System and method for media stream indexing

• US 5,973,679 A
• Filed: 03/31/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Espial Incorporated (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Close, Paul, Smith, Kevin P., Abbott, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/829,283
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 345/302, 707/513-516
• US Class Current: 715/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/483 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An indexing method for allowing a viewer to control the mode of delivery of program material. By mapping from time to data position, data delivery can begin at any selected time in the program material. The indexing method also provides for controlling data delivery to begin at the beginning of a frame of data. A synchronizing method is provided to minimize a time offset between audio and video data, particularly in environments using groups of pictures.

Claims

1. A method for interactive delivery of program material to a viewer, comprising:

(1) locating and arranging media data representing program material in accordance with a viewer command from the viewer to form formatted program material, wherein the media data is located and arranged using an object hierarchy that comprises

segments, wherein each of said segments references a corresponding atom of media data and is defined by an offset from a beginning of said corresponding atom, and a duration,

series, wherein each of said series comprises at least one segment, and

groups, wherein each of said groups comprises at least one series; and

(2) delivering the formatted program material to the viewer, wherein the media data is parsed and wherein delivery of the formatted program material is performed by delivering the frames of media data in reverse order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises:

(a) converting a specified time T to a time T_rel relative to media data representing the program material;

(b) determining an index number from said time T_rel using an index duration; and

(c) converting said index number to a data position, thereby locating media data representing the program material at the specified time T.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises:

(a) determining a specified segment during which a specified time T occurs within one of said series;

(b) converting the specified time T to a time T_seg relative to said specified segment; and

(c) converting said time T_seg to an atom-relative data position that is relative to a specified atom corresponding to said specified segment, thereby locating media data representing the program material at the specified time T.