text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|PCT number
|Publication date
|Apr 20, 2010
|Filing date
|Dec 16, 1999
|Priority date
|Dec 16, 1999
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Peter Rowan Kellock, Srikumar Karaikudi Subramaniam, Ramanath Padmanabhan, Liang Kee Goh
|Original Assignee
|Muvee Technologies Pte. Ltd.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (34), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (40), Classifications (16), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The invention relates generally to video production. In particular, the invention relates to video re-purposing, editing and archiving for video production.
Today's non-linear video editors emerged from conventional editing methods such as film cutting and linear dub-editing using video players. These tools are well suited to scenarios where the desired result is a single, high-quality video production. It is not possible, however, to view multiple editing alternatives of a video production quickly using these tools, which is an impediment particularly to novice video editors. A video production novice therefore is forced either to "make do" with whatever the novice may create quickly or to spend a lot of time exploring alternatives.
A number of trends are creating a need for a radically different video production tool. One such trend is seen in the rapid growth of the amount of video material being shot or recorded, particularly video material shot by non-professionals. Technological developments or breakthroughs resulting in products such as Digital Video (DV) cameras mean that more and more video material are shot or recorded in digital format and of professional or near-professional technical quality. However, the cost of editing this type of video material using traditional tools is prohibitive in many cases.
Another trend is seen in the extension of the video material viewing paradigm beyond familiar broadcast and VCR paradigms. Viewers want increasing control over video material being watched, for how long, in what sequence, etc. This trend is particularly true for non-fiction video material in educational and professional environments. This trend also implies that there is a growing need to make bodies of video material available in multiple forms, for example, in video productions of different lengths, with different emphases, aimed at different audience demographics, etc.
Yet another trend is seen in the exponentially increasing availability of the amount of video material available in digital format and on the Internet. This trend drives a growing need for effective description of video material by using descriptors, so that video material appropriate to a particular purpose may be retrieved from a large body of available video material through the use of descriptors. There is great interest in the area of video material description today driving standardization efforts such as the Moving Pictures Experts Group's (MPEG) effort in relation to an MPEG-7 standard. However, a major challenge faces such efforts, and this challenge arises from two complementary facts. Firstly, descriptors automatically extracted from video material using signal analysis of the video material and therefore associated with such video material tend to lack semantic power because these descriptors are too low-level to be useful to and meaningful in the ordinary context so as to be understood by most users. Secondly, although semantically powerful descriptors may be associated with video material by being manually entered using a video production tool, this process is tedious and time-consuming and therefore the process may not be cost-effective in many applications.
Hence, there is clearly a need for a video production tool that addresses at least one of the foregoing trends.
A video production system for facilitating the creation of descriptors for video material and use of the descriptors for automating a video production process is provided.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a system for processing video segments is provided. The system includes means for creating a descriptor and ascribing at least one value thereto corresponding to a video segment. The system also includes means for assembling an output video production from at least two video segments, including means for selecting the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments and means for sequencing the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a method for processing video segments is provided. The method includes the step of creating a descriptor and ascribing at least one value thereto corresponding to a video segment. The method also includes the step of assembling an output video production from at least two video segments, the assembling step including the steps of selecting the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments, and sequencing the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, a computer program product for processing video segments is provided. The product includes a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for processing video segments. The product has computer readable program code means for creating a descriptor and ascribing at least one value thereto corresponding to a video segment. The product also has computer readable program code means for assembling an output video production from at least two video segments, including computer readable program code means for selecting the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments, and computer readable program code means for sequencing the at least two video segments according to values of at least one descriptor corresponding to the at least two video segments.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, a system for describing video segments is provided. The system includes means for creating a first descriptor and ascribing a first value thereto corresponding to a first video segment. The system also includes means for grouping said first video segment with at least one other video segment according to values of at least one other descriptor corresponding to said first video segment and said at least one other video segment. The system further includes means for ascribing said first value to said first descriptor corresponding to said at least one other video segment.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, a method for describing video segments is provided. The method includes the step of creating a first descriptor and ascribing a first value thereto corresponding to a first video segment. The method also includes the step of grouping the first video segment with at least one other video segment according to values of at least one other descriptor corresponding to the first video segment and the at least one other video segment. The method further includes the step of ascribing the first value to the first descriptor corresponding to the at least one other video segment.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, a computer program product for describing video segments is provided. The product includes a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for describing video segments. The computer program product has computer readable program code means for creating a first descriptor and ascribing a first value thereto corresponding to a first video segment. The product also has computer readable program code means for grouping the first video segment with at least one other video segment according to values of at least one other descriptor corresponding to the first video segment and the at least one other video segment. The product further has computer readable program code means for ascribing the first value to the first descriptor corresponding to the at least one other video segment.
Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:
A video production system for creating video productions from pre-existing video material, and descriptors for video material is disclosed. Such a video production system (hereinafter generally referred to as the system) addresses at least one of several trends and issues attendant thereon in relation to video production. Such trends include the growth of the amount of video material being shot, the extension of video material viewing paradigm, and the availability of the amount of video material available in digital format and on the Internet.
The system involves a display paradigm that preferably combines features of spreadsheets, graphing tools and non-linear video editors. The system also preferably enables video material to be segmented and re-concatenated in different combinations and sequences, during which, segments of video material are automatically and/or manually defined, selected and sequenced according to the value of descriptors.
The system may support a user who wishes to become familiar with a body of video material by viewing selected subsets of the body of video material in different sequences. Also, the system may support a user who wishes to explore different ways in which a body of video material may be combined to form video productions, for example, prior to a conventional video editing process. The system may further support a user who wishes to create video productions from a body of video material. Furthermore, the system may support a user who wishes to create descriptions of a body of video material to enable retrieval and re-purposing of the video material at a later time. Still further, the system may support a user who wishes to carry out other tasks related to video production and description.
The capability and effectiveness of the system depends on the way that the system allows a user try out many possibilities easily and quickly in a semi-automatic manner in video production work.
The system may be used as a tool for video re-purposing, editing or archiving in many video production scenarios. In one such scenario, a user may reuse video material from an existing video production to create a new video production. The process of reusing video material is known as "re-purposing". In another scenario, a user may utilize a body of video material to create several different, but related, video productions having, for example, different duration, different target audiences, etc. In a further scenario, a user may explore many possible sequences very quickly and create one or more "rough cuts" of video productions. In a yet further scenario, a user who is not a professional video editor may try out many possibilities or alternatives while creating a video production. By contrast, a professional video editor who is better able to pre-visualize the effect of editing generally does not need to try out too many alternatives. In a still further scenario, a user may create a video production very rapidly because time is more important than "polish".
The system may also be used in the creation of interactive video material. The system allows many "paths" through which the video material may be tested very rapidly. This is useful in creating video games that use branched video technology. Also, the system may be used for editing, re-purposing, or archiving other media, for example still images and audio.
Essentially, the system provides within a single framework a comprehensive set of video production tools and the ability to create a new video production. The set of tools are for defining and entering descriptors of several kinds in which existing descriptors assist in the creation of additional descriptors in an accelerating process. The new video production is created by selecting and sequencing segments of video material (and optionally re-segmenting the video material) according to the values of one or more of these descriptors, where the video material consist of both video and audio content.
The system also provides a graphical user interface (GUI) featuring a 2-dimensional (2D) grid where one axis relates to the segments of video material and the other axis relates to the descriptors. The 2D grid simultaneously shows a representation of the video content (e.g. by keyframes) and/or the audio content (e.g. by waveforms), and the values of multiple descriptors (e.g. as numbers or in graphical form). The GUI supports and inter-operates with the set of tools for describing and re-purposing the video material.
