Distribution of video data

• US 20050204294A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 10, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trevor Burke Technology Limited
• Inventors: Burke, Trevor John
• Granted Patent: US 7,882,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/739
• 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 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 by creating hot-spots

Abstract

A method of distributing video data comprising defining a plurality of programme elements, each programme element comprising a video clip taken from said video data. Each programme element is allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes, each class having an associated icon. Data representing a plurality of icons is transmitted to a receiver, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of programme elements is allocated. User selection data indicative of a user selection of at least one icon is received, and data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data is transmitted to the receiver. A method for generating video data, and a method for presenting video data are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of distributing video data comprising:

defining a plurality of programme elements, each programme element comprising a video clip taken from said video data;

allocating each programme element to one of a predetermined plurality of classes, each class having an associated icon;

transmitting data representing a plurality of icons to a receiver, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of programme elements is allocated;

receiving user selection data indicative of a user selection of at least one icon; and

transmitting video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data to the receiver.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of classes represent a type of event, and the method further comprises:

allocating a programme element to one of the plurality of classes on the basis of a type of event to which the video clip relates.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of classes represent a subjective assessment of the value of programme elements, and the method further comprises:

allocating a programme element to one of the plurality of classes on the basis of a subjective assessment of value.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

arranging said plurality of icons in an order corresponding to a temporal order of the programme elements represented by the icons.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data to the receiver comprises transmitting the or each programme element to the receiver.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said programme elements comprises a plurality sub-elements, each sub-element is allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of sub-classes, and the method further comprises:

transmitting a further plurality of icons to the receiver in response to selection of an icon associated with the said at least one programme element, each further icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of sub-elements is allocated;

receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of at least one said further icon corresponding to one of said sub-elements; and

transmitting data associated with the or each sub-element associated with said selection data to the receiver.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting transmits data from a server to a remote client.

8. A data carrier carrying computer readable instructions to cause a computer to carry out a method according to claim 1.

9. An apparatus for distributing video data comprising:

a program memory containing processor readable instructions; and

a processor for reading and executing instructions contained in the program memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions controlling the processor to carry out the method of claim 1.

10. A method of receiving video data comprising a plurality of programme elements, each programme element comprising a video clip taken from said video data, and each programme element being allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes, each class having an associated icon, the method comprising:

receiving data representing a plurality of icons, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of programme elements is allocated;

receiving a user selection of at least one icon, and transmitting user selection data representing said selection; and

receiving video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein at least some of said plurality of classes represent a type of event, and a programme element is allocated to one of the plurality of classes on the basis of the type of event to which the video clip relates.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein at least some of said plurality of classes represent a subjective assessment of the value of programme elements, and a programme element is allocated to one of the plurality of classes on the basis of a subjective assessment of value.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

arranging said plurality of icons in an order corresponding to the temporal order of the programme elements represented by the icons.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein receiving data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data comprises receiving the or each programme element.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said programme elements comprises a plurality of sub-elements, each sub-element is allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of sub-classes, and receiving data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data comprises:

receiving a plurality of further icons, in response to selection of an icon associated with said at least one programme element, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of sub-elements is allocated;

receiving a user selection of at least one said further icon corresponding to one of said sub-elements, and transmitting selection data indicating the selection; and

receiving data associated with the or each sub-element associated with said user selection.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein said receiving comprises receiving data from a server.

17. A method according to claim 10, wherein receiving data representing a plurality of icons comprises:

receiving a plurality of classification codes, each classification code being associated with an icon; and

retrieving icons associated with said plurality of classification codes from a memory.

18. A data carrier carrying computer readable instructions to cause a computer to carry out a method according to claim 10.

19. An apparatus for distributing video data comprising:

a program memory containing processor readable instructions; and

a processor for reading and executing instructions contained in the program memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions controlling the processor to carry out the method of claim 10.

20. Video data distributing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to generate data defining a plurality of programme elements, each programme element comprising a video clip taken from said video data, and to generate data allocating each programme element to one of a predetermined plurality of classes, each class having an associated icon;

a transmitter configured to transmit data representing a plurality of icons to a receiver, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of programme elements is allocated; and

a receiver configured to receive user selection data indicative of a user selection of at least one icon;

wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data to the receiver.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said processor is configured to generate data arranging icons in an order corresponding to a temporal order of the programme elements represented by the icons.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit the or each programme element to the receiver.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit data from a server to a remote client.

24. Video receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of programme elements, each programme element comprising a video clip taken from said video data, and each programme element being allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes, each class having an associated icon, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data representing a plurality of icons, each icon representing a class to which a respective one of said plurality of programme elements is allocated;

an input device configured to receive a user selection of at least one icon; and

a transmitter configured to transmit user selection data representing said selection;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the user selection data.

25. Apparatus according claim 24, wherein said receiver is configured to receive said plurality of icons.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said receiver is adapted to:

receive a plurality of classification codes, each classification code being associated with an icon; and

retrieve icons associated with said plurality of classification codes from a memory.

