WO2013124581A2

WO2013124581A2 - Method for producing multimedia content for a plurality of representation media

Info

Publication number: WO2013124581A2
Application number: PCT/FR2013/050342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Van Rompay
Original assignee: Gutenberg Technology
Priority date: 2012-02-23
Filing date: 2013-02-19
Publication date: 2013-08-29
Also published as: FR2987473B1; WO2013124581A3; FR2987473A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing multimedia content for a plurality of representation media. An initial step consists of defining a plurality of specificity tables, each of said specificity tables being specific to a target representation medium. The method then comprises a step of creating multimedia and recording components in a database, a step of constructing a plurality of description files for a plurality of templates, and a step of writing and publishing the content consisting of said multimedia components in the form of digital file defined from said templates. The step of creating the multimedia components consists of generating a single writing interface common to all the templates, in order to enable an operator to input the multimedia components. Said interface comprises a means for the computer-processing of the content on the basis of the information contained in at least a portion of said specificity tables, as well as a means for processing, prior to recording, multimedia components that are incompatible with at least a portion of said specificity tables.

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT FOR A PLURALITY OF REPRESENTATION MEDIA

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of multi-media editing (paper and digital). It relates more particularly to a method for creating multi-support books (paper, web, tablet, cell phone or other digital media) through a single writing process.

State of the art The production of editorial content is currently divided between historical publishers and 100% digital publishers (see Figure 1) The techniques for producing editorial content are very different, as well as the working methods and know-how .

The processes of historical publishers are built around the making of a paper book. Authors write their manuscript (manually or, most often, with word processing software) to send it to a publisher who has it re-read before transmitting it to a specialist in DTP layout (Production Assisted by Computer). This person uses software specialized layouts and, once this phase validated, it generates a file "printer PDF" which is sent to a printer for the printing of paper books. Once this PDF file has been issued, this file will be reworked with manual or partially automated cut / treat to obtain a web version and another series of interventions to obtain books usable on tablets or cell phones (smartphones) ... On the publisher side, it is difficult to make profitable these treatments which add manufacturing delays with important additional costs for each new support. In terms of durability, digital media are rapidly evolving making these versions and therefore the investment quickly obsolete. As a result, the user experience of these digitized books is very similar to the paper version with PDF versions or poor and uninviting "page-turning" versions.

When writing, authors of complex books

(containing many images, diagrams, maps, ...) do not have the possibility to preview the paper layout of their creation. They use a classic word processor but do not have the ability to correctly integrate images, maps, graphics ... to view the final layout. It is only at the end of the writing process that the authors receive through the graphic artist (or PAOiste) a first working version to visualize the rendering of their work. This forces authors to adapt their content to fill the various pages of the paper book. Our invention solves these problems.

On the Internet and tablets side (Figure 1), new publishers have arrived with the first 100% digital books but they are computer solutions based on reading applications. These digital and interactive books are difficult to convert into paper format. Our process solves this constraint.

Also known in the state of the art US Pat. No. US7783614 describes a method of annotating a document to extract the information "text, image, video" in XML format with storage in a database. This information can then be called by specialized software (such as desktop publishing) or on digital media (cell phones, tablets, interactive whiteboards, televisions ...), by exchanging HTML / XML files.

This patent describes the storage and conversion of "objects" to optimize display (eg image processing to adapt to different media) and a base of "templates" that can adapt to the final support. This patent describes the extraction of data from a preformatted document with a reconstitution of this information in software and on reading media. But this solution does not answer the problem of the unique writing of a book with the need to obtain a multi-media publication. In this patent, a single-support book is written using and transforming elements present in a multi-media database.

International patent application WO2010 / 005780 discloses an online editorial tool that allows collaborative creation of books. The final version can remain online but can also be exported to a multitude of formats: html, pdf, rss, usb stick and print on demand.

The patent incorporates different models for different media.

The international patent application WO2001 / 057689 describes a system for publishing a document by adapting the content to "templates" which themselves are dynamically adapted.

