Method and system for media playback architecture

• US 20040230655A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nelson, Steve, Ivashin, Victor, Li, Chia-Hsin
• Application Number:
  US10/439,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/155 involving storage of or access to video conference sessions tracking arrangements for later retrieval of a computer conference content or participants activities H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system configured to playback videoconference data is provided. The system includes a media management server configured to receive videoconference data associated with a videoconference session. The media management server is configured to convert the videoconference data to a common format for storage. An event database configured to capture events occurring during the videoconference session is included. A media analysis server configured to analyze the stored videoconference data to insert indices representing the captured events is provided. A media playback unit configured to establish a connection with the media management server is included. The media playback unit is further configured to enable position control of a video stream delivered to the media playback unit from the media management server while maintaining the connection. A method, a computer readable medium, and a graphical user interface for the play back of videoconference data are also provided.

Claims

1. A system configured to playback videoconference data, comprising:

a media management server configured to receive videoconference data associated with a videoconference session, the media management server configured to convert the videoconference data to a common format for storage on a storage media;

an event database configured to capture events occurring during the videoconference session;

a media analysis server configured to analyze the stored videoconference data to insert indices representing the captured events of the event database; and

a media playback unit configured to establish a connection with the media management server, the media playback unit further configured to enable position control of a video stream delivered to the media playback unit from the media management server while maintaining the connection.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage server including the storage media, the storage server configured to provide application programming interfaces (APIs) enabling retrieval of stored videoconference data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the media management server includes a web server, a playback service module and a meeting scheduling service module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the videoconference data includes media selected from the group consisting of POWERPOINT presentations, video/audio clips, raster/vector images, annotations and document files.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the captured events include videoconference events selected from the group consisting of videoconference activation, videoconference cancellation, participant arrival, participant departure, and slide presentation changes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the indices are associated with a beginning time point of the captured event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the media playback unit includes a media player module and a media controller module, the media player module configured to render the stored videoconference data on a display screen, the media controller capable of indicating a segment of the video stream to be delivered to the media player module from the media management server.

8. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

a server component including a media server configured to store both video/audio data and events associated with a videoconference session, the media server capable of analyzing the stored video/audio data to insert markers into the stored video/audio data, the markers identifying the events;

a client component including a client in communication with a client monitor, the client component including a media playback unit configured to establish a connection with the media server, the media playback unit further configured to enable position control of a video stream defined from the stored video/audio data delivered to the media playback unit from the media server while maintaining the connection; and

a first and second path defined between the client component and the server component, the first path enabling real time video/audio data to be exchanged between the client component and a conferencing endpoint of the server component during a videoconference, the second path defined between the client component and the server component enabling system information to be exchanged between the client monitor and the server component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the media playback unit includes a media player module and a media controller module, the media player module configured to render the stored video/audio data on a display screen, the media controller capable of indicating a segment of the video stream to be delivered to the media player module from the media server.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the markers are associated with a starting point of the events.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored events include videoconference events selected from the group consisting of videoconference activation, videoconference cancellation, participant arrival, participant departure, and slide presentation changes.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the media controller module is configured to enable a user to specify the segment of the video stream, the specification of the segment of the video stream causing a controller event which results in the segment of the video stream being delivered to the player application while maintaining the connection.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first path is a conference channel and the second path is a back-channel.

14. A graphical user interface (GUI) for playback of videoconference data rendered on a display screen, comprising:

a first region defining an integrated audio/video component corresponding to a time position of a video stream associated with the videoconference data, the integrated audio/video component associated with a media server;

a second region providing a document file corresponding to the time position of the video stream;

a third region providing a media presentation corresponding to the time position of the video stream; and

a fourth region providing a list of content items associated with the video stream, wherein a selection of one of the content items triggers the first, second and third region to present respective videoconference data corresponding to a time position associated with the one of the content items.

15. The GUI of claim 14, wherein the list of content items are associated with a configuration of the videoconference data selected from the group consisting of thumbnails, slide titles, file names and time positions corresponding to the videoconference data.

16. The GUI of claim 14, wherein the time position corresponds to an index associated with a segment of the video stream.

17. A method for presenting stored videoconference data, comprising:

converting media formats associated with a videoconference presentation to a common format videoconference data;

storing the common format videoconference data;

identifying events associated with the stored videoconference data;

inserting markers representing the events into the stored videoconference data; and

presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the markers correspond to starting time positions of the events.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the method operation of presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers includes, maintaining a same connection for each of the segments being presented.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method operation of presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers includes,

advancing from a location associated with a first segment of the stored video content being presented to a starting position of a second segment while maintaining a connection for both the first segment and second segment.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting segments of the stored videoconference data for presentation. 22. A computer readable medium having program instructions for presenting stored videoconference data, comprising;

program instructions for converting media formats associated with a videoconference presentation to a common format videoconference data;

program instructions for storing the common format videoconference data;

program instructions for identifying events associated with the stored videoconference data;

program instructions for inserting markers representing the events into the stored videoconference data; and

program instructions for presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the markers correspond to starting time positions of the events.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the program instructions for presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers includes,

program instructions for maintaining a same connection for each of the segments being presented.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the program instructions for presenting segments of the stored videoconference data corresponding to the markers includes,

program instructions for advancing from a location associated with a first segment of the stored video content being presented to a starting position of a second segment while maintaining a connection for both the first segment and second segment.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22, further comprising:

program instructions for selecting segments of the stored videoconference data for presentation.