Trick Play of Streaming Media

• US 20090158326A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: Shannon, Douglas, Traverso M., Marcelo, Hunt, Neil D., Twerdahl, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/743 a collection of video files or sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/745 the internal structure of a single video sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

A data processing system, comprising a network interface configured to couple to a data network; one or more processors coupled to the network interface; memory coupled to the one or more processors; a video interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured to output video data to a video display device; logic encoded in one or more computer-readable media wherein execution by the one or more processors causes receiving and storing in the memory a plurality of still images from an audiovisual program, wherein each of the still images is associated with a sequentially later time point within the audiovisual program; receiving first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program; generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a first image position comprising one or more of the still images, a linearly second image position comprising one of the still images, and a linearly third image position comprising one or more of the still images; wherein the still images in the video output are arranged in the image positions in sequential order according to time point within the audiovisual program; generating updated video output to the video interface in which the still image of the second image position is shifted into the first image position, one of the still images of the third image position is shifted into the second image position, and one or more new still images are in the third image position.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

a network interface configured to couple to a data network;

one or more processors coupled to the network interface;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a video interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured to output video data to a video display device;

logic encoded in one or more computer-readable media wherein execution by the one or more processors causes;

receiving and storing in the memory a plurality of still images from an audiovisual program, wherein each of the still images is associated with a sequentially later time point within the audiovisual program;

receiving first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program;

generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a first image position comprising one or more of the still images, a linearly second image position comprising one of the still images, and a linearly third image position comprising one or more of the still images;

wherein the still images in the video output are arranged in the image positions in sequential order according to time point within the audiovisual program;

generating updated video output to the video interface in which the still image of the second image position is shifted into the first image position, one of the still images of the third image position is shifted into the second image position, and one or more new still images are in the third image position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to generate updated video output to the video interface in which the still image of the second image position is shifted into the third image position, one of the still images of the first image position is shifted into the second image position, and one or more new still images are in the first image position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to select the one or more new still images for the third image position of the updated video output by skipping over some of the still images that have been received and stored.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user input specifies a particular movement speed among a plurality of movement speeds, wherein the logic is further operable to select the one or more new still images for the third image position of the updated video output by skipping over some of the still images that have been received and stored, and wherein the skipping is performed at a rate proportional to the particular movement speed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the still image in the second image position is larger than the still images in the first image position and in the third image position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to cause requesting the plurality of still images from a streaming media delivery system in response to receiving user input that selects an audiovisual program from among a plurality of available audiovisual programs.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to cause discontinuing display of all images of the first image position and all images of the third image position in response to receiving the first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program at a rapid rate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to perform receiving and storing in the memory the plurality of still images in a first file and receiving and storing in the memory at least a portion of a streaming file representing the audiovisual program.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic is further operable to perform the receiving and storing the plurality of still images in response to receiving user input that selects the audiovisual program from among a plurality of available audiovisual programs that are displayed in a list.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user input is received in response to the user selecting and dragging a slider of a media player application.

11. A machine-readable storage medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform:

receiving and storing in a memory a plurality of still images from an audiovisual program, wherein each of the still images is associated with a sequentially later time point within the audiovisual program;

receiving first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program;

generating video output comprising a first image position comprising one or more of the still images, a linearly second image position comprising one of the still images, and a linearly third image position comprising one or more of the still images;

wherein the still images in the video output are arranged in the image positions in sequential order according to time point within the audiovisual program;

