Automated story generation

Abstract

Automatic story production is implemented by the utilization of theme scripts with user assets to generate a quality finished product with minimum user input or direction. A user chooses a predesigned theme script to be applied to the user's assets to automatically create a story with a particular look and feel. Metadata and feature information, when available, is automatically gathered from the user assets to personalize the generated story. A user can include additional information and/or alter any aspect of the generated story to further personalize the resultant finished product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed on at least one computing device that includes at least one processor and memory, the method comprising:
 analyzing, by the at least one computing device, media content that is tagged with descriptive metadata;   processing, by the at least one computing device, a theme script that is directed to the media content and that comprises a plurality of rules; and   generating, by the at least one computing device based on the analyzing and the processing, a story that comprises at least a portion of the media content that is selected according to at least a first of the plurality of rules and that is organized in the story according to at least a second of the plurality of rules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the processing further comprises transforming at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to styling elements indicated by the theme script. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the plurality of rules are applied to the analyzed media content according to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where the processing further comprises transforming at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to the plurality of rules of the theme script as applied to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include grouping rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are grouped within the generated story. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include ordering rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are ordered within the generated story. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include selecting rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are selected for inclusion in the generated story. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 at least one processor;   memory coupled to the at least one processor;   an analysis engine via which the computing device analyzes media content that is tagged with descriptive metadata;   an adaptation engine via which the computing device processes a theme script that is directed to the media content and that comprises a plurality of rules; and   a theme application engine via which the computing device generates, based on the analyzed media content and the processed theme script, a story that comprises at least a portion of the media content that is selected according to at least a first of the plurality of rules and that is organized in the story according to at least a second of the plurality of rules.   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , theme application engine via which the computing device transforms at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to styling elements indicated by the theme script. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8  where the plurality of rules are applied to the analyzed media content according to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8  where the processing further comprises transforming at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to the plurality of rules of the theme script as applied to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 8  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include grouping rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are grouped within the generated story. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 8  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include ordering rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are ordered within the generated story. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 8  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include selecting rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are selected for inclusion in the generated story. 
     
     
         15 . At least one computer storage device the comprises computer-executable instructions that, based on execution by at least one computing device that includes at least one processor and memory, configure the at least one computing device to perform actions comprising:
 analyzing, by the at least one computing device, media content that is tagged with descriptive metadata;   processing, by the at least one computing device, a theme script that is directed to the media content and that comprises a plurality of rules; and   generating, by the at least one computing device based on the analyzing and the processing, a story that comprises at least a portion of the media content that is selected according to at least a first of the plurality of rules and that is organized in the story according to at least a second of the plurality of rules.   
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer storage device of  claim 15  where the processing further comprises transforming at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to styling elements indicated by the theme script. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer storage device of  claim 15  where the plurality of rules are applied to the analyzed media content according to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer storage device of  claim 15  where the processing further comprises transforming at least a portion of the analyzed media content according to the plurality of rules of the theme script as applied to the descriptive metadata with which the analyzed media content is tagged. 
     
     
         19 . The at least one computer storage device of  claim 15  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include grouping rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are grouped within the generated story. 
     
     
         20 . The at least one computer storage device of  claim 15  where the plurality of rules of the theme script include ordering rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are ordered within the generated story, or where the plurality of rules of the theme script include selecting rules that define logic by which various of the analyzed media content are selected for inclusion in the generated story.