The international patent application WO02 / 19090 describes a system for organizing internet objects "text, image, ..." in a database. An author or a group of authors who wants to write a book, starts by creating a structure of chapters, dedicates style sheets to each chapter / and or page for then, via a search engine, find objects on the Internet - for integrate them in their chapters / pages. International patent application WO 2004/104865 describes a method for managing flags (tags) in html / soap for integrating "web" content into a publishing system such as ADOBE INDESIGN or QUARK XPRESS (trade names).

US2005 / 001494 describes a system based on the automatic creation of books (collage of chapters in XML format) to display them (using the correct format / template ..) on digital equipment.

US patent application US2006 / 0224952 describes a method for generating templates that are definable per page, but this solution starts from the creation of documents in Adobe Indesign, Quark Xpress, Microsoft Word ... to create paper versions and dedicated treatments to create multi-support publications.

US patent application US 2003/0163784 discloses a content generator producing bricks that are identical for all media. Each brick can be used in several books, but the same content remains frozen for the same medium. This process is especially interesting for reusable content in several documents such as training materials or technical specifications.

EP 0319232 discloses a multi-user data communication system for collaborative writing.

Disadvantages of the prior art The solutions of the prior art do not make it possible to optimize the content for a set of supports whose characteristics are reflected in technical constraints on content elements, and sometimes in antinomic technical constraints. one support to another. By content element, for example, we mean an image file, video, sound, text, etc. The characteristics of format, size, interpretation are not the same for all media. Moreover, some media do not accept certain elements: for example, a paper book will not accept an audio or video file. In the solutions of the prior art, it is not possible to unify the content creation phase for media with incompatible technical constraints.

The solutions of the prior art thus imply manipulations to be performed to integrate the content to the new medium, after the production of the content.

Known solutions do not integrate the specificities of the content for all media such as:

- The possibility of adapting the book to different media: for example, shorter texts on a cell phone (smartphone).

The data type is linked with the starting document. For example, if the starting document is a word processor, you can not print the video.

The integration of the book on a new medium (for example a new tablet) can be realized after the creation of the book but its contents will not be optimized for this support (non-optimized navigation, size of images / texts not adapted,. ..).

Most solutions of the prior art relate to the creation of a "web" book that allows use in online or offline mode (called "offline") and sometimes even to print it.

The big problem is that this type of solution does not allow to use the specificities of each medium. For example on tablets, the system will display the book in a copy format conform to the PDF file or solutions "turn-pages", offering only ergonomics and quality of human-machine interface limited. Known solutions generally do not allow to integrate new media such as cell phones into this system. Solution provided by the invention

The present invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a technical solution integrating from the outset the specificities of each support.

The invention makes it possible to define from the outset all the media on which the content may be published. Thus, the content and its navigation will be adapted to each medium (paper and digital).

For this purpose, the invention relates, in its most general sense, to a method for producing multimedia content intended for a plurality of representation media, comprising a step of creating the multimedia components and recording in a database, a step of constructing a plurality of description files of several templates and a step of writing and publishing the content constituted by said multimedia components in the form of a digital file defined from said templates,

said method comprises an initial step of defining a plurality of specificity tables, each of said specificity tables being specific to a target representation medium, said specificity tables being common to all the contents to be published,

said step of creating the multi-media components consisting in using a single write interface common to all the templates, for the input, by an operator, of the multimedia components, said step comprising means for computer processing of said contents, function of the information contained in at least one part said specificity tables, as well as pre-registration processing of multi-media components that are incompatible with at least part of said specificity tables,

said step of creating multi-media components further comprising means for displaying the contents being recorded on a plurality of interfaces each corresponding to one of said target representation media, from said templates, said templates being stored in a base of templates.

The method further includes steps of making digital files from the contents of said multi-media component database, and each of the templates corresponding to one of the target media, as well as steps of modifications of the stored multimedia components. in the database or templates saved in the template database, from the modification on one of the digital files corresponding to one of the target representation media, and if necessary a reprocessing from the tables specificities corresponding to other target representation media.

