The present invention relates to a system for generating a video film, comprising a video source from which primary video information is retrievable and video processing means which are able and configured to receive and process the primary video information into the video film.

In known systems for generating a video film use is usually made of physical and/or program-based video processing means with which primary video information such as image information and sound information can be received from a video source and, optionally with the necessary desired operations on the video information, processed into the final video film. By means of the video editing means personal data can for instance be processed into the primary video information in order to generate a personalized video film. A very common application is personalization of videos by companies on the basis of personal information, such as the addition of a name and/or photo of a customer in the video film. The final personalized video film is sent to the customer, for instance by e-mail, in order to transmit a message from the company specifically targeted at the customer. This is found in practice to give companies a greater conversion than a regular e-mail or generic video film.

The present systems and their background technology are not yet optimal for generating and sending large numbers of personalized video films to a determined target group within a short period of time. The processing of primary video information retrieved from a video source into a video film is a relatively protracted process in the known systems, wherein a user must him/herself manually select and activate the necessary processing steps by means of the video processing means for each separate video film. Generating and sending a large number of video films simultaneously is therefore a not particularly efficient, usually lengthy process, and will also require costly video editing means with great computing power. The present invention has for its object to provide a system which obviates this drawback and at least partially automates the process of generating personalized video films.

In order to realize the stated object a system of the type stated in the preamble has the feature according to the present invention that the primary video information comprises fixed first video information and variable second video information, that the video processing means are coupled to input means and are able and configured to receive secondary video information therefrom and that the processing means process the primary video information into the video film by substitution of the variable second video information by the secondary video information.

The secondary video information can for instance be personalized image information and/or sound information selected by the input means. Because the video editing means are able and configured to replace the variable second video information from the primary video information with such personalized information received from the input means, different personalized video films can be created while the fixed first video information, also referred to as the template, of the primary video information remains unchanged. Less computer power is thus required to process the primary video information into the video film. A large number of video films adapted as desired, each video film of which differs for instance in secondary video information incorporated therein, can hereby be generated fully automatically with the system within a short period of time. The created video films can then each be sent to an associated recipient, for instance via a personalized e-mail.

A preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention has the feature that the input means comprise data storage means for at least temporarily storing the secondary video information. A database can thus be created with the necessary secondary video information from which the input means can select and provide the desired information to the processing means so as to create a large number of different

personalized video films simultaneously on the basis thereof. A further preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention has the feature that the input means comprise a user interface which enables a user to input at least a part of the secondary video information, in particular a web interface. The user is hereby him/herself able to provide the desired secondary video information, for instance his/her own personal data, to the system and to store it for instance for use in data storage means provided for the purpose.

In a particular embodiment the system according to the present invention is characterized in that the secondary video information comprises personal information relating to a person taken from a group of natural persons, companies, concerns, organizations and public authorities. The personal information is for instance one or more data taken from a group comprising: gender (male or female), title, name, e-mail address, company name, department, position, company logo, portrait photo, slogan, internet page address and so on.

In a further preferred embodiment the system according to the present invention is characterized in that the secondary video information comprises colour information and/or formatting information for the video film. Colour definition or letter-type of the video film in the variable second video information can for instance thus be modified as desired, while the other characteristics of the video film incorporated in the fixed first video information remain unchanged.

A further preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention has the feature that the processing means are coupled to output means which make the video film available by electronically accessible means. The output means result in the finally processed video film being made directly available to a customer by the system. In a particular embodiment hereof the system according to the present invention is thus characterized in that the output means comprise a hosting service from which the video film is retrievable at a unique address. In a further particular embodiment the system according to the present invention is characterized in that the output means make the unique address of the video film available by means of electronic data exchange and/or at the input means. The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and an associated drawing. In the drawing:

figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows an example of primary video information with fixed first video

information and variable second video information.

