Methods and systems for controlling video compositing in an interactive entertainment system

Abstract

An interactive video compositing device includes a chroma-key mixer, video switcher and control circuitry. The chroma-key mixer generates a composite image by combining a real-time image, such as one captured by a video recorder, with a prerecorded video image, such as a movie. The composite image includes the modified real-time image superimposed, or overlaid, onto the prerecorded image. The video switcher automatically selects either the composite image or the prerecorded image to be output to a display. The control circuitry controls the video switcher and other outputted signals based on data file information that corresponds to content of the prerecorded image or media. For example, the data files may contain information relating to the presence (or absence) of a particular character in a movie scene, thus allowing for the output and display, at appropriate times, of the real-time composite image instead of the prerecorded image.

1 . A method for creating a data file used for controlling the combining of video images for an interactive entertainment system, the method comprising:
 accessing a first audiovisual signal comprising video content having a plurality of frames of a cinematic scene, wherein the video content comprises a character element that appears from a first frame of the plurality of frames until a second frame of the plurality of frames, and wherein the character element is not present in the video content in a frame immediately preceding the first frame and a frame immediately following the second frame;   identifying a portion of the first audiovisual signal during which a second video signal comprising a video image of an individual is to be combined with the first audiovisual signal to create a combined signal in which the video image of the individual is displayed in place of the character element, wherein the portion of the first audiovisual signal begins with the first frame of the plurality of frames of the cinematic scene and ends with the second frame of the plurality of frames of the cinematic scene;   electronically storing in a data file first reference information that identifies the first frame of the plurality of frames of the cinematic scene; and   electronically storing in the data file second reference information that identifies the frame immediately following the second frame of the plurality of frames of the cinematic scene.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising electronically storing in the data file third reference information indicative of size information associated with the character element. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising electronically storing in the data file third reference information indicative of a name of the character element. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first audiovisual signal comprises at least a portion of a movie. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second video signal is part of a second audiovisual signal to be combined with the first audiovisual signal. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , additionally comprising electronically storing in the data file third reference information indicative of subtitle information associated with the character element between the first and second frames. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising electronically storing in the data file third reference information indicative of color information associated with the video content. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electronically storing the first and second reference information comprises electronically storing the first and second reference information on a storage medium comprising a second file adapted to produce the first audiovisual signal. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the storage medium comprises a digital video disk (DVD). 
   
   
       10 . A method for creating a data file used for controlling the superimposing of video images, the method comprising:
 identifying a portion of a first video image during which a second video image is to be superimposed onto the first video image, said first video image portion having a beginning frame and an ending frame;   recording in a data file first information that identifies said beginning frame; and   recording in the data file second information that identifies said ending frame.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the first video image comprises a cinematic scene, wherein at the beginning frame a character appears in the cinematic scene, and wherein at the ending frame the character no longer appears in the cinematic scene. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second video image comprises a real-time video image of a participant. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said superimposing comprises replacing the character with the real-time video image of the participant. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a second portion of the first video image during which the second video image is to be superimposed onto the first video image, the second portion of the first video image having a second beginning frame and a second ending frame;   recording in the data file third information that identifies the second beginning frame; and   recording in the data file fourth information that identifies the second ending frame.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first video image comprises a cinematic scene, wherein at the beginning frame a character is associated with the cinematic scene, wherein at the ending frame the character is no longer associated with the cinematic scene, wherein at the second beginning frame the character is associated with the cinematic scene, and wherein at the second ending frame the character is no longer associated with the cinematic scene. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second information identify frame numbers of the first video signal comprising the first video image. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second information identify counter numbers corresponding to a first video signal comprising the first video image. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second information identify time codes associated with a first video signal comprising the first video image. 
   
   
       19 . A software program comprising code for controlling the superimposing of a real-time image onto a prerecorded image, wherein said code identifies portions of the prerecorded image during which the real-time image is to be superimposed onto the prerecorded image. 
   
   
       20 . The software program of  claim 19 , wherein the prerecorded image comprises a cinematic scene in which a character appears in the cinematic scene during the identified portions of the prerecorded image, wherein the real-time image comprises a video image of a participant, and wherein said code is programmed to control a processor to cause the display of the real-time video image of the participant in place of the character during playback of the prerecorded image.