METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE HAVING SEARCH PARAMETER AWARE THUMBNAILS

• US 20100211584A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Chang, Qian, Wang, Zhibing, Yang, Ting-hao, Tang, Yizhe
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for presenting a program guide for a video-on-demand system describing a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value; searching the media program database for the search value, the media program database having first metadata associated with a first individual video frame of the media program; and providing the program guide comprising a thumbnail depicting the first individual video frame of the media program associated with the first metadata to the user if the first metadata includes the search value.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a program guide, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the media program, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

(b) searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object;

(c) generating thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the thumbnail metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object;

(d) associating the thumbnail metadata with the media program in a media program database;

(e) accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

(f) searching the media program database for the search value; and

(g) providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object for display if the search value matches the information describing the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the thumbnail metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the steps of:

webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the step of receiving the information from the media provider.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the method further comprises the step of repeating steps (b)-(d) for all of the plurality of objects identified by the information.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the media program comprises a plurality of scenes and wherein:

step (b) comprises the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a plurality of video frames that depict the performer, the plurality of identified video frames including frames in the plurality of scenes;

step (c) comprises the step of generating further thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the further metadata further relating the information describing the object to an associated identifier for each of the identified video frames that depict the object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the thumbnail metadata further comprises scene information describing each of the plurality of scenes in which a frame depicting the performer is disposed; and

the search request comprises a second search parameter having a second value describing a scene; and

the step of providing a thumbnail of the at least one video frame that depicts the performer if the search value matches the information describing the object comprises the step of;

providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object if the search value matches the information describing the object and the second value matches the scene information associated with the video frame.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the step of comparing the human face in the identified frame with the image produces a plurality of matches, each match associated with a matching confidence;

the step of identifying the identified frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match comprises the step of identifying the identified frame having the highest matching confidence as the frame depicting the performer.

11. An apparatus for presenting a program guide, comprising the steps of:

means for receiving the media program in a video-on-demand system, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object;

means for generating thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the thumbnail metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object;

means for associating the thumbnail metadata with the media program in a media program database;

means for accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

means for searching the media program database for the search value; and

means for providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object for display if the search value matches the information describing the object.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the thumbnail metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises:

means for webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises means for receiving the information from the media provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the apparatus searches the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts each of the objects, generates thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame depicting each of the objects, wherein the thumbnail metadata relates information describing each of the objects to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts each of the objects, and associates the thumbnail metadata with the media program in a media program database.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises;

means for extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

means for performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

means for comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

means for identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the media program comprises a plurality of scenes and wherein:

the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object comprises means for searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a plurality of video frames that depict the performer, the plurality of identified video frames including frames in the plurality of scenes;

the means for generating thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the thumbnail metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object comprises means for generating further thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the further metadata further relating the information describing the object to an associated identifier for each of the identified video frames that depict the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the thumbnail metadata further comprises scene information describing each of the plurality of scenes in which a frame depicting the performer is disposed; and

the search request comprises a second search parameter having a second value describing a scene; and

the step of providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the performer if the search value matches the information describing the object comprises the step of;

providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object if the search value matches the information describing the object and the second value matches the scene information associated with the video frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the means for comparing the human face in the identified frame with the image produces a plurality of matches, each match associated with a matching confidence;

the means for identifying the identified frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match comprises means for identifying the identified frame having the highest matching confidence as the frame depicting the performer.

21. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of presenting a program guide, the method steps comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the media program in a video-on-demand system, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

(b) searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object;

(c) generating thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the thumbnail metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object;

(d) associating the thumbnail metadata with the media program in a media program database;

(e) accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

(F) searching the media program database for the search value; and

(g) providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object if the search value matches the information describing the object.

22. The program storage device of claim 21, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the thumbnail metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

23. The program storage device of claim 21, wherein the method steps further comprise the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

24. The program storage device of claim 23, wherein the method step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises the step of:

webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

25. The program storage device of claim 23, wherein the method step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the step of receiving the information from the media provider.

26. The program storage device of claim 23, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the method steps further comprises the step of repeating steps (b)-(d) for all of the plurality of objects identified by the information.

27. The program storage device of claim 23, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the method step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

28. The program storage device of claim 27, wherein the media program comprises a plurality of scenes and wherein:

the method step (b) comprises the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a plurality of video frames that depict the performer, the plurality of identified video frames including frames in the plurality of scenes;

the method step (c) comprises the step of generating further thumbnail metadata for the identified video frame, the further metadata further relating the information describing the object to an associated identifier for each of the identified video frames that depict the object.

