Video Editing Interface Concatenator and Focus Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video editing systems face difficulties in managing and locating media elements within a large collection, leading to inefficiencies in the editing workflow due to the need to handle and arrange numerous individual clips.

Innovation Solution

A user interface that includes a concatenator button to combine multiple media elements into a single media element, allowing high-speed scrubbing and easy location of required clips, along with a focus feature to narrow down media elements by metadata, streamlining the editing process by reducing the number of visible elements and enhancing navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple media elements are displayed individually in the media bin, then users can see and select specific clips, but the interface becomes complex and time-consuming to navigate through large collections

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMedia element navigationVSAvoidInterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual media elements into a single concatenated media element that displays all clips sequentially. This allows users to view the entire collection in one continuous timeline rather than navigating through separate entries, significantly simplifying the interface and improving navigation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The concatenated media element is segmented into individual clip segments that can be independently identified and selected. Each segment corresponds to a specific media element from the original collection, allowing users to locate and extract specific clips efficiently from the concatenated view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If all media elements are displayed individually, then users can access metadata and properties of each clip, but the time required to locate required clips increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEditing workflow efficiencyVSAvoidTime to locate clips
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By concatenating all media elements into a single continuous timeline, the patent eliminates the need to scroll through or search through individual clip entries. Users can view the entire collection in sequential order, dramatically reducing the time required to locate required clips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-arranges all media elements in a predetermined sequence within the concatenated element, allowing users to immediately view clips in the order they were organized. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for users to perform search or navigation actions to locate clips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If media elements are handled individually, then users can edit and arrange each clip precisely, but the editing process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMedia element managementVSAvoidEditing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual media elements into a single concatenated media element that can be managed as one unit. This simplifies the editing process by reducing the number of separate operations needed to handle multiple clips, while still allowing precise editing of individual segments within the concatenation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3996092B1Video editing or media management system
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 BLACKMAGIC DESIGN PTY LTD
  • EP3996092B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3996092B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3996092B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure is concerned with a software product including a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, displays a graphical user interface (100) for a video editing system, the user interface (100) including: a media bin (101) displaying a plurality of media elements (102A-102F) imported into the video editing system; a viewing window (110) for viewing a selected one of the media elements (102A-102F); a timeline (120, 140); a concatenator element (150); and a focus element; responsive to a user actuating the concatenator element (150), concatenating the media elements (102A-102F) present in the media bin (101) together into a single media element and loading the single media element into the viewing window (110); and responsive to a user actuating said focus element, modifying the single media element to form a focused single media element that concatenates only those media elements present in the media bin (101) with related metadata and loading the focused single media element into the viewing window (110).