Custom content compilation using digital chapter marks

• US 20080127268A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bergeron, Michael A., Nguyen, Nga Marie Phan, Nishikawa, Yuko, Diaz, Ronaldo
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Digital marks are used to define segments that are sequenced in a custom content compilation that provides a virtual program. A system is configured to receive definitions of digital marks that locate segments within program content. The segments are scenes or other portions of programs that constitute less than the entirety of the program content. A series of digital marks are associated as being within a content compilation sequence. Playback of the virtual program entails sequential output of the segments corresponding to the digital marks. Alternative content includes user photos, video clips and audio clips. The virtual program may also be automatically built through access to user profile or related information.

Claims

1. A method for providing a custom content compilation using digital marks, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a first digital mark locating a first segment within a first program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the first program content;

receiving an indication of a second digital mark locating a second segment within a second program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the second program content;

associating the first and second digital marks as being within a content compilation sequence; and

providing a custom content compilation reproduction mode that sequentially outputs program content according to the content compilation sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command requesting an update to the content compilation sequence while a third program content is being output;

interrupting output of the third program content and receiving an indication of a third digital mark locating a third segment within the third program content; and

updating the content compilation sequence to include the third digital mark.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the indication of the first, second and third digital marks includes an identification of the respective start and end points of the first, second and third segments.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the indication of the third digital mark includes a concurrent display of the third program content and interfaces for defining the third segment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein defining the third segment includes an identification of the start and end points of the third segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the program content comprises video content stored in a storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

graphically displaying the content compilation sequence, including a visual identification of the sequence of digital marks in the content compilation sequence with a descriptive information corresponding to each segment respectively located by digital marks in the content compilation sequence.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the descriptive information includes text identifying the title of the program content, and a user-provided custom description for the segment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user-provided custom description is output between segments in the custom compilation sequence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user-provided custom description contains one or more of audio, video and text provided by the user.

11. An apparatus for providing a custom content compilation using digital marks, the apparatus comprising:

a digital mark management module, which receives an indication of a first digital mark locating a first segment within a first program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the first program content, and receives an indication of a second digital mark locating a second segment within a second program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the second program content;

a sequence maintenance module, in communication with the digital mark management module, which associates the first and second digital marks as being within a content compilation sequence; and

a compilation reproduction module, in communication with the sequence maintenance module, which provides a custom content compilation reproduction mode that sequentially outputs program content according to the content compilation sequence.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the content compilation sequence is graphically displayed, including a visual identification of the sequence of digital marks in the content compilation sequence with descriptive information corresponding to each segment respectively located by digital marks in the content compilation sequence.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the descriptive information includes text identifying the title of the program content, and a user-provided custom description for the segment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user-provided custom description is output between segments in the custom compilation sequence.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user-provided custom description contains one or more of audio, video and text provided by the user.

16. A system for providing a custom content compilation using digital marks, the system comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a first digital mark locating a first segment within a first program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the first program content;

means for receiving an indication of a second digital mark locating a second segment within a second program content that constitutes less than the entirety of the second program content;

means for associating the first and second digital marks as being within a content compilation sequence; and

means for providing a custom content compilation reproduction mode that sequentially outputs program content according to the content compilation sequence.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving a command requesting an update to the content compilation sequence while a third program content is being output;

means for interrupting output of the third program content and receiving an indication of a third digital mark locating a third segment within the third program content; and

means for updating the content compilation sequence to include the third digital mark.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein receiving the indication of the first, second and third digital marks includes an identification of the respective start and end points of the first, second and third segments.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for graphically displaying the content compilation sequence, including a visual identification of the sequence of digital marks in the content compilation sequence with a descriptive information corresponding to each segment respectively located by digital marks in the content compilation sequence.

20. A method for providing a custom content compilation using digital marks, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a first digital mark locating a first custom content having a first content type;

receiving an indication of a second digital mark locating a second custom content having a second content type that differs from the first content type;

associating the first and second digital marks as being within a content compilation sequence; and

providing a custom content compilation reproduction mode that sequentially outputs content according to the content compilation sequence.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the different content types provided in the content compilation sequence comprise audio, video, and digital photographs.