29. The program storage device of claim 28, wherein:

the thumbnail metadata further comprises scene information describing each of the plurality of scenes in which a frame depicting the performer is disposed; and

the search request comprises a second search parameter having a second value describing a scene; and

the method step of providing a thumbnail of the at least one video frame that depicts the performer if the search value matches the information describing the object comprises the method step of;

providing a thumbnail of the video frame that depicts the object if the search value matches the information describing the object and the second value matches the scene information associated with the video frame.

30. The program storage device of claim 27, wherein:

the method step of comparing the human face in the identified frame with the image produces a plurality of matches, each match associated with a matching confidence;

the method step of identifying the identified frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match comprises the method step of identifying the identified frame having the highest matching confidence as the frame depicting the performer.

31. A method of presenting a program guide for a video-on-demand system, describing a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

searching the media program database for the search value, the media program database having first metadata associated with a first individual video frame of the media program; and

providing the program guide comprising a thumbnail depicting the first individual video frame of the media program associated with the first metadata to the user if the first metadata includes the search value.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the media program database further has second metadata associated with a second individual frame of the media program, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

providing a second thumbnail depicting the second individual frame of the media program if the second metadata includes the search parameter.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first metadata associated with the first individual video frame of the media program is generated by performing steps comprising the steps of:

receiving the media program from a media program source;

searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object; and

generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object, the first metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the method further comprises the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying objects depicted in the media program;

the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object and generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object is performed for each of the identified objects.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

36. An apparatus for presenting a program guide for a video-on-demand system, describing a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the apparatus comprising:

means for accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

means for searching the media program database for the search value, the media program database having first metadata associated with a first individual video frame of the media program; and

means for providing the program guide comprising a thumbnail depicting the first individual video frame of the media program associated with the first metadata to the user if the first metadata includes the search value.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the media program database further has second metadata associated with a second individual frame of the media program;

and wherein the apparatus further comprises;

means for providing a second thumbnail depicting the second individual frame of the media program if the second metadata includes the search parameter.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first metadata associated with the first individual video frame of the media program is generated by:

means for receiving the media program from a media program source;

means for searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object; and

means for generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object, the first metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying objects depicted in the media program;

the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object and for generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object searches the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object and generates the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object for each of the identified objects.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises;

means for extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

means for performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

means for comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

means for identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

41. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of presenting a program guide for a video-on-demand system describing a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method steps comprising the steps of:

accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

searching the media program database for the search value, the media program database having first metadata associated with a first individual video frame of the media program; and

providing the program guide comprising a thumbnail depicting the first individual video frame of the media program associated with the first metadata to the user if the first metadata includes the search value.

42. The program storage device of claim 41, wherein the media program database further has second metadata associated with a second individual frame of the media program;

and wherein the method further comprises the step of;

providing a second thumbnail depicting the second individual frame of the media program if the second metadata includes the search parameter.

43. The program storage device of claim 41, wherein the first metadata associated with the first individual video frame of the media program is generated by performing steps comprising the steps of:

receiving the media program from a media program source;

searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts an object; and

generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object, the first metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video frame that depicts the object.

44. The program storage device of claim 43, wherein:

the method further comprises the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying objects depicted in the media program;

the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object and generating the first metadata associated with the video frame that depicts the object is performed for each of the identified objects.

45. The program storage device of claim 43, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

46. A method of presenting a program guide for a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

searching a media program database, the media program database having metadata comprising an object description associated with information identifying at least one video frame in which the object is depicted;

providing a program guide having a thumbnail depicting the at least one video frame in which the object is depicted to the user if the search value matches the object description.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the metadata is generated by performing steps comprising the steps of:

receiving a media program from a media program source;

searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description; and

generating the metadata, the metadata associating the object description with the identified video frame in which the object is depicted.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the object description comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

49. An apparatus for presenting a program guide for a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method comprising:

means for accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

means for searching a media program database, the media program database having metadata comprising an object description associated with information identifying at least one video frame in which the object is depicted;

means for providing a program guide having a thumbnail depicting the at least one video frame in which the object is depicted to the user if the search value matches the object description.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the metadata is generated by:

means for receiving a media program from a media program source;

means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description; and

means for generating the metadata, the metadata associating the object description with the identified video frame in which the object is depicted.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the object description comprises performer information; and

wherein the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description comprises;

means for extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

means for performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

means for comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

means for identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

52. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of presenting a program guide for a plurality of media programs, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method steps comprising the steps of:

accepting a search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

searching a media program database, the media program database having metadata comprising an object description associated with information identifying at least one video frame in which the object is depicted;

providing a program guide having a thumbnail depicting the at least one video frame in which the object is depicted to the user if the search value matches the object description.

