Reading image frames as files

1. Image data processing apparatus, comprising:

programmable processing means including interface means for receiving input signals from an input device and for supplying output signals to a display device;

image frame storage means having an array of a plurality of storage devices, wherein each storage device is configured to store image frames of a predetermined definition that is a native format for said storage device; and

program instruction storage means configured to supply program instructions to said processing means;

wherein:

first selected image frames are read from said frame storage means and modified after translation into an alternative format in response to a first program; in which

said processing means produces output signals to said display device to display a view of stored frames in said first program, wherein said stored frames are stored in said native format but appear in said view to said first program as if stored in said alternative format; and

upon receiving input signals, from said first program, selecting a displayed frame, said processing means translates on the fly as said displayed frame is required by said first program, said selected stored frame into said alternative format and supplies said translated frame to said first program.

2. Image data processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image frames have a definition defined in accordance with NTSC, PAL, high definition or cinematographic standards.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said image frames are stored in uncompressed form.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said native format optimises storage requirements for a particular image definition.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a view of stored frames is generated in accordance with file based directory structures.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said file based directory structures are defined with reference to stored metadata.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said metadata is stored on a local hard disk drive.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said metadata defines clips, reels and desktops.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processing means is configured to translate a selected stored frame into a plurality of alternative formats.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said processing means produces a view for each of said plurality of formats.

11. An Image data processing facility, comprising:

a data conveying network providing data communication between a first programmable processing means and a second programmable processing means in which said second programmable processing means controls an image frame storage means, wherein:

said image frame storage means has an array of a plurality of storage devices configured to store image frames of a predetermined definition;

said first programmable processing means reads image data from said image frame storage means in a native format;

said first programmable processing means simulates a file system structure for said image frames and conveys a representation of said file system structure to said second programmable processing means over said network, in which frame-files of said structure appear as if in an alternative format that is required by said second programmable processing means;

said second programmable processing means is configured to provide user selection of an image frame based on said file structure representation;

said second programmable processing means conveys details of said selection to said first processing means over said network; and

said first processing means identifies said selected frame, reads said selected frame in said native format, translates said read frame into said alternative format and transmits said translated frame to said second processing means over said network, wherein said translation is performed on the fly as said selected frame is required by said second programmable processing means.

12. A data processing facility according to claim 11 , wherein said image frames have a definition defined in accordance with NTSC, PAL, high definition or cinematographic standards.

13. A facility according to claim 12 , wherein said image frames are stored in uncompressed form.

14. A facility according to claim 11 , wherein said native format optimises storage requirements for a particular image definition.

15. A facility according to claim 11 , wherein a view of stored frames is generated in accordance with file based directory structures.

16. A facility according to claim 15 , wherein said file based directory structures are defined with reference to stored metadata.

17. A facility according to claim 16 , wherein said first programmable processing means includes a local hard disk drive and said metadata is stored on said local hard disk drive.

18. A facility according to claim 16 , wherein said metadata defines clips, reels and desktops.

19. A facility according to claim 11 , wherein said first processing means is configured to translate a selected stored frame into a plurality of alternative formats.

20. A facility according to claim 11 , wherein said first processing means produces a view for each of said plurality of formats.

21. A method of processing image data, wherein:

first selected image frames in a native format are read from a frame storage means and are directly modified in response to a first process;

output signals are produced to a display device to display a view of stored frames, in which said stored frames are stored in said native format but appear in said view as if stored in an alternative format; and

upon receiving input signals selecting a displayed frame, translating said selected stored frame on the fly as said displayed frame is required into said alternative format and supplying said translated frame to a second process.

22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein said image frames have a definition defined in accordance with NTSC, PAL, high definition or cinematographic standards.

23. A method according to claim 22 , wherein said image frames are stored in uncompressed form.

24. A method according to claim 21 , wherein said native format optimises storage requirements for a particular image definition.

25. A method according to claim 21 , wherein a view of stored frames is generated in accordance with file based directory structures.

26. A method according to claim 25 , wherein said file based directory structures are defined with reference to stored metadata.

27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein said stored metadata is stored on a local hard disk drive.

28. A method according to claim 26 , wherein said metadata defines clips, reels and desktops.

29. A method according to claim 21 , wherein selected stored frames are translated into a plurality of alternative formats.

30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein a view for each of said plurality of formats is generated.

31. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions executable by a computer such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will perform the steps of:

reading first selected image frames in a native format from a frame storage means and modifying said first selected image frames in response to a first process;

producing output signals to a display device to display a view of stored frames to a second process, in which said stored frames are stored in said native format but appear in said view to said second process as if stored in an alternative format that is required by said second process;

said first process receiving input signals, from said second process, selecting a displayed frame; and

said first process translating said selected stored frame into said alternative formats and supplying said translated frame to said second process on the fly as said stored frame is required by said second process.

32. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 31 such that, when executing said instructions, a view of stored frames is generated in accordance with file based directory structures.

33. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 32 such that, when executing said instructions, said file based directory structures are defined with reference to metadata stored on a local hard disk drive.

34. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 31 such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will translate selected stored frames into a plurality of alternative formats.

35. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions according to claim 34 such that, when executing said instructions, a computer will generate a view for each of said plurality of formats.

36. A method of reading image frames as files wherein said image data is stored as contiguous clips of image frames and a local processing system reads said image frames as a clip and processes said image frames as a clip;

said local processing system presents said clip to a network in the form of a plurality of frame files in an alternative format;

a second remote processing system identifies said plurality of image frames over said network and makes request for selected ones of said image frames;

said local processing system converts said selected frames and supplies said frames in an alternative format to said second remote processing system, wherein said local processing system converts said selected frames on the fly as said selected frames are required by said second remote processing system.