Field of Invention
The present invention relates to system and method for inserting extra-animated
data in real time. More particularly, a system and method for inserting extraanimated
data in real time. over the data being uplinked or broadcasted.
Background of the Invention
Subtitling or insertion of an extra data at any part of the broad casted data has
become an important feature for the broadcasters. While a program is displayed
on TV extra information in the form of news headlines, advertisements, pictures,
stock data etc can be displayed at a lower end or at any other position of the
screen with the actual data being broadcasted. The extra data or information can
be in the form of animated pictures, images, and real time data.
US 2002/0514133 discloses an apparatus for rendering animated image data for
rendering animated image in real time comprising central processing means,
data storage means, graphical processing means, and texture storage means,
said data storage means for storing data including scene data, that defines a
plurality of sequentially displayable.
Patent number US 6268849 relates to an internet television program guide
system that allows a user at the multimedia system to access television program
listings containing real time data over an internet communication link.
Patent number US 6941515 discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a
graphics engine, the graphics engine being suitable for creating. graphics in a
broadcast system. The apparatus generates a user interface allowing a user to
control a graphics engine. The apparatus has a first input for receiving at least
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one template data element, the template including a graphics component and a
data field component suitable for receiving an information unit.
The conventional systems used to display or insert an extra-animated data over
the actual data to be transmitted are either very complicated or include a lot of
cost. Thus, there is a strong need of a system and method which is economic
and also easy to operate so as to insert extra animated data over the actual data
being broadcasted in real time.
Summary and Object of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for
inserting extra-animated data in real time, over the data being uplinked or
broadcasted.
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved by providing a system and
method that captures data in real time, stores the data for as long as is required,
re-packages the data in a pre-defined format, forwards the re-packaged data to a
graphics system that uses pre-defined custom control modules to merge data
with pre-defined animation templates and generates fill and key signal for the
broadcast switcher to merge into an existing broadcast video stream.
Brief description of accompanying drawings
The features of the preferred embodiment of this invention together with its
objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates the system in its preferred embodiment
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Figure 2 illustrates the flowchart according to the present invention.
Description of the preferred embodiment
Reference will now be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
According to the preferred embodiment, as shown by figure1 and 2, data is fed
into the system from various sources this data can be live, stock, weather etc.
(1 01 ). Said inputted data (201) is then stored in a database (1 02 and 202) Said
data is then repackaged (204) by the graphic controller engine (104). It is then
forwarded to the graphic system.(1 05) The graphics system included a PC,
Laptop, server and like having a graphic card, capable of receiving, interpreting
modifying and transmitting the data. The data is then processed using Flash ™
This process utilizes certain pre-defined control modules which are further
customized depending on the need of the animation (205). These pre-defined
custom control modules allow the received live data to be merged with
templatized animation definitions within the control module to generate the
required graphic output. These control modules have been suitably modified to
generate a live external key signal wherever required. These modules are utilized
to animate the live data in accordance with the templatized animation
definition. (207).
The graphic system further generates fill and external key signal (208). For the
purpose of this document fill and external key signal will have the same meaning
as used by people in the television and broadcasting industry. This along with
the live animated data is send to the broadcast switcher (106) which merges this
data with the broadcast stream(208) and send it to the uplinking device( 1 07) for
broadcast (210).
Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Thus, while only certain
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embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be
apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example one or more programming
modules can be clubbed to for a single program or one can have plurality of
graphic systems. Other modifications are apparent.
Flash TM is a registered trademark of Adobe ™.

We claim:
1. A method for inserting extra-animated data in real time over the data being
broadcasted, said method comprising the steps of:
- capturing real time data (201 );
- sending said captured data over the network,
repackaging the captured data (204);
- Customizing the control modules (205) ;
- merging the live data into the pre-defined animation templates(206)
- animating the data (207);
- generating fill and external key signals (208) using the graphics system;
- embedding the fill and external key from the graphic system in the
broadcast stream by the broadcast switcher and
- forwarding the data by broadcast switcher to the uplinker(107) for
broadcast
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data to be animated is
custom data, said data not being captured in real time.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said real time data includes
data such as stocks data, newsroom information and weather feeds.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the format in which the said data ~
is animated is digital throughout thereby resulting in high on-air quality.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein support for using multiple local
languages so as to insert data is provided.
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6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said real time data includes any
kind of information in various forms including pictures, animated videos or
written data.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said real time data is for multiple
purposes such as for instance news, weather broadcasts or
advertisements.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said real time data is
displayed as a subpart of the information already being broadcasted.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein separate applications can be
used to show different kinds of animated data.
10.A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the said separate
applications can be deployed separately and multiple setups can be
deployed of the same graphics system.
11 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flash ™ animations are
converted as to be capable of generating broadcast quality external key
signal and a fill key.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is animated using
flashTM.
13. A system for inserting extra-animated data in real time over the data being
broadcasted, said system comprising:
input means (101 and 103) for capturing data of various kinds to be
animated from various sources;
modification means connected to the said input means, for modifying
and exchanging said data between the work stations;
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- delivery means connected to the modification means, for retrieving
data from the modification means and executing the delivery of said
data;
- animating means (104) connected to the delivery means for producing
the graphical representation of said data in the form of a particular
template;
- transmission means connected to the animation application means for
transmitting the said template;
interfacing means connected to the transmission means for interfacing
to the switcher; and
broadcast switcher (106) connected to the uplinker (107) for
broadcasting the said data so as to allow the viewers to watch it on a
display means merged with the existing data being broadcasted.
14.A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said animating means
generates graphics based on templates.
15.A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said animating means converts
the data into animated data by using the standard template.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said standard template may be
designed per requirement.
17. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said animating means
comprises of a controller that generates controller modules that can be
controlled using a remote operator to run the graphics.
18.A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said animating means is
web-based.
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19.A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said animating means is
network-based.
20.A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said animating means
comprises of a flash application.
21.A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said flash application creates
graphics which can overlay broadcast signals like video and other graphic
systems.
22.A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said system is completely
modular.