According to a particular embodiment, the invention furthermore comprises a step of constructing the templates being specific to at least one content to be published, said step consisting in defining, for each target representation medium, an organization definition file of the display and navigation of multi-media contents on the corresponding target medium, from the constraints defined in the corresponding table of specificities. Said templates are "intelligent", that is to say that they do not impose a fixed disposition of the elements, the latter being calculated and generated via a rendering algorithm based on said constraints. For example: A page has 3 columns and the maximum width of a column is 7cm. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents the general architecture of a solution of the state of the art

FIG. 2 represents the general architecture of a solution according to the invention

FIG. 3 represents the treatments undergone by a multi-media content

Figure 4 shows the specification tables for the different reading media and the multi-media content

Figure 1 illustrates the heterogeneity of different reading media (paper, web, tablet, cell phone or digital media to come ...), source of significant problems when publishing books and no tools exist to efficiently combine paper with different digital formats.

The method according to the invention is intended for book publishers to enable them to combine all the peculiarities of these different media in a single editorial system to create, visualize and produce simultaneously and very quickly books adapted to different media reading.

Figure 2 shows the detailed architecture of the process.

The process is divided into four phases: the setting, writing, proofreading and production of books. A: PARAMETERING PHASE

A publisher first decides the list of different media on which he wants to publish his book (1). In the list, we have a paper version, one or more web versions, one or more versions for different tablets on the market, one or more versions for different cell phones (smartphones) and one or more versions for new media coming soon ... For each type of media, publishers complete the table of specificities and constraints (21 for paper - 22 for web - 23 for tablets - 24 for cell phones - 25 for future reading materials. .). Each specificity table contains a set of technical tags to describe the specificities and constraints of objects already existing or created specifically for the support. For the paper version (21), we will define all the technical parameters such as the size of the book (size of the paper used), the size of the pages (a very constraining element), the number of pages (multiplication of 32), the margins of trimming (for printing) but also the border (for binding the book), the font size, the maximum length of a text, the fonts used, etc. We will also set up logical processes. For example, many image banks provide low-resolution images during the writing phase. During the creation, the system will accept these images in low resolution in the database (1A) as he knows that the image will be replaced at the end by a file in high definition. For images from other databases, the media converter will alert the user when the resolution is too low for use on the book page. All this is then integrated into a detailed "paper" model (31). For the web version (22), we will define the width of the web page, the style page, the fonts, the links, the tags, the version of HTML and CSS .... All of its constraints are integrated in a detailed web model (32).

The marriage between object and support is complex

(Figure 4). Take the case of a photo. A photo is an image defined for paper printing with a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch and in a four-color process (cyan, magenta, yellow and black called CMYK). In the paper version, its width is described according to the page (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page or 1/8 page). This same photo on the web will be defined with a resolution of 72 dots per inch and a three-color format (red, green, blue). It is also possible that this image is "cropped" to better display on this support. The image in the web version must also be indexed in a different way from that of paper, in particular to comply with Web standards prescribed by the Web Standards Body (W3C). For an Apple iPAD tablet, this image will have a maximum resolution of 132 dots per inch (dpi) and is part of a playback sequence. For Android tablets, this resolution is often 160 dpi but can range from 120ppp (small tablets) to 320ppp (large tablets). On a cell phone and taking into account the size of its screen, the editor can decide to display the complete image, a miniature, a detail or an alternative with a short and light text.

Another special feature is the font processing. A plurality of font files that can be used during the parameterization step are recorded.

