Method for managing multimedia files

• US 10,719,546 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtuous Circle SA
• Original Assignee: Virtuous Circle SA
• Inventors: Luigi, Romano
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Cam Y T
• Application Number:
  US15/536,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20190087423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 707722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A method for managing multimedia files includes an operating step whereby at least one playback management object of one or several multimedia files is generated, said playback management object including at least one playback parameter of multimedia files, said operating step whereby at least one playback management object is generated including at least an operating step whereby said at least one playback parameter of multimedia files is generated. The method also comprises an operating step whereby at least one link between said playback management object and at least a first multimedia file is generated, the operating step whereby said at least one playback management object and/or said link are stored in a memory and an operating step whereby at least a first multimedia file or a plurality of multimedia files are played, as a function of said at least one playback parameter of said playback management object.

Claims

1. A method for managing files, in particular multimedia files, the method comprising at least following operating steps:

generating, by a computer, at least one playback management object for managing playback of one or several multimedia files, said one playback management object comprising at least one multimedia file playback parameter;

generating, by the computer, at least one link between said one playback management object and at least a first multimedia file; and

storing, by the computer, said at least one playback management object and said link in a memory,

wherein the multimedia file playback parameter is selected in following list;

playback speed, playback frequency, playback volume, fade-in of a multimedia file at start of multimedia file playback, fade-out of the multimedia file at end of the multimedia file playback, inhibition of the multimedia file playback, iteration of the multimedia file playback, playback sequence with respect to the one or several multimedia files, controlled playback of a multimedia file following, or preceding, another given multimedia file, controlled playback for a time fraction not exceeding duration of the multimedia file playback, start of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file, end of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file;

wherein the at least one link comprises a link object for managing the playback of the one or several multimedia files, each playback management link object comprising at least one auxiliary identification element and at least one auxiliary playback parameter of the multimedia files, operating step whereby at least one link between said playback management object and least a the first multimedia file is generated also comprising an operating step whereby said link object is generated, an operating step whereby at least said auxiliary identification element is generated and an operating step whereby said auxiliary playback parameter of multimedia files is generated, and

updating, by the computer, at least one playback counter of the one or several multimedia files linked to said playback management object, said playback counter being configured to be automatically updated following an integral or partial playback of multimedia files within a semi-random playback sequence, to take account of said playback having been performed, value assumed by the playback counter being stored in a remote memory and/or in a device.

2. The method according to claim 1, for managing the playback of multimedia files.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising the following operating steps:

querying said playback counter of one or several multimedia files linked to said playback management object in order to check whether a multimedia file has already been played a predetermined number of times; and

playing, or temporarily inhibiting the playback of one or several multimedia files within a semi-random playback mode in a way correlated to the result of said query relevant to the value assumed by said playback counter.

4. The method according to claim 2, also comprising an operating step whereby at least a first multimedia file, or a plurality of multimedia files, are played as a function of said at least one playback parameter of said playback management object or a corresponding plurality of playback management objects and/or comprising an operating step whereby one or several multimedia files are played as a function of said at least one playback parameter of said at least one playback management object in accordance with one or several semi-random playback modes comprising both random playback settings and non-random playback settings and/or configurable playback settings and/or playback settings correlated to said playback parameter or to a plurality of said playback parameters and/or wherein said playback management object is configured to play via one or several of links a plurality of multimedia files in accordance with one or several of semi-random playback modes comprising both random playback setting and non-random playback settings and/or configurable playback settings and/or playback settings correlated to said playback parameter or to a plurality of said playback parameters.

5. The method according to the claim 4, wherein said at least one playback management object is configured, by setting an appropriate playback parameter, to manage a configurable multimedia file playback sequence and/or to set a correlation in a playback order between two or several multimedia files in a semi-random playback sequence of multimedia files and/or to inhibit playback of given multimedia files within a playback sequence of multimedia files or within a semi-random playback sequence of multimedia files and/or wherein playback management object is a grouping object configured to manage the playback of a plurality of multimedia files.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising an operating step whereby the playback frequency of a multimedia file within one or several sequences of semi-random playback or of a playback management object is increased or decreased, wherein the operating step whereby the playback frequency of a multimedia file or of a playback management object is increased or decreased is performed by setting or assigning a playback parameter or repetition indicator to the multimedia file or to the playback management object, said playback parameter or repetition indicator being configured to make it possible multiple playback of a multimedia file within a semi-random playback sequence or to temporarily inhibit the playback of a multimedia file within said semi-random playback sequence.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising an operating step whereby the playback of one or several multimedia files or of one or several playback management objects, said playback management objects comprising one or several link objects, within a semi-random playback sequence is inhibited, said inhibit operating step being performed by setting an appropriate multimedia file playback parameter of a playback management object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises an operating step whereby, by an appropriate multimedia file playback parameter of a playback management object, the playback of a given multimedia file and/or of a given playback management object, comprising a link object, linked to a multimedia file is set to be performed in a way correlated to, or immediately after, the playback of another given multimedia file or of another given playback management object.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising an operating step whereby a visualization and/or management interface is generated, said visualization interface comprising a graphical visualization interface, to visualize and/or manage a plurality of playback management objects, the visualization being correlated to at least one playback structure or mode of said plurality of playback management objects.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the playback management object also comprises one identification element and wherein operating step whereby at least one playback management object is generated also comprises an operating step whereby the identification element is generated.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said playback management object comprises a plurality of playback parameters of multimedia files, at least one playback management object is generated also comprising an operating step whereby said plurality of playback parameters of multimedia files is generated.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