When given a body of video material (hereinafter generally known as the "input video material"), the system provides means for a user to essentially do two things. Firstly, the user is able to create a new video production (the "output video production") from the input video material. This is achieved by the processes of segmenting the input video material, selecting a subset of the segments, and sequencing the selected segments to form the output video production. The three processes of segmentation, selection and sequencing are performed by the system according to the values of descriptors, or performed manually by the user.
Segmentation may also be done extrinsically or outside the system. The user may alternate between automatic (i.e. descriptor-driven) and manual processing of the input video material with complete flexibility. The user may start with automatic processing to explore the broad possibilities of output video productions and then fine-tune the results manually. At any time during this process the user may watch all or part of the video production which results from the current selection and sequence of segments before settling on the final form of the output video production.
Secondly, the user is able to rapidly create semantically powerful descriptions or annotations of the video material. These descriptions allow later re-use of the video material, possibly by different users, and possibly in ways that may not be foreseen or contemplated by the user who created the annotations. For example, the annotations may be used to retrieve the video material from a video archive or used by an automated video constructor to create new video productions from the video material. As a result, many possibilities of output video productions may be tested rapidly, in this case the goal being to let the user explore the effect of different descriptions, and explore different ways of applying a given description, so that the user may optimize the annotations to the user's requirements.
The input video material may consist of previously edited material (such as one or more complete video productions originally created for a different purpose) or unedited raw video material which is being assembled for the first time, or any combination of the two.
The system provides such means by combining the functions described hereinafter.
Slicing of the Input Video Material into Segments
The system operates primarily on video "segments", which are contiguous pieces of the input video material of any temporal span. Automatic segmentation may be achieved using known techniques such as "shot boundary detection" or by other techniques such as detecting significant change in the value of one or more descriptors. Segmentation may also be performed or fine-tuned manually. Also, in some cases the input video material may consist of a set of separate segments which do not require further segmentation, or a mix of individual segments and video material which requires to be segmented. So segmentation is an important aspect of the system, but segmentation by the system is not necessarily implemented in all variants of the system.
Incorporation and Creation of Descriptors for the Segments
A descriptor is a piece of data or a data structure which describes some characteristic of a segment. Descriptors may be simple numeric values, vectors, matrices, multidimensional numeric entities, Boolean values, text strings and etc. Descriptors may originate in several ways including: importation of descriptors created at some earlier time, such as descriptors embedded in the video material; extraction of descriptors by signal analysis or other processing of the video/audio content; manual entry; and formulaic or algorithmic derivation from a set of one or more of the other descriptors. An important feature of the system is the provision of a framework in which additional descriptors may be specified and created easily by building upon existing descriptors. However, the system is not dependent on or restricted by the actual specifications of descriptors.
Automatic Segment Selection
The system allows a segment to be selected (i.e. included as part of the output video production) according to whether the value of one or more of its descriptors match certain criteria (e.g. fall into a certain range). This function allows the definition of different output video productions automatically by selecting different subsets of the segments of the input video material.
Automatic Segment Re-Sequencing
The system also allows segments to be sequenced (ie placed in an order which constitutes an output video production) according to the values of one or more of the segment's descriptors. For example, segments may be sequenced in the order of lower values to higher values, or in the order of distance from a given value. This function allows the definition of different output video productions automatically by sequencing segments of the input video material in different ways.
Automatic Construction of a New Video Production
At any time the user may view the output video production corresponding to the current set of selected segments in the current sequence. This is achieved, for example, by mouse-clicking a "Play" transport control in the GUI as shown in
Variants of the system in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention and attendant operations are described using
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
The Grid Window 102 is the main workspace for the first system 100. The Grid Window 102 shows the segments of the input video material (one per row 108) and the set of descriptors (one per column 110). In addition, a special column 112 is used to display video "thumbnails" which let the user see the current selection and sequencing of segments. This is supplemented by a second column 114 displaying a set of "audio thumbnails" which consist, for example, of a waveform display of part of the audio of the segment. Each cell 116 of the descriptor columns 110 shows the value of one descriptor for one segment.
The user does four main things when using the Grid Window 102. Firstly, the user defines descriptors by adding columns 110. The descriptors may be of any of the four types described hereinbefore. A column 110 is therefore defined to allow any of the possibilities: import and display the values of a descriptor created at some earlier time; calculate and display the values of descriptors extracted by signal analysis or other processing of the video/audio content; allow entry and display of the values of a manual descriptor; and calculate and display the values of a descriptor derived from other descriptors by a formula or algorithm. In the first system 100, the user interface mechanism for defining the purpose of a column 110 is one or more dialog boxes which appear when the user mouse-clicks on the column header.
Secondly, in the case of manual descriptors, the user enters values manually into the cells 116 of the Grid Window 102 and propagates the descriptors to related segments.
Thirdly, the user applies segment selection rules by which segments are included or excluded from the output video production according to the value of one or more descriptors. This is illustrated in column 9 (the "Information Content" descriptor) where a segment 118 is excluded because the value of the segment 118 in respect of such a descriptor falls below a certain threshold, while all other segments are selected. The user interface mechanism for performing this operation consists, for example, of a single mouse-click in the cell of the "Select" row 120 for a particular descriptor which then results in making such a descriptor the one, or one of several, controlling selection. The specification of the selection rules, for example the threshold value, and the way that this descriptor should logically combine with other descriptors when several descriptors are used together in the selection process, is controlled through a user interface mechanism such as one or more dialog boxes which pop up when the user right-clicks in the same cell.
Fourthly, the user re-sequences the segments according to the value of a descriptor. This is done using a simple sort-by-value (eg from lowest to highest value as shown in column 6 of
The Monitor Window 104 is used for viewing the output video production resulting from the current selection and sequence of segments. The transport controls 122 of the Monitor Window 104 allow a standard set of functions to be used: play from beginning; play from current point; pause; stop; go forward by one frame; reverse by one frame; fast forward; and fast rewind. In other system variants, additional transport and browsing controls known to those skilled in the art may be incorporated—for example a "scrub" control.
The Overview Window 106 uses one keyframe per segment to provide an overview of the output video production resulting from the current selection and sequence of segments. System variants may use motion icons (micons) which replay the segments in a looped mode and such techniques are well known to those skilled in the art.
The elements of the three windows of the display inter-operate closely to provide alternative views of the video material. For example, a segment which is filtered out by the current selection settings is grayed out in the Grid Window 102 and therefore does not appear in the Overview Window 106. As another example, the current position in the output video production is indicated in all three windows by a small triangle 124 in the Grid Window 102 and the Overview Window 106, and by the presence of a certain frame 126 in the Monitor Window 104. When the user clicks the Play control 122, the output video production is shown in the Monitor Window 104. At the same time, the small triangle 124 moves down the right side of the Grid Window 102 and along the top of the Overview Window 106 to show the current location of the played video material.
In addition to using descriptors to select and sequence segments, the user is able to manipulate individual segments directly in both the Grid Window 102 and the Overview Window 106. The first system 100 allows the user to perform standard operations such as deletion, insertion and re-sequencing (e.g. by drag & drop) directly on one or more segments. Again, the three windows 102, 104 and 106 inter-operate closely so that a change executed in one window is immediately reflected in the other windows.
The GUI of a second system 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in
In the Grid Window 202, there is a facility to re-segment the material according to descriptor values represented by a "Segment" column 212. In this example, "Y-Omega" is set as the descriptor controlling segmentation (the small circle 214 in the "Segment" column 212 indicates this) and specifically the material is being segmented on changes in the value of Y-Omega. The user interface mechanism for performing this kind of dynamic segmentation consists of a left-click in the "Segment" column 212 to make a certain descriptor control segmentation, and a right-click in the same place to open a dialogue box for specifying the segmentation rules (change in value, minimum segment length, etc).
In the Grid Window 202, where space allows, the video content is represented by more than one keyframe per segment. Also, the audio content is represented as a continuous waveform rather than a series of audio thumbnails. Additionally, the last row 216 shows the start frame number of each segment in the output video production.
