Method and apparatus for providing a transition between multimedia content
A method and apparatus for providing a transition between multimedia content, e.g., video clips. The method and apparatus detects a transition trigger that identifies that a transition is necessary at a specific point within a currently playing video clip. The method and apparatus select a driver level API for producing a desired transition effect, then executes the selected API to produce the transition effect. The transition API controls a video decoder such that a currently playing video can be altered at the transition point to have a specific transition effect. Controlling the luminance and audio signal levels of the decoder creates the desired transition effect.
1 . A method for creating transitions for multimedia clips, where the method is performed within a multimedia content server, comprising:
providing a multimedia clip to a video decoder within the multimedia content server;
detecting a transition trigger to identify a point in the multimedia clip at which a transition is to be generated; and
controlling the functionality of the video decoder to produce a specific transition effect for the multimedia clip.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia clip is a video clip.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transition trigger is at least one of a timestamp, an end of file indicator or is contained in metadata associated with the multimedia clip.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising splicing a transition clip onto the multimedia clip at the specific transition point.
5 . The method of claim 1 controlling the functionality of the video decoder to adjust at least one on-screen display graphic to produce an overlay as the transition effect.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling step further comprises selecting a driver level API for implementing the specific transition effect.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the driver level API changes at least one of luminance or audio level of the multimedia clip.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the driver level API produces at least one of a fade, a slide, or a swipe.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling step further comprises partially decoding the multimedia clip to facilitate altering data bits within the multimedia clip to create the specific transition effect.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the altered data bits change at least one of luminance or audio levels of the multimedia clip.
11 . A server for creating transition for multimedia clips comprising:
a broadcast control module for receiving a multimedia clip and broadcasting the clip via at least one channel;
a transition control module, coupled to the broadcast control module, for controlling a video decoder to create a transition for the multimedia clip.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the multimedia clip is a video clip.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transition control module is activated upon the occurrence of a transition trigger, the transition trigger is at least one of a timestamp, an end of file indicator or is contained in metadata associated with the multimedia clip.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the video decoder splices a transition clip onto the multimedia clip at the specific transition point.
15 . The apparatus of claim 11 the video decoder adjusts at least one on-screen display graphic to produce an overlay as the transition effect.
16 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transition control module selects a driver level API for implementing the specific transition effect.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the driver level API changes at least one of luminance or audio level of the multimedia clip.
18 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the driver level API produces at least one of a fade, a slide, or a swipe.
19 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the video decoder partially decodes the multimedia clip to facilitate altering data bits within the multimedia clip to create the specific transition effect.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the altered data bits change at least one of luminance or audio levels of the multimedia clip.