generating a plurality of said playback management objects;

generating at least one link between each playback management object of said playback management objects and at least a respective first multimedia file; and

storing said plurality of said playback management objects and/or links in a memory.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises an operating step whereby one or several multimedia files is played as a function of said playback management object and of at least one playback parameter of said object.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises an operating step whereby a plurality of links between said playback management object and a corresponding plurality of multimedia files is generated and/or wherein said playback management object is a grouping object configured to manage the playback of a plurality of multimedia files.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

generating at least one grouping object configured to manage a plurality of multimedia files; and

generating a plurality of link objects between said grouping object and a corresponding plurality of multimedia files.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating step whereby at least one playback management object of one or several multimedia files is generated comprises an operating step whereby one or several link objects is/are generated, each link object being configured to manage the playback of one individual respective multimedia file, the method also comprising the following operating steps:

generating at least one grouping object for said link objects, said grouping object comprising at least one identification element;

generating a plurality of grouping links between the grouping object and the link objects.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said grouping object is a further multimedia file playback management object and comprises one further playback parameter, said operating step whereby at least one grouping object for said playback management objects of one or several multimedia files is generated also comprising an operating step whereby said identification element and said further playback parameter are generated.

18. A software stored in a memory and configured to perform a method for managing files, in particular multimedia files, the method comprising at least following operating steps:

generating, by a computer, at least one playback management object for managing playback of one or several multimedia files, said one playback management object comprising at least one multimedia file playback parameter;

generating, by the computer, at least one link between said one playback management object and at least a first multimedia file; and

storing, by the computer, said at least one playback management object and said link in a memory,

wherein the multimedia file playback parameter is selected in following list;

playback speed, playback frequency, playback volume, fade-in of a multimedia file at start of multimedia file playback, fade-out of the multimedia file at end of the multimedia file playback, inhibition of the multimedia file playback, iteration of the multimedia file playback, playback sequence with respect to the one or several multimedia files, controlled playback of a multimedia file following, or preceding, another given multimedia file, controlled playback for a time fraction not exceeding duration of the multimedia file playback, start of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file, end of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file;

wherein the at least one link comprises a link object for managing the playback of the one or several multimedia files, each playback management link object comprising at least one auxiliary identification element and at least one auxiliary playback parameter of the multimedia files, operating step whereby at least one link between said playback management object and least a the first multimedia file is generated also comprising an operating step whereby said link object is generated, an operating step whereby at least said auxiliary identification element is generated and an operating step whereby said auxiliary playback parameter of multimedia files is generated, and

updating, by the computer, at least one playback counter of the one or several multimedia files linked to said playback management object, said playback counter being configured to be automatically updated following an integral or partial playback of multimedia files within a semi-random playback sequence, to take account of said playback having been performed, value assumed by the playback counter being stored in a remote memory and/or in a device,

said software being accessible through a computer network, via world wide web or by an internet page.

19. The software according to claim 18, configured:

to generate at least one playback management object of one or several multimedia files, said playback management object comprising at least one playback parameter of multimedia files and, optionally, at least one identification element, said operating step whereby at least one playback management object is generated comprising at least an operating step whereby said at least one playback parameter of multimedia files is generated and, optionally, an operating step whereby said identification element is generated.

20. A system for managing files in particular multimedia files comprising:

at least one device, in particular a local computer or a mobile device, comprising a local memory,

a remote memory connectable to said at least one device, said remote memory being configured to store information related to playback of one or several multimedia files,

a software, installed in said at least one device and/or in a remote processor, the software being executed by the remote processor to;

generate at least one playback management object for managing playback of one or several multimedia files, said one playback management object comprising at least one multimedia file playback parameter;

generate at least one link between said one playback management object and at least a first multimedia file; and

store said at least one playback management object and said link in a memory,

wherein the multimedia file playback parameter is selected in following list;

playback speed, playback frequency, playback volume, fade-in of a multimedia file at start of multimedia file playback, fade-out of the multimedia file at end of the multimedia file playback, inhibition of the multimedia file playback, iteration of the multimedia file playback, playback sequence with respect to the one or several multimedia files, controlled playback of a multimedia file following, or preceding, another given multimedia file, controlled playback for a time fraction not exceeding duration of the multimedia file playback, start of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file, end of the multimedia file playback at a given portion or instant of the multimedia file;

wherein the at least one link comprises a link object for managing the playback of the one or several multimedia files, each playback management link object comprising at least one auxiliary identification element and at least one auxiliary playback parameter of the multimedia files, operating step whereby at least one link between said playback management object and least a the first multimedia file is generated also comprising an operating step whereby said link object is generated, an operating step whereby at least said auxiliary identification element is generated and an operating step whereby said auxiliary playback parameter of multimedia files is generated,

update at least one playback counter of the one or several multimedia files linked to said playback management object, said playback counter being configured to be automatically updated following an integral or partial playback of multimedia files within a semi-random playback sequence, to take account of said playback having been performed, the value assumed by the playback counter being stored in the remote memory and/or in the device; and

transfer of the multimedia files from the remote memory to the local memory of the device and/or from the local memory of the device to the remote memory multimedia files which feature a given value of the playback counter or a given plurality of values of the playback counter, the transfer of multimedia files from the local memory of the device to the remote memory optimizing filing space in the device and/or in the remote memory.