The Overview Window 106 shown in
In a third system (not shown in any figure) according to a third embodiment of the invention, the GUI of the second system 200 is supplemented by additional user-interface elements well known to those skilled in the art. These elements are derived from several types of software application, for example menus, scrollbars, and other elements typically used in Window-based display systems. Also, elements such as time-code displays, pop-up windows for playing and trimming the in/out points of individual segments, horizontal and vertical zooming, and other elements typically used in non-linear video editors are used. Additionally, elements for manipulating the rows and columns such as inserting, removing, duplicating, splitting, cutting & pasting, and other elements typically used in spreadsheets and other programs using a grid-like or table-like interface are used.
In a fourth system (also not shown in any figure) according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, the user is allowed to flip quickly between several instances of the display, each display shown with a set of data. This is supported either by allowing multiple instances of, for example, a program in relation to the fourth system to run simultaneously, or by allowing multiple Grid, Monitor, and Overview Windows 102, 104, 106 shown in
Using the System
A system according to an embodiment of the invention described herein has a number of functions which a user may generally use in any sequence. However, there are typical sequences of steps which a user employs in most cases. A typical simple scenario is illustrated in the flowchart of
Subsequently, the user directs the system to use the value of one or more descriptors to sequence the segments in a step 312. For example, the user may use the peak amplitude of the audio content of segments to order the segments from loudest to quietest. The user then directs the system to play the selected segments in the sequence resulting from the previous step in a step 314 so that a new output video production created from the input video material is played. The user views/auditions the result to see if the new output video production meets the user's requirements.
If the user likes the result as tested in a step 316, the user may direct the system to export the result as a new video file in a step 318 and the user's work is finished. However, in most cases the result typically does not meet the user's requirements so quickly. The user therefore enters an iterative process of incorporating and creating additional descriptors in a step 320, possibly re-segmenting all or part of the video material in a step 322, selecting/sequencing the segments based on the new descriptor values, viewing the results, cycling back to incorporate or define yet more descriptors, and so on. The additional descriptors may be of any of the types described hereinbefore.
Many of the steps described in relation to
At any point in this process the user may also select and sequence segments manually, for example by "dragging and dropping" individual segments in the Grid Window 102 or 202 or the Overview Window 106. It is also possible to re-segment material manually—i.e. to adjust the "in" and "out" points of segments directly. Typically, manual operations are used to fine-tune results after the process of selection and sequencing by descriptor value has produced a "rough-cut" of the output video production.
At any point in this process, the user may freeze sections of the output video production which the user does not want to alter while working on other sections. For example, some segment boundaries may be frozen while re-segmentation is applied. Freezing may also be applied to both selection and sequencing. The segment selection status of some or all segments may be frozen, and so may any number of segment sub-sequences of any length. This freezing step is not shown in
The processes involved in introducing, defining and making use of descriptors are important to the system. The types of descriptors described hereinbefore may be classified into four types according to their origin.
Imported Descriptors
The system may import descriptors created at some earlier time which are embedded in, or in some way linked to, the video material. These descriptors include segments of text script which are linked to segments of the video where these may act as keyword descriptors. Such descriptors also include descriptors generated by camera instrumentation such as time-of-shooting, focal distance, geographical location generated by satellite positioning systems (eg GPS) attached to the camera, etc. Also, the descriptors may include descriptors saved from an earlier session using the system. In some cases these descriptors may require interpretation or conversion as part of the importation process. For example, it may be desirable to filter a script in order to turn the significant keywords into descriptors and discard the connecting words such as prepositions and conjunctions. The system may be supplied with a set of such import processing modules.
Extracted Descriptors
Descriptors may be extracted from the input video material by applying signal analysis techniques or other kinds of processing to the video or audio content of the input video material. Typical examples are color histograms, audio spectrograms, aural intensity measures, object boundaries, motion vectors, categorical likelihood measures (e.g. probability that the audio content of segment X is speech), etc. Many such descriptors are well known to those skilled in the art and new ones are constantly being defined.
Such automatically-extracted descriptors are generally "low-level", meaning that the descriptors represent statistics and other general properties of the signals, but not the kind of "high-level" semantic information which a user is likely to be most interested in. Even where such descriptors are further analyzed in order to extract high-level semantic information, the results are generally not reliable. For example, the user may wish to identify from the input video material all shots of Bill Clinton, or all shots of crowds waving, but an automatic "Bill Clinton Detector" is currently beyond the state of the art. Even a "People Waving Detector" may in general be quite unreliable, meaning that such a detector may either miss a high percentage of shots of people waving or give a high percentage of false positives (e.g. perhaps of trees waving in the wind.)
The system is designed to exploit signal analysis descriptors to the fullest, but it is not limited to, or dependent upon, any specific signal processing algorithm. Firstly, the system allows the user to "see at a glance" the result of filtering and/or re-sequencing the input video material according to the descriptor value. Secondly, the system combines multiple descriptors of this kind in order to achieve more reliable extraction of semantic information. Thus the system is a framework capable of incorporating any signal analysis descriptor which may be implemented as a software module (i.e. a set of instructions), a hardware module, or a firmware module. In the process of applying signal analysis description, the system produces a data element or set of elements for each segment of the input video material, where a data element may be a single number, a vector, an array, a Boolean value, a character string, a structure, or an entity of any other data type.
Signal analysis descriptors may be created by writing these descriptors as plug-ins for the system architecture, and additional plug-in descriptors may be added to the system at any time. The user may employ any of these descriptors at any time by, for example, clicking on the header of a row in the Grid Window 202 in
In addition to descriptor extraction by signal analysis, certain simple but powerful descriptors may be extracted directly from the input video material and the organization of the input video material. One such instance is when the duration of segments may be used as a descriptor. Another instance is when the sequence of segments in the input video material may be converted into an ordinal descriptor (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd . . . nth).
A further instance is when each segment has a selection state that is a Boolean value, i.e. where a segment is either selected or not selected. At any time the set of selection states for all segments may be converted into a descriptor. Any number of such selection state descriptors may be created, allowing the user to return to an earlier set of selections at a later time.
A still further instance is when the current segment sequence may be converted to an ordinal descriptor at any time and any number of such sequence descriptors may be created. The combination of a set of selection descriptors for all segments and a set of sequence descriptors for all segments fully defines the form of an output video production in all cases except where the video material has been re-segmented. Thus, once such a pair of descriptors has been created, the user may at any later time quickly return to the version of the output video production defined by the pair of descriptors. This allows the user to explore many possibilities which may be radically different from each other without discarding earlier versions (especially important when these versions include manual processing) and to compare different versions against each other by playing them with minimal delay in between.
A yet further instance is when a process of manual sequencing followed by the creation of a sequence descriptor may be used to create semantic descriptors. For example the user may drag & drop segments in a sequence according to how "happy" they are, i.e. from "happiest" to "saddest". If the user then creates a sequence descriptor, the descriptor becomes, in effect, a "happiness" descriptor (something which could not be extracted by a fully automatic process in most cases). Such a descriptor actually provides a set of values representing "happiness order" which is not a true "happiness" descriptor in the full sense, but for many purposes such a descriptor is quite adequate.
Manual Descriptors
These are descriptors which the user is unable or does not want to create by automatic means and which therefore have to be entered manually into the system. This kind of descriptor includes many semantic descriptors (e.g. the descriptor indicating the presence of "George" in
The system importantly supports rapid propagation of descriptor values to related segments. Rapid propagation refers to a process where after one or more manual descriptors have been assigned values for a single segment, these values may be duplicated very quickly to a related set of segments as shown in the flowchart in
The main mechanism that the system uses to support rapid propagation is re-sequencing. The mechanism is used to bring related segments close to each other in the display (e.g. in the Grid Window 202 of
In a typical case, an automatic descriptor is used to sort the segments, so that the new manual descriptor(s) may then be copied rapidly to segments which lie nearby in the display. In a variant of this mechanism, the system may be directed to propagate one or more manual descriptors to all segments for which the value of a certain automatic descriptor lies within a certain range.
