Preview Mode for Content

• US 20080216020A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Plummer, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,607,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

Media content obtained from a content source (11) comprises a plurality of content items (31) which are accessible by an interactive menu structure (60, 65). A preview presentation mode automatically presents a portion of each of a set of the content items (31) to the user in a sequence which represents a navigation path through multiple levels of the menu structure. This shows a user a preview of content items available for presentation without requiring the user to manually navigate various branches of the menu structure. The menu structure can be explored automatically, or a script (33) can specify which items are to be presented. The script (33) can be supplied by the content source (11) or can be obtained from a separate source. During the preview presentation mode information about the current item, or the current position within the menu structure, can be displayed.

Claims

1. A method of presenting media content obtained from a content source, the content comprising a plurality of content items (31) which are accessible by an interactive menu structure, the method comprising:

presenting content to a user in a preview presentation mode in which a portion of each of a set of the content items (31) is automatically presented to the user in a sequence which represents a navigation path through multiple levels of the menu structure.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the menu structure comprises a first-level menu having a plurality of branches depending from it and wherein the preview presentation mode proceeds down a first branch of the first-level menu, including any lower-level items or menus depending from that first branch, before returning to a second of the branches of the first-level menu.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the preview presentation mode displays a selection menu of the menu structure before presenting a content item available for selection by that menu.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the preview presentation mode presents an introductory portion of each of the set of content items.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the preview presentation mode presents a portion of each of the set of content items in a normal playback mode for those items.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the preview presentation mode graphically presents information (43) about the content item currently being previewed.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the preview presentation mode displays a graphical representation of the menu structure (42) and indicates the current position within the structure.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the length of the portion of the content item that is presented during the preview presentation mode is user-selectable.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the content can comprise a plurality of different content types and content types displayed during the preview presentation mode are user-selectable.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the lowest level of the menu structure that is presented during the preview presentation mode is user-selectable.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising exiting the preview presentation mode upon receipt of a selection signal and presenting a content item which is currently being previewed to the user in a normal playback mode for that content item.

12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, during the preview presentation mode, receiving a user input signal and storing the identity of the content item being presented at that time.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the set of content items is defined by a script which accompanies the content.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the set of content items is defined by a script which is obtained separately from the content.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the script specifies the location of the portion to be previewed within the content item.

16. A controller for a client device or server comprising control logic which is operable to perform the method according to claim 1.

17. A client device (10) incorporating a controller according to claim 16.

18. A client device according to claim 17 further comprising a transport mechanism for reading an optical disc which carries the media content and a user interface for receiving user instructions.

19. A client device according to claim 17 further comprising a network interface for communicating with a network server.

21. Instructions for causing a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

22. A machine-readable carrier storing the instructions of claim 21.

20. A network server for delivering content to client devices comprising:

a store of media content, the media content comprising content items which are arranged in an interactive menu structure; and

,

a controller which is operable to;

receive a signal from the client device indicating that the server should enter a preview presentation mode; and

,

present a portion of each of a set of the content items (31) to the user in a sequence which represents a navigation path through multiple levels of the menu structure.

23. A record carrier carrying a plurality of media content items (31) and navigation data defining an interactive menu structure by which the content items are accessible, the record carrier further comprising script data which specifies to a media player a set of the content items that should be shown during a preview presentation mode in which a portion of each of a set of the content items (31) is presented to the user in a sequence which represents a navigation path through multiple levels of the menu structure.

24. A record carrier according to claim 23 wherein the script data further specifies one or more of the following for a content item:

the amount of time that should be spent displaying the content item;

the playback mode to be used for the content item;

the particular portion of the content item that should be displayed.

25. A method of authoring a record carrier according to claim 23.