When producing content, one or more fonts will be used. During the production phase of the support, the content will be associated either to an embedded file containing the fonts used, or to a link to a site where the fonts considered are stored. Take another case. Many books contain tables that authors have created with a spreadsheet before inserting it into their document. To integrate these tables in a DTP software, a graphic designer is obliged to redraw each table and to retrieve the information, he / she performs a copy / paste of the word processor to a spreadsheet to 1 'export / import in his DTP software . Following this bad chaining, a simple table easily requires one hour of work for a paper print. For the digital version, this table requires an integration job again. Sometimes this table is rendered interactive or displayed partially like the tables of conjugation which are in full page in the textbooks but with a partial posting on the web.

To allow a representation on different media, such a table will be recorded in the content database as a single digital component that will allow the generation according to different formats depending on the template base and the processing performed during the manufacture of a specific product.

For example, the component intended for a representation on a small screen such as that of a telephone, will consist of a digital file corresponding to an editable table with a reduced number of columns, and the creation of additional blocks for not exceed the number of columns viewable on the screen.

For the component intended for a paper edition, the digital file will correspond to a printable table with a larger number of columns, and a distribution in blocks and columns of format adapted to the target support.

For the component intended for visualization with a browser, the component will consist of an HTML table that can be inserted into a page. These different components will be generated on the fly according to the content, the specific table specific to the format and support. As for the tablets (Figures 2 + 4), we find ourselves with an important technical heterogeneity that requires us to create several tables of specificities and several detailed models. For each type of tablet (23), we will integrate the various parameters such as the size of the tablet (7, 9 or 10 inches ...), the operating system, the supported formats, the resolution, the video formats supported and editorial constraints (length of a title, size of the font ....). Each type of tablet will have its associated detailed model (33). Note also that one tablet can support multiple formats.

The same tag integration is made for cell phones (24,34) and future digital reading media (25,35).

The set of specificities is then translated into a single input mask (4) that allows the operator to enter the content (text, images, maps, videos, sounds ...) and this for all selected media (1).

All this content is stored in a content database (1A) (Digital Content Manager or DCM).

All the detailed models, made by the designers, are registered in a template database (1B) (Asset Manager Template or GAM). B: WRITE PHASE

Once the finalization is finalized, it is up to the author to write the book using a unique input mask (40). This form allows to insert the different elements (text, image, map, video, sound ...) in the database of content (1A) and this for all selected media.

This unique input mask can be used online ("online") or offline ("offline").

When writing the content by the operator in the input mask, a typographic processing step (41) specific to the language used for writing the book will be applied. For example, when an operator writes a book in French and puts three points in a row, when recording, these three points will be replaced by the "..." character. In the same logic, the quotation marks "" are replaced by the French quotation marks "". The input mask with its typographic rules module (41) will handle this conversion when saving.

The operator has a set of tools that allows him to work on the different elements (for example, cut a photo, shorten a video ...) and this by keeping the tags around each object that will always be stored in the DCM content database (1A). Figures 3a and 3b show us how the objects are then converted for the different selected media. Behind the input template is the Cross Media Converter (42) which includes a set of checks and file conversions. For example, if an operator wants a photo to be published using the width of the paper page, the operator will be notified if the resolution of the image is not sufficient to do so. Ditto for a text that may have different lengths between paper versions, the web, tablets, cell phones and other digital media. If the operator adds digital elements such as a photo, video or sound, these elements will be converted into the correct computer format for the different versions of the book. In the case of an incompatibility, for example a video can not be integrated into a paper book, the application will ask, to provide an alternative (an image that replaces the video, a link to a website ...) that will be integrated into the paper version. The operator can also define in the editorial project, and using a suitable input template, additional pages for some media. For example, it can define quizzes that will be present in the template of entries and only displayable on certain types of cellular phone.

When writing the book in the input template (40), each operator benefits from a preview module (5) which makes it possible to merge the data already entered and present in the DCM (1A) with the different templates present in the the DGM base (1B). The operator can thus view (51) the page of the book on the different media (the paper book, the web book, n different types of tablets, n different types of cell phone ....).

