video signal from a video source, and configured to replace either the pre - keyed portion or a non - pre - keyed portion of the pre - recorded video signal with the second video signal to generate an output video signal.     
     
     
       54. The video playback device of  claim 53 , further comprising an external port configured to couple with an external device for transmitting the output video signal. 
     
     
       55. The video playback device of  claim 54 , wherein the external port couples with a device for recording video. 
     
     
       56. The video playback device of  claim 55 , wherein the device for recording video comprises a recorder. 
     
     
       57. The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the video source comprises a camera for capturing video signals. 
     
     
       58. The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the second video signal from the camera for capturing video signals comprises a live video signal. 
     
     
       59. The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the mixer further comprises a switcher configured to detect the pre- keyed portions of the pre - recorded video signal.   
     
     
       60. The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the mixer further comprises a brightness enhancement circuit configured to enhance a brightness level of lowlights in the second video signal. 
     
     
       61. The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the pre- recorded video signal further comprises a prompting channel.   
     
     
       62. The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the prompting channel includes prompting signals. 
     
     
       63. The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the mixer further comprises a closed caption decoder configured to extract text from the prompting channel for display on an external device. 
     
     
       64. The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the mixer extracts control signals from the prompting channel for controlling an external device coupled with the mixer. 
     
     
       65. The video playback device of  claim 64 , wherein the external device comprises a device for displaying video images. 
     
     
       66. The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the mixer further comprises a time base control unit configured to receive the pre- recorded video signal and the second video signal and configured to synchronize the pre - recorded video signal and the second video signal.   
     
     
       67. The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the pre- keyed portions of the pre - recorded video signal comprise one from a group consisting of chroma - key portions and luminance key portions.   
     
     
       68. The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the pre- recorded medium comprises a video source connected through a communications network.   
     
     
       69. The video playback device of  claim 53 , wherein the pre- recorded medium comprises a tape.   
     
     
       70. The video playback device of  claim 69 , wherein the tape comprises a video tape. 
     
     
       71. The video playback device of  claim 53 , wherein the pre- recorded medium comprises a disk.   
     
     
       72. The video playback device of  claim 71 , wherein the disk comprises a video disc. 
     
     
       73. The video playback device of  claim 53 , wherein the external port couples with a device for recording video. 
     
     
       74. The video playback device of  claim 53 , wherein the external device comprises a device for viewing video images. 
     
     
       75. The video playback device of  claim 53 , wherein the external device comprises a device for recording video signals. 
     
     
       76. An apparatus configured to combine video signals from a plurality of video sources, comprising:
   an input configured to receive a first video signal from a pre - recorded video source and configured to receive a second video signal from a second video source, the first video signal including a keyed portion and a non - keyed portion;        a mixer coupled with the input and configured to replace either the keyed portion or the non - keyed portion with the second video signal to generate a synchronized video signal; and        an output coupled with the mixer and configured to provide the synchronized video signal for an output device.     
     
     
       77. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the keyed portion is a background portion and the non- keyed portion is a foreground portion of the first video signal.   
     
     
       78. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the non- keyed portion is a background portion and the keyed portion is a foreground portion of the video signal.   
     
     
       79. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the second video source comprises a camera for capturing video. 
     
     
       80. The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein the second video signal comprises a live video signal from the camera for capturing video. 
     
     
       81. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the mixer further comprises a switcher configured to detect the non- keyed portion of the first video signal and configured to generate the synchronized video signal from the non - keyed portions of the first video signal and the second video signal.   
     
     
       82. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the mixer further comprises a switcher configured to detect the keyed portion of the first video signal and configured to generate the synchronized video signal from the keyed portions of the first video signal and the second video signal. 
     
     
       83. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the mixer further comprises a brightness enhancement circuit configured to enhance a brightness level of lowlights in the second video signal. 
     
     
       84. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the mixer further comprises a time base control unit configured to receive the first video signal and the second video signal to synchronize the first video signal and the second video signal. 
     
     
       85. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the first video signal further comprises a prompting channel. 
     
     
       86. The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the prompting channel includes prompting signals. 
     
     
       87. The apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the mixer further comprises a closed caption decoder configured to extract text from the prompting signal for display on the output device. 
     
     
       88. The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the mixer extracts the control signals from the prompting channel for controlling an external device coupled with the mixer. 
     
     
       89. The apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein the external device comprises a device for displaying video images. 
     
     
       90. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a chroma- key portion.   
     
     
       91. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a luminance key portion. 
     
     
       92. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a chroma - key portion.   
     
     
       93. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a luminance key portion.   
     
     
       94. The video playback device of  claim 76 , wherein the external port couples with a device for recording video. 
     
     
       95. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the output device comprises a device for displaying video images. 
     
     
       96. The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein the first video source comprises a medium for storing recorded images. 
     
     
       97. The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the medium comprises a tape or a disk. 
     
     
       98. A method for combining video signals from a plurality of video signal sources, comprising:
   receiving a first video signal from a pre - recorded video source, the first video signal further comprising a keyed portion and a non - keyed portion;        receiving a second video signal from second video source; and        replacing either the keyed portion or the non - keyed portion of the first video signal with the second video signal to generate a third video signal comprising portions of the first video signal and the second video signal.     
     
