Methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for composing composite content

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for composing composite content. According to embodiments, there is provided an authoring device which may facilitate acquisition or generation of one or more content segments at least partially based on one or more portions of a composite content authoring template. According to further embodiments, content segments produced by the authoring device may be automatically processed in accordance with instructions embedded within the same template used by the authoring device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for composing composite content in accordance with a composite content authoring template, said method comprising:
 using at least one processor for:
 receiving at least a portion of the Composite Content Authoring Template (CCAT), wherein the CCAT portion is associated with a given content segment type from a set of possible content segment types and includes one or more Content Acquisition Objects (CAQOs) and one or more Content Authoring Objects (CAOs); 
 acquiring content corresponding to the given content segment type; 
 producing at least one content segment using one or more processing indicators defined by the received CCAT portion; 
 associating between the at least one content segment and the one or more processing indicators; and 
 performing automated postproduction processing of each of the at least one produced content segment based on respective one or more processing indicators; 
   wherein the one or more processing indicators associated with a content segment are selected from the group consisting of: (1) metadata, (2) watermarks, (3) audio or video segment timing markers, (4) a filename, (5) a file designator, (6) a pointer, (7) an image processing designator or instruction, (8) an image stitching designator or instruction, (9) a rendered object designator or placeholder, and (10) an image overlay designator or instruction;   wherein automated post production processing includes a member of a group consisting of:   (1) content segment stitching,   (2) content segment element extraction from background,   (3) content segment element morphing,   (4) content segment element blending,   (5) content segment element rendering and/or augmentation,   (6) content segment background rendering and/or augmentation, and   (7) content segment group packaging.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more CAQOs and CAOs are selected from a group of objects consisting of: (1) constant values, (2) operational variables, (3) executable code, (4) interpreted code, (5) device parameters, (6) written user instructions, (7) audible user instructions or cues, and (8) graphical or video based user instructions. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein content acquisition includes: (1) acquiring images through an authoring device camera, (2) acquiring images through a camera functionally associated with an authoring device, (3) acquiring audio through an authoring device microphone, (4) receiving user text or graphic input through user interface of the authoring device, and (5) acquiring a user input through any sensor associated with the authoring device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor is of an authoring device selected from a group consisting of: (1) a desktop workstation, (2) a laptop computer, (3) a smartphone, (4) digital camera, (5) a set-top box, (6) a gaming appliance, and (7) a tablet device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a CAQO of a given template portion provides positioning or orientation instructions when acquiring content for a content segment using the given template portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein positioning or orientation instructions are facilitated by code which accesses one or more sensors of the authoring device. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein portions of a given template are provided to two or more separate authoring devices. 
     
     
         8 . A system for composing composite content in accordance with a content authoring template, said system comprising:
 a composite content server including storage, processing and communication circuitry adapted to provide to one or more authoring devices at least a portion of the Composite Content Authoring Template (CCAT), wherein each CCAT portion is associated with a given content segment type from a set of possible content segment types and includes one or more Content Acquisition Objects (CAQOs) and one or more Content Authoring Objects (CAOs) adapted to facilitate:   (1) acquisition, at the authoring device, of content corresponding to the given content segment type;   (2) content segment production at each of the one or more authoring devices;   (3) association to a content segment one or more processing indicators defined by the template portion used in producing the content segment; and (4) automated postproduction processing of each of one or more produced content segments;   wherein the one or more indicators associated with a content segment are selected from the group consisting of: (1) metadata, (2) watermarks, (3) audio or video segment timing markers, (4) a filename, (5) a file designator, (6) a pointer, (7) an image processing designator or instruction, (8) an image stitching designator or instruction, (9) a rendered object designator or placeholder, (10) an image overlay designator or instruction;   wherein automated postproduction processing of one or more content segments includes: (1) content segment stitching, (2) content segment element extraction from background, (3) content segment element morphing, (4) content segment element blending, (5) content segment element rendering and/or augmentation, (6) content segment background rendering and/or augmentation, and (7) content segment group packaging.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the one or more CAQOs and CAOs are selected from the group of objects consisting of: (1) constant values, (2) operational variables, (3) executable code, (4) interpreted code, (5) device parameters, (6) written user instructions, (7) audible user instructions or cues, and (8) graphical or video based user instructions. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein content acquisition includes: (1) acquiring images through an authoring device camera, (2) acquiring images through a camera functionally associated with an authoring device, (3) acquiring audio through an authoring device microphone, (4) receiving user text or graphic input through user interface of the authoring device, and (5) acquiring a user input through any sensor associated with the authoring device. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the authoring device allows multiple users to work on the same Composite Content Authoring Template (CCAT); wherein each user is working on a segment of the same Composite Content Authoring Template (CCAT). 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said authoring device is selected from a group of devices consisting of: (1) a desktop workstation, (2) a laptop computer, (3) a smartphone, (4) digital camera, (5) a set-top box, (6) a gaming appliance, and (7) a tablet device. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein a CAQO of a given template portion provides authoring device positioning or orientation instructions when producing a content segment using the given template portion. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein positioning or orientation instructions are supported with user indicators operative using code which accesses one or more sensors of the authoring device. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein portions of a given template are provided to two or more separate authoring devices.