Method and system for combining multimedia inputs into an indexed and searchable output

• US 20030236792A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exceptional Software Strategies, Inc. (SilverEdge Government Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Exceptional Software Strategies, Inc. (SilverEdge Government Solutions)
• Inventors: Stasko, Sandra A., Mangerie, Donald A.
• Application Number:
  US10/423,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A method, computer program product and system for combining multimedia inputs into an indexed and searchable output is provided. The present invention allows a user to review of an entire (oral) presentation containing several multimedia components (e.g., audio, video, slides, charts, electronic whiteboard, online Web tour, online software demonstration and the like) using only a Web browser, rather than a TV and VCR as is conventionally done. These various multimedia sources are the synchronized to produce an indexed, searchable, and viewable run-time output combining the all of the inputted information. The present invention allows, for example, searching for a particular topic and an immediate review all the slides (and the accompanying video that mentioned that topic), thus enhancing the user'"'"'s comprehension of the presentation.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a multimedia-based event to a user, comprising the steps of:

collecting a plurality of information objects which comprise an event;

synchronizing said plurality of information objects of said event;

creating a metadata file from said synchronized plurality of information objects; and

storing said metadata file onto a viewable medium;

wherein a user may view and search any segment of the event on-demand from said viewable medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said metadata file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said viewable medium is a CD-ROM.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said viewable medium is a Web presentation in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said viewable medium is a Web presentation in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.

6. A method for combining multimedia inputs of an event into an indexed and searchable output, comprising the steps of:

capturing a plurality of multimedia inputs related to an event, wherein each of said plurality of multimedia inputs is time stamped;

creating a metadata file representing said captured and time-stamped plurality of multimedia inputs;

receiving supplemental information related to at least one of said plurality of multimedia inputs, wherein said supplemental information establishes a link between said one of said plurality of multimedia inputs and another multimedia input;

creating a time line that integrates and synchronizes said plurality of multimedia inputs; and

creating a formatted file, using said time line, containing said integrated and synchronized plurality of multimedia inputs and said supplemental information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

applying an eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) style sheet to said metadata file in order to display said synchronized plurality of multimedia inputs.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said metadata file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

displaying said formatted file to user in the form of a Web presentation, whereby said user may view and search any segment of the event on-demand.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said formatted file in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) file.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said formatted file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said supplemental information is a reference to an external document.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to combine multimedia inputs of an event into an indexed and searchable output, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to capture a plurality of multimedia inputs related to an event, wherein each of said plurality of multimedia inputs is time stamped;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to create a metadata file representing said captured and time-stamped plurality of multimedia inputs;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive supplemental information related to at least one of said plurality of multimedia inputs, wherein said supplemental information establishes a link between said one of said plurality of multimedia inputs and another multimedia input;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to create a time line that integrates and synchronizes said plurality of multimedia inputs; and

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to create a formatted file, using said time line, containing said integrated and synchronized plurality of multimedia inputs and said supplemental information.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said metadata file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

displaying said formatted file to user in the form of a Web presentation, whereby said user may view and search any segment of the event on-demand.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said formatted file in a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) file.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said formatted file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to present a multimedia-based event to a user, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to collect a plurality of information objects which comprise an event;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to synchronize said plurality of information objects of said event;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to create a metadata file from said synchronized plurality of information objects; and

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to store said metadata file onto a viewable medium;

wherein a user may view and search any segment of the event on-demand from said viewable medium.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said metadata file is an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) file.