generating updated video output in which the still image of the second image position is shifted into the first image position, one of the still images of the third image position is shifted into the second image position, and one or more new still images are in the third image position.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which when executed cause generating updated video output in which the still image of the second image position is shifted into the third image position, one of the still images of the first image position is shifted into the second image position, and one or more new still images are in the first image position.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which when executed cause selecting the one or more new still images for the third image position of the updated video output by skipping over some of the still images that have been received and stored.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first user input specifies a particular movement speed among a plurality of movement speeds, wherein further comprising instructions which when executed cause selecting the one or more new still images for the third image position of the updated video output by skipping over some of the still images that have been received and stored, and wherein the skipping is performed at a rate proportional to the particular movement speed.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the still image in the second image position is larger than the still images in the first image position and in the third image position.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the logic further comprising instructions which when executed cause requesting the plurality of still images from a streaming media delivery system in response to receiving user input that selects an audiovisual program from among a plurality of available audiovisual programs.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which when executed cause discontinuing display of all images of the first image position and all images of the third image position in response to receiving the first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program at a rapid rate.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which when executed cause receiving and storing in the memory the plurality of still images in a first file and receiving and storing in the memory at least a portion of a streaming file representing the audiovisual program.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which when executed cause performing the receiving and storing the plurality of still images in response to receiving user input that selects the audiovisual program from among a plurality of available audiovisual programs that are displayed in a list.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first user input is received in response to the user selecting and dragging a slider of a media player application.

21. A data processing system, comprising:

a network interface configured to couple to a data network;

one or more processors coupled to the network interface;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a video interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured to output video data to a video display device;

logic encoded in one or more computer-readable media wherein execution by the one or more processors causes;

receiving first user input selecting an audiovisual program that comprises a plurality of episodes;

generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a linearly arranged set of icons representing a plurality of the episodes in a sequential order, and wherein a particular icon representing a particular episode that was most recently watched is displayed in a center of the set.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each icon that is associated with a previously watched episode comprises a marking indicating that the episode was watched.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the particular icon further comprises an operation icon representing a playback operation and which when selected causes requesting, receiving and displaying streaming video data of the particular episode.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the sequential order is an order in which the episodes originally aired.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the logic is further operable to perform:

generating the video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a first image position comprising one or more of the icons, a linearly second image position comprising the particular icon, and a linearly third image position comprising one or more of the icons;

receiving user input specifying selection of a different icon representing a different episode that is later in the order;

generating updated video output to the video interface in which the particular icon is shifted into the first position, one of the icons of the third position is shifted into the second position, and one or more icons representing different episodes that are later in the order are in the third image position.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the logic is further operable to perform:

generating the video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a first image position comprising one or more of the icons, a linearly second image position comprising the particular icon, and a linearly third image position comprising one or more of the icons;

receiving user input specifying selection of a different icon representing a different episode that is earlier in the order;

generating updated video output to the video interface in which the particular icon is shifted into the third position, one of the icons of the first position is shifted into the second position, and one or more icons representing different episodes that are earlier in the order are in the first image position.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the logic is further operable to perform generating the video output further including a textual summary of the particular episode associated with the particular icon.

28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform:

receiving first user input selecting an audiovisual program that comprises a plurality of episodes;

generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises a linearly arranged set of icons representing a plurality of the episodes in a sequential order, and wherein a particular icon representing a particular episode that was most recently watched is displayed in a center of the set.

29. A graphical user interface for selecting video programs, as shown and described.

30. A graphical user interface for selecting video episodes from within a series video program, as shown and described.

31. A graphical user interface for providing trick play modes of playback of streaming media, as shown and described.

32. A data processing system, comprising:

a network interface configured to couple to a data network;

one or more processors coupled to the network interface;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a video interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured to output video data to a video display device;

logic encoded in one or more computer-readable media wherein execution by the one or more processors causes;

receiving and storing in the memory a plurality of still images from an audiovisual program, wherein each of the still images is associated with a sequentially later time point within the audiovisual program;

receiving first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program;

generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises one or more image positions, each image position comprising one of the still images;

generating updated video output in which each still image at each of the one or more image positions is replaced with a sequentially adjacent still image of the plurality of still images.

33. A machine-readable storage medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform:

receiving and storing in the memory a plurality of still images from an audiovisual program, wherein each of the still images is associated with a sequentially later time point within the audiovisual program;

receiving first user input specifying invocation of a trick play mode of playing the audiovisual program;

generating video output to the video interface wherein the video output comprises one or more image positions, each image position comprising one of the still images;

generating updated video output in which each still image at each of the one or more image positions is replaced with a sequentially adjacent still image of the plurality of still images.