With reference to
The user subsequently selects one or more of the segments which lie nearby the source segment and instructs the system to duplicate the value of the manual descriptor of the source segment to these nearby segments in a step 412.
If there are remaining segments which need to be assigned the value of the source segment but which do not lie nearby as tested in a step 414 because the resequencing operation in step 408 does not evaluate these segments as similar to the source segment, the user may return to step 408 to choose different descriptor(s) to control resequencing.
If there are segments which require to be assigned a different manual descriptor value as tested in a step 416, the user may return to step 406.
With reference to
Such a rapid propagation process is useful even in cases where automatic descriptors are only loosely correlated with the characteristic the user wants to label with a manual descriptor. Any ordering which tends to bring similar segments together is useful when entering manual descriptors, even if this tendency is quite weak. As an example, the user may label a certain segment with four descriptors "city street", "winter", "sunny" and "crowd waving", and then wish to propagate this description, or parts of it, to other segments. To achieve this, the user might order the segments according to an automatically extracted color descriptor (e.g. color contrast in this case, because sunny, snowy street images generally have very high contrast) and an automatically extracted motion descriptor (e.g. many small areas of uncorrelated movement which might indicate waving arms). The user's hope is that the resultant clustering groups together a reasonably high percentage of segments for which some or all of the labels "city street", "winter", "sunny" and "crowd waving" may be applied. Despite the severe limitations of today's automatically-extracted descriptors, there are many cases where this process works well enough to make the work of manual descriptor entry substantially easier, providing a first approximation which, if necessary, the user may then refine by editing the descriptors of individual segments.
This type of mechanism is particularly effective when segments are ordered according to the differences between the segments and a given example segment. The difference may be defined, for example, by the Euclidean distance from a given segment in the n-dimensional descriptor space.
Derived Descriptors
The system also importantly supports the creation of new descriptors by defining these descriptors as combinations of existing descriptors. The method of combination may be formulaic, in which a new descriptor is defined as a formula containing one or more other descriptors as variables. The method of combination may also be algorithmic, in which the new descriptor is defined as a set of instructions which describe how it is to be derived from one or more other descriptors.
For example, in the "sunny winter street with waving crowd" scene described hereinbefore, a new descriptor, X, may be defined as the weighted sum of a color contrast descriptor and a particular motion descriptor. Typically the user creates X by clicking on the header of a row in the Grid Window 202 shown in
As an alternative to personally entering the formula, the user may select a formula from a predefined set of formulae and algorithms in the same manner that signal analysis descriptors may be selected from a list as described hereinbefore. The system provides a set of the most standard and useful formulae and algorithms for descriptor derivation.
It is typical that at this point the user finds the new descriptor inadequate. The descriptor X may, for example, give the same range of values for scenes of reeds waving in the wind against a snowy background as for the desired crowd scenes. But the user may then realize that there is a substantial difference in the audio levels of the crowd scenes (probably loud) versus the waving reeds (probably quiet) and make use of this fact by creating another descriptor Y which combines descriptor X with an audio loudness descriptor L. The combination could be formulaic (e.g. Y=L*X), but alternatively Y may be a string derived from an algorithmic process such as:
Thus, by building descriptors out of combinations of other descriptors potentially in complex hierarchies where descriptors are derived from other descriptors which in turn are of the derived type, the user is often able to arrive at descriptors which correlate quite well with semantic elements of the input video material. These descriptors may then be used to select and sequence segments of the video, or to provide new descriptions which label the video content for future use. For example, the descriptor "crowd waving in winter street" may be useful in a video archiving application. Like all automatically derived descriptors, these derived descriptors seldom provide a complete and totally accurate semantic description. However, these derived descriptors at least provide useful ways for the user to explore different arrangements of the video material or a quickly produced approximation to an end result which the user may then refine.
Segmentation is an important aspect of the system that involves several issues. In the system, segments span temporally from any time X to any later time Y in a piece of input video material. Segments may exist in any length from a single frame to the full length of a piece of input video material. Typically segments are semantic units derived from segmentation based on visual information such as shots, scenes, etc, or aural information such as sentences or paragraphs of a voice-over narration. Segments may overlap each other in any way, so that parts of the input video material may belong to more than one segment, though to avoid such overlaps is often desirable.
Segmentation may be performed outside the system, or within the system, or both. Segmentation of video material performed extrinsically is done before using the system to process those video material. In other words, the input video material may be pre-segmented and then imported into the system. In contrast, segmentation performed intrinsically may be done dynamically, i.e., the input video material may, if desired, be re-segmented at any time during the operation of the system.
Automatic Segmentation
There are many automated techniques for segmenting video material, any of which may be applied extrinsically or intrinsically. A common technique, well known to those skilled in the art, is Shot Boundary Detection. Segmentation may also be done using audio information, for example, by creating a new segment each time the average audio amplitude drops below a threshold, or by identifying speech versus music, or by recognizing probable changes in speaker.
In the system, any automatic segmentation performed intrinsically is treated as an operation on one or more time-series descriptors. In such cases, the process involved in defining a segmentation operation is shown as a flowchart in
The descriptors are firstly incorporated and/or created in a step 502 where the descriptors may be imported, extracted, manually entered, or derived using any of the ways described hereinbefore. Thereafter, the user chooses which one or more of the available descriptors is to be used as the basis for the segmentation in a step 504. This step is controllable by the user through the GUI described with reference to
The user then defines the segmentation rules or chooses from a set of segmentation rules provided by the system in a step 506. These are formulaic or procedural rules which govern the derivation of segment in and out points, i.e. time references of the start and end of segments, from the chosen descriptors. One common type of rule for a single descriptor is threshold-crossing, either of a descriptor or of one of the time derivatives of the descriptor. In many cases the application of this rule needs to be supplemented with rules governing the amount and duration by which a threshold must be crossed in order to count as a significant event. In the case where segmentation is based upon multiple descriptors, the rules include the mutual interaction of the descriptors, for example where the overall segmentation rule is a function of Boolean AND, OR & NOT operators superimposed on the rules for individual descriptors. The chosen or defined segmentation rules are then applied for segmenting the video material in a step 508.
As an example of automatic segmentation, an audio amplitude descriptor may be created and the segmentation rules defined such that a new segment is created each time the audio amplitude drops below a certain threshold value for a certain minimum time, and then crosses back above the threshold. Another example would be to define a set of color histograms, motion vectors and other visual descriptors, combine these descriptors in some formula to produce a new descriptor X, then segment the video material according to the rule that a new segment is created each time the second derivative of X exceeds a threshold.
In the system, automatic segmentation may be implemented using not only scalar descriptors, but also more complex descriptors such as vectors, matrices and strings.
In most cases, segmentation is done in the early stages of processing the input video material. Once the user has moved on to other kinds of processing such as selecting and sequencing, creating manual descriptors, reducing time-series descriptors to single-value-per-segment (described in more details hereinafter), the user usually makes only minor changes in segmentation. This is because major re-segmentation, notably automatic segmentation, tends to corrupt the selection/sequence/descriptor structure created. Nevertheless it is sometimes necessary to do major re-segmentation later in the process, so the system also provides support for re-segmentation. In providing support for re-segmentation, two groups of issues involved are considered.
The first group of issues concerns which organization of the video material a re-segmentation operation should apply to in a scenario where the video material has been re-organized by earlier selection and sequencing actions. In general, segmentation and re-segmentation are processes which the user wishes to apply to the input video material (i.e. the segments in their original sequence or flow), not to the output video production.