The figures are otherwise purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. As shown in figure 1, the system according to the invention comprises a number of components. By means of input means 1 in the form of a web application instructions can be sent to video editing means 2. In an instruction secondary video information, for instance personal data and details, are stored and sent to video editing means 2. The web application is connected for this purpose to a database of the input means. The web application provides the option via a user- friendly user interface of making, showing, supplementing, changing and removing secondary video information in the database, such as data of users and customers, and fixed first video information such as recorded video material or rendered templates. The web application moreover provides options for dealing with e-mails.

Video editing means 2 comprise at least one render computer provided with the necessary programs. The primary video information, including the fixed first video information and the variable second video information, can be created herewith, for instance by rendering an animated film. When a new instruction comes in via input means 1 , video editing means 2 are able and configured to replace the variable second video information with the secondary video information, for instance personal data and details from the instruction provided by the input means. These can be texts, images, video fragments or sound fragments, or comprise for instance a colour definition or other characteristics of the video film. Upon receiving the instruction, the render computer begins rendering the personalized secondary video information and subsequently replaces the variable second video information with this secondary video information. The primary video information is hereby processed into the final video film by supplementing the unchanged fixed first video information with the secondary video information. After this information has been processed into the personalized video film by the video editing means, the video can be uploaded and the web application of input means 1 and optional other services connected to the system are informed that the video film is available and can be sent.

A video hosting service 3 is applied for the purpose of uploading the processed video films. The video films can hereby be made available on the internet, from which users can easily retrieve the video film.

An application programming interface (API) 4 is provided for receiving instructions from external services and sending instructions to video editing means 2. The API has been developed so that other services can make a connection to the system. These services can create instructions directly from their own user interface and input them into the system. Instructions which come in via the API can be managed in web application 1. When a video film has been processed, the APT sends a URL back to the external services or input means 1 which refers to the location of the video film, for instance a link to the video hosting service 3.

A connection 5 is provided so that other services can make a connection to the system on the basis of available API documentation.

During processing of primary video information into the final video film the system follows the following steps. An instruction with a unique identity is first created by manually inputting data, for instance personal information such as name, title, contact information, portrait information and so on, or retrieving the data from a database. The instruction is then sent via either the API or the web application to the render computer. On the basis of the unique data from the instruction the render computer then creates the personalized video film and meanwhile communicates with other services on progress. As soon as the video film is ready, it is uploaded. A video URL is then sent to the web application or other service. The video is characterized by the unique identity. On the basis of the video URL an e-mail can be created having a link therein to a landing page on which the personalized video is available.

As shown in figure 2 the primary video information 10 comprises fixed first video information 1 1 and variable second video information 12. In order to process the primary video information 10 into a finally desired video film, for instance a personalized video film, the variable second video information 12 can be replaced using a system according to the present invention with desired secondary video information provided by the input means of the system to the video processing means. In this exemplary embodiment the fixed first video information 1 1 shows a rendered image or video fragment of a room in which a number of fixed elements are displayed, for instance a television stand 1 la, a worktable with computer l ib and a wall with a door and a picture or photo frame 1 1c attached adjacently thereof against the wall. This fixed first video information 1 1 can be used as template to enable generation of a large number of different personalized video films with the system according to the present invention. Provided within the fixed elements are a number of frames which define a part of the primary video information 10 which forms the variable second information 12. In this exemplary embodiment these are a screen 12a of television stand 11 a, a screen 12b of computer l ib placed on the worktable, a content 12c in picture or photo frame 1 1c and a surface 12d under painting or photo frame 1 1c. One or more of these examples of the variable video information 12 can be replaced with secondary video information, such as a video fragment (for instance video in video), sound fragment or image, including photos, drawn figures and texts. A user, for instance a company, can thus create a series of video films wherein the video films only vary relative to each other in the secondary video information that is applied, for instance a separate video film for all customers of the company having therein an image of the logo of the respective customer within the frames. Although the invention has been further elucidated on the basis of only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. All that is given for instance in the exemplary embodiment of the primary video information is an example of variable second video information as a field within the template of fixed first video information. It is however also possible for the variable second video information to relate to other types of information, for instance a colour code or text format, which can be replaced by modified secondary video information in order to process this into a final video film with a desired colour or text format.