METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SUMMARY

• US 20100017716A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Weda, Johannes, Barbieri, Mauro
• Application Number:
  US12/438,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating a summary of a plurality of distinct data streams (for example video data streams). A plurality of related data streams are collected. The data streams comprise a plurality of segments and each segment is synchronized (205). Overlapping segments of the synchronized data streams are detected (207, 309) and one the overlapping segments is selected (215) to generate a summary (217) which includes the selected overlapping segment.

Claims

1. A method of generating a summary of a plurality of distinct data streams, the method comprising the steps of:

synchronizing a plurality of related data streams, said data streams comprising a plurality of segments;

detecting overlapping segments of said synchronized data streams;

selecting one of said overlapping segments; and

generating a summary including said selected one of said overlapping segments.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of related data streams are synchronized in time or by a trigger.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said trigger is a change in at one least parameter of the data streams.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said trigger is generated externally.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the overlapping segments are detected as those segments that overlap in time.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of detecting redundancy of said overlapping segments.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein selection is based on at least one of:

signal quality of said segments, aesthetic quality of said segments, content of said segments, source of said segments and user preference.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said summary includes a plurality of selected segments and the method further comprises the step of:

normalizing at least one of the parameters of said selected segments included in said summary.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said data streams are video data streams.

10. A computer program product comprising a plurality of program code portions for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

11. Apparatus for generating a summary of a plurality of distinct data streams, the apparatus comprising:

synchronizing means for synchronizing a plurality of related data streams, said data steams comprising a plurality of segments;

detector for detecting overlapping segments of said synchronized data streams;

selection means for selecting one of said overlapping segments; and

means for generating a summary including said selected one of said overlapping segments.