An example is a scenario in which the user has been working for a time and has created a selection/sequence of segments which comprise an output video production. Subsequently the user decides to re-segment the video material, for example, because the user wishes to try segmenting the video material based on an audio characteristic rather than on a shot basis. In fact, what the user wants to do in this case is to re-segment the input video material in its original sequence, but without losing the selection/sequence comprising the current output video production.
With reference to
The system reverts to the original selection/sequence state, i.e. that of the input video material, with all segments selected and without any re-sequencing in a step 608, and carries out the re-segmentation in a step 610. Subsequently, the system uses SELCUR to apply the previous selection state to the new set of segments in a step 612 and thereafter SEQCUR to sequence the new set of segments in a step 614 in the same way before re-segmentation.
The system may not always be able to perform the operations in steps 612 and 614 or the results thereof may not always be what the user expects. In general, the technique is successful in cases where the re-segmentation involves relatively small adjustments in the start and end points of the pre-existing set of segments, but is only partly useful when re-segmentation causes major shifts in the segment positions or the overall number of segments.
In a fifth system (not shown in any figure) according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, there are two Grid Windows (for example, Grid Windows 102 or 202 in
Typically each Grid Window is a slightly simplified version of the Grid Window 202 shown in
In a sixth system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention as shown in
In the Segmentation Window, the Selection Window and the Sequencing Window, there is a top bar 290 for providing identification of the respective window. A star 292 in each window is used to identify the descriptor on which the type of operation performed in the respective window is based. A solid line 294 in each window shows the current position within the respective window; when a window is inactive use by the user, this corresponds to the frame shown in the Monitor Window 280.
In each of the three windows, there is also shown a special descriptor known as "Input SegNum" 296 and a scale column 298. The Input SegNum descriptor 296 is the ordinal number of the segment and is calculated and displayed automatically by the system. The scale column 298 always appears as the last column in the respective window and provides the maximum and minimum values for each of the descriptors in that respective window.
As shown in
The second group of issues concerns how to handle descriptors when the video material is re-segmented after descriptors, specifically single-value-per-segment descriptors, have been created. To illustrate the problem, consider a case where re-segmentation results in one segment where ten segments existed previously. Clearly the values of the individual descriptors for the ten segments, or their temporal scope, may be lost during re-segmentation. A less serious, but still potentially undesirable, example occurs when new segments cross-cut old segments, i.e. where the segment boundaries are shifted in the re-segmentation process. If the existing set of descriptor values is retained in such a case, there is a danger the descriptor values do not apply correctly to the segments as newly defined.
There are several ways to manage this problem, which may be applied individually or together, and apply at the point the user chooses to re-segment.
For example, extracted and derived descriptors may be recalculated because these descriptors include a generative definition, i.e. the formula, algorithm or procedure required to calculate the descriptors. In the case of extracted descriptors the new values are re-calculated from the input video material by signal analysis, and in the case of derived descriptors the new values are recalculated from other descriptors.
For descriptors which cannot be recalculated, the values for existing segments may be copied or combined to provide values for the new set of segments with a "best attempt" philosophy. For example in the case where ten segments become one, a single new value has to be derived automatically from the existing set of ten. For numerical descriptors this may be an average, or a minimum or maximum of the ten values. For non-numerical descriptors such as text strings, this may be the first of the ten values, or the most common of the ten. There are many possible variants of this approach, which may be provided as options for the user to select.
As another example, it is generally desirable to warn the user when there is any potential loss or misapplication of data. This allows the user to decide whether to proceed and if the user does decide to proceed, prompts the user to save the current status for possible later retrieval.
As a further example and a more elaborate solution, the system may support multiple segmentation instances, i.e. in which the system maintains data describing more than one set of segmentation points and the values of the descriptors for each of these multiple segmentations.
In a seventh system (not shown in any figure) according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, different sets of segmentation points for different descriptors may be maintained. This is generally most useful when there are several manual descriptors. As an example, a video shot with a sequence in which a man enters a room followed by a woman, and the two talks together for a while before the man leaves, is considered. If this video shot is described by three descriptors, "man present", "woman present", and "talking", then the temporal spans of these descriptors overlap provided the descriptors are accurately applied. Such a system maintains segmentation information for each of these 3 descriptors in this example. This feature may then be invoked in conjunction with segment selection/sequencing. For example, if the "man present" descriptor is chosen for segment selection, the input video material is automatically segmented so that the in-points of "man present" segments are at set to the exact times when the man enters, and the out-points to the exact times when the man leaves. Then, if "woman present" is chosen as the descriptor for segment selection, the video shot is re-segmented to correspond to this descriptor.
Manual Segmentation
In the above example, the issue of how to create the in and out points for the "man present" segments is raised. The solution in such a case normally lies in manual segmentation, or manually adjusted segmentation. The system provides a process in which the user may create segments and adjust segment in and out points to frame accuracy or better, for example audio sample accuracy, while viewing and auditioning the video material. This process may be achieved using well-known user interface techniques. For example, most non-linear video editors provide ways for users to create "clips" and to adjust the segments in and out points. The process may also be achieved directly in the Grid Window 202 in
Reduction of Descriptor from Time-Series to Single-Value-Per-Segment
The system also allows the user to convert a time-series descriptor, for example the "Audio Amplitude" descriptor 210 in
Segment Hierarchies
Segments may also exist in a hierarchy. For example, an entire video production may be a segment, while at the same time the scenes that constitute the entire video production exist as other segments, and all the shots that constitute the scenes exist as yet more segments. These segments may all be presented in the display simultaneously, and this option is made available to the user in the system, but this may not be desirable because, for example, the existence of hierarchies may mean that there is duplicated video material in the output video productions.
The are two preferred working methods to allow the user to form a hierarchy of segments and these are described with reference to
A first working method accords with a top-down decomposition process shown as a flowchart in
A second working method accords with a bottom-up composition process shown as flowcharts in
In the case of bottom-up composition, the user initially segments the video material into a set of video segments known as child segments in a step 802. The user creates an output video production in a step 804 by the process of selecting and sequencing described hereinbefore. Thereafter the user chooses a set of child segments which are to be merged in a step 806 where the segments chosen are contiguous in the current output video production. The user subsequently instructs the system to merge the segments to form a parent segment in a step 808.
Once a parent segment is formed, the user optionally instructs the system to remove or hide the set of child segments which were merged to form the parent in a step 810. The user continues merging different groups of contiguous segments if required as tested in a step 812.
The operation performed by the system in step 808 is described in further details with reference to
The system recalculates all extracted descriptors for the parent segment using the formula/algorithm for each descriptor in a step 824. Then, in the case of imported and manual descriptors, the system derives values of each descriptor for the parent segment from the values of the corresponding descriptor in each child segment in a step 826. This operation may be performed using one of several user-selectable methods. For example, in the case of a numeric descriptor a mean value may be used, while in the case of string descriptor the preferred option is typically to select the value of the string found most frequently in the set of child segments. There is usually some information loss during this operation which the user accepts in exchange for the simpler representation.
Once all extracted descriptors have been recalculated and the imported and manual descriptors have been assigned values for the parent segment, the system calculates the set of derived descriptors for the parent segment in a step 828.
In many cases the user may use both working methods by starting predominantly with the top-down decomposition process as the user analyses and annotates the input video material, and subsequently moving onto the bottom-up composition process as the user creates the output video production.
The system may include a representation of the segment hierarchy in the data structures of the system. This provides additional possibilities such as flexible merging and unmerging of segments in which the user may collapse children segments to a single parent segment and subsequently may explode the parent segment again as children, with different but generally related descriptions existing at each level in the hierarchy. When a multiple-level representation of this kind is stored in the data structures of the system, there will be no loss of data, nor any need for the system to recalculate data, as the user alternates between merged and exploded views.
Furthermore, the system may also allow several different hierarchies of segments to co-exist, one for the input video material in which a parent segment consists of a set of children segments which are contiguous in the input video material, and others representing alternative hierarchical clustering of the segments. The alternative clustering of segments may, for example, correspond to one or more possible output video productions in which a parent segment consists of a set of children segments which are contiguous in one possible output video production.
