A video system comprising: preferencing means for preestablishing a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of plurality of content categories; communication means for downloading segment information for a video comprising a linear sequence of frames readable from a spiral track of an optical disc, the segment information directly defining at least one segment of the video with respect to a level of explicitness in at least one content category; selecting means for selecting segments of the video by applying the preestablished content preference to the segment information; and random access and buffering means for playing from within the linear sequence of frames a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video, the playing not requiring an alternate video source and comprising retrieving the selected segments and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of an at least one segment by buffering at least a portion of a segment. view more

A video system comprising: preferencing means for preestablishing a content preference responsive to a rating system; communication means for downloading segment information for a video comprising a linear sequence of frames readable from a spiral track of an optical disc, the segment information directly defining at least one segment of the video responsive to the rating system; selecting means for selecting segments of the video by applying the preestablished content preference to the segment information; and random access and buffering means for playing from within the linear sequence of frames a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video, the playing not requiring an alternate video source and comprising retrieving the selected segments and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of an at least one segment by buffering at least a portion of a segment. view more

A video playing method comprising the steps of: preestablishing a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of plurality of content categories; downloading, by means of a communication, segment information for a video comprising a linear sequence of frames readable from a spiral track of an optical disc, the segment information directly defining at least one segment of the video with respect to a level of explicitness in at least one content category; selecting segments of the video by applying the preestablished content preference to the segment information; and playing, by means of a random accessing and buffering and from within the linear sequence of frames, a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video, the playing not requiring an alternate video source and comprising retrieving the selected segments and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of an at least one segment by buffering at least a portion of a segment. view more

A video playing method comprising the steps of: preestablishing a content preference responsive to a rating system; downloading, by means of a communication, segment information for a video comprising a linear sequence of frames readable from a spiral track of an optical disc, the segment information directly defining at least one segment of the video responsive to the rating system; selecting segments of the video by applying the preestablished content preference to the segment information; and playing, by means of a random accessing and buffering and from within the linear sequence of frames, a seamless version of the video less in length than the length of the video, the playing not requiring an alternate video source and comprising retrieving the selected segments and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of an at least one segment by buffering at least a portion of a segment. view more

A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising processing means for selecting, responsive to which of said versions is to be played, and by means of information defining and linking segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and random access and buffering means for playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and for seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played. view more

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a segment containing content unique to the one of said at least two versions is parallel to a segment containing content unique to the another of said at least two versions.

A method of playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising the steps of selecting, responsive to which of said versions of the video program is to be played, and by means of information defining and linking segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and, by utilizing random access and buffering means, playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played. view more

The method of claim 7 wherein a segment containing content unique to the one of said at least two versions is parallel to a segment containing content unique to the another of said at least two versions.

A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising processing means for selecting, responsive to which of said versions is to be played, and by means of segment information, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and random access and buffering means for playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and for seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played. view more

The system of claim 13 wherein a segment containing content unique to the one of said at least two versions is parallel to a segment containing content unique to the another of said at least two versions.

A content map comprising: a plurality of segment definitions defining a plurality of segments of a video responsive to an at least one preestablished content category; a descriptor associated with at least one of the segment definitions responsive to said at least one preestablished content category; and a linkage of said plurality of segment definitions for enabling a video player, responsive to a preference with respect to said at least one preestablished content category and by means of a buffering, to seamlessly skip a retrieval of an at least one segment of said video, said video being provided by a single source, and thereby play from said single source a seamless version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

A content map comprising: defining and linking means for defining and linking a plurality of segments of a video responsive to a preestablished content rating; descriptor means for describing the contents of an at least one of said plurality of segments responsive to said preestablished content rating; and said defining and linking means enabling a video player, responsive to a preference with respect to said content rating and by means of a buffering, to seamlessly skip a retrieval of an at least one segment of said video, said video being provided by a single source, and thereby play from said single source a seamless version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

A method of producing a content map comprising the steps of: producing a plurality of segment definitions defining a plurality of segments of a video responsive to an at least one preestablished content category; associating a descriptor with at least one of the segment definitions responsive to said at least one preestablished content category; and linking said plurality of segment definitions for enabling a video player, responsive to a preference with respect to said at least one preestablished content category and by means of a buffering, to seamlessly skip a retrieval of an at least one segment of said video, said video being provided by a single source, and thereby play from said single source a seamless version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

A content map comprising: a plurality of segment definitions defining a plurality of segments of a video responsive to a preestablished content rating; a label associated with said plurality of segment definitions responsive to said preestablished content rating; and a linkage of said plurality of segment definitions for enabling a video player, responsive to a preference with respect to said preestablished content rating and by means of a buffering, to seamlessly skip a retrieval of an at least one segment of said video, said video being provided by a single source, and thereby play from said single source a seamless version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

A method of retrieving video segments, comprising the steps of: retrieving a video segment map directly defining a plurality of video segments of a video; selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to said video segment map; coordinating a retrieving means for retrieving video segments and a buffering means for buffering at least a portion of a video segment to retrieve the selected video segments and to seamlessly skip a retrieval of a non-selected video segment of said video producing a version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

The method of claim 5, further comprising: establishing video content preferences; wherein said selecting is responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map.