A second type of preview - multi-template (52) consists in proposing to the operator several variants of layout for a given medium. For example, for the paper version, an algorithm will position the objects in a different way on the page (respecting the constraints defined in the table of paper specificities) and the operator can thus choose the one he prefers. On the web, this page may appear with several different style sheets. Same for the different tablets / cell phones selected.

These two preview modes (51 + 52) allow each operator to validate their writing in different environments and avoids one of the problems of the classic edition - cutting or adding content at the last minute. C: PHASE OF READING Each book is read by several people who will perform consistency checks, spelling corrections, grammar and syntax in a dedicated replay interface (6). To give each reviewer a realistic view of the final book on different media, we merge the requested content on the fly with the selected template (51 + 52).

As with the writing module, the reviewer has two types of preview. A first (51) that offers the book on all selected media (paper, web, n types of tablets, n types of cell phone / smartphone ...). A second (52) preview type provides different layouts of the same content.

The reviewer is thus in a situation close to the final version of the book and he can thus check if the content is without errors and if it is correctly displayed on the different media.

D: PRODUCTION PHASE

Once the proofreading is finalized, we enter the production phase with the Media Mixer (43) "Cross Media composer" (43) of the book on all media. For each media type, the Media Mixer (43) "Cross Media composer" merges the content in the content database (1A) with the associated template (1B). Each type of support will have its own process. For the paper book (71), we will merge the data and the templates in a software of DTP (Adobe Indesign, Quark Xpress ...) which will make it possible to leave files printer of quality. For the web book (74), we link the final data with the final web templates (through style sheets). For each tablet (76), we inject the data into the application containers associated with the type of support.

For the creation of the paper book (71), all the objects are injected in an intelligent and automatic way, thanks to an algorithm depending on the editorial constraints and the content (number of photos, length of the texts), in a software of DTP ( Computer-assisted publications) . The content of the page is thus positioned in different provisions while respecting editorial constraints and content. The verification of the quality and the choice of the best rendering will be done manually by a DTP operator. Possible corrections can be made manually inside the DTP software (such as trimming an image, inverting two images for better viewing ... (see Synchronization Phase)). This automatic injection saves 70% of the DTP time (the DTP time of a book is several weeks).

Another advantage is that information in spreadsheet format is also automatically fed into the DTP software, thus avoiding the need to "redraw the board" as designers do today. For the Internet version of the book (72), the input and preview templates are now replaced by the final templates using the different practices (html, xhtml, CSS, javascript ...). E - SYNCHRONIZATION OF CORRECTIONS

It is important to integrate the book update once the book is finalized. For the paper version, we will make the corrections in the DTP software and we use a synchronization script of content and provision for updating the content data in the DCM and the layout data in the template database. Naturally, this operation is only feasible by authorized persons.

Conclusion

This invention permits the publication of books without departing from the digital file of the paper book (often referred to as a printer PDF file) for reprocessing and producing the digital versions of the book. The invention applies in particular to non-linear reading mode books such as textbooks, cookbooks, travel, DIY ... incorporating texts, images, maps ... The method consists in the temporary separation between, on the one hand the writing of the book (with a content workflow) and, on the other hand, the use of templates that integrate all the specificities specific to each medium (paper, web, tablet, cell phone or other future media, ...). Next, a multi-media media assembler will allow for each reading medium, to merge the content already prepared for this medium with the corresponding template and adapt the template according to the content. CONSTITUTION OF THE SYSTEM

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the method comprises:

- a database (1A) which contains the content (DCM = Digital Content Manager) of the book;

a database of templates (1B) which contains the various bases useful for the display (GAM = Asset Manager Template) and this for all the supports,

a set of specificity tables (2), one for each set of media types and type of format (the paper 21, web 22, n tablet types 23, n cell phone types 24, and future media 25);

a set of detailed models (3) - one for each set of media types (the paper 31, the web 32, the n types of tablets 33, the n types of cellular telephones 34, and the future media 35) and type of format (with variants for each model according to the use as a cover page, summary page, double page lesson, page folder, page of exercises ...);

- An input template (40) that groups in one interface all the fields to enter different models (paper, web, tablet, cell phone ...). The content of said fields will be stored in the database (1A).