The selection function is an important part of any system according to any one of the embodiments of the invention. Segment selection defines which segments appear in the output video production. By default, all segments are selected, but segments are excluded from the output video production if these segments are unselected.
The selection function shares several things in common with the segmentation function therein. For example, selection may be performed automatically according to descriptor value or performed manually. In the case of manual selection, the selection state, whether selected or unselected, may be controlled by, for example, right-clicking at the extreme top of a segment column in the Grid Window 202 of
The process of automatic control of selection by descriptor value is described with reference to a flowchart in
As in the case of segmentation, the selection mechanism may be made dependent on the values of multiple descriptors by combining single descriptor rules with the Boolean relationships AND, OR & NOT.
After defining the selection rules to apply to the segments, a segment is identified by the system in a step 906 and tested in a step 908 if the descriptor value of the identified segment meet the criteria according to the selection rules. Depending on whether the descriptor of the identified segment meets the criteria, the identified segment is marked "Selected" in a step 910 or "Unselected" in a step 912. The system then checks if the marked segment is the last segment to be tested against the selection rules in a step 914. If there is another untested segment the system identifies this segment in a step 916 and loops back to step 908 thereafter.
To perform automatic selection, the system may use not only scalar descriptors, but also more complex descriptors such as vectors, matrices and strings.
The sequencing function is an important part of any system according to any one of the embodiments of the invention. A segment sequence is the order of segments in an output video production. At any time, the current output video production consists of the set of selected segments in the current sequence. The current sequence is the order in which segments appear, i.e. from left to right, in the Grid Window 202 in
Sequencing may be performed automatically according to descriptor values or performed manually. In the case of manual sequencing, the order may be determined by an operation such as dragging and dropping segments. For example, by clicking at the extreme top of a segment column in the Grid Window 202 of
The process of automatic control of sequencing by descriptor value is described with reference to a flowchart in
Like the segmentation and selection functions, the sequencing function may be made dependent on the values of multiple descriptors. The multiple descriptors sequencing function may be performed by combining the descriptors in formulaic/algorithmic ways described hereinbefore. The sequencing mechanism may also involve a hierarchical sort in which the sequencing is first determined by the value of one descriptor, but relies on other descriptors when the first descriptor has the same value for many segments. This is analogous to the process of sorting words alphabetically where words are sorted based on the first letter, then within that the words are sorted based on the second letter, and so on.
The sequencing rule is then used to establish an order for all selected segments in a step 954. In step 956, the segments are concatenated in this order to produce an output video production.
To perform automatic sequencing, the system may use not only scalar descriptors, but also more complex descriptors such as vectors, matrices and strings.
The embodiments of the invention are preferably implemented using a computer, such as the general-purpose computer shown in
In particular, the software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below. The software is preferably loaded into the computer from the computer readable medium and then carried out by the computer. A computer program product includes a computer readable medium having such software or a computer program recorded on it that can be carried out by a computer. The use of the computer program product in the computer preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for providing a low data transmission rate and intelligible speech communication in accordance with the embodiments of the invention.
The system 28 is simply provided for illustrative purposes and other configurations can be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Computers with which the embodiment can be practiced include IBM-PC/ATs or compatibles, one of the Macintosh™ family of PCs, Sun Sparcstation™, a workstation or the like. The foregoing is merely exemplary of the types of computers with which the embodiments of the invention may be practiced. Typically, the processes of the embodiments, described hereinafter, are resident as software or a program recorded on a hard disk drive (generally depicted as block 29 in
In some instances, the program may be supplied to the user encoded on a CD-ROM or a floppy disk (both generally depicted by block 29), or alternatively could be read by the user from the network via a modem device connected to the computer, for example. Still further, the software can also be loaded into the computer system 28 from another computer readable medium, including magnetic tape, a ROM or integrated circuit, a magneto-optical disk, a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card. The foregoing is merely exemplary of relevant computer readable mediums. Other computer readable mediums may be practiced without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
In the foregoing manner, a method, a system and a computer program product for video re-purposing, editing and archiving for a video production are disclosed. A number of embodiments are described. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
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Owner name: KENT RIDGE DIGITAL LABS,SINGAPORE
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|Sep 18, 2013
|Fee payment
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text:
Oh dear, I really should've written this blog when it was still a teaser to excite the readers... But oh well! So, Simmers & Wikians, embrace yourself... cause we're getting cows for the next premium content!
That's right, cows! Let me just say, I've heard a lot of excitement and screaming about cows coming to The Sims series, like, "OMG, Cows!!!" and "My life is now complete!!!"; I'm not kidding. Yeah, I'm pretty fascinated with the cows hype too, but NOT that excited. :p This is gonna be perfect for Simmers who want farming in addition to the chicken coop. This one content is very original, and quite detailed indeed. But why would something like this (and the chicken coop) not included in Pets expansion pack and instead turn it into Farm Life expansion pack? No idea, but it seems to not give more revenue for EA, so...
The premium content Milkin' It Dairy Corral is included in the Farm Fresh Folk Set for
1,400 1,200 SimPoints (on sale), and it's to be released on September 5th. SimGuruTaterTot has shared the information about what this cow can do.
- Sims can milk cow to get milk. Milk can fulfill Sim's hunger need.
- Feeding the cow vegetables will make it produce soy milk, which will also revitalize the Sim's age. I remember Life fruit and ambrosia was a thing when The Sims 3 was released. Now all those benefits can be gained from a mere cow milk.
- Feeding the cow chocolate (!) will make it produce chocolate milk, which will also boost fun. I don't know where Sims will get chocolate though. We'll find out soon.
- Sims can turn the milk into cheese.
- Sims can tip the cow... and make it produce a milkshake. O.o
- Sims can play Tic Tac Hoove to increase Logic skill. This reminds me of the chicken checkers back in The Sims 2 for console!
The object is quite large. This premium content looks pretty promising than the previous ones. I wonder what the bulls are for. What do you think about this content? Are you going to get this? Are you very excited about it? Share your thoughts here!
Extra pics:
- Nikel Talk – Vote! 16:09, September 5, 2013 (UTC)
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Michael Michael Kors
Kempton Signature Jacquard Large East West Tote
Have a question? Contact Us.
This wear-with-anything neutral shoulder tote is the perfect addition to any outfit . Trimmed in rich, creamy leather, the plentiful-pocket interior keeps essentials organized. Jacquard; trim: leather. Double top handles with 11" drop. Top zip closure. Logo print exterior; front zip pocket with logo lock detail. Interior features 4 slip pockets, zip pocket and key hook. 15" W x 12-1/2" H x 3" D Color: Beige / Vanilla
Standard Rate: FREE
Please allow 7 to 10 business days for product arrival. To ensure your products safe arrival, we include signature confirmation on all purchases.
Please review our full shipping policy by clicking HERE.
We accept returns up to 7-days after product delivery.
All merchandise must not be worn, altered, or washed. The merchandise must have all tags attached and be returned in original packaging. All returns will be subject to a $9.95 Return Postage Fee.


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New Mexico CulturePass
As communities across our nation and world become increasingly homogenous, New Mexico stands out as refreshingly different—a spirited blend of arts, history, and lifeways found in few other places.
The joy of visiting New Mexico is getting to know us. And there is no better way to get acquianted than to explore our exceptional museums and historic sites.
From Indian artifacts to space exploration, world-class folk art to awesome dinosaurs, the essence of New Mexico is celebrated every day at our popular attractions. The New Mexico CulturePass opens the doors to them all—the state's entire family of 15 museums and historic sites.
How to Purchase
Purchase your CulturePass at any state museum or historic site. You can begin using it right away. On the date you visit your first museum or historic site, the pass will be validated, and it can then be used for the next 12 consecutive months.
