System and method for unified extraction of media objects

• US 20040064500A1
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Scott Chao-Chueh, Kolar, Jennifer Lynn, Miller, Brad Steven
• Application Number:
  US10/432,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064500A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/71 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

A system and method for extracting information, such as metadata, from a media object, such as a multimedia object or a streaming media object, utilizes a single device (44) to extract the information from a plurality of media objects having different formats. The media object is examined to determine its format (40). The media object is then provided to a multi-format extractor (44), wherein information is extracted from the media object in accordance with the appropriate format. The extracted information is compiled (46) into a singular data structure, such that the format of the universal data structure is compatible with a plurality of media object formats (30).

Claims

1. A method for extracting information from media objects, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a format of a media object;

selecting a format compliant extractor compatible with said determined format;

extracting information from said media object with said format compliant extractor; and

compiling said extracted information in accordance with a universal data structure, wherein a format of said universal data structure is compatible with a plurality of media object formats.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said media object comprises at least one of multimedia and streaming media.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said extracted information comprises metadata related to said media object.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of determining a format of said media object comprises evaluating at least one of a file extension of said media object, a multipurpose internet mail extensions (MIME) type of said media object, recognizing patterns in a URI for said media object, an analyzing a metafile that comprises said media object.

5. A method in accordance claim 1, wherein said media object format is compatible with at least one standard selected from the group comprising Dublin Core, MPEG-7, XML and a developed relationship standard where representative metadata is defined.

6. A system for extracting information from media objects, said system comprising:

a media object classifier (40) for determining a format of a media object;

an extractor assignment agent (42) for selecting a format compliant extractor compatible with said determined format;

a multi-format extractor (44) comprising a plurality of extractors, at least one of said plurality of extractors being said format compliant extractor, wherein said format compliant extractor extracts information from said media object; and

a compiler (46) for compiling said extracted information in accordance with a universal data structure, wherein a format of said universal data structure is compatible with a plurality of media object formats.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a database (48) that stores said extracted information.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said media object comprises at least one of multimedia and streaming media.

9. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said extracted information comprises metadata related to said media object.

10. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said media object classifier (40) evaluates at least one of a file extension of said media object, a multipurpose internet mail extensions (MIME) type of said media object to determine said format of said media object, recognizing patterns in a URI for said media object, and analyzing a metafile that comprises said media object.

11. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said extracted information comprises metadata related to said media object.

12. A program readable medium having embodied thereon a program for causing a processor to extract information from media objects, said program readable medium comprising:

means for causing said processor to determine a format of a media object;

means for causing said processor to select a format compliant extractor compatible with said determined format;

means for causing said processor to extract information from said media object with said format compliant extractor; and

means for causing said processor to compile said extracted information in accordance with a universal data structure, wherein a format of said universal data structure is compatible with a plurality of media object formats.

13. A program readable medium in accordance with claim 12, wherein said media object comprises at least one of multimedia and streaming media.

14. A program readable medium in accordance with claim 12, wherein said extracted information comprises metadata related to said media object.

15. A program readable medium in accordance with claim 12, wherein said means for causing said processor to determine a format of said media object comprises evaluating at least one of a file extension of said media object, a multipurpose internet mail extensions (MIME) type of said media object, recognizing patterns in a URI for said media object, and analyzing a metafile that comprises said media object.

16. A program readable medium in accordance with claim 12, wherein said media object format is compatible with at least one standard selected from the group comprising Dublin Core, MPEG-7, XML, and a developed relationship standard where representative metadata is defined.

17. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

a determine format code segment for determining a format of a media object;

a select extractor code segment for selecting a format compliant extractor compatible with said determined format;

an extract code segment for extracting information from said media object with said format compliant extractor; and

a compile code segment for compiling said extracted information in accordance with a universal data structure, wherein a format of said universal data structure is compatible with a plurality of media object formats.

18. A data signal in accordance with claim 17, wherein said media object comprises at least one of multimedia and streaming media.

19. A data signal in accordance with claim 17, wherein said extracted information comprises metadata related to said media object.

20. A data signal in accordance with claim 17, wherein said determine format code segment evaluates at least one of a file extension of said media object a multipurpose internet mail extensions (MIME) type of said media object, recognizing patterns in a URI for said media object, and analyzing a metafile that comprises said media object

21. A data signal in accordance with claim 17, wherein said media object format is compatible with at least standard selected from the group comprising Dublin Core, MPEG-7, XML, and a developed relationship standard where representative metadata is defined