27. A method of presenting video data comprising:

displaying a first identifier identifying a stream of video data, the video data comprising a plurality of programme elements, each of which has been allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes;

receiving first user selection data indicating a wish to condense the video data, said first user selection data comprising data indicative of user preferences;

condensing said video data in accordance with said first user selection data, to produce condensed video data, said condensed video data comprising a subset of said plurality of programme elements selected on the basis of said first user selection data; and

displaying said condensed video data.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising displaying a second identifier identifying said condensed video data before displaying said condensed video data.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

displaying a viewing duration associated with said video data; and

displaying a viewing duration associated with said condensed video data.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein:

each of said predetermined plurality of classes has an associated icon;

said first identifier comprises a sequence of icons representing the class to which each of said plurality of programme elements in the video data has been allocated; and

said second identifier comprises subset of said sequence of icons representing the class to which each programme element of said subset of programme elements has been allocated.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising:

receiving data representing the sequence of icons from a transmitter;

receiving second user selection data indicative of a user selection of at least one icon; and

receiving video data associated with the or each programme element associated with the icon selection indicated by the second user selection data from the transmitter.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said data representing the sequence of icons further comprises data indicating a viewing duration of video data associated with each programme element.

33. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least some of said predetermined plurality of classes are at least partially defined by a subjective value assessment extending from a high value to a low value.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the first selection data comprises a specified subjective value, and the subset of programme elements comprises programme elements allocated to classes defined as having a subjective value not less than the specified subjective value.

35. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least some of said predetermined plurality of classes are at least partially defined by a type of event.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said first user selection data comprises a specified event type, and said subset of icons represents programme elements allocated to classes at least partially defined by said specified event type.

37. A method according to claim 30 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein at least one of said sequence of icons and said subset of icons are presented to a user simultaneously with video data.

38. A data carrier carrying computer program code means to cause a computer to execute procedure in accordance with the method of claim 27.

39. A computer apparatus for receiving video data, comprising:

a program memory containing processor readable instructions; and

a processor for reading and executing instructions contained in the program memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions controlling the processor to carry out the method of claim 27.

40. A method of generating video data, comprising:

storing video data as a plurality of programme elements, each programme element being allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes;

receiving first input data comprising data indicating classes of said predetermined plurality of classes which are of interest to a user;

receiving second input data indicating an approximate desired viewing duration;

retrieving programme elements from said stored programme elements in accordance with said first input data, to generate video data having a viewing duration substantially equal to the desired viewing duration.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said first input data further comprises data indicating a degree of interest of each of said indicated classes.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said generated video data comprises programme elements indicated in said first input data as being of relatively high interest.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein at least some of said predetermined plurality of classes are at least partially defined by a subjective value assessment extending from a low value to a high value.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein programme elements allocated to classes having a relatively high subjective value are retrieved in preference to programme elements allocated to classes having a relatively low subjective value.

45. A method according to claim 43, wherein said subjective value assessment represents a perceived interest level.

46. A method according to claim 40, further comprising presenting an identifier identifying the generated video data.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein said identifier comprises a sequence of icons representing the class to which each retrieved programme element has been allocated.

48. A method according to claim 46, further comprising displaying a viewing duration for the generated video data.

49. A method according to claim 40, wherein said first and second input data are received from a remote terminal and data representing said generated video data is transmitted to said remote terminal.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein said data representing said generated video data comprises data indicating a class to which each retrieved programme element has been allocated.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein the class to which each retrieved programme element has been allocated is represented by an icon.

52. A method according to claim 49, further comprising receiving data from said remote terminal data indicating selection of some or all of said retrieved programme elements, and transmitting video data associated with said selected programme elements to the remote terminal.

53. A method according to claim 49, wherein said data representing said generated video data comprises said generated video data.

54. A method according to claim 49, further comprising transmitting to said remote terminal a viewing duration associated with said generated video data.

55. A data carrier carrying computer program code means to cause a computer to execute procedure in accordance with the method of claim 40.

56. A computer apparatus for receiving video data, comprising:

a program memory containing processor readable instructions; and

a processor for reading and executing instructions contained in the program memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions controlling the processor to carry out the method of claim 40.

57. An apparatus for presenting video data, comprising:

a display device configured to display information to a user;

a user input device; and

a processor;

wherein the display device is configured to display a first identifier identifying a stream of video data to a user, the video data comprising a plurality of programme elements each of which has been allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes;

the user input device is adapted to receive first user selection data indicating a wish to condense the video data and comprising data indicative of user preferences; and

the processor is configured to condense the video data in accordance with said first user selection data to produce condensed video data, said condensed video data comprising a subset of said plurality of programme elements selected on the basis of said first user selection data.

58. An apparatus for generating video data comprising:

a storage device for storing video data as a plurality of programme elements, each programme element being allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes;

a user input device configured to receive first input data comprising data indicating classes of said predetermined plurality of classes which are of interest to a user, and configured to receive second input data indicating an approximate desired viewing duration; and

a processor configured to retrieve stored programme elements from said storage device in accordance with said first input data to generate video data having a viewing duration substantially equal to the desired viewing duration.

59. Apparatus for generating video data, comprising:

a storage device for storing video data as a plurality of programme elements, each programme element being allocated to one of a predetermined plurality of classes;

a network connection for connection to a client terminal, said network connection being configured to carry first data from said client terminal comprising data indicating classes of said predetermined plurality of classes which are of interest to a user, and being configured to carry second data indicating an approximate desired viewing duration;

a processor for retrieving programme elements from said storage device in accordance with said first data to generate video data having a viewing duration substantially equal to the desired viewing duration; and

a transmitter for transmitting said retrieved programme elements to said client terminal.

60. A method of presenting video data comprising:

identifying a steam of video data by means of a first identifier, the video data comprising a plurality of programme elements, each of which has been allocated to one of predetermined plurality of classes;

receiving first user selection data indicating a wish to condense the video data, said first user selection data comprising data indicative of user preferences;

condensing said video data in accordance with said first user selection data, to produce condensed video data, said condensed video data comprising a subset of said plurality of programme elements selected on the basis of said first user selection data.