Method and system to process video effects

• Main Author: STOEN JEFFREY D.,NG CHURN W.,PNG WILLIE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.08.2006
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

A system and method of processing a video Instant Message (IM) is provided. The method may comprise receiving a captured video stream (30) from an image capture device (16) and selecting at least one video effect from a plurality of video effects. A modified video stream (33) is then generated (e.g., using a digital filter) that includes the video effect and is then communicated to a viewing location as the video Instant Message. The IM application (18) can be a legacy IM application and generate a graphic user interface via the IM application (18) to allow a user to select the video effect. The captured video stream (30) may be received from a web camera (56) and the modified video stream (33) may be communicated via the Internet to the viewing location. The method may be performed in a device driver (22) that interfaces the image capture device (16) to an Instant Messaging application (18) associated with the device driver.