Purchase by Phone
To pre-purchase a CulturePass, call Caroline Broussard at 505-476-1125 with your credit card information. You will have the option to receive a CulturePass by mail (delivery within 10 days) or be sent an email voucher that can be redeemed upon your first visit to any state museum or historic site.
Using your CulturePass
The CulturePass allows one visit to each state museum and historic site. Passes are for general museum and historic site admission only. Films shown in museum theaters and certain special events and programming will incur additional charges. You can start using your pass whenever you want. Passes are nonrefundable and are not replaceable if lost.
Please contact museums and historic sites to verify current hours.
Many locations are closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and certain holidays. Don't forget that many museums and historic sites offer free or reduced admission to children and seniors, and that some offer free admission to New Mexico residents on certain days of the week or month.
New Mexico Museum of Space History
Alamogordo | (575) 437-2840
Open 10-5 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Noon-5 on Sunday. Closed on Tuesday.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
Albuquerque | (505) 841-2800
Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Closed on Tuesdays.
New Mexico Museum of Art
Santa Fe | (505) 476-5072
May – October: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open most Fridays until 7 p.m.; November – April: Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open on First Friday of the Month until 7 p.m. Closed Mondays
New Mexico History Museum
Santa Fe | (505) 476-5100
May – October: Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open most Fridays until 7 p.m.; November – April: Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open on First Friday of the Month until 7 p.m. Closed Mondays
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
Las Cruces | (575) 522-4100
Mon-Sat: 9-5. Sunday: Noon to 5 pm.
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Albuquerque | (505) 246-2261
Tues-Sun, 10-5
Museum of International Folk Art
Santa Fe | (505) 476-1200
Open daily 10:00-5:00 May - October. Closed Mondays November - April
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Santa Fe | (505) 476-1250
Open daily 10:00-5:00 May - October. Closed Mondays November - April
Lincoln Historic Site
Lincoln | (575) 653-4372
Open 8:30am to 4:30pm 7 days a week.
Jemez Historic Site
Just north of Jemez Springs | (575) 829-3530
Open Wednesday through Sunday 8:30am - 5pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Fort Sumner Historic Site/Bosque Redondo Memorial
Fort Sumner | (575) 355-2573
Open Wednesday-Sunday 8:30am - 4:30pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Fort Stanton
Capitan | (575) 354-0341
Grounds Open Daily 8am-5pm; Museum Open Daily 10am-4pm
Fort Selden
Radium Springs | (575) 526-8911
Wednesday - Monday 8:30am - 5pm. Closed Tuesday.
El Camino Real Historic Trail Site
35 miles south of Socorro | (575) 854-3600
Temporarily closed
Coronado Historic Site
Bernalillo | (505) 867-5351
Open 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays.
New Mexico CulturePass
Your ticket to 15 exceptional Museums and Historic Sites. From Indian treasures to space exploration, world-class folk art to awesome dinosaurs—our museums and monuments celebrate the essence of New Mexico every day.
More Info »
Featured DCA Exhibitions
Icons of Exploration
Showcases some of the Museum's most celebrated objects including a real "moon rock," rare replicas of the first man-made satellites, Sputnik and Explorer, and the Gargoyle, an early guided missile.
more »
John P. Stapp Air & Space Park
Named after International Space Hall of Fame Inductee and aeromedical pioneer Dr. John P. Stapp, the Air and Space Park consists of large space-related artifacts documenting mankinds exploration of space.
more »
Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Dawn of the Dinosaurs, is the only exhibition in North America dedicated exclusively to the flora and fauna of the Triassic.
more »
Setting the Standard: The Fred Harvey Company and Its Legacy
Focusing on the rise of the Fred Harvey Company as a family business and events that transpired specifically in the Land of Enchantment, the exhibition will leave visitors with an understanding of how the Harvey experience resonates in our Southwest today.
more »


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Wake You Up
By RockCat Studio Limited
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Snore Revenge !
Wake Him Up !
Wake You Up is a fanatic soundboard that allows you create some most annoying sounds to wake up someone.
Feature sounds: alarm clock, machine guns, twister siren, rooster, explosion, buzz, fly etc..
Now you can have the most annoying sounds in your pocket. :)
What's New in Version 1.2
- Support iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch/
This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad
- Free
- Category: Entertainment
- Updated: 01 August 2011
- Version: 1.2
- Size: 4.6 MB
- Languages: English, Simplified Chinese
- Developer: RockCat Studio Limited
- © RockCat Studio Limited
Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.


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Pitbull Performs Live From Thompson Miami Beach; Make the Official Cocktail at Home
Watch Pitbull; drink his cocktail.
Courtesy of Thompson Miami Beach
Tonight, screw the Times Square ball drop because the New Year's Eve spotlight will be focused on the 305 when Pitbull hosts his holiday party at the Thompson Miami Beach hotel.
The celebration concert, entitled Pitbull's New Years' Revolution, will feature appearances and performances by Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, the Band Perry, Fifth Harmony, Becky G., and the Misdirectors, along with co-hosts, La La Anthony and Rocsi Diaz and will be broadcast live on Fox from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
See also: New Year's Eve Dinners in Miami
To mark the special occasion, the Thompson Miami Beach designed the Starlight Celebration cocktail.
If you're planning a New Year's house party, why not make the special holiday drink, put Pitbull's New Year's Revolution on the telly, and toast to Mr. 305 with a big Dale!
Starlight Celebration
- 1 1/2 oz. Jameson
- 3/4 oz. Dry Curaçao
- 1/2 oz. honey syrup
- 1/2 oz. lemon juice
- 1 oz. apple cider
- 1 oz. pumpkin maple jam
- 1 egg white
Mix ingredients and strain into tall glass. Spritz with Perrier Jouet Champagne and garnish with nutmeg.
Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.
Follow Short Order on Facebook, Twitter @Short_Order, and Instagram @ShortOrder.
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Miami Beach, FL 33140
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Maisy The Crybaby and Other Episodes is a fan-fiction VHS/DVD Release featuring two Mahri, Mary and Maisy episodes, two Thomas and Friends episodes and two Dexter's Laboratory episodes.
- Maisy The Crybaby (Mahri, Mary and Maisy)
- Maisy Gets Dirty (Mahri, Mary and Maisy)
- Percy Runs Away (Thomas and Friends)
- Percy and The Haunted Mine (Thomas and Friends)
- Dexter Detention (Dexter's Laboratory)
- Dexter The Barbarian (Dexter's Laboratory)
- Distributed by USA Home Entertainment.
VHS/DVD Artwork
Front Cover
- Top: Maisy (crying)
- Bottom: Percy racing up Gordon's Hill from "Percy Runs Away"
Back Cover
- Dexter (frightened) from "Dexter Detention"
- Mahri and Mary (in gas masks) from "Maisy Gets Diry"


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When I first heard that "Ne lâche pas ma main", a French crime novel set in Reunion by Michel Bussi (France's third best-selling author), was going to be translated into English and released as "Don't Let Go" I thought 'great'. Then I read the French book and was very disappointed.
|English cover
The crime story itself is decent enough, but:
Bussi uses a lot of clichés about the island;
Bussi uses some Creole but not always Reunion Creole (other people have said it's from the West Indies: Martinique or Guadeloupe);
Bussi's timings are completely off (e.g. time taken to drive from Saint Gilles to the volcano, or time needed to walk from the Plaine des Sables to Sainte-Rose). This is somewhat surprising given that the author is also a Professor of Geography!
I see from the Amazon reviews that the translator also used a lot of translator's notes to explain things, which is never a good sign.
|French cover
Have you read it? What did you think?
Further reading:
A Death in Paradise - review by Wendy Montrose on 29 June 2017 at Scoop Review of Books
Further reading:
A Death in Paradise - review by Wendy Montrose on 29 June 2017 at Scoop Review of Books


text:
No public recommendations added yet.
