Method and apparatus for associating commentary audio with a position in an experiential data stream

• US 20060174293A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 6, LLC
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ducheneaut, Nicolas B., Nickell, Eric S., Thornton, James D., Bobrow, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and program products for determining where to position received transitory audio within a experiential data stream so as to provide minimal disruption to the experiential data stream.

Claims

1. A computer controlled method comprising:

presenting, on a local device, an experiential data stream from a first playback position in a time dimension of said first experiential data stream, wherein a later portion of said experiential data stream beyond said first playback position is available to said local device;

receiving a transitory audio while said experiential data stream is being presented; and

storing said transitory audio as a commentary audio clip having an audio trigger position.

2. The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein said audio trigger position is determined from the value of said first playback position responsive to the step of receiving.

3. The computer controlled method of claim 1 further comprising:

characterizing said transitory audio;

analyzing some of said later portion to locate one or more candidate portions suitable for placement of said transitory audio; and

determining a minimum cost for placing said transitory audio at each of said one or more candidate portions.

4. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for delaying said transitory audio from a point on said time dimension where said transitory audio was uttered.

5. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for compressing said transitory audio whereby said transitory audio can be presented in a shorter time.

6. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for having said transitory audio overlap significant audio from said experiential data stream.

7. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for having said transitory audio overlap a second commentary audio clip.

8. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for presenting said transitory audio out of sequence with a second commentary audio clip that resulted from a previously received transitory audio.

9. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving further comprises accepting audio data representing said transitory audio from a network.

10. The computer controlled method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving further comprises capturing said transitory audio uttered by a local audience member.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable data carrier storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method comprising;

presenting, on a local device, an experiential data stream from a first playback position in a time dimension of said first experiential data stream, wherein a later portion of said experiential data stream beyond said first playback position is available to said local device;

receiving a transitory audio while said experiential data stream is being presented;

storing said transitory audio as a commentary audio clip having an audio trigger position responsive to the step of determining.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

characterizing said transitory audio;

analyzing some of said later portion to locate one or more candidate portions suitable for placement of said transitory audio; and

determining a minimum cost for placing said transitory audio at each of said one or more candidate portions.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for delaying said transitory audio from a point on said time dimension where said transitory audio was uttered.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for compressing said transitory audio whereby said transitory audio can be presented in a shorter time.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for having said transitory audio overlap significant audio from said experiential data stream.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for having said transitory audio overlap a second commentary audio clip.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of determining further comprises computing a charge for presenting said transitory audio out of sequence with a second commentary audio clip that resulted from a previously received transitory audio.

19. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving further comprises accepting audio data representing said transitory audio from a network.

20. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving further comprises capturing said transitory audio uttered by a local audience member.

12. The computer program product of claim 111 wherein said audio trigger position is determined from the value of said first playback position responsive to the step of receiving.

21. An apparatus for presenting an experiential data stream, the apparatus comprising:

a first presentation logic configured to present said experiential data stream from a first playback position in a time dimension of said first experiential data stream, wherein a later portion of said experiential data stream beyond said first playback position is available to the apparatus;

a receiver configured to receive a transitory audio while said experiential data stream is being presented;

a storage logic configured to store said transitory audio as a commentary audio clip having an audio trigger position.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said audio trigger position is determined from the value of said first playback position responsive to the receiver.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises:

a characterization logic configured to characterize said transitory audio;

an analysis logic configured to analyze some of said later portion to locate one or more candidate portions suitable for placement of said transitory audio; and

a cost determination logic configured to determining a minimum cost for placing said transitory audio at each of said one or more candidate portions.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises a charge determination logic configured to determine a charge for delaying said transitory audio from a point on said time dimension where said transitory audio was uttered.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises a charge determination-logic configured to determine a charge for compressing said transitory audio whereby said transitory audio can be presented in a shorter time.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises a charge determination logic configured to determine a charge for having said transitory audio overlap significant audio from said experiential data stream.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises a charge determination logic configured to determine a charge for having said transitory audio overlap a second commentary audio clip.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cost determination logic further comprises a charge determination logic configured to determine a charge for presenting said transitory audio out of sequence with a second commentary audio clip that resulted from a previously received transitory audio.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the receiver further comprises a communication logic configured to accept audio data representing said transitory audio from a network.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the receiver further comprises a microphone configured to capture said transitory audio uttered by a local audience member.