Array-Based Discovery of Media Items

• US 20070220045A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sloo, David, Migos, Charles, Morris, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

A media discovery module (MDM) is described that facilitates a user'"'"'s access to desired media items. The MDM presents a series of arrays of media items to the user. The user'"'"'s selection within any array governs the composition of media items that are presented in a subsequent array. Different linking criteria can define the relationship among arrays. In one case, the MDM uses a time-based linking criterion, allowing a user to examine a media item at increasing levels of temporal granularity. In another case, the MDM uses a subject matter-based criterion, allowing a user to examine one or more media items at increasing levels of detail with respect to a subject matter index. The MDM can employ various tools to establish the relationship among media items, including image analysis tools, audio analysis tools, metadata analysis tools, and so on.

Claims

1. A method for discovering media items, comprising:

providing an array of media items to a user;

receiving the user'"'"'s selection of at least one media item in the array of media items to provide a selected at least one media item; and

presenting another array of media items to the user based on a linking criterion which associates said selected at least one media item with the other array of media items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each array provided by the method has a predetermined number of media items.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the receiving and presenting at least one additional time to provide at least one other array of media items.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent iterations of the receiving and presenting conform to a single-themed model in which the user'"'"'s navigation through a media search space defines a path that conforms to a single theme.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent iterations of the receiving and presenting conform to a multi-themed model in which the user'"'"'s navigation through a media search space defines a path that encompasses multiple themes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking criterion is a time-based criterion, and wherein the other array of media items presents temporal divisions within a time interval associated with said selected at least one media item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking criterion is a subject matter-based criterion, and wherein the other array of media items presents subject matter-based divisions within a general subject matter associated with said selected at least one media item.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the other array of media items based on analysis of metadata associated with a collection of candidate media items.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metadata is electronic program guide (EPG) data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the metadata is close-captioning data.

11. The method of claim 7, fisher comprising selecting the other array of media items based on analysis of media content associated with a collection of candidate media items.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the analysis of media content comprises audio recognition analysis.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the analysis of media content comprises image recognition analysis.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each array provided by the method comprises a n×

m array of media items.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection from the user that specifies at least one preference regarding the linking criterion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving of the selection comprises collecting said at least one preference prior to a discovery session.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving of the selection comprises collecting said at least one preference in the course of a discovery session.

18. One or more machine-readable media containing machine-readable instructions for implementing the method of claim 1.

19. A media discovery module for discovering media items, comprising:

a user interaction module configured to receive a user'"'"'s selections and to provide a series of user interface presentations to the user based on the user'"'"'s selections;

an interface generation module configured to generate the user interface presentations;

an analysis module configured to identify at least one relationship among a collection of media items; and

a media relationship store configured to record said identified at least one relationship,

wherein the interface generation module is configured to;

provide an array of media items to the user;

receive, via the user interaction module, the user'"'"'s selection of at least one media item in the array of media items to provide a selected at least one media item; and

present another array of media items to the user based on said at least one relationship identified by the analysis module.

20. A media discovery module for discovering media items, comprising:

means for providing an array of media items to a user;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s selection of at least one media item in the array of media items to provide a selected at least one media item; and

means for presenting another array of media items to the user based on a linking criterion which associates said selected at least one media item with the other array of media items.