     
       99. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal. 
     
     
       100. The method for combining video signals of  claim 99 , wherein the prompting signal includes at least one from a group consisting of text, dimension indicators, and camera control signals. 
     
     
       101. The method for combining video signals of  claim 99 , further comprising the step of generating screen prompts from the prompting signal. 
     
     
       102. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , further comprising the step of extracting a control signal from the first video signal. 
     
     
       103. The method for combining video signals of  claim 102 , wherein the control signal is adapted to control the second video source. 
     
     
       104. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a background portion. 
     
     
       105. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a background portion.   
     
     
       106. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a foreground portion. 
     
     
       107. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a foreground portion.   
     
     
       108. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal is a chrominance signal. 
     
     
       109. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal is a chrominance signal.   
     
     
       110. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal is a luminance signal. 
     
     
       111. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal is a luminance signal.   
     
     
       112. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , further comprising:
   reading a luminance signal from the first video signal; and        blocking at least a portion of the first video signal and passing at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the luminance signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined value.     
     
     
       113. The method for combining video signals of  claim 112 , wherein the luminance signal of the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal and the method further comprising:
   passing at least a portion of the luminance signal of the first video signal to a closed caption decoder; and        decoding the prompting signal to recover data therein.     
     
     
       114. The method for combining video signals of  claim 113 , further comprising:
   passing the data to a processing system; and        generating control signals from the data.     
     
     
       115. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , further comprising:
   reading a chrominance signal from the first video signal; and        blocking at least a portion of the first video signal and passing at least a portion of the second video signal in response to a value of the chrominance signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined value.     
     
     
       116. The method for combining video signals of  claim 115 , wherein the chrominance signal of the first video signal further comprises a prompting signal and the method further comprising:
   passing at least a portion of the chrominance signal of the first video signal to a closed caption decoder; and        decoding the prompting signal to recover data therein.     
     
     
       117. The method for combining video signals of  claim 116 , further comprising:
   passing the data to a processing system; and        generating control signals from the data.     
     
     
       118. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the second video source comprises a video camera. 
     
     
       119. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the third video signal comprises an output video signal. 
     
     
       120. The method for combining video signals of  claim 119 , further comprising supplying the output video signal to an output device. 
     
     
       121. The method for combining video signals of  claim 120 , wherein the output device comprises one from a group of a visual display device and a data signal storage device. 
     
     
       122. The method for combining video signals of  claim 98 , wherein the first video source comprises a computing device connected through a communications network. 
     
     
       123. The method of  claim 98 , wherein the first video source comprises a medium for storing recorded images. 
     
     
       124. The apparatus of  claim 123 , wherein the medium comprises a tape or a disk. 
     
     
       125. An apparatus configured to generate a synchronized video signal from a plurality of video signals, comprising:
   an input means for receiving a first video signal from a means for storing and for receiving a second video signal from a means for capturing video, the first video signal including a keyed portion and a non - keyed portion;        a mixing means coupled with the input means for replacing either the keyed portion or the non - keyed portion with the second video signal and for generating a synchronized video signal; and        an output means coupled with the mixing means for outputting the synchronized video signal to an output device.     
     
     
       126. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the keyed portion is a background portion and the non- keyed portion is a foreground portion of the first video signal.   
     
     
       127. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the non- keyed portion is a background portion and the keyed portion is a foreground portion of the video signal.   
     
     
       128. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the means for capturing video comprises a second video source. 
     
     
       129. The apparatus of  claim 128 , wherein the second video signal comprises a live video signal from the second video source. 
     
     
       130. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the means for mixing further comprises a means for detecting the non- keyed portion of the first video signal and a means for generating the synchronized video signal from the non - keyed portions of the first video signal and the second video signal.   
     
     
       131. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the means for mixing further comprises means for detecting the keyed portion of the first video signal and a means for generating the synchronized video signal from the keyed portions of the first video signal and the second video signal. 
     
     
       132. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the means for mixing further comprises a means for enhancing a brightness level of lowlights in the second video signal. 
     
     
       133. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the first video signal further comprises a prompting channel. 
     
     
       134. The apparatus of  claim 133 , wherein the prompting channel includes prompting signals. 
     
     
       135. The apparatus of  claim 134 , wherein the means for mixing further comprises a means for extracting text from the prompting signal for display on the output device. 
     
     
       136. The apparatus of  claim 133 , wherein the means for mixing further comprises a means for extracting the control signals from the prompting channel for controlling an external device. 
     
     
       137. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a chroma- key portion.   
     
     
       138. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a luminance key portion. 
     
     
       139. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a chroma - key portion.   
     
     
       140. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the non- keyed portion of the first video signal comprises a luminance key portion.   
     
     
       141. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the means for mixing comprises a mixer. 
     
     
       142. The video playback device of  claim 125 , wherein the external port couples with a device for recording video. 
     
     
       143. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the output device comprises a device for displaying video images. 
     
     
       144. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the output device comprises a device for recording video signals. 
     
     
       145. The apparatus of  claim 125 , wherein the first video source comprises a medium for storing recorded images. 
     
     
       146. The apparatus of  claim 145 , wherein the medium comprises a tape or a disk.