Systems, methods and computer program products for managing multimedia content

• US 20010056434A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ondine Computing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Inventors: Gonzales, Juan, Martin, Randy, Protheroe, Robert, Kaplan, Jon, Riggle, David
• Application Number:
  US09/821,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/483 using metadata automatically derived from the content

Abstract

The present invention is a multimedia management system for storing, manipulating, and displaying multimedia content. The system comprises a user interface, a plurality of predefined functions, a multimedia acquisition interface, and system controls. The system provides users with a simple and intuitive method and computer program for reviewing multimedia content, which can include digital video, digital audio and text, still images, animation, and MIDI.

Claims

1. A system for managing a multimedia data files comprising:

a user interface providing control functions which are selectable by a user,

a representation of the multimedia files selectively viewable in association with the user interface, wherein the representation comprises an image representing the data file and a pointer to the multimedia data file accessible in a computer readable memory device, and

a system for displaying the multimedia data file in association with the representation on the user interface.

2. The system according to

claim 1

, further comprising controls provided in association with the user interface for selective control of display functions associated with the display of the multimedia data file in association with the representation.

3. The system according to

claim 2

, wherein the controls are selected from the group consisting essentially of play, stop, pause, reverse, previous selection, next selection and fast forward functions.

4. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the multimedia data files are selected from the group consisting essentially of still images, video, audio or combinations thereof.

5. The system according to

claim 2

, wherein the controls are associated with a representation of a multimedia data file.

6. The system according to

claim 2

, wherein the controls are positioned in association with the user interface and not at particular representation of a multimedia data file, wherein the controls will operate to control display of a multimedia data file which has been highlighted on the user interface.

7. The method for managing multimedia data files comprising the steps of:

storing a multimedia data file in a data storage system,

creating a representation of the multimedia data file in a user interface in association with a media display system, and

playing the multimedia data file in association with the representation upon selection of the representation on the user interface.

8. A multimedia data management system comprising:

at least one multimedia data file stored on a storage system, the file designated with at least a first name,

a computer program having instructions to copy a selected multimedia data file and store the data file in a database, and

a computer program selectively implemented by a user for renaming the data file with a second name prior to storage in the database.

9. The data management system according to

claim 8

, wherein the computer program further promotes the user to select a destination for the multimedia data file stored in the database.

10. The data management system according to

claim 8

, wherein the computer program further comprises a serialization option, which if enabled will increment the multimedia data file and insert a new file name variable along with a representation of a next multimedia data file for renaming the data file.

11. The data management system according to

claim 8

, wherein the computer program further comprises a collision option, which if enabled determines whether a current file name for a multimedia data file needs to be incremented or changed to avoid overwriting a preexisting file having the same name.

12. A multimedia management system for creating a multimedia presentation comprising:

a database of multimedia data files,

a user interface having representations of the multimedia data file;

a program of instructions to select multimedia data files from the database using the representations to create a list of multimedia data files,

a program of instructions to store the list of multimedia data files along with a set of instructions to play the list of multimedia data files on a display system.

13. The multimedia management system of

claim 12

, wherein the program of instructions to store the list of multimedia data files is designed to store the data files on a removable storage media.

14. The multimedia management system according to

claim 13

, wherein, the set of instructions to play the list of data files will automatically play the list of data files when the removable media is operatively connected to a playback system.

15. The multimedia management system according to

claim 12

, wherein the program of instructions to play the list of data files can specify playback of predetermined data files from the list.

16. The multimedia management system according to

claim 12

, wherein the program of instructions can specify multiple groups of predetermined data files for playback on a plurality of predetermined playback devices.

17. The multimedia management system according to

claim 16

, wherein the plurality of predetermined playback devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of televisions, high definition television (hdtv), a video display associated with a computer system, video monitors and video displays.

18. A system for managing multimedia data files comprising:

a database of multimedia data files in a computer readable memory,

a user interface having representations of the data files and a pointer to the data file in the computer readable memory, and

a program of instructions allowing the user to navigate through the database of multimedia data files using the representations of the multimedia data files in the user interface.

19. The system according to

claim 18

, wherein the computer readable memory is selected from the group consisting essentially of a memory device associated with a computer system, removable storage media or combinations thereof.

20. A system for managing multimedia data files comprising

a database of multimedia data files,

a user interface having representations of the data files, wherein multiple representations of a data file can be presented in the user interface, with any representation of a data file having a pointer to a single data file stored on computer readable memory.