IDENTIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF A MEDIA OBJECT SEGMENT FROM ONE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK TO ANOTHER

• US 20100158391A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: CUNNINGHAM, Ryan B., FOLGNER, Michael G.
• Application Number:
  US12/344,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20100158391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Technology for sharing media objects includes receiving image selection data associated with a first media object, where the first media object is a television broadcast video. A media server maybe included for storing a second media object. In one embodiment, the second media object is a recording of the broadcast of the first media object. In another embodiment, the second media object may be loaded into a media object database within the media server separate from the television broadcast. The media server may then identify a segment of the second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object. The media server may then send the segment to a second user. In one embodiment, sending the segment to a second user may include sending a web-link reference to the segment. The media server may also send or cause the transmission of advertising data related to the image selection data.

Claims

1. A method for sharing media objects, the method comprising:

receiving image selection data associated with a first media object from a first user, wherein the first media object is a television broadcast video;

identifying a segment of a second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object; and

sending the segment to a second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media object is a copy of the first media object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image selection data comprises at least one image from the first media object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image selection data comprises a compressed video packet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image selection data comprises a hash or fingerprint of at least one image from the first media object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a segment of a second media object further comprises comparing metadata associated with the first media object with metadata associated with the second media object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metadata associated with the first media object and the metadata associated with the second media object comprise at least one of program name, program description, current time, time into a program, channel, service provider, information about the first user, information about the second user, information associated with an advertisement, and viewing location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the segment to the second user comprises sending a web-link reference to the segment.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending advertising data associated with the segment in response to receiving image selection data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the segment is sent over a communications network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving image selection data from a client associated with the first user in response to a selection by the first user, wherein the second user and a length of the segment are predetermined, and wherein the selection by the first user is made by pressing a single button on a remote control or set-top box.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second media object is a copy of the first media object

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the image selection data comprises at least one image from the first media object.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the image selection data comprises a compressed video packet.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the image selection data comprises a hash or fingerprint of at least one image from the first media object.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein identifying a segment of a second media object further comprises comparing metadata associated with the first media object with metadata associated with the second media object.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the metadata associated with the first media object and the metadata associated with the second media object comprise at least one of program name, program description, current time, time into a program, channel, service provider, information about the first user, information about the second user, information associated with an advertisement, and viewing location.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein sending the segment to the second user comprises sending a web-link reference to the segment.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the program code further comprises instructions for sending advertising data associated with the segment in response to receiving image selection data.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the segment is sent over a communications network.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein receiving comprises receiving image selection data from a client associated with the first user in response to a selection by the first user, wherein the second user and a length of the segment are predetermined, and wherein the selection by the first user is made by pressing a single button on a remote control or set-top box.

11. A method for counting votes, the method comprising:

receiving image selection data associated with a first media object from a user, wherein the first media object is a television broadcast video;

identifying a segment of a second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object; and

counting a number of times image selection data associated the second media object is received.

12. A method for sending advertising data, the method comprising:

receiving image selection data associated with a first media object from a user, wherein the first media object is a television broadcast video;

identifying a segment of a second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object; and

sending advertising data associated with the segment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second media object is a copy of the first media object.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the advertising data comprises at least one of product information or coupon.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the advertising data is sent over a communications network.

17. A system for sharing media objects, the system comprising:

memory for storing program code, the program code comprising instructions for;

receiving image selection data associated with a first media object from a first user, wherein the first media object is a television broadcast video;

identifying a segment of a second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object; and

sending the segment to a second user; and

a processor for executing the instructions stored in the memory.

28. A computer readable storage medium comprising program code for sharing media objects, the program code for:

receiving image selection data associated with a first media object from a first user, wherein the first media object is a television broadcast video;

identifying a segment of a second media object by comparing the image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the second media object; and

sending the segment to a second user.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the second media object is a copy of the first media object

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the image selection data comprises at least one image from the first media object.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the image selection data comprises a compressed video packet.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the image selection data comprises a hash or fingerprint of at least one image from the first media object.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein identifying a segment of a second media object further comprises comparing metadata associated with the first media object with metadata associated with the second media object.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the metadata associated with the first media object and the metadata associated with the second media object comprise at least one of program name, program description, current time, time into a program, channel, service provider, information about the first user, information about the second user, information associated with an advertisement, and viewing location.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein sending the segment to a second user comprises sending a web-link reference to the segment.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising program code for sending advertising data associated with the segment in response to receiving image selection data.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the segment is sent over a communications network.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein receiving comprises receiving image selection data from a client associated with the first user in response to a selection by the first user, wherein the second user and a length of the segment are predetermined, and wherein the selection by the first user is made by pressing a single button on a remote control or set-top box.

43. The interface of claim 38, further comprising a tool allowing a first user to select a second user, the segment to be sent to the second user.

39. An interface for displaying a media object, the interface comprising:

a display portion for displaying a segment of a first media object, the segment identified by comparing image selection data with data representing at least a portion of the first media object, the image selection data associated with the second media object; and

a graphical user element for adjusting a start point and an end point of the segment.

40. The interface of claim 39, wherein the graphical user element is a slidebar.

41. The interface of claim 39, further comprising an advertisement portion.

42. The interface of claim 39, further comprising a tool allowing a first user to input data associated with a second user, the segment to be sent to the second user.