- a web writing module with its preview module (5) multi-media (51) and multi-templates (52);

- a web replay module (6) that uses the same preview module (5, 51, 52)

- a cross media module that combines two tools: a Media Converter (42) "Cross Media Converter" and a media assembler (43) "Cross Media Composer". The Media Converter (42) "Cross Media Converter" injects / converts / transforms media content into the appropriate format and size for selected media. This conversion can be of logical type or of technical type. The Cross Media Composer (43) is the tool that merges the contents of the book with the templates.

- a synchronization module that retrieves changes made in the DTP software in the database (DCM-1). This synchronization is based on the proprietary or open source language of the desktop publishing software and optionally uses the Multi Media Media Converter (42) "Cross Media Converter" in the case of distribution of a new medium on all the supports of the book.

Claims

claims

1 - A method of producing multimedia content for a plurality of representation media, comprising a step of creating the multimedia components and recording in a database, a step of constructing a plurality of description files of several templates and a step of writing and publishing the content constituted by said multimedia components in the form of a digital file defined from said templates, characterized in that

said method comprises an initial step of defining a plurality of specificity tables, each of said specificity tables being specific to a target representation medium,

said step of creating the multimedia components consisting of generating a single write interface common to all the templates, for the input, by an operator or by an automatic import system, of the multimedia components, said step comprising processing means; computing of said contents, according to the information contained in at least part of said tables of specificities, as well as pre-registration processing of the multimedia components incompatible with at least part of said tables of specificities,

said step of creating the multimedia components further comprising means for displaying the content being recorded on a plurality of interfaces each corresponding to one of said target representation media, from said templates, said templates being stored in a database of templates

the method comprising steps for manufacturing digital files from the contents of said multimedia component database, and from each of the templates corresponding to one of the target media, as well as steps for modifying multimedia components stored in the database or templates stored in the template database, from the modification on one of the digital files corresponding to the one of the target representation media, and optionally a reprocessing from the specificity tables corresponding to the other target representation media. 2 - A method of producing a multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it further comprises a step of constructing the templates being specific to at least one content to be published, said step of defining, for each medium of representation target, an organization definition file of the display of the multimedia contents on the corresponding target medium, from the constraints defined in the corresponding specificity table. 3 - A method of producing a multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that each of said media type is associated with at least one specificity table (21 to 25), including a part related to the technical constraints of the support such as the size and resolution, a portion related to the displayed texts such as fonts and length, a part related to images and maps such as the number of pixels, a part related to multimedia media such as sound, video, resolution, encoding and a technological part and in particular the ability to read / execute certain development languages.

4 - A method of producing multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises an initial step of listing all the media on which the book will be published, this list of defined media before starting the book writing defining the constitution of the content database and the processing associated with the objects. 5 - A method of producing multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises a description step, for each selected medium, technical constraints comprising at least the size of the page, the minimum resolution of images / videos , the file formats that can be used on a given medium.

6 - Process for producing a multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises a step of description of technical incompatibilities and alternative solutions.

7 - A method of producing multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises a step of duplication and automatic transformation of the object for storage of the converted object in the content database (14). ).

8 - A method of producing a multimedia content according to the preceding claim characterized in that the same image / videos / card is stored several times in the database in order to be displayed on all media.

9 - A method of producing a multimedia content according to the preceding claim characterized in that the same object is recorded in several formats corresponding to different encodings.

10 - A method of producing a multimedia content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises, at the end of writing, a step of merging the content with the templates, where the media assembler (43) reads the data from the content database (14) and merges them with the template concerned. 11 - A method for producing a multi-media content according to the main claim characterized in that it comprises steps of reading and correction of the content published on final reading media such as the web, a tablet, a software package. DTP for paper, with a program for synchronizing these changes in the content base (1A).