Shar Print Packaging
Address: 149, A-2,dhanraj Mills Co, Shah And Nahar Indl Est, Sitaram Jadhav Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400013
Phone number: 022 - 24973793 , 022 - 2494868Post A Recommendation Bookmark this Business Claim this Business
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Need Immunization Titers in Tooele, UT? Simply order online 24/7 and get fast, affordable Immunization Titers at a lab near you (Find More Locations):
Why would I get Immunization Titers?
Immunization Titers are required by hospitals, vendor credentialing services, schools, and other organizations to demonstrate immunity to certain diseases in Tooele, UT.
How much do Immunization Titers cost?
Our Immunization Titers prices include the doctor's order that you need to get tested in Tooele, UT, all lab fees and taxes, and a pdf copy of your results. For current prices, please CLICK HERE.
What does an Immunization Titers lab report look like?
For a popular sample report, please CLICK HERE.
We are delighted to offer Immunization Titers in Tooele, UT.
Immunization Titers in other cities near Tooele, UT:Bingham Canyon | Cedar Valley | Eagle Mountain | Grantsville | Herriman | Magna | Riverton | Rush Valley | Salt Lake City | South Jordan | Stockton | Taylorsville | West Jordan | West Valley City


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Melways: Map 29 Ref F7
UBD: Map 223 Ref D1
19 North Coburg tram from Elizabeth Street, City to Stop 23.
Upfield line from the City, to Brunswick Station, walk west down Victoria Street about 400 metres to Gardiner Street.
No. 508 Moonee Ponds to Alphington disembark at Gardiner St / Victoria St.
There are a number of meeting and conference rooms available for hire at The Bouverie Centre. These can accommodate groups of up to 130 people, and smaller break-away rooms are also available. Full catering can be supplied on site.
For more information about the facilities available and costs involved in room hire, please contact Chris Neil on 9385 5100 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Join us as we commemorate the importance of learning and education with guest speaker, John Marsden, writer, teacher and principal of Candlebark School and alumna speaker, Leonie Farrugia.find out more
The Bouverie Centre's Indigenous Team recently developed an Evidence Brief and Impact Analysis Report on The Bouverie Centre's Aboriginal Family Therapy Training Program.find out more


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Chamber Member Directory
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Pulaski County, Arkansas Named One of Top 10 Large-sized Communities for 2017
UA Little Rock's Chancellor Addresses Leadership Greater Little Rock Graduates
Wayne Miller Tapped to Head FinTech Accelerator
Venture Center announces companies for 2017 'Accelerator', one Little Rock startup makes the cut
Ignite LR Blog
For the second time in its three-year history of operation in Arkansas, international pipe manufacturer
Welspun Corp. Ltd
announced on Thursday, February 23rd that it will expand again, adding 200 jobs and investing an additional $100 million in its
Little Rock Port
facility, the company's first large-diameter pipe manufacturing location in North America. With this expansion, Welspun will bring total overall investment to $280 million since opening in April 2009.
Pipe produced by Welspun is primarily used in the gas and oil industry.
The announcement was made at a news conference hosted by Martin M. Rhodes, Chairman of the Board of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Commenting on this investment, Mr. B. K. Goenka, Chairman of Welspun said, "We are extremely delighted at the performance of our Little Rock facility, which has cemented the firm's global reach in servicing some of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. We believe that this new investment will pave the way for Welspun to continue on its path of becoming one of the most respected line-pipe companies in the world and we are thankful to the
City of Little Rock
for the support that they have extended in fulfilling our dream."
Initially employing more than 300 people, the company announced its first expansion one year later that added 230 jobs and an additional $30 million investment.
"Welspun invested in Arkansas when the national economy was in bad shape," Governor Mike Beebe said. "That faith in our workforce and our business community has paid off for both Welspun and Little Rock, and today they are reinforcing their confidence in us with another significant investment in Arkansas."
Located on 740 acres adjacent to the Little Rock Port, Welspun's state-of-the-art spiral pipe and coating facility has an annual production capacity of more than 350,000 tons of pipe.
"Welspun's decision to develop a new small diameter pipe assembly line in Little Rock sends a strong signal to the economic development world that Little Rock is a prime location for business expansion in the U.S.," said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. "The City of Little Rock is pleased to partner with the Little Rock Regional Chamber and its private and public
Stock in The Rock investors
, the Little Rock Port,
Metro Little Rock Alliance
and Governor's Office in facilitating this third Welspun announcement in four years.
"Our citizens have a strong work ethic, and we are perfectly situated to easily reach the four corners of our country with port, rail, air and highway transportation systems," Stodola continued. "Welspun, as both a new and expanding industry, understands this importance and is capitalizing on Little Rock's becoming one of the preeminent pipe manufacturing locations in the world."
Through this expansion, Welspun will expand their product line of steel pipes to include the production of 6-inch to 20-inch ERW steel pipes. The new manufacturing lines will be located in a second building on 44 acres purchased by the company. "Welspun has a strong history of growth and profitability in the oil & gas line pipe industry and is at the cusp of becoming a leading, global integrated pipe manufacturer," said Dave Delie, president of Welspun Tubular. "The track-record of operational performance at Welspun is unique and the management is committed to building on our current, impressive capabilities."
"Engineering excellence is the core to Welspun and we believe that with this investment, we will catapult Little Rock as an important destination in the "World of Pipe," said Rajesh Mandawewala, managing director of Welspun. "We have full trust and confidence in Welspun's management team and believe that the team will continue to deliver superlative results."
Additional information may be found at
About Welspun Corp Ltd
Welspun Corp Ltd. formerly known as Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd., started its activities in 1995 and since then has supplied pipes for some of the most prestigious projects including the World's deepest pipeline project in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A, heaviest pipeline project in the Persian Gulf, highest LNG pipeline project in Peru and longest pipeline project from Canada to the US. Welspun's state-of-the-art Plate, Coil and Pipe Plants are located in Dahej and Anjar in Gujarat, India, Little Rock in Arkansas, US and now in Dammam in Saudi Arabia. The Company has recently set-up a Spiral Pipe mill in Mandya, Karnataka, India. Welspun has been the leader in quality, innovation and technology. New initiatives in WCL includes foray into infrastructure, upstream Oil & Gas and Energy. WCL is prepared to meet the growing demand and is in a position to meet the stringent requirements and standards of highest grade products and services.
About Stock in The Rock 2012 – 2016
The Chamber's regional economic development efforts, which partnered to land the Welspun location/expansions, are funded by 89 (to date) investors. To invest and help lead the region's economy, contact
Jay Chesshir
, 501.377.6002.
Click here to return to Economic Development page


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Billie Holiday
- Overview
- Biography
- Songs
- Browse by Format
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Eleanor(a) Harris, 7 April 1915, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 17 July 1959, New York City, New York, USA. Lady Day taught herself to sing during her early teens in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was brought up until moving to New York in 1929. Factual inaccuracies and elements of myth and exaggeration have clouded the picture of her formative years despite the best efforts of researchers to present her career story in a properly ordered manner. Not until Stuart Nicholsons immaculately researched book appeared in 1995 was a detailed and reliable account of these years made available. Nicholsons research revealed that some of the statements made by the singer in her 1956 autobiography, Lady Sings The Blues, were true, despite having been dismissed as exaggeration by other writers.
Holidays teenage parents, Sadie Harris (aka Fagan) and probable father, Clarence Holiday, (Frank DeVeazy was also suggested)...
- MatchBillie Holiday
- 100%Patrick Doyle
- 96%Nicholas Hooper
- 87%Jerry Goldsmith
- 86%Michael Giacchino
- 76%Alan Silvestri
- 76%Alexandre Desplat
- 72%James Horner
- 66%James Newton Howard
- 57%Hans Zimmer
- 55%Howard Shore