The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of video segments of said video comprises at least one non-sequential video segment.

A video system comprising: memory means for storing a video and a segment map directly defining a plurality of video segments of said video; selecting means for selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to said video segment map; retrieving means for retrieving the selected video segments; buffering means for buffering at least a portion of a video segment; and coordinating means for coordinating said retrieving means and said buffering means to retrieve the selected video segments and to seamlessly skip a retrieval of a non-selected video segment of said video producing a version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

The system of claim 8, further comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences; wherein said selecting means is responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map.

The system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of video segments of said video comprises at least one non-sequential video segment.

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences; retrieving means for retrieving a video segment map directly defining a plurality of video segments of a video and for retrieving video segments of said video; buffering means for buffering at least a portion of said video; processing means for selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map; coordinating means for coordinating said retrieving means and said buffering means to retrieve the selected video segments and to seamlessly skip a retrieval of a non-selected video segment of said video producing a version of said video differing in length than the length of said video. view more

The system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of video segments of said video comprises at least one non-sequential video segment.

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; memory means for storing a video segment map and a video, said video segment map defining a plurality of video segments of said video responsive to said at least one content category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map; random accessing means for retrieving the selected video segments; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a continuous video. view more

The video system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of video segments comprises at least one non-sequential video segment selected from the group consisting of a parallel video segment, a transitional video segment, and an overlapping video segment. view more

The video system of claim 1, wherein said random accessing means further comprises seamless accessing means for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments.

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; first memory means for storing a video segment map defining, a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to said at least one content category; second memory means for storing said video; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map; random accessing means for retrieving the selected video segments; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a continuous video. view more

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to an application of said video content preferences to a video segment map of said video, said video segment map defining said plurality of video segments; random accessing means for retrieving said video segment map and for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments from a memory means storing said video segment map and said video; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a seamless video. view more

The video system of claim 8, wherein said memory means for storing said video segment map and said video comprises a first memory means for storing said video segment map, and a second memory means for storing said video.

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to an application of said video content preferences to a video segment map of said video, said plurality of video segments comprising at least one non-sequential video segment selected from the group consisting of a parallel video segment, a transitional video segment, and an overlapping video segment, said video segment map defining said plurality of video segments; random accessing means for retrieving said video segment map and for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments from a memory means storing said video segment map and said video; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a seamless video. view more

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to an application of said video content preferences to a video segment map of said video, said video segment map defining said plurality of video segments responsive to said at least one content category; random accessing means for retrieving said video segment map and for retrieving the selected video segments from a memory means storing said video segment map and said video; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a continuous video. view more

The video system of claim 13, wherein said random accessing means further comprises seamless accessing means for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments.

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to an application of said video content preferences to a video segment map of said video, said video segment map defining said plurality of video segments responsive to said at least one content category, said plurality of video segments comprising at least one non-sequential video segment selected from the group consisting of a parallel video segment, a transitional video segment, and an overlapping video segment; random accessing means for retrieving said video segment map and for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments from a memory means storing said video segment map and said video; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a seamless video. view more

A video system comprising: preferencing means for establishing video content preferences responsive to a preestablished segment descriptive structure including a violence category; processing means for automatically selecting video segments from a plurality of video segments of a video responsive to an application of said video content preferences to a video segment map of said video, said video segment map defining said plurality of video segments responsive to said preestablished segment descriptive structure; random accessing means for retrieving said video segment map from a first memory means storing said video segment map, and for seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments from a second memory means storing said video; and transmitting means for transmitting the retrieved video segments as a seamless video. view more

The video system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of video segments comprises at least one non-sequential video segment selected from the group consisting of a parallel video segment, a transitional video segment, and an overlapping video segment. view more

A method of editing a video comprising the steps of: establishing video content preferences responsive to at least one content category of possibly unsuitable content, said at least one content category including a violence category; retrieving a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments of said video, said video segment map responsive to said at least one content category; automatically selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map; retrieving the selected video segments; and transmitting the retrieved video segments as a continuous video. view more

A method of editing a video comprising the steps of: establishing video content preferences, said video content preferences responsive to a preestablished segment descriptive structure including a violence category; retrieving a video segment map defining a plurality of video segments of said video, said video segment map responsive to said preestablished segment descriptive structure, said plurality of video segments comprising at least one non-sequential video segment selected from the group consisting of a parallel video segment, a transitional video segment, and an overlapping video segment; automatically selecting video segments from said plurality of video segments responsive to an application of said video content preferences to said video segment map; seamlessly retrieving the selected video segments; and transmitting the retrieved video segments as a seamless video. view more