53. The program storage device of claim 52, wherein the metadata is generated by performing steps comprising the steps of:

receiving a media program from a media program source;

searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description; and

generating the metadata, the metadata associating the object description with the identified video frame in which the object is depicted.

54. The program storage device of claim 53, wherein:

the object comprises a performer in the media program;

the object description comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video frame that depicts the object described by the object description comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a video frame that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified video frame with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified video frame as depicting the performer if the human face in the identified frame and the image match.

55. A method of presenting a program guide, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the media program, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

(b) searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip comprising a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts an object;

(c) generating video clip metadata for the identified video clip, the video clip metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video clip that depicts the object;

(d) associating the video clip metadata with the media program in a media program database;

(e) accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

(f) searching the media program database for the search value; and

(g) providing the video clip that depicts the object for display if the search value matches the information describing the object.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the video clip metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the steps of:

webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the step of receiving the information from the media provider.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the method further comprises the step of repeating steps (b)-(d) for all of the plurality of objects identified by the information.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified sequential video frames with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified sequential video frames as a video clip depicting the performer if the human face in the identified sequential video frames and the image match.

62. An apparatus for presenting a program guide, comprising:

means for receiving the media program, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip comprising a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts an object;

means for generating video clip metadata for the identified video clip, the video clip metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video clip that depicts the object;

means for associating the video clip metadata with the media program in a media program database;

means for accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

means for searching the media program database for the search value; and

means for providing the video clip that depicts the object for display if the search value matches the information describing the object.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the video clip metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises:

means for webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the means for receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises means for receiving the information from the media provider.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the apparatus repeatedly searches the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip comprising a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts an object, generates video clip metadata for the identified video frame, and associates the video clip metadata with the media program in a media program database for all of the plurality of objects identified by the information.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the means for searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip that depicts the object comprises;

means for extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

means for performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts a human face;

means for comparing the human face in the identified sequential video frames with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

means for identifying the identified sequential video frames as a video clip depicting the performer if the human face in the identified sequential video frames and the image match.

69. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of presenting a program guide, each media program having a plurality of video frames, the method steps comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the media program, the media program received from a media program source wherein the media program comprises a plurality of video frames;

(b) searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip comprising a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts an object;

(c) generating video clip metadata for the identified video clip, the video clip metadata relating information describing the object to an identifier of the identified video clip that depicts the object;

(d) associating the video clip metadata with the media program in a media program database;

(e) accepting the search request from a user, the search request comprising a search parameter having a search value;

(f) searching the media program database for the search value; and

(g) providing the video clip that depicts the object for display if the search value matches the information describing the object.

70. The program storage device of claim 69, wherein:

the media program comprises a plurality of scenes;

the object is depicted in a plurality of scenes; and

the video clip metadata further comprises an identifier of a frame that depicts the object in each of the plurality of scenes.

71. The program storage device of claim 69, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

72. The program storage device of claim 71, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the steps of:

webcrawling for the information identifying the object depicted in the media program.

73. The program storage device of claim 71, wherein the step of receiving media program metadata comprising information identifying the object depicted in the media program comprises the step of receiving the information from the media provider.

74. The program storage device of claim 71, wherein:

the media program depicts a plurality of objects;

the received media program metadata comprises information regarding the plurality of objects; and

the method further comprises the step of repeating steps (b)-(d) for all of the plurality of objects identified by the information.

75. The program storage device of claim 71, wherein:

the object comprises at a performer in the media program;

the information identifying object depicted in the media program comprises performer information; and

wherein the step of searching the plurality of video frames of the received media program to identify a video clip that depicts the object comprises the steps of;

extracting a plurality of video frames of the media program, wherein each extracted video frame is separated from an adjacent extracted video frame by a fixed time interval;

performing facial recognition on the extracted video frames to identify a plurality of sequential video frames that depicts a human face;

comparing the human face in the identified sequential video frames with an image of the performer identified by the performer information; and

identifying the identified sequential video frames as a video clip depicting the performer if the human face in the identified sequential video frames and the image match.